Why CRM Project Fails

CRM has received a lot of negative publicity over the years because of the failure rate of CRM implementation projects. A recent Butler Group report found that 70 percent of CRM implementations fail. A Gartner study found that approximately 55 percent of all CRM projects failed to meet software customers’ expectations. In a Bain & Company survey of 451 senior executives, CRM ranked in the bottom three categories among 25 popular tools evaluated for customer satisfaction.

Reasons

CRM initiatives launched without a strategy. The CRM strategy is not integral to the business strategy. The CRM toolset is based on someone else’s success. CRM is launched with no regard for enterprise or customer interfaces. CRM is launched without customer input. CRM is considered an IT project – not business initiatives leveraging technology. CRM is launched without defined metrics and objectives. CRM is considered a one-time event. Assume you have a customer-centric culture because you have customers. No top down leadership and employee buy-in for CRM. Altering the CRM solution to accommodate current business process and behavior CRM is regarded without urgency. Try to implement “everything CRM” at one time. Download Butler Group Latest Report Stresses the Importance of Enterprise Portals.

Butler Reports Download Butler Group Latest Report Stresses the Importance of Enterprise Portals Gartner Reports 1.Gartner Says Worldwide CRM Software Market to Grow 14 Percent in 2008 2.Don’t rush into CRM projects, says Gartner 3.Gartner Customer Relationship Management Summit 2009 4.Eight Steps to Implementing a Successful CRM Project 5.Maximising the benefits from CRM Bain Report

Reference:

TOP 10 REASONS CRM PROJECTS FAIL

Why CRM Projects Fail

MSCRM Form Types

CRM Form Types

• Is the user creating a new record: crmForm.FormType == 1
• Is the user updating an existing record: crmForm.FormType ==2
• Is the user unable to update this record: crmForm.FormType == 3
• Is this record deactivated: crmForm.FormType == 4
• Is the user using the Quick Create form: crmForm.FormType == 5
• Is the user using the Bulk Edit form: crmForm.FormType == 6
• What is the unique ID for this record: crmForm.ObjectId
• What type of record is this: crmForm.ObjectTypeCode
• What type of record is this (Entity Name): crmForm.ObjectTypeName
• Is the user using the Outlook Client: crmForm.IsForOutlookClient==true
• Is the user using the Outlook Light Client: crmForm.IsForOutlookLightClient == true
• Is the user working On-line: crmForm.IsOnline==true
• Have any fields in this form been changed: crmForm.IsDirty==true

