Ryan Toenies

Microsoft BizTalk Adapter for Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Microsoft has released a Microsoft Dynamics CRM adapter for Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006.  This new adapater will allow customers to utilize Microsoft Dynamics CRM as a send Adapter and will enable the discovery and usage of schema of any Microsoft Dynamics CRM actions and entities.  The adapter can connect Microsoft Dynamics CRM to any other applications through Microsoft BizTalk server utilizing the BizTalk server mapping capabilities.

The Microsoft Dynamics CRM BizTalk adapter can be downloaded from the Microsoft Download Center.  This adapter can be used both with the Enterprise and Standard versions of Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006.

:: Ryan ::

Hot Fix Available: Re-Assign Large Number of CRM Records

Microsoft has released a hot fix for KB 921235 - Re-Assign Large Number of CRM Records.

Symptom: Timeout error when trying to re-assign ownership of a large set of CRM records.

The hotfix is an .EXE that will allow you to perform a "fast" update of a large record set within Microsoft CRM.  This is currently a private hot fix but will be included as part of a future rollup to be released by Microsoft.

Contact Microsoft Support for the available hot fix.

:: Ryan ::

Recap: Minnesota CRM User Group 9/21/06

Inetium held its quarterly CRM User Group meeting today at the Microsoft office in Bloomington, MN.  Today's focus was on the new Microsoft Dynamics CRM Mobile Express application and the RSS Feed for Microsoft Dynamics CRM.  If you missed the meeting but would like a copy of the presentation you can download it here:

September 21, 2006 - Minnesota CRM User Group

Upcoming Inetium Events

Minnesota SharePoint User Group (MNSPUG), Sponsored by Inetium
Over the next six months the user group will continue to focus on the business value and features included in the next release of Microsoft's SharePoint products and technologies.
Date: October 11, 2006
Learn more: www.sharepointmn.com
Registration: http://www.clicktoattend.com/invitation.aspx?code=111625  
 
Windows Vista/Office 2007 - "Get Ready", Sponsored by Inetium
Vista and Office 2007 working together. This session will help you "get ready" by discussing the business value of the upcoming releases and what you should do to prepare.  We look forward to your attendance.
Date: October 26, 2006
Registration: http://www.clicktoattend.com/invitation.aspx?code=111651
 
Microsoft CRM User Group - "As Easy as Office", Sponsored by Inetium
This event is designed to convey the significant business benefits you can achieve when combining the strengths of Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft Office.
Date: December 6, 2006
Learn more: www.crmmn.com
Registration: http://www.clicktoattend.com/invitation.aspx?code=111663   

:: Ryan ::

Microsoft CRM Email Router

One of the big changes from Microsoft CRM 1.x to 3.0 is the functionality of the CRM Email Router.  In an effort to minimize the impact of the Exchange server environment, the new email router has been simplified to process messages that are forwarded to a pre-defined CRM mailbox.  The CRM mailbox should be created prior to installing or upgrading CRM and is used to process CRM tagged email messages.

The picture below details how the new CRM Email Router works with Microsoft CRM 3.0.

Key items to know about the CRM Email Router:

• Create an Exchange Mailbox that will be used for the CRM Email Router
• The Exchange Mailbox is required to be in the same Active Directory Domain as your CRM users
• The CRM Email Router will only process email messages that are forwarded to the Exchange Mailbox (highlighted as the Microsoft CRM Mailbox in the diagram above)
• The CRM Email Router does not process all inbound and outbound Exchange Server email messages - this reduces any unnecessary email traffic
• Email messages are forwarded to the Microsoft CRM Mailbox based on a server-side email rule that is deployed to CRM users
• Email messages tagged with a CRM email token are processed as CRM email activities and stored in the CRM database

Companies with large Exchange server environments should feel comfortable with this CRM Email Router deployment because the only increase in Exchange server traffic is for CRM identified users.  If traffic becomes a concern than a simple resolution is to add a small Exchange server within the appropriate domain that hosts the CRM Email Router.  This server would do nothing but process CRM users email messages.

