"Oudejaarsavond 2008"

This is my last post of 2008. A few more hours to go and also in the Netherlands 2009 is going to start. Looking back at 2008 I hope that this was a very good CRM year for everybody (apart from the economic situation). I hope to see you all in 2009!!! ENJOY the last hours of 2008 and be carefull with the fireworks:)

Merry Christmas 2008

Dear Blogreaders,

I wish you all a merry christmas. In the next couple of days, the temperature in the Netherlands will go below zero, so perhaps we can have some iceskating at the end of the year. I am off to my X-mas holidays and I will be back at work on the 5th of January 2009.

Regards,

Hans Veldman

Error Allow Microsoft Dynamics CRM to send e-mail using CRM for Outlook

In the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Virtual Machine image of February 2008, there was an error when enabling the checkbox "Allow Microsoft Dynamics CRM to send e-mail using CRM for Outlook" in the Outlook Client. This error was also mentions in the Post of Menno's blog.

See screenshots below for the solution:

In the Outlook Client, go to CRM - Options - E-mail Tab

Error when enabling the checkbox.

Uninstall the Outlook Client by clicking on:

Start - All Programs - Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 - Configuration wizard.
Then Reinstall the Outlook Client.

After Reinstalling:

In the Outlook Client, go to CRM - Options - E-mail Tab
Enable the checkbox

WaveAccess Chat Online Live on my blog

Dear blogreaders, I finally had the chance to meet some persons from WaveAccess at the Microsoft Dynamics Convergence 2008 at Copenhagen. They showed me two new features of their company WaveAccess: Chat Online and Help Online. Tonight Ilya and Mikhail from WaceAccess Russia published Chat Online Live on blog, so when I am online you can chat LIVE with me and ask all kind of diffucult questions:). I hope to speak to my blogreaders with Chat Online so click on the button Question Online right above!!!

A very special thanks for the WaveAccess developers team and of course Ilya and Mikhail.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Update Rollup 1

Microsoft has release update rollup 1 for CRM 4.0 on wednesday 24th. KB952858 can be downloaded here.

This upate is for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Server, Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Microsoft Office Outlook, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 E-mail Router.

Please note that if you have customized Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Help files, back up your customized files before you install this update!!!

Accelerators for Microsoft Dynamics CRM

As mentioned in a lot of blogs and also at the iRelate Dynamics Network Drink and of course the Microsoft Dynamics Convergence 2008: The CRM Accelerators!
These are a range of add-on solutions developed for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 customers and partners. Each accelerator is available at no cost and will showcase how the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 platform can be configured and extended to broaden marketing, sales and service capabilities. Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers and partners are encouraged to further extend these accelerators to meet their specific business needs.

Each accelerator may consist of the following:

• Customizations (entities, forms, views)
• Workflow defintions
• Business Intelligence elements such as custom reports (.RDL’s)
• Functional code samples (strictly adhering to SDK guidelines)
• Documentation for installing, operating, localizing and extending the solution
• An automated installer

The list of accelerators is as follows:

• Analytics
• eService
• Event Management
• Enterprise Search
• Sales Methodologies
• Extended Sales Forecasting
• CRM Notifications
• Business Productivity

The following accelerators are currently available for download at CodePlex.com

• CRM Notifications
• Event Management
• Extended Sales Forecasting

Pictures Microsoft Dynamics Convergence 2008 Copenhagen

Below you find some pictues of the Microsoft Dynamics Convergence 2008 in Copenhagen. I was with iRelate and my finance customer to the Convergence. It was my first time and I had we had a meeting with Brad Wilson (Vice President Microsoft Dynamics CRM) and some ISV's as SalesCentric and Scribe. I must say it was a very succesful and busy day but I really enjoyed it. Hope so see you all at the Convergence in Munchen 2009!

Our Hotel 27 in the center of Copenhagen.

iRelate at the Icebar


Bella Center Copenhagen

Check in Convergence 2008

Microsoft Dynamics Convergence 2008

Key Note

Brad Wilson session Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 & Accellerators

Matthew Crook (CEO SalesCentric)

Hans is going to meet Brad Wilson Vice President Microsoft Dynamics CRM Worldwide

Tomorrow I am going to meet Brad Wilson, Vice President Microsoft Dynamics CRM Worldwide at the convergence in Copenhagen. Furthermore I am attending some technical tracks and of course meet a lot of MVP's and ISV's. More info and posts will be following at the end of the week. hope to see you all tomorrow in Copenhagen.

