Month: October 2013

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Dynamics CRM 2013 Mobile Client Details (MoCA)

Notes from CRMUG Summit 2013 – Dynamics CRM 2013 Mobile Client Details (MoCA)

One of the major new features of Dynamics CRM 2013 is a new mobile client and framework, dubbed internally as CRM 2013 Mobile MoCA (Mobile Client App)

Beth Steinke, Microsoft CRM Mobile Program Manager gave use some insight and details into this amazing new feature…best of all, it’s included FREE in Dynamics CRM 2013 (available now on iPad and Windows 8 app stores!)

Dynamics CRM 2013 Mobile Client

Highlights

  • CRM on the go, wanted a consistent experience, configure once and deploy across applications and devices for seamless experience
  • User experience.
  • Dashboards, currently a single dashboard, up to 6 components
  • Currently does not support web resources or iFrames
  • Drill down and filtering is supported
  • Multiple entity search, up to 10

Personalization

  • Tiles, can pin to start screen of the dashboard (iPad and Win), or the Windows Start screen for Windows 8+
  • Can change views on lists grids and charts, this is a way to get around the 6 item limit
  • Sticky columns on views (remembers your changes)

Productivity focus

  • Reflows the forms (responsive design) in a horizontal experience, more tablet like than just giving a web client experience on the device
  • All controls are touch friendly
  • Business process flows work across the clients (woohoo!!!)
  • Will use quick create forms if available, otherwise it comes from full form
  • Communication: email and phone aware, on Windows uses Skype, when either phone or email is tapped, an activity form will open for entering notes
  • Communication form or card, represents a user or contact
  • Renders on entity forms and dashboard, currently hard coded (will be configurable in feature)
  • Immediate drill down when touching charts in dashboards or list views

Search

  • Can search across 10 entities
  • Using the quick find definition for scratches
  • Can pin views to dashboard
  • Resizable columns
  • Win 8 can do the split thing screen
  • Quick create available from anywhere
  • If multiple forms are used in Customization area, it takes the top order one; and does not support multiple forms yet

Configuration

  • User privilege.entity setting
  • Tablet dashboard, by default it is called the sales dashboard but can be renamed
  • Setting up search
  • Form structure, will get slide that shows this
  • Availability
  • Online and onpremise but does require IFD
  • Currently only iPad and Win 8, smarphones are next, Android “at some point”
  • Offline is cached and read only at this time
  • Mobile Express has had some improvements and a UI refresh (actually looks pretty good now, check it out!!

Here is short demo of the new mobile capabilities for Dynamics CRM 2013 – the demo itself starts at 1:50 into the video.

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CRM 2013 Upgrade Considerations and Key Platform Enhancements

A great session on Dynamics CRM 2013 upgrade considerations and key platform enhancements by Matt Barbour, Microsoft Senior Program Manager.

Dynamics CRM 2013 Upgrade Considerations

Discontinuing support for

  • Windows Server 2003
  • Windows XP
  • IE7
  • Exchange 2003
  • Reworking some of the accelerators several have been around since v4
  • This is a one way upgrade
  • Must upgrade from ur6 or ur14 or higher. CRM 2011 MUST be on one of these patches or the upgrade will refuse to complete
  • Supporting both in place and migration updates
  • Base and extension tables are merging in this release
    • Reason, improved performance (no joins), less locks, better design
  • Merge tool is suggested for large data sets. Guidance will be coming on size for when to use merge tool vs during the upgrade
  • Two new services added, CSS writer and monitoring service
  • VSS writer – online backup support for CRM, meaning live backup, SCOM support
  • Monitoring service – health monitoring, will support only 1 test/check for Orion, more tests to be added to future releases, integrates with SCOM pack
  • Email Connector service – email router v2, this will be part of CRM, no longer need to install email connector separately.
    • Today only works on like for like, either online only or on-premise only, this will change in future
  • Solutions, 2011 will import smoothly into CRM 2013, suggest partners install CRM 2013 dev instance, upgrade the CRM 2011 components and feautes to 2013, then create new 2013 solutions, then use these for updating production systems

CRM versioning system changes (improvements and consistency)

Major.minor.UR/lob.build

  • CRM 2013 “Orion” is 6.0.0000.xxxx
  • If second number changes, these are feature changes, adds
  • If 3rd number changes, these are bands or fixes
  • R2, service lack, feature lack, mean Minor update
  • Update roll ups are
  • Fixes and security only…no more feature adds

Other new adds

  • OAuth authentic a model, required for IFD deployments
  • Can’t speak yet about OpenID support
  • New image data type
  • Added left outer join to fetchxml (woohoo!!!)

Real time workflow

  • Transaction aware
  • Supports both pre and post pipeline support
  • Security aware
  • Fits existing workflows can be converted to workflows

Actions / PBL / Business Rules

Access teams (woohoo!!!)

  • Supports team selling scenarios, enhances security model
  • Works the way you do
  • Adding a user records grants them specific access
  • Can have multiple access teams per entity
  • E.g. Teams that come in nod do out at different times of a process
  • Ownership vs collaboration
  • Does not require team ownership of records
  • Scalable for large number of dynamic teams
  • When to use Access teams.
    • When number of users are dynamic and fluid, use team ownership
    • When number of team’s are fixed, use access teams
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New Era in Dynamics CRM 2013

Notes from CRMUG Summit 2013, Tampa, FL

I have a few posts from sessions and content from the Dynamics CRM User Group Summit held in Tampa FL the week of October 21.

