Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 and Data Integration

At the point of time where customers are going to implement an Microsoft Dynamics CRM System, they most often already have an ERP System like SAP or Navision or Axapta in place.

As you do not want to have inconsitant data, and also do not want to maintain data twice you will get the need to get an data integration beween your Microsoft Dynamis CRM System and you ERP System, lets take SAP as an example.

In general we talk about 3 Main Areas of Data Integration:

1. Master Data Integration
2. Customer Data Integration
3. Application Integration

1. Master Data Integration:What we need as starting point in Dynamics CRM are the accounts already present in SAP.
Maybe we have also contacts in regarding to the accounts maintained in SAP.
What we would also integrate is the Products from SAP to the Products Entity in Dynamics CRM.
So we talk about Master Data Integration as basement of our Dynamics CRM Implementation.

2. Customer Data Integration:So do not switching around between Dynamics CRM and SAP all the time we need some related Customer Data in Dynamics CRM. IT would not really make sense to have the whole accounting information in Dynamics CRM when you have an dedecated ERP System but, for example customer complaints and customer products would be very useful information.
So the account manager really gets an good overview with Dynamics CRM what is going on at his customer.

Customer Product for example are not existing by default in Dynamics CRM. It is really simple to to build as we are using an existing product integrate via Master Data Integration and link this with a N:N relationship to the account.

This will provide us really nice features and process optimization opportunties.
Imaging you have the need to inform all who bought customers with Product C about an special new information regarding this. In the past a big job for any student to fetch all this informtion out of SAP by hand and write a letter or an email to each of them.

With an Data Integration like discribe above more an 10 minutes job ;-)
You only go to your contacts and raise the following Advanced Find:

- Contacs where Parent Account has an related Product "Product C" -
Click an Find and you have an big list of all these customers. Now you can add them to an marketing list or directly raise an Quick Campaign out of the list using Microsoft Word Mail Merge for Letters or direct Emails as Channel.

Click submit and the work is done, so easy it can be with an proper dataintegration ;-)

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Posted in: CRM 2011 Data Integration

(Dynamics ) CRM Datenqualität nachhaltig verbessern

Informationsqualität oder Datenqualität bezeichnet die Qualität, also Relevanz und Korrektheit von Informationen. Insbesondere besagt sie, wie verlässlich eine Information ist und inwieweit man sie als Grundlage für eine Planung des eigenen Handelns verwenden kann

soweit die Wikipedia Kernbeschreibung

Aktuelle und historische (Dynamics) CRM Daten bilden die Grundlage für viele operative und strategische CRM Prozesse in den Bereichen Vertrieb, Marketing, Service und Unternehmensführung.


Das Problem:

(Dynamics)  CRM Daten mit geringer Qualität bedeuten:

- erhebliche Risiken für Unternehmen z.B. bei Strategischen Entscheidungen
- sehr inkonsequenten Nutzung von Verkaufschancen da Sie diese einfach nicht erkennen.
- die CRM Servicequalität wird negativ beeinflusst, da Sie Problemhäufungen nicht erkennen
- Marketingaktionen aus Kunden-Stammdaten mit einer Rückläuferquote von mehr als 25%.

Die Werkzeuge:
 1. Dubletten sicher identifizieren und zusammenführen (voll- / halbautomatisch)
 2. Dubletten Erstellung einschränken und  unterbinden (voll- / halbautomatisch)
 3. Dynamics CRM automatische & halbautomatische Datenpflege / Datenanreicherung (SS)
 4. Dynamics CRM automatische & halbautomatische Datenpflege / Datenanreicherung (SP)
 5. Prozesserweiterung zur nachhaltigen Datenkategorisierung
 6. Umfassende Datenintegration zur weiteren Datenanreicherung & Relevanz Erhöhung

Nicht nur Daten aus externen Kunden- und Lieferanten-Beziehungen (CRM), sondern auch bei internen Prozesse des Unternehmens (XRM) entscheiden über Datenqualität & Nachhaltiges Handeln des Unternehmens.