Microsoft Dynamics Convergence 2008 Copenhagen

I am going to the Microsoft Dynamics Convergence 2008 in Copenhagen on wednesday 19th of November, so please leave a message when you are at the convergence also and perhaps we can meet there. Hope to see you all in Copenhagen.

Pictures of the 2nd DND @ iRelate Zaltbommel

As promissed, pictures of the 2nd DND at iRelate Zaltbommel. Pictures will also be posted on the website of DND and iRelate.

Oktober 30th Dynamics Network Drink @ iRelate Zaltbommel

Last thursday evening was the second Dynamics Network Drink of this year and sponsored by iRelate. In spite of the evening traffic jams, there were about 25 people joining the drink in Zaltbommel. Microsoft was also present and they gave us a short overview of the new CRM Accelerators. Pictures of the second DND will be posted tonight.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Implementation Guide 4.3.0

Microsoft has updated the Implementation Guide to version 4.3.0.
The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Implementation Guide consists of the following documents:

• Planning Guide
• Installing Guide
• Operating and Maintaining Guide

The Implementation Guide 4.3.0 can be downloaded here and is available for everyone. I strongly recommend to use the Implementation Guide for each implementation and make it available for the ICT department at your customer.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Enterprise Server Roles

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Enterprise introduces two new server roles that provide services, which increase flexibility and scalability. You can decide to have a computer dedicated to one server role or to both. The server roles selected and installed during Setup are as follows:

• Application Server Role. This server role provides the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Web user interface and services.
  
• Platform Server Role. This lets you deploy the asynchronous services, such as the Workflow and Bulk E-mail services, to a separate computer.

So now it's possible to deploy more CRM servers in the front-end of your architecture. For example: Two CRM Application Servers can be positioned in a load balanced constructure so that the perfomance will increase considerably. Then using Microsoft Workflow Foundation in combination with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0, all Workflow services will be handled on the CRM Platform Server and this will not impact your performance on the CRM Application Servers. Please bear in mind that this architecture will have impact on your CRM licencing structure.

Interesting books regarding Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 and Workflow Foundation

Below you find some new interesting books regarding CRM and Workflow Foundation.

These books can be ordered at the website of Amazon

Programming Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 (PRO-Developer) (Paperback)

Microsoft Windows Workflow Foundation Step by Step (Pro Step By Step Developer) (Paperback)

Microsoft® Dynamics(TM) CRM 4.0 and Microsoft Dynamics Live CRM Step by Step (Step By Step (Paperback)

Maximizing Your Sales with Microsoft Dynamics CRM (Paperback)

2nd Dynamics Network Drink @ iRelate Zaltbommel (NL)

Next week on October 30th iRelate is sponsoring the second Dynamics Network Drink. So every Microsoft Dynamics Consultant or people who are interested are invited to come. Please sign in on the site and I hope to see you all next week.

Microsoft changes its support for Vmware!

Just reading this article on the internet. One of my clients mentioned this last week.
Check also KB article 897615 of Microsoft.

Today Microsoft changed its support towards Microsoft software running on Vmware serveres (and virtual software in general).Untill yesterday if you had a Microsoft Premier Support contract and you had a problem with a Windows server running in a virtual machine running on Vmware GSX or ESX server, the support engineer would not help you. In those cases you had to re produce the problem on physical hardware, even with Premier Support contract.

Today that has changed, a bit, read carefully:

For Microsoft customers who have a Premier-level support agreement, Microsoft will use commercially reasonable efforts to investigate potential issues with Microsoft software running in conjunction with non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software. As part of that investigation, Microsoft may require the issue to be reproduced independently from the non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software. Where issues are confirmed to be unrelated to the non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software, Microsoft will support its software in a manner that is consistent with support provided when that software is not running in conjunction with non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software.

