CRM UK - the official blog of the CRM specialists at TSG

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online – Customer confidence with cloud computing

Recent studies and estimates by Gartner Inc. show that ‘by year-end 2016, more than 50 percent of Global 1000 companies will have stored customer-sensitive data in the public cloud’.

This is primarily because enterprises are reaping great benefits from cloud computing in added business agility and cost savings.

However, even though the number of organisations migrating to cloud based CRM solutions is ever growing, we all know that some still struggle with confidence issues in hosting their businesses data away from their own on-premise environment.

Microsoft have recognised since the launch of their Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online product that data security and compliance are critical key considerations for organisations evaluating cloud services. In act of this Microsoft have recently announced the availability of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Trust Centre.

The Trust Centre is essentially a website that provides in-depth information about the privacy and security practices for the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online service. It delivers to customers and potential customers high-level information about the privacy, transparency, independent verification and security features of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online.

In order to install further confidence with their customers as well as rival their cloud market competitors, Microsoft announced their registration with the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) Security, Trust & Assurance Registry (STAR) program, making Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online the first cloud CRM service to provide this level of transparency.

Being a Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online partner ourselves, we have seen nothing but positive activity by Microsoft who are really focussed on delivering the strongest cloud CRM solution possible. Not only are they providing a cost effective way of acquiring CRM but are also are making sure that customers are confident that their business data is completely secure.

For further information about Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online and computing with cloud based CRM solutions feel free to get in touch with the TSG CRM team.

Important News about Microsoft Dynamics CRM Mobile and Cross-Browser Support

In case you haven’t already heard, Microsoft is delaying the release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Mobile and cross-browser support. This functionality was originally scheduled for release some time around the middle of June 2012, as part of what Microsoft refer to as the Q2 2012 service update. It’s now looking like this functionality will now be available towards the end of the year, as part of the Q4 2012 update. 

Let’s be honest, this news is disappointing. Both mobile and cross-browser support have been eagerly awaited by CRM partners and users alike. The benefits it can deliver to some organisations are substantial. Some of these benefits are obvious, such as convenience, flexibility and personal choice. There are also a number of hidden benefits of accessing Microsoft Dynamics CRM on iPads, smartphones and other mobile devices which are not to be underestimated. These include being less intrusive and making face to face sales meetings easier. 

On the positive side, the Q2 2012 release is still going ahead and includes some really useful additional features and functionality, such as some new industry templates. And if accessing Microsoft Dynamics CRM on mobile devices is important to your business, TSG can still help you achieve this by using third-party add-on software. This software has been around for quite some time. It’s tried and tested, works well and we’ve successfully implemented this for a number of clients with excellent results. 

Microsoft won’t have taken the decision to remove mobile and cross-browser functionality from the Q2 2012 release lightly. However, it’s surely far better to act on feedback from people testing the software and postpone the release rather than put out something that still has bugs or issues.

The Q4 2012 service update has a number of specific enhancements planned for inclusion. Microsoft has also stated that these won’t be affected by deferring the mobile and cross-browser functionality until then. Here’s an excerpt of the Q and A from Microsoft:

Question: When will Cross-Browser be supported?

Answer: Cross-browser support will be available with the Q4 2012 Service Update.

Question: Does this new plan result in planned capabilities from the Q4 2012 release being deferred?

Answer: No currently announced Q4 2012 capabilities will be deferred as a result of this decision. As a part of our bi-annual release cadence we work on multiple service updates in parallel. Merging the Q2 and Q4 2012 releases allows us to provide a better overall experience by combining cross browser support with user interface enhancements already planned for the Q4 2012 Service Update. 

In other words it shouldn’t upset the development plan or put back other new or additional features and functionality. So we now really eagerly await the Q4 2012 release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM: it should be massive!! 

For more information about Microsoft Dynamics CRM including using the product on a mobile device in the UK, or any of the other queries you may have, please contact the CRM team at TSG.