„Wie schnell kann der Mitarbeiter ein problembezogen des Dokument finden und versenden?“

„Eine Information auf einem Post-it, ist nicht nur für Kollegen und Vorgesetzte nicht nachvollziehbar, Sie kann auch für Sie verloren gehen!“

In der Praxis eventuell nicht wirklich umsetzbar, aber einige Unternehmen würden gut darin tun Papiere zu verbieten und Excel zu deinstallieren. Eventuell der beste Weg zur prozessorientierten zentralen Datenhaltung.

Die Lösung:
Ein andauernder Vorgang unter Einsatz guter Prozesse und den oben genannten Werkzeugen. Viele Unternehmen werben zwar mit 100%igen Daten, aber die Realität ist davon meist sehr weit entfernt.

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Fixed it! CRM 2011 404 Error Loading Web Resources

After installing Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 at a customer site today we get the follwoing issue. The CRM appeared to complete successfully, and if you didn’t look too close, the application seemed to be working fine.
But once we started to configure the queues, we noticed that there were form scripting errors all over the place. We usd fiddler to get more details on this issue.

As it turns out, the CRM was unable to load any of the Web Resources. 
Resolution 1 – URL Re-Write Rules Missing
In the CRM’s web.config (please make a backup copy of this file before working on it), there should be a <rewrite> section. If it is missing or doesn’t look like the XML below, then try updating it:
<rewrite>
<rules>
<rule name="ClientGlobalContextRule" stopProcessing="true">
<match url="/?([0-9a-zA-Z][^/]*)?/?((?:%7b|\{)[^/]*(?:%7d|\}))?/?(WebResources|Handlers)/ClientGlobalContext.js.aspx" />
<action type="Rewrite" url="/{R:1}/_Common/ClientGlobalContext.js.aspx" />
</rule>
<rule name="WebResourcesRule" stopProcessing="true">
<match url="/?([0-9a-zA-Z][^/]*)?/?((?:%7b|\{)[^/]*(?:%7d|\}))?/?webresources/([^\\?]+)" />
<action type="Rewrite" url="/{R:1}/Handlers/WebResource.ashx?name={R:3}" />
</rule>
<rule name="FederationMetadataRule" stopProcessing="true">
<match url="FederationMetadata/2007-06/FederationMetadata.xml" />
<action type="Rewrite" url="/Handlers/FederationMetadata.ashx" />
</rule>
</rules>
</rewrite>
Note that if your <rewrite> section is missing altogether, then you should insert the snippet above between this:
</requestFiltering>
</security>
and this:
</system.webServer>
<system.serviceModel>
After updating the web.config, you should do an IISRESET or reboot the server.
Resolution 2 – URL Re-Write Module is Corrupt
In our case, the <rewrite> section was ok, but it turned out that the IIS URL Re-Write Module was corrupt.

Open up Control Panel—>Programs. Select the Microsoft URL Rewrite Module from the list, and click the ‘Repair’ button. Or go ahead uninstall teh 1.1 URL Rewrite Module and install the 2.0 Version direcly. Will be required for CRM 2011 ADFS / IFD Deployments anyway.

IISRESET or reboot the server.

Fixed andcustomer happy!

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Posted in: CRM 2011 Troubleshooting

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 UR9 Beta available

The beta version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 UR9 or Q2 2012 Service Update or “R8”. The beta release only includes on-premises version of the next release of CRM. This release includes support for multiple browser types and many other great features that you can find in the Release Preview Guide.
This beta release is primarily targeted at developers and partners. We want you to make sure your solution and custom code works as you expect with the upcoming release. Please be sure to ready yourself, your peers and solutions for the release coming up in just a few short weeks.

What does the beta include?

• A test only on-premises build
• Pre-recorded feature overview sessions and power point presentation files
• Pre-release implementation guide
• SDK and readme.

Again we’d like to emphasize that the beta release is for test purposes only, and not for production usage. There is no migration path from the beta to the final release, so please plan accordingly and use appropriate test environments. There are elements of upcoming release that are not included in the beta, for example Mobility or CRMOnline specific features are not offered as part of the beta but will be available in the final release.

Where can you get the beta release?

The bits are available on Microsoft Connect site. Please follow the steps below to get access.