Well it's better then before, Non-premier customers don't get this support:

Microsoft does not test or support Microsoft software running in conjunction with non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software. For Microsoft customers who do not have a Premier-level support agreement, Microsoft will require the issue to be reproduced independently from the non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software. Where the issue is confirmed to be unrelated to the non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software, Microsoft will support its software in a manner that is consistent with support provided when that software is not running in conjunction with non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software.

Running Workflow Foundation on a different server than the CRM server?

In the last weeek I have been working on my new assignment for a large Financial Client in the Netherlands. One of the questions of my client was: is it possible to run the Workflow Foundation on a seperate dedicated server than the CRM server? After a short call with Microsoft, a received a link of one of the Microsoft CRM consultants that's said:
It is NOT possible to run Workflow Foundation on a different server than the CRM server, see original post here.
The following roles/services can be installed on different servers (only by using command prompt installation):

• SRS Data Connector
• SQL Server
• Application Server
• Asynchronous Processing Service
• Deployment Service
• Discovery Service
• Help Server
• SDK Server

So this can have impact on your architecture so keep in mind!

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Help Update (On-Premise Edition)

The Microsoft Dynamics CRM documentation team has updated the Help for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 based on feedback from customers and partners. In this update, you will find expanded information and clarifications in many topics, as well as bug fixes and new topics to support late-breaking product features.
Note: This update is not available for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Service Provider Edition, and is not necessary for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. There are five download options:

• Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 server update for 32-bit systems
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 server update for 64-bit systems
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 for Microsoft Office Outlook with Offline Access update
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Language Pack updates for 32-bit systems (applies to both server and client components)
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Language Pack updates for 64-bit systems

See also KB article: KB955921

Bug in Microsoft Dynamics CRM???

This week I discovered a bug in Microsoft Dynamics CRM. When you enter an activity in CRM you can also modify the view of your activities with example field from the Entity Lead. After modifying your custom view, you can see all your related activities. But when changing the Type of Activity (for example: select only the Appointments), your custom view with the field from the Entity Lead will not be shown. Any kind of data from related Entities in your custom view will not me shown on the specifiec Type of Activity views. Of course there is a workaround:
1. Creating a view wih the Advanced find.
2. Using the Custom Views addon of SalesCentric.
Recently I have tested the Custom Views addon and again I must say that this addon is easy to use and that this addon will add value to the system.

Screenshots will be followed asap.

CRM in 1 Day

Yesterday was the CRM in 1 Day event in "De Reehorst" in Ede. The objective is orienting on CRM and absorbing all kind of knowledge in a simple manner for everyone.
With an unique programme where, by line, experiences are shared but also other CRM-aspecten in the field of strategy, changemanagement and politically forward will come.
Keynote speeches of Egbert Jan van Bel, Rebacca Jennings and Jochem de Gruyter.

2nd Dynamics Network Drink @ iRelate Zaltbommel

YES: October 30th 2008 iRelate B.V. The Netherlands and Microsoft are organizing the second Dynamics Network Drink in Zaltbommel. So every Dynamics person be invited. Of course I'm interested in the Dynamics CRM community so please send me an email or give me a call if you are attending this dink. More details will follows as soon as possible.

Microsoft Dynamics Partner Readiness Days

The last two days I attend the Partner Readiness Days at Microsoft Nederland.
This event was organized for all "new" companies related to the Microsoft Dynamics suite.
Some topics that were on the agenda:
EOC, Licensing (for CRM the CSA license), RMT, MSPP, Marketing & Verticalization and lots of more.
I'd like to mention especially the Marketing Factory. Every new company has to descide what Verticals and Horizontals they like to start in and start with. Two words are mentioned a lot:
distinctive capacity so please keep this in mind.
For any questions, please contact your PAM and get familiar within the Microsoft world!

2008.08.21 - First Dynamics Network Drink

Thurday 21th of August 2008 was the first Dynamics Network Drink in Gouda The Netherlands.
I was attending the drink with my colleague "Friendly CRM Monster". I want to thank the initiator Johan van Dijk for arranging this drink and of course we had some drinks with other bloggers like Ronald Lemmen and CWR mobility Erik van Hoof and Jeffry van de Vuurst. Looking forward to the next drink on November 27th.

