Microsoft Dynamics CRM News & Highlights

Microsoft and Intel Demonstrate New Levels of Power, Price and Performance With CRM Scalability Benchmark

Tracey Cummings — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:30:00 GMT

Enterprise-class scalability with reduced costs and environmental impact for on-premise and on-demand Microsoft Dynamics CRM deployments.

REDMOND, Wash. — June 3, 2009 — Microsoft and Intel Corporation announced performance results today for Microsoft Dynamics CRM that set new enterprise standards for scalability, cost and environmental sustainability. Through a combination of enterprise-class software and the latest Intel® Xeon® processor 5500 series, which can reduce server power consumption by up to 30 percent, Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 scaled to more than 50,000 concurrent users over a high-volume workload — while experiencing subsecond response times.

“Our business strategy is to make CRM technology that is simple, flexible and affordable for companies of all sizes,” said Brad Wilson, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics CRM. “In this benchmark, we’ve proved that Microsoft Dynamics CRM can handle extreme workloads with minimal investment in hardware and a reduced impact to the environment. We’re once again redefining the price-to-value equation in the CRM market, across all deployment models.”

By comparison, an October 2008 performance test for Oracle Siebel Release 8.0 (1) scaled to 14,000 users and 1.6 million daily transactions leveraging Sun hardware that cost more than $150,000. The Microsoft Dynamics CRM benchmark scaled to more than 50,000 users and more than 2.9 million daily transactions — all from hardware that costs less than $35,000 (2), or $0.70 per user. In this comparison, Microsoft Dynamics CRM drove three and a half times more users and almost two times more transactions — while reducing hardware costs nearly 80 percent.

“Intel and Microsoft engineers worked together to optimize Microsoft Dynamics CRM for new Intel® Xeon® processor 5500 series-based servers with intelligent server technology capabilities and Intel Solid State Drives (SSDs),” said Boyd Davis, general manager, Intel Server Platforms Group. “This collaboration led to exceptional economic scalability and responsiveness results, which can enable companies of all sizes to deploy enterprise-class business solutions at a fraction of what these kinds of solutions have traditionally cost.”

Detailed performance tests and production runs were completed on Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Microsoft Windows SQL Server 2008 for 50,000 concurrent users, 5,000 concurrent users, 2,500 concurrent users, and 1,000 concurrent users. For scenarios with casual users or lower transaction rates per user, higher number of users can be accommodated. An executive summary of the performance and scalability benchmark is available by clicking here, and other white papers that outline the results of each test will be published in the coming weeks at http://crm.dynamics.com.

About Microsoft Dynamics

Microsoft Dynamics is a line of adaptable, easy-to-use ERP and CRM applications that enable business decision-makers to run their business efficiently and drive business success. Delivered through a network of channel partners providing specialized services, these integrated, adaptable business management solutions work like and with familiar Microsoft software to streamline processes across an entire business. Visit the Microsoft Dynamics Web site to learn more.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

(1) Sun SPARC Enterprise T5440 Server Pricing Estimate as of May 28, 2009, Sun Microsystems, http://catalogs.sun.com/suncatalogue/

(2) Microsoft Dynamics CRM benchmark hardware was priced using http://www.newegg.com/ on the configuration listed in the executive summary of the performance and scalability benchmark, available here.

Online Auto Marketplace Prepares to Tune Up Business After Choosing Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Tracey Cummings — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:53:00 GMT

AutoTrader.com anticipates visibility for trending and forecasting among benefits from its new system.

REDMOND, Wash. — May 13, 2009 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that online automotive marketplace AutoTrader.com has selected Microsoft Dynamics CRM as its customer relationship management (CRM) system and anticipates a number of benefits from the new system, including visibility for trending and forecasting. Microsoft Dynamics CRM is a fully integrated customer relationship management solution that works within Microsoft Office Outlook to help create and maintain a clear view of customers from first contact through post-sales.

Atlanta-based AutoTrader.com, with 2,000 employees, connects buyers and sellers. It generates revenues through partnerships with advertisers and more than 20,000 dealers. Its extensive sales force has been using technology based on legacy CRM software until making the switch to Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

The new system will increase the ability to view the ongoing interactions between its sales representatives and dealers and make it easier to measure the success of follow-up efforts with customers.

“We needed a tool that was easily used, worked well out of the box, integrated with Microsoft Office Outlook, and would enable us to track contacts, customer interactions and opportunities without having to introduce a totally different application or platform,” said Gib Finley, AutoTrader.com director of Sales and Service Technologies.

AutoTrader.com considered retaining its legacy system and looked at other off-the-shelf solutions before choosing Microsoft’s technology.

“We zeroed in on Microsoft Dynamics CRM fairly quickly,” Finley said. “We have sister operating companies using it, and we liked its integration with Microsoft Office Outlook. We also valued the Microsoft Dynamics CRM integration with our other Microsoft technology and its ability to roll out CRM to a mobile platform so our staff could use it on compatible mobile devices.”

The company ultimately chose Microsoft Dynamics CRM for its easy method of tracking contacts, opportunity-management capabilities, sales-interaction functionality and flexible reporting. In fact, the organization expects to benefit in a number of significant ways from its adoption of Microsoft Dynamics CRM:

• Ease of use. AutoTrader.com found all the features it wanted in Microsoft Dynamics CRM right out of the box, an important criterion for its new software.

• Better visibility. Microsoft Dynamics CRM enables the company to view marketplace shifts and forecast accurately so it can find sales opportunities and address them much more quickly than before. Senior management can obtain a much better view of data than it could previously, viewing trending information and the analysis associated with it.

