Applicabiiity of Microsoft CRM to Maintenance Construction Business

• 05-20-2008 11:41 AM

  Stephen St.Clair Joined on 05-19-2008 Posts 1

  Applicabiiity of Microsoft CRM to Maintenance Construction Business Reply Contact I have signed up for a 30-day trial of Microsoft CRM Online to check out its features. Our business consists of about 20 branches performing maintenance-type construction services such as carpetting, painting, plumbing, electrical, gate repairs, etc. mainly to major companies like Public Storage and Exta Space Storage, but also small self-storage companies.  We have about 20 branches around the country, and would probably be using about 40 CRM Licenses untimately. Our committee has questions about how Microsoft CRM works and how it would fit into our environment, and I will pose them in this forum, while we wait for a call from a Microsoft representative or reseller about the CRM online trial. 1. How complex is the available customization tools? 2. What is the cost breakdown for different levels of development support?  i.e. for specialist support, handholding, phone or online support etc. during the CRM development and customization cycle 3. Who are the available 3rd party or OEM vendors that CRM can be acquired from?  Andy was particularly interested in whether DELL was a supplier. 3. What are the particulars of the 30 day or 90 day "Free" trial? 4. More detail on how CRM integrates with the Outlook application. 5. Can CRM provide the means for the full customized ABR "dashboard" that Andy is envisioning?  Can all of the features or "buttons" be integrated to Outlook?  Does the platform architecture, available dll's, etc allow? Regarding question number 5 I think what we really need to ask is to what extent additional or custom web based applications can be integrated Outlook.  Of course Microsoft won’t understand Andy’s vision of a dashboard but if we understand fundamentally the ability and ease with which additional applications can be integrated to Outlook – that is the question. 6. What are the limits to customization?  Can only microsoft applications be integrated?  What kind of access to documents and photos is available? 7. What kind of training is available? costs? 8. What are the project management and scheduling capabilities and how would such integrate to Outlook for example? 9. What features might be available that could facilitate contact management? 10. Could an application like Sales Force be integrated to the platform? 11. Can the ABR Blackberries be integrated to this platform?  How would it work? Thanks for your thoughts on these issues ... Steve St.Clair Accent Building Restoration, Inc.

• 05-20-2008 9:49 PM

  In reply to

  KrishnaPrakash Joined on 12-17-2007 Bangalore,India Posts 42

  Re: Applicabiiity of Microsoft CRM to Maintenance Construction Business Reply Contact Hi Steve, I am glad that you are evaluvating MS CRM for your buisness. Let me try to answer your questions, 1. There are 2 tools available to customize MS CRM. one is avalible with MS CRM which can be used to modify the existing forms, add validations, add new fields etc... Another tool is CRM SDK which can be used to customize as per your requirments. 2. You have more options like hourly basis, based on no of developers, no of persons for support. and it is less when you outsource the developemnt and maintenance work. 3. There are a number of vendor for this and we  are one among them operating from Dallas.( DELL is a supplier of hardware products and they do not sell software as per my knowledge) 4. MS CRM can be accessed by 2 ways one is through Internet explorer and the other is thru outlook(Integrating the features of outlook). 5. I am not clear with the question - But i am happy to inform you that we are in the process of developing a DASH board for one of our clients. 6. There are no limits for customization with MS CRM. But integrating with non MS products has limitations. 7. Training will be a part of the implementation- We provide end user training , power user training and Administrator training. 8. Project managment is not a part of MS CRM- its a part of other Dynamcis products. 9. MS CRM has a lead to order and order to invoice cycle , which will take care of the contacts and all  his information which is integrated with outlook. 10. Yes ,it can be integrated. 11. There is a separate product for mobile applications called Mobile solutions for dynamics. Refer to the link www.microsoft.com/dynamics/ax/product/mobilesolutions.mspx I am hopefull that the information will be helpfull for you, we will be pleased to make a study of your buisness and let you know the % of customizations to be done with other details. it will be pleasure getting connected with you! You can write to me to krishna.prakash@adea.com / mailkprakash@gmail.com With best regards Krishna Prakash

• 05-22-2008 11:24 AM

  In reply to

  David Bullock Joined on 05-22-2008 Posts 3

  Re: Applicabiiity of Microsoft CRM to Maintenance Construction Business Reply Contact Steve We are a Microsoft Partner who has developed a solution/ISV specifically for the construction industry based upon Microsoft Dynamics CRM.  We are currently in discussion with a partner in Texas for another prospective customer so I am sure we can help you out.  In the first instance I would suggest a teleconference and online demo to discuss your requirements in more detail. Please email me at davidb@kms-software.com to discuss this further.  Also have a look at our website www.kms-software.com to have a look at what we do.  Please also have a look at our KPI Dashboard for Microsoft CRM which might prove useful for your colleague Andy. Regards David Bullock KMS

  Tags: CRM Online

• 05-22-2008 10:04 PM

  In reply to

  KrishnaPrakash Joined on 12-17-2007 Bangalore,India Posts 42	Re: Applicabiiity of Microsoft CRM to Maintenance Construction Business Reply Contact Hi steve, This is krishna prakash, you can visit our company site www.adea.com. For more info.