CRM Statement of Direction and CRM Accelerators

Just downloaded this document on Partnersource and found of course a lot of blogging articles on the internet about it. Below you find the article I took of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Team Blog.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM partners and customers can look forward to a packed program of exciting releases during the second half of 2008.

The Statement of Direction whitepaper will be updated periodically to keep prospects, customers and partners up to date with key roadmap information for Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

One of the big announcements for Microsoft Dynamics CRM at Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston (and detailed in the Statement of Direction whitepaper) was about CRM Accelerators. This post will detail the overall Accelerators program and future posts will provide a high-level overview of each accelerator and its capabilities.

CRM Accelerators are a range of free-of-charge add-on solutions which are being developed for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 customers and partners. Each accelerator will showcase how the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 platform can be configured and extended to broaden marketing, sales and service capabilities. CRM accelerators provide additional functionality for deployments of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers are encouraged to further configure these accelerators to meet their specific business needs.

Each accelerator may consist of the following:

• Importable data model
• Business process workflows
• Business Intelligence elements such as custom reports
• Functional code samples (strictly adhering to SDK guidelines)
• Documentation for installing, operating, localizing and extending the solution
• An automated installer

Each accelerator will be supported as per any other customization that follows SDK guidelines. Additionally, all samples are supplied with full source-code so they can be extended further to meet specific customer requirements. Because of Microsoft Dynamics CRM’s services-based architecture and metadata-driven application capabilities, accelerators can be easily deployed for both on-demand and on-premise environments.

Through accelerators, customers and partners benefit from new functionality on a more frequent basis, and they can be deployed to their environment quickly and easily. Delivery of these accelerators will be during the second half of 2008.

The list of accelerators is as follows:

• Analytics
• eService
• Event Management
• Enterprise Search
• Sales Methodologies
• Extended Sales Forecasting
• CRM Notifications
• Business Productivity

CRM as a Rapid Development Platform

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 provides all the capabilities to be a foundation for building line of business applications and saves you a ton of time! In this book, you will learn that CRM is an application development platform not just a CRM package. We will explore how its declarative data modeling, security model, dynamic SOA Web Service creation and other platform services make it a fast and easy platform for development. CRM 4.0 uses popular developer technologies like SQL Server, SQL Server Reporting Services and Windows Workflow Foundation for process automation. See how you can build your applications on top of it, integrate with it or simply extend it using ASP.NET, SharePoint, Silverlight, Virtual Earth, Custom Workflow Activities, Mobile and more.

Check the link here!

Custom Views by SalesCentric

SalesCentric Custom Views for Microsoft Dynamics CRM simplifies data navigation and brings the power of complex queries to every user.


Custom Views allows CRM users to create list forms with filters for almost every entity in CRM in a WYSIWYG query builder and integrate them into the MSCRM navigation system. The user finds the desired information in a few mouse clicks.


Custom Views key features:

• Create list forms with filters for almost every entity in CRM in a WYSIWYG query builder.
• Integrate crafted list forms in MSCRM navigation system including site map and navigation panes.
• Use any combination of single options, multi options, range and text box filters enhanced by auto complete feature to get to the needed data with a few mouse clicks.
• Save filter values as a named filter and apply it any time later.
• Add a column or a filter to a list form on fly for a few clicks in a WYSIWYG query builder.
• Bring data from the primary entity as well as its related entities without limitations for the relations level number.
• Export Custom Views results into Excel.
• Utilize out-of-the-box Custom Views definitions instead of CRM’s default views.
• Search across all relationships in CRM to find the people who have specific relationships with your prospect employees.
• Search across any associated records using easily configured filters such as city, address, first and last names, job titles and even custom fields.
• Display both Activities and History in the same list.
• Add contacts from Custom Views directly to Marketing lists.
• Design Custom Views in a test environment, export them and use them in the production environment.
• Integrate Custom Views in your solutions by linking them into an inline frame.

Marketing Segmentation screenshot:

Customer Relationships screenshot:

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Internet Facing Deployment Scenarios

Microsoft has released version 1.3 of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Internet Facing Deployment Scenarios document on their Corporate site.

This document covers the following Internet-Facing Deployment (IFD) scenarios for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0.