For more detailed information read chapters 6 and 10 of the Microsoft CRM Implementation Guide.

:: Ryan ::

Future of CRM - Going Mobile?

What drives successful CRM implementations?  In the end - user adoption will define success.  No matter how much time you spend on configuring your CRM application, no matter how cool your CRM reports look, no matter how much money you spend on your CRM solution - if your CRM solution does not adopt to end user behavior your CRM solution will fail.

:: Enter Mobile Computing ::

I have spent considerable time traveling over the last year and what strikes more than anything is how many business people depend on their mobile phone to stay connected to the office.  More and more traveling business users are using their mobile phone to communicate with customers and the office.  Email, tasks, appointments, and contacts - all of this information is crtical for the mobile user.  In years past laptop computers were the only way to stay connected to the corporate office.  In a matter of a couple of years PDA's and Smartphone's have revolutionized mobile computing.

BlackBerry devices (manufactured by RIM) forever changed the landscape of mobile phone technology.  These devices allowed mobile users the ability to not only read email messages but they offered a full keyboard that enabled users to easily respond to email messages.  This unique functionality attracted business users in record numbers.  RIM also captured the financial and government markets by supporting security requirements like remote disablement of the mobile device (used in cases where a phone is lost or stolen).  Early RIM devices were over-sized due to the size of the keyboard but over time RIM has created BlackBerry devices that have become more streamlined. 

One negative for the BlackBerry devices is the service required to push email (contacts, appointments, tasks, etc.) down to the device.  Known as the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (or BES) this application provides overhead to a normal messaging environment (think of it as the middle ground between corporate messaging platform and the mobile device).  Because the market did not offer a lot of options the BlackBerry Enterprise Server did not stop consumers from buying these devices.  Staying connected to important business transactions far out weighed the costs associated with purchasing these BlackBerry servers. 

As the market began maturing Microsoft evolved their mobility strategy.  For years, the Microsoft Pocket PC platform was strictly a mobile computing platform without phone capabilities.  Slowly, Microsoft dabbled with Phone enabled Pocket PC software (actually labeled Pocket PC Phone Edition).  Over time, Microsoft evolved their mobile strategy and now have created a Windows Mobile operating system that has surpassed RIM and Palm as the market leader in mobile phone platforms. 

Adding fuel to the fire, OEM manufacturer HTC began getting creative with mobile phone devices in order to offer options to business users.  At the same time they were building devices that hosed a variety of operating systems they began to create an alliance with Microsoft to build phones that targeted the feature set of Microsoft Windows Mobile.

:: The Result ::

HTC and Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system have now taken the market by storm.  What's more impressive is that these devices are dominating markets in the US, Canada, and Europe.  Utilizing the power of Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Windows Mobile - business users get real-time access to emails, calendars, contacts, and appointments.  In addition to managing daily communication these devices provide a rich web browsing experience similar to browsing websites with your PC. 

The impressive ingenuity by Microsoft and HTC has created mobile phones that provide users with options.  Do you like a phone with a keyboard, do you like a candy bar or clam shell style, or do you prefer Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?  The answer is - it does not matter because whatever your preference there is a style that fits your needs.  Are you on a GSM or CDMA network - do you need to travel internationally - regardless of your requirements there is a mobile phone for you.

:: Mobile Phones & CRM ::

As mobile phones continue to evolve so do the expectations of business users.  If they can send emails, schedule appointments, create contacts, and manager their tasks then why not have access to their corporate CRM data? 

The Answer: Microsoft Dynamics CRM Mobile and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Mobile Express

Not to sound like a broken record but the reason for the two applications is to support the demands of mobile users.  CRM Mobile is an application that gets installed on Pocket PC Phone Edition devices and CRM Mobile Express is device agnostic allowing anyone with a phone that supports HTML 4.0 to get access to Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

Is CRM going Mobile - I believe the answer is already known.  Are you reading this blog using your mobile phone?

:: Example Mobile Phones ::

What is your favorite mobile phone?

:: Ryan ::