Microsoft Dynamics 365 VS. Salesforce: Will Natural Integration Across Microsoft

An Evaluation of Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE for Organizations Using Salesforce

Salesforce is used by organizations as a CRM system to manage customer data, track activity, and support sales, marketing, and service teams. Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE provides these comparable capabilities while also adding flexibility, integration, and alignment across a variety of business processes and tools. For organizations already using Microsoft technologies such as Outlook, Exchange, Teams, Microsoft 365, Dynamics ERP, or Power Platform, a CRM reevaluation can begin by looking at how well Salesforce supports long-term operational goals.

As organizations grow, technical environments and businesses evolve, and teams may focus less on individual solution features. Instead, attention often shifts to how the CRM platform integration supports the daily work of its users. For example, integration effort, process complexity, and adoption can become more visible over time as companies expand. In this context, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement may be reevaluated as a CRM system designed to connect customer engagement with broader organizational workflows. This perspective can be especially relevant for teams currently using Salesforce and exploring how their CRM system aligns with existing tools, data models, and future change.

Why Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE are Revisited During CRM Assessments

For teams using Salesforce, a CRM review can begin with practical questions. These often focus on how the system fits into daily operations rather than on feature gaps alone. Integration depth, process flexibility, and visibility across teams can all shape this discussion. In that context, Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE becomes more relevant to that reconsideration.

D365 enters this process as a CRM system that supports customer engagement while also aligning with existing business productivity tools. From the start, Dynamics connects customer data with collaboration, automation, and reporting.

As a result, CRM usage often expands across sales, marketing, service, and leadership. In those situations, the ability to support multiple roles becomes more important. Dynamics 365 provides a unified data model that helps reduce fragmentation across multiple teams, regions, or lines of business.

Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE Integration Considerations

At this point, integration becomes clearer as CRM usage extends beyond a single team. Rather than treating integration as an add-on, D365 is designed to operate within a broader Microsoft ecosystem. It also supports different adoption paths with common integration areas including:

• Outlook and Exchange for email tracking, calendars, and activity history
• Teams for collaboration, shared context, and in-the-flow conversations
• Microsoft 365 for documents, notes, and shared workspaces
• Power Platform for automation, extensions, and low-code customization

Because integration can be introduced gradually, organizations do not need to standardize on every Microsoft tool for Dynamics 365 CE to be a good fit. More information about Microsoft’s view of the Dynamics 365 platforming approach is available here.

Flexibility When Evaluating Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE

As CRM systems expand to support more users and processes, flexibility becomes easier to assess. Over time, data models, workflows, and reporting needs tend to change. Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE supports this adaptability through configurable entities, business process flows, and Power Platform extensions.

This approach allows teams to adjust processes without rebuilding the whole system from the ground up. Organizations can actively respond to change while maintaining overall structure and governance.

User Experience and Adoption Across CRM Systems

Day-to-day CRM usage is often shaped less by features and more by how the system fits into existing work habits. When systems align with existing patterns, teams can spend less time switching between tools and more time focusing on what matters most to them.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE emphasizes role-based experiences that adjust to different responsibilities. In addition, familiar Microsoft interfaces can reduce day-to-day effort in CRM tasks. Because D365 activities connect more naturally with everyday tools, teams can spend more time on customer-facing work and less time navigating backend systems.

Copilot and Natural Language Interaction in Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE

In practical CRM work, teams now experience AI less as a feature and more as a way that they can interact with information. Within D365, Microsoft Copilot introduces natural language interaction across sales, marketing, service, and other customer engagements. It is also positioned to work across  productivity tools rather than as a standalone feature. Copilot supports scenarios such as:

• Sales research and opportunity summaries
• Customer service context and case assistance
• Insight-driven journeys across various touchpoints

Microsoft’s overview of Copilot within Dynamics 365 and Power Platform is available here.

For an additional perspective, New Dynamic’s blog on operating as a Frontier Firm explores how AI-first thinking can support adaptability across an entire organization.

Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE Security and Governance

Security and governance remain important considerations for any CRM system. D365 aligns security roles, identity, and compliance across the broader Microsoft platform. Key areas include:

• Role-based security and least-privilege access
• Centralized identity management
• Auditing and compliance alignment

Additional Microsoft documentation on Dynamics 365 security and governance is available here. This alignment supports consistent governance across customer engagement and related operational systems.

Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE: Architectural and Operational Considerations

Evaluating Change with Intent

Evaluating Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE can help teams talk more clearly about CRM alignment, process maturity, and future direction. In practice, structured discussions help teams align priorities and constraints across the business before making decisions.

New Dynamic’s Vision and Value Workshop can provide a blueprint to explore platform capabilities and organizational readiness. That kind of evaluation can also help create shared understanding across IT, operations, and business teams before any platform decisions are made.

Conclusion

For teams using Salesforce today, evaluating Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE can help clarify how a CRM system supports integration, flexibility, and long-term change. D365 provides a foundation designed to connect customer engagement with broader business workflows. For organizations already using Microsoft tools, this can support a more connected approach without forcing disruption.

Working with New Dynamic

New Dynamic is a Microsoft Solutions Partner focused on the Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement and Power Platforms. Our team of dedicated professionals strives to provide first-class experiences incorporating integrity, teamwork, and a relentless commitment to our client’s success. Contact Us today to transform your sales productivity and customer buying experiences.