• Install Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 through the user interface (UI) setup

• Install Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 with a configuration file

• Upgrade Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 through the UI setup

• Upgrade Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 with a configuration file

This document is intended to cover how to set up the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Web site to make it available from the Internet.

This document will not cover the steps that you must complete to make a server available from the Internet.

New and interesting CRM Books

Just a quick update on new and interesting CRM books. These books can be ordered at Amazon.com.

December 15, 2008
September 22, 2008
June 1, 2008

April 20, 2008

2 new Linkin Groups Created

Yesterday I created 2 new Microsoft Dynamics CRM groups on Linkedin:
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Blogs and the Dutch Dynamics CRM Community, so please sign in to these groups and get connected!!!

Dynamics Network Drink

On the 21st of August 2008 the first Dynamics Network Drink will be organized. Initially it was planned for the 1st of July 2008 but the bar wasn't finished yet. So please sign in on the website and I hope to see you all at the Dynamics Network Drink in Gouda.

Available Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Courses

A lot of people asking me which trainingen are available for version 4.0. Below you find an overview of Compu'Train and InfoSupport. These two are the major training institutes in the Netherlands.

Compu'Train
What's New in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 (Clinic) - 1 day - €500
Installing and Deployment in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 (M8911) - 3 days - €900
Customization and Configuration in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 (M8912) - 3 days -€1380
Microsoft Dynanamics CRM 4.0 Applications (M8913) - 3 days -€ 1250
Microsoft CRM Sales Management (M8521) - 1 day - €390
Microsoft CRM Marketing Automation (M8522) - 1 day - €390
Microsoft CRM Service Management (M8523) - 1 day - €390
Microsoft CRM Service Scheduling (M8524) - 1 day - €390

InfoSupport
Microsoft CRM Next Applications - CRM4APPL
Customization and Configuration in Microsoft CRM 4.0 - CRM4CONF
Extending Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 - CRM4EXT
Installation and Deployment in Microsoft Dynamics 4.0 - CRM4INST
What's new in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 ? Technical track - CRM4TECHN
Microsoft Dynamics CRM - Reporting and BI - CRMBI

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 User's Guide

Microsoft has releashed a printable version of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 User's Guide. This can can be downloaded in DOCX or PDF format.

Gartner Names SalesCentric ‘Top 5 Cool Vendor in 2008’ for Relationship Charts

During my vacation I received an email of SalesCentric and Gartner.

SalesCentric has been included by Ed Thompson in the ‘Cool Vendors in CRM Sales 2008’ report, by Gartner Inc. in March 2008.

According to the report “Sales organisations using Microsoft Dynamics CRM for account management seeking to improve the account review process should investigate SalesCentric”. Additionally, “The application is cool because it enables salespeople to draw and redraw the organization chart using different relationship criteria, and even include "ghost" employees where the contact name is unknown but their influence is being felt.”

The primary objective of the report is to look at which technologies, vendors, applications and services will meet the needs of marketing and selling organizations. The report describes new vendors that provide innovative ways to help sales grow revenue.

“We’re delighted to be the only Microsoft related CRM vendor to have been named a “Cool Vendor” by Gartner in this report,” said Matthew Crook, CEO of SalesCentric. “Through our Relationship Charts software we have clearly demonstrated how businesses can get the most from their investment by making CRM easy to use. Users can easily see and understand the overall picture and leverage valuable market and human insight to dramatically increase the quality of new business opportunities and close more business”.

Relationship Charts is a unique add-on to Microsoft Dynamics CRM that drives the adoption of this software by allowing account managers to easily view the relationships within a prospect’s organisation, including vendors and suppliers. This insight enables sales professionals to take action before the deal has passed. Relationship Charts seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Dynamics CRM, meaning users already familiar with the CRM package will require minimal training to begin creating and managing business-critical customer relationship information, vital to sales and marketing.

So again I really recommend everyone to include this GREAT addon to your standard implementation of CRM.

Update Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.2.0 Implementation Guide

Microsoft have updated the English version of the Implementation Guide to v4.2.0. This guide contains comprehensive information about how to plan, install, and maintain Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. I really recommend everyone to read and use the IG! This can be downloaded here.

