The Microsoft Dynamic marketplace is up and running. I was pondering if it would change the way companies sell their CRM 2011 offerings. I think the main benefit will be to standardise the way people search for apps and accelerators. One of the questions I asked myself is what would stop people looking at the offerings and just copying them and selling them cheaper. I wonder if a good enhancement would be a place where people could offering enhancements for free, like codeplex. I feel Microsoft is missing a trick but not offering a system where they could benefit from the CRM community working on offerings collectively.
I get the feeling most people who buy CRM Accelerators and apps are CRM consultants looking for a shortcut in the solution they are offering a customer. I don’t think CRM consultants are going to pay much money for apps/accelerators. So with that in mind I don’t think it will make much of a impact in the short term. Will CRM consultants learn to work differently, I’m not sure.
I saw a good article with the title
Driving Success with the new Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace
I had tried to find information on the CRM dynamics marketplace before but the information was extremely difficult to find and I wasn’t sure if it was true or useful.
I think the Microsoft Dynamics marketplace is a good thing and the changes in CRM 2011 will certainly help. The solutions management enhancement means it’s easier to package up your changes and the move to bring more things into the database (web resources etc) means solutions will work in the cloud and on site.
I looked at the Microsoft pinpoint before the new Marketplace buzz and it was very sparse and didn’t seem to contain many companies or solutions.
So what is the Dynamic marketplace, well basically it’s an app store. Where companies will hopefully sell their apps and get some other work on the back of it.
you can look at the marketplace here – http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/marketplace
I have to say it’s a bit confusing and doesn’t have many solutions in yet. Then again how did we search for solutions and apps for CRM 4, we did a google search. So having a marketplace has to be an improvement with regards to making it easier to search for apps and accelerators.
The pricing is a bit wierd, there are no prices on the site for the couple of apps I clicked on. I appreciate people may offer different prices depending on other work etc but without a price how potential customers know if they are interested, it could end up with a lot of wasted time.
From the link these are the interesting questions and answers. I have finally got an answer to the question is it free to list. It is free to list but certifying your app will cost $2800. If you wanted to put an app for freeware you aren’t going to pay that amount are you.
Q: Are there special qualifications required for Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace listings?
A: Yes. A Microsoft partner needs to have either the CRM or ERP competency in order to get listed on the marketplace. For solution listings, partners must be an authorized reseller of Microsoft Dynamics solution or have a solution that is verified as Microsoft Platform-Ready. Additionally, there is an optional Certified for Microsoft Dynamics (CfMD) designation available for an additional fee.
Q: Is there a fee for listings on the Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace?
A: Listings on the Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace are free for Microsoft partners, however solutions and applications must meet the competency and Microsoft Platform-Ready requirements. There are fees for the optional Certified for Microsoft Dynamics (CfMD) designation.
Q: What are the fees for Certified for Microsoft Dynamics (CfMD)?
A: Fees for the Certified for Microsoft Dynamics designation begin at $2,800 depending on the solution. More information about the CfMD program is available here.
Q: Who does the testing, and decides the criteria for testing?
A: For Dynamics CRM, it’s a self-test accessible through www.MicrosoftPlatformReady.com. For Dynamics ERP (AX, NAV, GP, SL) testing is available through Lionbridge/VeriTest. More information can be found at http://pinpoint.microsoft.com/getlisted.
Q: What can partners list and the Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace, and what are the listing options?
A: Partners have five options for what they can list on the Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace:
- Freeware – You can develop a compelling freeware application and use it to generate interest in billable hours work. A freeware offering can be a good way to attract leads.
- Open Source Samples – An open source sample can be an effective way to court interest from Dynamics developers who are building their own solutions. The open source sample can be the catalyst for building a business relationship with the developer who uses it.
- Widgets and Add-ons – In some cases, you might develop a user-facing solution component that complements a larger application or offers distinctive functionality. Widgets are a good example of this kind of component. In addition, you may list application “building blocks” that developers can use to accelerate their solution delivery. Examples of these types of add-ons include templates, dialogs, workflows, and .net objects.
- Turnkey Solutions – It is possible to develop a fully featured, turnkey solution based on Dynamics CRM. Examples include industry-specific CRM solutions, integrations with other applications, and applications customized to specialized information worker roles.
- Listing Only – This option is for professional services firms that want to list themselves for billable hours work.
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