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Installers

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Server	Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 is available as a 90-day trial version in each language in which Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 is available. This page will be updated with new languages as they are released. Download
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Virtual Machine	This demo is a one computer setup with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 and associated Microsoft Dynamics CRM clients for Microsoft Office Outlook and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Download
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Software Development Kit	The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Software Development Kit (SDK) is for developers, system customizers, and report writers. It contains all new information about creating plug-ins, working with custom workflow activities, using the new Web services, using new data management features, and much more.This SDK contains information for developers writing server side code, custom business logic, integration modules, workflow assemblies, and more. It provides an architectural overview of MSCRM, the entity model, security model, and Web services. Sample code and walkthroughs guide you through the new features. The SDK also contains information for developers customizing the Web client or MSCRM for Microsoft Office Outlook, including scripting, integration of custom Web pages, sample code, and a detailed user interface style guide. Download
Plugin Registration Tool 2.2	PluginDeveloper tool shipped in the SDK has the console application support for scripting but i have got many requests to add support for scripting in the PlguinRegistration tool so that they could use it for deployment purposes. PluginRegistration Tool assumes that you have secure trust established to the CRM server so it doesn’t ask for the credentials. If you do want to run the tool across domains, then you can save the credentials of the CRM server in the Windows->Stored User Names repository and run the application. Download
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Deployment Software Development Kit	The MSCRM 4.0 Deployment Software Development Kit (SDK) presents information to help you write code using the Deployment Web service.You can create solutions to do the following: 1. Manipulate the MSCRM Organization entity to create and manage organizations. 2. Retrieve and view MSCRM license type information for a deployment.MCRM 4.0 can host multiple organizations on a single server. The Deployment SDK provides a way to programmatically manage these organizations using the MSCRM Deployment Manager and the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in. Download
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 for Microsoft Office Outlook	Install Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 for Outlook and Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 for Outlook with Offline Access. For on-premise and Service Provider editions of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 only. Download
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Integration with Office Communications Server	In this sample you will work with a server-based messaging bot capable of providing intelligent real time communications to multiple endpoints within an Office Communications Server environment. This bot communicates with customers through an AJAX-based Microsoft Office Communicator Web Access server. Messages are sent through an automated script managed by a WWF Sequential Workflow to create an intelligent automated response system. When a conversation between a customer and the bot is finished, the data that was gathered by the bot is stored in a queue hosted by a WCF service. This allows live persons to take over the conversation and gather any further desired information. Once the live conversation is complete, the queued data can be sent directly to an active MSCRM 4.0 server through a set of Web services. Download
Miscrosoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Implementation Guide	This guide contains comprehensive information about how to plan, install, and maintain Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Download
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Readme	This document provides important late-breaking information for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server and Web application. Download
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Help Update	The Microsoft Dynamics CRM documentation team has updated the Help for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 based on feedback from customers and partners. In this update, you will find expanded information and clarifications in many topics, as well as bug fixes and new topics to support late-breaking product features. This update includes Help for all supported languages. Download
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 User’s Guide	A printable version of the Help that ships with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0, On Premise. Download
Install Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 on multiple servers	You can install multiple Microsoft Dynamics CRM servers to balance the processing load across several servers. Deploying Microsoft Dynamics CRM in this manner can increase performance and availability. Download
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Sample Data (On-Premise Edition)	This sample data includes a set of comma-separated values (CSV) files that contains the sample data and an XML data map file that maps the data to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. You use the Data Migration Manager to install the sample data. Download
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Data Migration Manager	Using the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Data Migration Manager, you can convert and upload data from another CRM system to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0.The Data Migration Manager includes default data maps to convert source data from several common CRM systems to the data format expected by Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. During the conversion and migration process, you can create any necessary custom entities or attributes to ensure that you do not lose legacy data during the migration process. Download
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 E-mail Router	The E-mail Router is an interface between the Microsoft Dynamics CRM system and one or more Exchange servers or POP3 servers for incoming e-mail, and one or more SMTP servers for outgoing e-mail. E-mail messages come into the Microsoft Dynamics CRM system through the E-mail Router. The three main components that can be installed during E-mail Router Setup are as follows: - Microsoft Dynamics CRM E-mail Router Service - Microsoft Dynamics CRM E-mail Configuration Manager - Microsoft Dynamics CRM E-mail Rule Deployment Wizard Download
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Logical Database Diagrams	These Microsoft Office Visio diagrams show the logical database structure for Microsoft CRM 4.0. These diagrams were generated using the Metadata Diagram sample code included in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 SDK download. Download
List Web Part for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0	The List Web Part for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 provides a way to view and update Microsoft Dynamics CRM records using a Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 SP1 or Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 SP1 Web site. Microsoft Dynamics CRM users can create shared or personal List Web Parts of Microsoft Dynamics CRM records from a SharePoint Web site, open records in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 from the List Web Part, and create connected List Web Parts. Download
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Sales Lead Assessment Tool	The CRM Sales Lead Assessment Tool is intended for small and medium-sized partners needing to ramp up new sales teams unfamiliar with Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft® Outlook® 2007 with Business Contact Manager. The tool provides the questions to help sales teams start a conversation about which Microsoft solution will best meet those business needs, specifically, one of the following: Microsoft Office 2007 Outlook with Business Contact Manager or Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Download
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Demonstration Tools	The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Demonstration Tools provide a simple user interface that allows you to easily enter and edit data to populate or modify your instance of Microsoft Dynamics CRM. It also allows you to load and store your data in XML format, so that you can reuse your data in the future. Download

How to maximize attachment size in MSCRM 4.0

The default attachement  size is  5mb in MSCRM 4.0.

Steps you need to follow:

• Open the web.config of MS CRM
• Locate httpRuntime the key within the element and change the values to the following:

                            httpRuntime executionTimeout=”9999″ maxRequestLength=”10240″

• Locate httpRuntime the key within the element of the element, and change it to the following:

                           httpRuntime maxRequestLength=”10240″

• Save the web.config and restart IIS.

MSCRM 4.0 Entity Relationships

MSCRM 4.0 Entity Relationships

 : Relationships in CRM 4.0 are quite powerful but hard to understand at first.

1. One-to-Many System-System (1:N) : In MSCRM 4.0 you can link system entity to another system entity. The child system entity has a lookup field to associate it with a parent system entity.

 

2. Self-Referential : In CRM 4.0 you can link An entity to itself. For example a Case can be linked to a master Case.

 

3. Multiple Relationships Between Entities : Many of you know about mulitple lookups issues with same entity, now it can be achieved in MS CRM 4.0 e.g the Account entity might have two relationships with a Contact entity – a primary and secondary Contact.