1. Please provision an account on the R8 Beta Connect site by clicking on this link. https://connect.microsoft.com/site687/InvitationUse.aspx?ProgramID=7663&InvitationID=crnb-FJTQ-QPB3
2. Please complete the R8 Beta Access Survey using this link. (this link will not work until you complete step 1 above) http://connect.microsoft.com/site687/Survey/Survey.aspx?SurveyID=14211
3. Please access the R8 Beta Package using this link. (this link will not work until you complete steps 1&2 above) https://connect.microsoft.com/site687/Downloads
4. Please pose any questions about the R8 Beta using this R8 Beta Discussion Group here. (this link will not work until you complete steps 1&2 above) http://innovation.connect.microsoft.com/CRM2011R8Beta/Thread/View.aspx?ThreadId=6861

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Posted in: CRM 2011 Update Rollups

Dynamics CRM 2011 Rollup 8 now available

The Microsoft Dynamics CRM UR8 was released today  May 3rd 2012.
You can find the related Rollup 8 items here

• Microsoft Download Center: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=29692
• KB Article: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=2600644
• Microsoft Update: http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=2600644

Rollup 8 Build Number: 05.00.9690.2243

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Posted in: CRM 2011 Update Rollups

Lotos Notes / Dynamics CRM 2011 Integration

Topic: Dynamics CRM Integration
Sub-Topic: Lotos Notes / Dynamics CRM 2011 Integration
How to get Lotos Notes working properly with Dynamics CRM 2011.

Due to an customer how has issues with his CRM 2011 Integration to Lotos Notes we compare today all known methods to integrate Dynamics CRM 2011 with Lotos Notes.

Therefore we take an look on 2x Mail Integration Options (Option 1+2) and
2x Third Parties for Dynamics CRM 2011 (Option 4+5) which are integration a lot more that only Email like the Default Dynamics CRM 2011 Client for Outlook.

If you have questions or if you need support with your Dynamics CRM System and/or Lotos Notes Integration to Dynamics CRM, please feel free to contact us via Email info@dynamicsconsulting.de or via phone under +49 40 30 698 77 0.

Option 1: Default Email Integration only with POP3/SMTP with Lotos Notes

Only open mail connection protocol note offers is POP3/SMTP. In order to get Incoming Emails promoted to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 we need to configure the Email Router Incoming Profile as POP3.
If we only monitoring 1x Mailbox it is an easy thing, but if it is coming up to a big amount of user mailboxes we will get an Issue with Performance and also with updateing the User Credentials (Passwords) after they expired in the Customer Active Directory. This issue can we solved with Option 2.
Steps for POP3 E-mail Server Type

a.       In the E-mail Server Type list, click POP3.

b.      The Authentication Type list requires that you specify the authentication that is used to connect to the POP3 account. If your POP3 account resides with your ISP, you must contact the ISP to provide the authentication type that is needed to access this account.

c.       In the Server open text box, you type the POP3 server name and domain. For example, type POP3servername.domain.com.  If the POP3 account resides with an ISP, you must contact the ISP to provide the server name.
 Note: You may find this information in the account properties of the e-mail account located within Microsoft Outlook.

d.      In the Access Credentials list, available options include User Specified or Other Specified.
If you select User Specified in the Access Credentials list, each user must perform one additional configuration step to grant the e-mail router access to the POP3 mailbox. To do this, follow these steps:

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=21445
Section: Steps for POP3 E-mail Server Type

Option 2: Advanved Email Integration with Exchange/Lotos Notes

As a lot of companies are providing Hosted Exchange Services today, we have an other advanced opportunity to get Emails from many Lotos Notes (Main Message System Customer) Mailboxes into Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 using the Forward Mailbox (Sink Mailbox).

The Forward Mailbox

Advantages

·         Reduces the number of incoming profiles that must be created and managed for organizations that  monitor a large number of user’s mailboxes.

·         One central mailbox to monitor.

 

Disadvantages

·         E-mail provider must have the ability to forward as an attachment. This is required to forward e-mails to a central mailbox that is monitored by the Microsoft Dynamics CRM E-mail Router.

·         A mailbox rule must be deployed to each user to forward e-mails to the central mailbox.

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=21445
Section: Steps for POP3 E-mail Server Type

The disadvantages are listing the limitations from nots here.