First up was the New Era in Dynamics CRM 2013 presentation by Param Kahlon, CRM Program Manager, for Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

Dynamics CRM 2013

Growth in Dynamics CRM continues and in fact is increasing
* 3.5m users
* 40,000 customers
* 66% choose cloud
* 36 double digit growth quarters and accelerating

Key themes for CRM 2013 and beyond
* Performance and scalability
* Agility and process excellence
* Social in context
* Reimagined user experience
* Role tailored mobile experiences
* Richness of custom extensions

One of the key UI/UX Designers for CRM 2013, Wayne Higgins, gave us a little perspective
* Reimagined UI and UX
* All about Efficiency
* New way to get things done
* Relevant tools available (max of 5 commands, drop down nav, etc.)
* Mobile optimized
* Start up experience, easy, user friendly, informative
* Information architecture

Business process management – respond quickly to individual customer need
* Power to business users
* Agility
* Configuration not coding
* Multiple processes
* Client side logic
* Web and mobile
* Rules drive
* Plan to add business process for vertical industries

XRM a much richer platform (back to Param)
* Custom entities flow to mobile devices
* Configurable tool tips
* Quick create for custom entities
* Image data type
* Fluid form entities
* Team selling focus
* Portable business logic (formerly called PBL, now Business Rules)
* Visual process flows for custom entities
* Bing maps for custom entities
* Multiple entity quick find, enhanced search on mobile
* Custom actions and real time workflows

Future
* Online first
* Productivity and communication
* Proactive
* Business process excellence
* User experience edge
* Universal social
* Ubiquitous access
* Mobility

Next few releases
* CRM 2013 now
* Subra, Q1 2014 online only
* Mira, Q1 MarketingPilot updates
* Leo, Q2 tighter Netbreeze and MarketingPilot integration

Subra

* Netbreeze, social list ending and analytical, will be amended directly in CRM
* Scalable online service
* Office 365 integration
* General availability integrated as office 365 service

Mira

* Extended global reach
* Online service only
* Tighter CRM integration
* Multiple channelled campaign management
* Lync and Skype enhancements

Leo

* Revamped customer service
* Mobile and social improvements
* New look for customer service
* State of the art experience
* SLA and entitlement compliance

Will ensure industry templates that have been available in Marketplace will continue to work on 2013 and will add business processes to these as well. Essentially free, unsupported, accelerators.

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The Partner Connections Event (TPCE) and Dynamics Partner Connections

The Partner Connections Event Happens but Once a Year!

The Partner Connections Event has moved to Florida as well as partnered up with Dynamic Partner Connections to bring you The Partner Connections Event (TPCE) from October 20-22nd. In addition to product focused technical training, attendees will benefit from role-specific tips, industry best practices, peer to peer engagement and gather Microsoft leader insight to improve profitability and competitiveness. With sessions like ?Mobility Options in Dynamics CRM 2013? to the infamous ?50 Marketing Tips in 50 Minutes?, you?re sure to walk away with golden nuggets of information to last you all year!

The Partner Connections Event - Speaker
The Partner Connections Event – Speaker

I will be co-presenting with Julinda Prekop from Ledgeview Partners. Our session is titled: The Microsoft Dynamics CRM Demo Showdown: How to Effectively Demonstrate Dynamics CRM

It will be a lot of fun and we’ll share some great tips with everyone. Bring your ideas too!

Check out the growing list of sessions already confirmed and make plans to attend by registering today: http://www.thepartnerconnectionsevent.com

P.S. If you?re already going to AXUG, CRMUG, or GPUG Summit 2013 Tampa, you can attend The Partner Connections Event for just $199! Don?t miss out on this wide range of learning at a very affordable cost. We look forward to seeing you there!

Partners who attend The Partner Connections Event will receive:

  • Coaching from industry experts that will help them re-focus and implement key business strategies.
  • Tips from fellow Partners as to what is working in their own businesses to drive leads, enhance customer satisfaction, and build profitability.
  • Technical training on the latest and greatest for Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, and Microsoft Dynamics GP.
  • Insight from our Keynote Speakers as far as what the industry future holds and how to prepare for the coming change.
  • First peek into Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013. Check out the blog post from David Pennington of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM team about this event!

There is something for everyone that is a Dynamics focused partner!

Microsoft Dynamics AX

  • Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 ? Unlocking the Data and Security Models
  • Life Cycle Services (https://lcs.dynamics.com)
  • Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Upgrade Best Practices
  • Mobile Applications Development
  • Industry Success with Microsoft Dynamics AX

Microsoft Dynamics CRM

  • Yammer ? Unlocking the Social Enterprise
  • Compete ? Latest Best Practices
  • Marketing Pilot ? A New Dimension
  • Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 – The Inside Scoop for Readiness

Microsoft Dynamics GP

  • MVP Secrets Unveiled
  • Strategies for Life-long Customer Relationships
  • The Future of Microsoft Dynamics GP