By Bill Patterson

One of the most popular questions I seem to be answering lately seems to be, "How long will it take me to implement Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online for my business?" I love this question.  Not because there is a canned response that I can offer (in fact, quite the opposite) that appeases the individual asking the question, but rather because the response has such a wide array of "correct" answers that simply need to be applied to the appropriate business situation. 

Let me explain: CRM is a combination of both art and science;  for every creative marketing campaign, sales pitch or strategy for turning an un-happy customer into a loyal one, there are an equal number of statistical correlations and process coefficients that make-up your typical sales forecast or marketing ROI analysis.  For every successful business that has deployed CRM in a day or week's time, I've met an equal number of organizations that are still 'implementing' CRM after one month or one year.  The answer, like most fuel efficiency guidelines, is that your mileage will certainly vary. 

What I can tell you is that Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online can greatly accelerate your time to business value.  For instance, the time that it takes you to sign-up for CRM Online and have an environment ready for use is measured in minutes as opposed to the hours or days it might take to procure a server and have it shipped to you.  The time it takes to import your key data (business contacts, appointments and communications) with one mouse-click is measured in seconds as opposed to the hours it might take for an IT professional to respond to your inquiry. The time it takes to learn Microsoft Dynamics CRM's Outlook interface, well, is almost-instantaneous to those already using one of the world's most widely-adopted e-mail and calendaring utilities.  

For those keeping score at home, we've yet to eclipse one hour of time, but what we have yet to include is anything to do with applying CRM strategies across your business.  This is usually where my humor gets the better half of me.  When asked the question above, I usually respond with something along the lines of "Well, we removed the need for servers not the need to do the CRM part" (ok, not funny, more witty, but you get the idea). 

From a pragmatic standpoint, and in broad generality, your time to deploy CRM typically increases with every distinct user group wanting to be included within the active user community.  You can apply the economic law of decreased marginal returns to your deployment and the law most certainly holds true.  I have found guidance of "one week for every distinct user group" to be directionally sound for most ballpark estimates.

What I do find is that most successful SaaS CRM deployments are engineered at a team or departmental level within a singular line of business. It is the combination of lower upfront costs with the need to act and grow at an organic, autonomous pace that many businesses find SaaS CRM to be so appealing. And precisely why so many customers are finding our new delivery model so appealing for their business.  

But enough from me - how about hearing from some of our successful customers who have really taken this instant-on capability to heart?  Here are three examples of customers who have all adopted Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online across their business in less than a week.  Good luck with your CRM project - which I hope you begin here!

Lure Executive Search - customized executive staffing CRM system in less than a week.

• Video: Dynamics CRM Online - Keeping Customers - Microsoft Small Business

High5 Sportswear - rapid customer service adoption in 2 days time.

• Video: Microsoft Dynamics High 5 Sportswear Case Study

1-888-TRASH-IT.com - centralized customer management system in less than a week.

• Video: Dynamics CRM Online - From Trash To Cash - Microsoft Small Business