Summer Holiday 2008 Marmaris Turkey

Dear blog readers, I will be on holiday from the 5th of july till the 19th of July. After my holiday I will update my blog as soon as possible. I wish everyone a great summer 2008.

SalesCentric deploy next generation of visual user experience

Just received the following email of SalesCentric and I wanted to share this news with my blog readers.

SalesCentric is set to unveil two new versions of Relationship Charts for Dynamics CRM at the WPC next week. Visit stand 383 and see the next generation of CRM visualization utilizing Microsoft’s Silverlight technology and the new service, Relationship Charts for Dynamics CRM Online.
Silverlight provides the foundation to take CRM and Relationship Charts to the next generation of visual user experience. Animation, zoom and multiple ‘actor cards’ that fan out give the user the ability to quickly see on one screen information that would otherwise take multiple CRM views to get.

Relationship Charts Online is an on-demand customer relationship visualization service for users of Microsoft CRM Online. The new Internet service will be available for customers of Microsoft CRM Online. Users seamlessly access Relationship Charts while working within the standard CRM Online service from Microsoft.

Relationship Charts will be available in two versions for CRM Online:

• Relationship Charts Online Professional offers Relationship Charts within three CRM areas: account, contact and opportunity
• Relationship Charts Online Professional Plus offers Relationship Charts within any CRM entity and displays any entity on a chart, including system users

People close five times as much business when they have relationships with key decision makers. Relationship Charts reveals the relationships within CRM.

EBAX addon for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0

Last week I came in contact with Brad Nimitz, he is the EBAX Product Manager for Prosoft Systems. EBAX is a add-on application created to improve CRM’s efficiency and simplify the process of data input. EBAX takes advantage of the ease and speed of Excel spreadsheets to populate CRM’s data. Now users can enter all and any information into an Excel spreadsheet and with the click of the mouse update this data into CRM.

Prosoft Systems International established in 1992, is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner specializing in Microsoft CRM, Office Application Development, Sharepoint, Custom Application Development, and Business Intelligence solutions.

I have downloaded the 14 days trial version and installed this on the Microsoft CRM 4.0 VPC, see screenshots below.

The installation of the EBAX addon is very easy to do.

After the installation is completed, you can inport the EBAX.xml into CRM.

After configuring Excel with the CRM Server (set the right URL of the website into Excel), the MS CRM tab will appear in the menu above.

Now you can easily upload data into Excel, adjust/modify the data and upload it back into CRM.

You can read a short summary of the EBAX addon below:

Note: The price of the EBAX addon is $85 per user with first year update subscription.

I must say that this addon is very easy to install and handy to use. A very nice feature of the addon is also the offline capability. So I recommend everyone to download the trial and see it yourself. For more information, please visit the website of Prosoft Systems International.

HELP WANTED: Disabled button Activity Details

I have an issue, perhaps someone can help me out.

When I do a Mail Merge (for example contact) with the following specifications:

• Type: Mail
• Use Microsoft Office Word
• Electronic Mail
• Mail Format: Attachment
  

Create Microsoft Dynamics CRM activities --> button Activity Details is disabled

However when I do the same but then on Type: Letter, the button is enabled

Can someone please explain to me WHY the button is disabled???


See screenshot below!

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Virtual Machine (Sample Data Differentiation File)

This VPC differentiation disk adds demonstration data and other demo-related content to the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Virtual Machine. The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Virtual Machine is required and is separately downloadable. Please note that this virtual machine addition is for partner demonstrations only, and is not supported through Microsoft Technical Support.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 User's Guide

A printable version of the Help that ships with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0, On Premise can be downloaded here.

How to Integrate SharePoint with Microsoft CRM

Just received a very informative article how to integrate Microsoft CRM with SharePoint, the level of integration is greater than any previously posted and they have also provided download links to a visual studio project file giving the source code away for free!
You can read the complete article here and also downloading the files.

KB950202 - The translated labels disappear when you add a new value to a picklist field of an attribute for an entity in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0

After configuring and modifying the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 NL VPC, I run into some translation problems. The basic language of the VPC is English (1033) and the Language Package is Dutch (1043). According to the KB article 950202 the symptoms are:
"Consider the following scenario in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. You enable a language pack. You add a new value to a picklist field of an attribute for an entity. Then, you save the changes. In this scenario, the translated labels disappear. When this problem occurs, the labels in the picklist field are displayed only by using the base language. "
The KB article 950202 can be downloaded here.