• Improved productivity. Microsoft Dynamics CRM eliminates the manual work with which the sales force had to contend, including collection of data and manually inputting the information to spreadsheets and documents. With data now centralized and automated through Microsoft Dynamics CRM, staff can focus more on customers and less on the legwork required to support each dealership. Mobile capabilities, with compatible mobile devices, will be more efficient than previous methods in which staff had to go to their computers to update their contacts and accounts.

• Improved reporting. With a central database, the ability to report on trending and forecasting and to know day-to-day where sales stand will be important improvements for the company. “Reporting is our differentiator,” Finley said. “Armed with data and key information, we can best serve our customers.”

• Time savings. The centralized Microsoft Dynamics CRM solution populates information automatically, is simple to update and is easy to access at every level to find up-to-the-minute data.

• Improved accuracy. The company will be able to streamline the naming conventions it uses, validating street addresses and contact information and storing the information in a central database. This system replaces the creation of spreadsheets by individual salespersons, a method that carries the potential for human error and data-integrity issues.

• Support for growth. Microsoft Dynamics CRM will provide a scalable system to accommodate AutoTrader.com’s growth.

• IT support and management. After implementation, Microsoft Dynamics CRM will free up time for the company’s IT department to focus more on reporting and providing abilities to sort by market and region.

To implement Microsoft Dynamics CRM, the company chose Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Tribridge, which was named the 2008 Worldwide Microsoft Dynamics Partner of the Year.

“We’ve had previous engagements with Tribridge, and it provided a lot of expertise with quality people who understand the toolset well,” Finley said.

AutoTrader.com will integrate its Microsoft Dynamics CRM solution seamlessly with its current Microsoft technology, which includes the 2007 Microsoft Office system, Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Microsoft Office Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint Server, along with Fast Lane third-party software to help support service-call operations.

“When management can gain better visibility into its pipeline and forecast, it can position the business for long-term success,” said David Willis, vice president for Microsoft’s U.S. Dynamics business. “Microsoft Dynamics CRM integrates all the customer-related data in an organization to help focus its sales and marketing efforts, enabling it to take full advantage of emerging opportunities and improve satisfaction among current customers.”

Related Links Virtual Newsroom: • Microsoft Dynamics Newsroom External Resources: • AutoTrader Web site

About AutoTrader.com

AutoTrader.com, created in 1997 and headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., is the Internet’s leading auto classifieds marketplace and consumer information website. AutoTrader.com aggregates in a single location about 3.5 million new cars, used cars and certified pre-owned cars from 40,000 dealers and 250,000 private owners and the site attracts about 14 million unique monthly visitors. Through innovative merchandising functionality such as multiple photos, videos, detailed descriptions and comprehensive research and compare tools, AutoTrader.com unites new and used car buyers and sellers online to improving the way people research, locate and advertise vehicles. AutoTrader.com is a majority-owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. The venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers is also an investor. For more information, please visit www.autotrader.com.

About Tribridge

Tribridge is an IT services firm that delivers and supports technology, business management and core infrastructure solutions for organizations spanning diverse industries. Tribridge helps customers strategically leverage IT investments to become more productive, profitable, competitive and secure through proven methodologies, process optimization and industry best practices. We are dedicated to building a community in which organizations derive long-term business value from practical solutions that guarantee customer success and maximum return on investment. Headquartered in Tampa, Tribridge has customers, offices and team members across the U.S. and is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2008 Microsoft Dynamics Worldwide Partner of the Year.

About Microsoft Dynamics

Microsoft Dynamics is a line of financial, customer relationship and supply chain management solutions that helps businesses work more effectively. Delivered through a network of channel partners providing specialized services, these integrated, adaptable business management solutions work like and with familiar Microsoft software to streamline processes across an entire business.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM code samples available on MSDN

Liz H — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Samples, code, and more are available now on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 samples and 4.0 samples site. This new resource allows you to share code, provide an overview, and host discussions about your solution.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM technical forums heat up

Liz H — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:59:00 GMT

The Microsoft Dynamics CRM technical forums is a place where you can discuss all things CRM. Here you can talk with MVPs, ISVs, and users of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM product. Ask questions, talk about your implementations, and be a part of the CRM community.

Check out the new Microsoft Dynamics CRM Dev Center on MSDN

Liz H — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:51:00 GMT

Are you a developer who would rather write code than eat? Then, the new and improved Microsoft Dynamics CRM Development Center is for you!

Tell us what you think

Liz H — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:46:00 GMT

We want your product suggestions! Use this site to submit your product suggestions on Microsoft Dynamics products. Search existing suggestions and vote on suggestions submitted by others. Future versions and enhancements of Microsoft Dynamics products will be built with a better understanding of customer and partner needs. Suggestions about product features and enhancements can be submitted anytime, day or night!

For Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, Microsoft Dynamics Entrepreneur Solution, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics Mobile, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics POS (Point of Sale), Microsoft Dynamics RMS, Microsoft Dynamics SL, Microsoft Forecaster, and Microsoft FRx use the following instructions:

To submit a suggestion, become a member of the Microsoft Dynamics Product Suggestion program within Microsoft Connect by signing in with a free Windows Live ID. Already a member? Click here and first search to see whether another community member has already entered a similar suggestion. If a similar suggestion already exists, simply use the voting mechanism in Microsoft Connect.

If you have established that no similar suggestion has been submitted, click the “Create New” button and type in your suggestion along with the other relevant product and company information and click Submit. It’s that simple.