4. Many-to-Many System-System, System-Custom & Custom-Custom (N:N) : In MSCRM 4.0 this is major requirement for many to many relationship, now it is possible . Not only will this remove the need to build a “joining” entity, but you have control over how the relationships show up in the CRM UI.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Third Party Addins

Project Management/Item Tracking	Its all about project management , Time tracking, task management with MS CRM 4.0. Download
Sharepoint Integration	By using this component, a user can view his document library with in MS CRM account / customer tab. Download
Group Calendar	By using this component a user / team manager can view activities of his team members or other teams. Download
Quickbook Integration	In this component, an organization can achieve accounting package integration with Microsoft CRM 4.0 i.e. Account / Customer integration, Invoice Integration, Change Invoice status into MSCRM. Download
MAP Integration	If we want to integrate map (virtual Earth , google maps or map point). Download
Real Estate/Property Management	Following major modules of this component i.e. Property Management, Unit Management, Lease Handling, Rent / for Sale Handling, Maintenance / Inspection Management, Documents, Screen shots of the property, Autonumber, Invoice Generation, Oppertunitiy handling, Reports, Dashboards. Download
Ticket Management/Helpdesk	Using this system (Helpdesk / Ticket Management System / Customer portal), an organization’s customer will be able to authenticate and become authorized to perform specific actions including:- Create new customer cases / tickets, View / update existing case details, View ticket history, Attach documents, update contact record. Download
Latest Currency Exchange Rates	Mondor Software-Currency Exchange Rates Web Service (CERWS) is an XML web service which provides currency exchangerates to its clients. Rates are updated every 20 minutes. Clients may retrieve currency list (which is constant), rates for various currencies, or automatically convertone currency into another. Automatic conversion can be used to outsource the actual conversion, as this is counted as only one call to web service (see Licensing below). Download
SalesCentric Relationship Charts	SalesCentric Relationship Charts™ for Microsoft Dynamics™ CRM will forever increase the value you achieve from CRM. When sales people have relationships with key decision makers, they sell more, and when you market to customers you know and understand, response rates improve. Relationship Charts helps you achieve both, to increase Net Profit. Download

CRM 4.0 Mobile Express

A mobile CRM solution can enable employees to access customer information wherever and whenever they need, allowing them to stay better informed and be more responsive to customers. This helps them make timely decisions, improve sales, and ultimately drive greater customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Customers have a choice of mobile solutions with Microsoft Dynamics® CRM, allowing them to select the solution that provides the capabilities and flexibility their business scenarios demand while achieving rapid return on investment. Mobile Express is a mobile solution for Microsoft Dynamics CRM that provides access to CRM data and functionality anywhere, any time, on any device for companies with mobile workforces who want to keep costs under control. Mobile Express is an online-only Web-based mobile access solution that supports any phone with a browser and Internet access.

Join the Mobile Express for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Connect program, so that you can test Mobile Express software, submit bug reports and suggest ideas of how to make the product better.

For other mobile Microsoft Dynamics CRM solutions look to TenDigits and their MobileAccess product; it gives users of RIM BlackBerry or Windows Mobile® 6.1 users online and offline access to CRM data and functionality. The Windows Mobile SDK rounds out your choices of mobility solutions with a developer toolkit that allows your organization to build custom solutions.

Download Microsoft CRM 4.0 Mobile Express

Performance & Optimization

The AsyncOperationBase and WorkflowLogBase tables grow very large and performance issues occur when you use many workflows in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0

 

This issue occurs because, when the workflow rules are fired, a workflow instance and a workflow record are created in the AsyncOperationBase and WorkflowLogBase tables of the MSCRM database. However, when the workflow instance is completed, the workflow record remains in the database. Therefore, the AsyncOperationBase and WorkflowLogBase tables continue to grow. Eventually, performance decreases.

Performance is slow if the AsyncOperationBase table becomes too large in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0

 

When you run Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0, the AsyncOperationBase table grows to be very large. When the table contains millions of records, performance is slow.

Extensibility Features Live vs. On-Premise

Extensibility Features Live vs. On-Premise in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0

 

This article provides a concise description regarding availability of Microsoft Dynamics CRM extensibility features across the three types of deployments.

• Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 (on-premise)
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Internet Facing Deployment (hosted)

Introduction to Data Management Features

Introduction to Data Management Features in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 SDK

 

Use the Microsoft Dynamics CRM SDK to work with Bulk Delete, Duplicate Detection, and Data Migration/Import. This article introduces these features, new in  Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4, and shows you how they can help you to improve the way you manage and maintain the quality of data in your system.