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Unified Interface – Microsoft Dynamics 365 / CRM User Interface

Abhishek Dhoriya Profile Picture Abhishek Dhoriya 1,011

Hello, everyone and welcome back to Dynamix Academy Post. With this article we are starting a new Microsoft Dynamics 365 / CRM tutorials for beginners series. In this series we will pick on of the feature of Microsoft Dynamics 365 / CRM and provide all details about that in below highlighted points.

  1. Feature Overview
  2. History of that feature
  3. Major changes till today
  4. Detailed Feature Explanation
  5. Future Roadmap

1) Feature Overview: New Unified Interface in Microsoft Dynamics 365

The Unified Interface uses responsive web design principles to provide an optimal viewing and interaction experience for any screen size, device, or orientation. It brings all the rich experiences to any client that you are using. Whether you are on a browser, tablet, or phone, you will be able to consume similar experiences

Find More information:

2) History of Microsoft Dynamics 365 / CRM User Interface

  • Microsoft Dynamics CRM has been around for more than 17 years.
  • Microsoft Dynamics CRM has grown over the years starting from its 1.0 version in 2003.
  • Following is the chronological list of release versions
History of Microsoft Dynamics 365 / CRM Versions

3) Major Changes in Microsoft Dynamics 365 User Interface

In the below screenshot, you can see the major changes in User Interface of Dynamics 365 are highlighted in blue.

Microsoft CRM 1.0/1.2 (2003)

Microsoft CRM 1.0/1.2 (2003)
  • Launched in January 2003. with the name Microsoft Business Solutions Customer Relationship Management 1.0.
  • Soon Name changed to Microsoft CRM 1.0.
  • CRM 1.0’s homepage gave users a glance view of open activities, a quick create menu, and a list of the various announcement.
  • Along the bottom of the screen, users could navigate between their homepage, workplace, sales, and service environments, and finally the reporting environment for metrics and statistics.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 (2005)

  • In mid-2005, CRM 3.0 was released (no, you’re not crazy, there is no 2.0, Version 2.0 was originally slated for the first quarter of 2004 but major changes in reporting engine and a major user interface redesign allowed Microsoft to skip directly to Version 3.0 )
  • The UI of v3.0 introduced the navigation paradigm that has been largely carried onward to the CRM 2011 version
  • Rebranded as Microsoft Dynamics 3.0 to indicate its inclusion in Microsoft’s Dynamics product family.
  • Added Marketing capabilities like campaign management and marketing lists to the product.
  • Most importantly, with CRM 3.0 it was now possible to create brand new custom entities to expand the default data model to cover whatever business domain that the customer was working in. 
  • Birth of XRM.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 (2007)

  • Launched in December 2007, Version 4.0 was “multi-everything”: multiple languages, multiple currencies, and most importantly, multiple tenants.
  • Branded as Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0.
  • Improved security, data importing, direct mail merging, and in-built support for new operating systems such as Windows 2008 and technologies such as SQL 2008.
  • It offered both On-premise and Online deployment options as well.
  • There was no Major Changes in terms of UI except minor Look and Feel changes.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 (2011)

  • Launched in February 2011. And branded as Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011.
  • It introduced the concept of solutions and solution layers, allowing partners to deliver managed packages of customizations and web resources to be deployed to customers much like you would deploy an App on your phone.
  • This was a Major Milestone in the Roadmap of Dynamics CRM/365, it added tons of new features and capabilities.
  • However, there were no Major Changes in terms of UI except minor Look and Feel changes

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 (2013)

  • Microsoft released Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 with their eyes firmly on the future. Introduced more Clients (Tablets and Mobiles) apart from regular Web and Outlook.
  • It was branded as Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013.
  • CRM 2013 provides a completely new & clean Mobile Device and Touch-Optimized Screens. Flat User Interface.
  • Flat User Interface – While navigating CRM 2013, you will notice the absence of pop-up windows. Similar to a website, clicking an item in the navigation replaces your current view with the new page. You can use the back button to take you to your previous page.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2015 (2014)

  • Launched in the fourth quarter of 2014. And branded as Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2015.
  • Improved CRM App for Tablets – working offline use drafts to create new CRM records & synchronize the changes and Build an app home page personalized with pinned records & dashboard views.
  • At the same time, in this version User Interface was enhanced for fewer clicks with an introduction to slider bar.
  • Also, many new features and platform improvements were done by Microsoft.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016 (2015)

  • Released in the fourth quarter of 2015. And branded as Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016
  • Next-generation CRM app for Outlook. And Filtered Note Control.
  • Contextual documents store and manage your private documents in OneDrive for Business, directly from CRM.
  • But there were no Major Changes in terms of UI except minor Look and Feel changes.

Microsoft Dynamics 365

  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 released in the fourth quarter of 2016. And now branded as Microsoft Dynamics 365.
  • It integrated Microsoft CRM and ERP products
  • User experience enhancements in web apps.
  • With this release, the user interface of the web apps has been refreshed to improve usability and visual appeal.
    • Dynamics 365 V8.0X – Not Major UI Changes
    • Dynamics 365 V9.0X – Major Changes (Unified Interface Introduced)

4) Detailed Explanation: New Unified Interface in Microsoft Dynamics 365

The Unified Interface uses responsive web design principles to provide an optimal viewing and interaction experience for any screen size, device, or orientation. It brings all the rich experiences to any client that you are using. Whether you are on a browser, tablet, or phone, you will be able to consume similar experiences.

Navigation in Dynamics 365 Unified Interface

  1. App selector: Open this menu to move between apps.
  2. Collapse/expand button: Select this to collapse the navigator to allow more room for the main part of the page.
  3. Recent records: Expand this entry to view a list of records you were recently using. Select a record here to open it. Select the push-pin icon next to a record listed here to add to your favorites (pinned records).
  4. Favorite records: Expand this entry to view and open your favorite (pinned) records. Use the Recent records list to add records here. Select the remove-pin icon next to a record listed here to remove it from this list.
  5. Entity navigator: This area lists each entity and dashboard available for the current work area. Select any entry here to open the named dashboard or list-view for that entity.
  6. Work-area selector: Open this menu to move to another work area.

For more information, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VPOi_Iq6ko

5) Future Roadmap : Microsoft Dynamics 365 User Interface

  • The legacy / classic Microsoft Dynamics 365 web client will be deprecated. Customers must transition to Unified Interface before October 1, 2020.
  • Microsoft will continue to provide support, security and other critical updates to the Dynamics 365 legacy web client until October 1, 2020 but will not release any additional functionality beyond what has already been announced.
  • In addition, the following capabilities will also be removed by October 1, 2020.
    • Process dialogs: Previously announced
    • Task flows: Previously announced
  • On October 1, 2020, the Dynamics 365 legacy web client, process dialogs and task flows will no longer be available.
  • However, in the coming months, for those that have not already made the transition, we will be sending reminders and scheduling updates to transition customers to Unified Interface prior to October 1, 2020.

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