Solution:

• Forwarding an copy to the sink mailbox via Lotus Note rule cannot work as the email router is expecting an "Attachment as msg"
  
• Only way which will work is to send an copy of each original email  (correct header, same sender and receiver) from Lotus Notes to an exchange mailbox (hosted/ or Exchange Online) and forward all emails  as attachment to the sink mailbox (hosted/ or Exchange Online). The Email Router is tracking all incoming traffic out of the sink mailbox to CRM. This way we met the  requirements of the email router and it is proper working for an big enterprise customer with lotus notes and Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
  
  Additional benifit here: The CRM Operations Team has only to monitor the sink mailbox, here. If the amount of email grow, they know they have an issue. If special email stay in sink mailbox (can´t be track for some reasons), they will be identified quickly.

Option 3: LinkPoint Connect. LinkPoint Connect seamlessly integrates any of these products:
Microsoft Outlook, Lotos Notes, Novel Groupwise with the CRM Systems ACT!, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, salesforce.com, sage, Sales Logix, and Privotal CRM
Micrtosoft Dynamics CRM Related features:

Streamline your work day with seamless integration between Lotus Notes and Microsoft CRM.
Productivity Feature

Record inbound/Outbound emails to Microsoft CRM  

Create Tasks or Appointments when recording Emails

Jump right to a record in Microsoft CRM from your email

Drag and drop to create contacts or leads in Microsoft CRM

Create new records in Microsoft CRM from Lotus Notes

Click-to-dial calling using VOIP from Lotus Notes

Get maps and driving directions to your customers
Compatibility.

Lotus Notes Versions 6.x, 7.x, 8.x (Basic & Standard Editions)

Microsoft CRM Editions

• Version 4 Online / On-Premise
• CRM 2011 Online / On-Premise

Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 (32 & 64 bit)

Citrix and Terminal Server Environments

Source: http://www.linkpoint360.com/products/linkpoint-connect-dynamics-notes-edition/

Option 4: Lotos Note Connector for Microsoft Dynamics from IEnterprisesThe Lotus Notes Connector for Microsoft Dynamics is an easy to use tool that allows you to instantly synchronize all your Lotus Notes email and calendaring to and from your existing Microsoft Dynamics system. The wizard-driven tool can be quickly installed with a click and download so you can trial it for free before purchase.

Email integration– Copy both inbound and outbound emails and attachments to Microsoft Dynamics in a single click using email caller ID.
Link Emails with Contacts, Companies, Project or Cases
Select To: CC: and BCC: addresses directly from Microsoft Dynamics
Display the contact phone number and other important information in Lotus NotesChoose which contacts and emails get synchronized

Calendar Integration – Copy any Lotus Notes Calendar entry to Microsoft Dynamics.
Link calendar items with Contacts, Companies, Project or Cases.
Display the contact phone number and other important information in Lotus Notes
Manage your calendar within Lotus Notes and have it automatically synchronize with Microsoft Dynamics

Task (To Do) Integration – Copy any Lotus Notes Tasks to Microsoft Dynamics.
Link tasks with Contacts, Companies, Project or Cases.
Display the contact phone number and other important information in Lotus Notes
Manage your tasks within Lotus Notes and have it automatically synchronize with Microsoft Dynamics

Personal Address Book Integration – Copy any Microsoft Dynamics contact to the Lotus Notes Personal Address book.
Available directly from email – Easily copy Microsoft Dynamics contacts to the Lotus Notes Personal Address Book from an email message.
Use Native Lotus Notes Email Addressing to send Emails to Microsoft Dynamics contacts.

Source: http://www.ienterprises.com/lotus-notes-microsoft-dynamics-crm-integration

If you have questions or if you need support with your Dynamics CRM System and/or Lotos Notes Integration to Dynamics CRM, please feel free to contact us via Email info@dynamicsconsulting.de or via phone under +49 40 30 698 77 0.

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Released White Paper: Deploying Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 and CRM Online Solutions from Development through Test and Production Environments

Released White Paper: Deploying Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 and CRM Online Solutions from Development through Test and Production Environments This white paper explores deploying real-world Microsoft Dynamics CRM solutions across test and production environments in reliable and repeatable ways by using automation, together with some automation examples. The paper also highlights the specific constraints that exist when deploying and testing solutions in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online environment. Note: The paper will subsequently be available via MSDN and the TechNet library in the CRM section under Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

Released White Paper: Deploying Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 and CRM Online Solutions from Development through Test and Production Environments

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