Celenia integrates the Dynamics Suite

I'm always interested in the intergation between the Dynamics Suite, so CRM with NAV or Axapta. Just came accross the Celenia website. More information can be found on their website. In this post I want to mention the Celenia CRM Connector. According to the website:

"Celenia CRM Connector for Microsoft Dynamics AX NAV easily automates and streamlines the flow of an organization’s internal business data. With Celenia CRM Connector for Microsoft Dynamics AX NAV, integration can be achieved at far lower costs than development of custom communication applications. Furthermore, Celenia CRM Connector for Microsoft Dynamics AX NAV facilitates more accurate and efficient internal data exchange and application level integration than can be achieved by manual processes".

Two Business Logic Into One.

Hope to get more experience in this add-on soon, so everyone who's interested in an integration between the Dynamics Suite, please check the website.

DEMO2WIN! Workshop for Microsoft Dynamics Partners

Last wednesday I attend the Presentation Delivery Skills Workshop: "DEMO2WIN!" at Microsoft. The main coal of this workshops was: How to acomplish the 2% factor in your demo.

Below you can read s short summary of the workshop. More information can be found at the 2WIN! Global Website.

The workshop started with the top 10 Demo Crimes like:

• Teaching vs. Demonstrating
• I Love this part of my software
• So What?
• etc.

Many of the crimes are familiar in your way of giving demo's to customers.

After that we discussed how to make a demo with Demo Scenes and Sub-Scenes Items. This part will show you how to create a demo, for example demonstrate Microsoft Dynamics CRM, see below.

• Demo Scene: Sales Entity
• Demo Sub-Scene: Uploading your Outlook contact into CRM
• Demo Sub-Scene: Create a relationship between your Contact and the Account
• Demo Sub-Scene: Create an activity for the Contact / Account
  

For every Demo Scene and Sub-Scene Item you are able to use the Tell-Show-Tell Technique. This technique will first: tell what you are going to demo, then demo the scene and finally tell the audience what you just have done. The Tell-Show-Tell Technique can be applied for every Dem Scene and his Demo Sub Scenes!

Using the Tell-Show-Tell Technique with Visually Supporting like the Triangle. The Triangle is for example: using PowerPoint, Flipchart and Whiteboard or other facilities.

Finally create an opening and closing demo scene. This will make the audience remember your presentation, so be creative!

I only can recommend everyone to follow the DEMO2WIN! workshop and take your benefit with this.

Customaze Email Marketing

Customaze is a German company specialized in Microsoft technologies and of course Microsoft CRM. For Microsoft CRM there have developed 5 add-ons:

1. Document Managment
2. Email Marketing
3. Customer History
4. CTI Telephony
5. Synchronization

For this post I want to highlight the Email Marketing add-on of Customaze. A lot of customers are asking for sending HTML newsletters in CRM and of course a complete track and trace module for their events and campaigns. Pleasse have a look on the Customaza website and their you can find a lot of information on the Email Marketing and demo videos.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Sample Data including Readme Document

The sample data for the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 VPC can be downloaded here.
Please download also the Readme document for detailed information on how to load the data into CRM with the Data Migration Manager. Click here.

CRM 4.0 E-mail Tag

I received a lot of questions on the e-mail tag in version 3.0 vs. 4.0. In Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 the e-mail tag can finally be turned off. In earlier versions like 1.2 and 3.0 the tag was necessary to have the functionality of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM E-mail Router. In version 4, the tag can be switched off and still using the E-mail router functionality by tracing messages on combinations with senders, recipient and subjects. See screenshot below how to turn off the e-mail tag in 4.0.

Go to Settings; Administration; System Settings; E-mail {screenshot is of Dutch version of CRM 4.0}

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 KB Articles

Check the Microsoft Help & Support website for the recent KB Articles on Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. You can find the website here. Hope that some KB Articles can solved your CRM 4.0 issues. Good luck everyone.

Support for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 on a computer that is running Microsoft Virtual Server 2005

Just came across the Microsoft KB article 946600 that says that virtualization in 4.0 is now supported. Please read the complete KB article here.

It's my brithday today

Hello everyone,

Today it's my birthday, 29 years old already, getting closer to the magic 30.

Holiday to Rome

Hello blog readers,

Sorry for not posting for a while because I went to Rome on holiday. I will post any new updates in the coming week. Of course you can see my holiday pictures on my personal blog.


Regards,

Hans Veldman

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Certification Exams

Just reading Menno te Koppele blog and there it is: Get Certified!
The following exams will be available in English on April 25, 2008 so get studied.
30-631: Customization and Configuration for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0
30-632: Applications for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0
30-633: Installation and Deployment for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Unleashed

And this great book is released on March 18th 2008 and can also be ordered at ComputerCollectief.

This book is for every IT professional who intends to work with Dynamics CRM, regardless of their experience with Dynamics or other CRM solutions. The authors provide example-rich, realistic coverage of advanced Dynamics customization, extensibility, and integration: information that is available nowhere else. Detailed information on how to: - Set up, configure, and maintain all facets of Dynamics CRM in any organization or industry; - Thoroughly understand both the on-premise and hosted versions of Dynamics CRM; - Make the most of Dynamics' new features, including email, the Outlook client, Internet Facing Deployment (IFD), and relationships; - Manage sales leads, opportunities, accounts, contacts, marketing lists, sales collateral, campaigns, quotes, orders, and invoices; - Improve customer service by integrating schedules, cases, contacts, product/service information, and more; - Build powerful automated workflows that streamline key sales tasks and liberate salespeople for more effective selling; - Efficiently administer and secure any Dynamics CRM implementation; - Drive greater value by integrating Dynamics CRM with Microsoft Office productivity tools; - Customize & extend Dynamics CRM using Visual Studio, .NET, and custom plug-ins & add-ons. On the Web: Download all of this book's examples and source code at informit.com/title/9780672329708

Working with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0, Second Edition

For the "bookworms" the following book can be ordered at ComputerCollectief. A short description of the book can be read below:

Microsoft Dynamics CRM is a customer-relationship management (CRM) solution for small- and mid-market businesses. The latest version adds workflow management capabilities, and can be delivered as an on-demand service through MS Office Live. With topics that include developing new functionality, designing implementations, and integrating MS CRM with other business applications _ including MS Office Outlook, MS Office InfoPath, & MS SharePoint Products & Technologies _ this book is written for developers & those who implement business solutions. The book provides case studies, integration & performance guidelines, and toolsets _ the information you need to help you create successful CRM solutions. This book also explains how to maintain Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0, making it of interest to IT professionals who support MS Dynamics CRM 4.0 users. And power users will learn how to customize individual MS Dynamics CRM 4.0 experiences. Get code samples on the Web.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 SDK v4.0.4 Update

Microsoft has updated the SDK to version 4.0.4 and can be downloaded here.
The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Software Development Kit (SDK) is for developers, system customizers, and report writers. It contains all new information about creating plug-ins, working with custom workflow activities, using the new Web services, using new data management features, and much more.This SDK contains information for developers writing server side code, custom business logic, integration modules, workflow assemblies, and more. It provides an architectural overview of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, the entity model, security model, and Web services. Sample code and walkthroughs guide you through the new features.The SDK also contains information for developers customizing the Web client or Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Microsoft Office Outlook, including scripting, integration of custom Web pages, sample code, and a detailed user interface style guide. Look for regular updates to this SDK. Future releases will include the ISV Guide and Report Writers Guide.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 Update Rollup 3

Microsoft has released Update Rollup 3 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 Server and Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 client for Microsoft Office Outlook. For more information about this release, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 935364. The update can be downloaded here.

CRM4LEGAL

CRM4LEGAL, developed for Microsoft CRM, is a complete client relationship management solution for law firms that provides everything your firm needs to create and maintain a clear picture of your clients. I am working now on two imlementation of Microsoft Dynamics CRM with the CRM4LEGAL add-on. Please see some screenshots below. More information on CRM4LEGAL can be found on their website.