I was doing a presentation this week for a customer who had decided to move to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 but they hadn’t really seen it in action and didn’t really know what it could do. This is one of the reasons you I have been posting CRM 2011 videos on this blog, I have been getting some tips on showing the core functionality and sexy features of CRM 2011
The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 website is really well structured, easy to understand with screenshots. A lot of my presentation was screenshots. CRM 2011 looks a lot better than previous releases, especially with the dashboards and charts.
One of the screenshots I used was about mobile express, it’s something I new existed by didn’t have any idea what it really was. The way I understood it was it allowed you to create a separate, simplified screen for mobile phones.
Then the customers started asking me questions about it and I had to tell them I have just collected a home work task and I wouldn’t investigate the functionality. One of the questions was could you update/add information as well as just view it. Also does CRM 2011 work with Android.
Firstly I found this good video, actually I had subsribed to Zero2TenCRM because they have a great bunch of CRM videos and then right on cue they release a video show below about CRM mobile express
according to various forum postings then CRM 2011 should work on android phones, although it does mean I would have to set up IFD mode, which strikes me with a bit of fear because I haven’t done it yet (why do we fear the unknown?) and the experience I saw when someone was trying to configure this was it took him quite a while.
I did find a Microsoft Presentation (partner source
| Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Mobile Express New Features |
here is an excellent article from CRM MVP Jim Wang about CRM 2011 and HTML 5/mobile access.
You can access Mobile Express by simply appending /m to your CRM Server Url.
On Premise
<a href="http://%3Cyourserver%3E:/%3COrganisation%3E/m”>http://<Server>:<Port>/<Organisation>/m
CRM Online
https://<Organisation>.crm.dynamics.com/m (North America)
https://<Organisation>.crm4.dynamics.com/m (EMEA)
https://<Organisation>.crm5.dynamics.com/m (APAC)
I have found some good web pages describing the benefits of Mobile express
http://www.preact.co.uk/mobile_express.html
http://bingsoft.wordpress.com/2011/03/27/top-11-reasons-to-go-mobile-with-crm-2011-crm2011/
So you might be thinking what will Mobile Express do for me, well here are 11 reasons to go mobile with CRM 2011.
1. Access your data from anywhere
On the way to a client site , in a meeting, at the airport or at home, your data is waiting to be accessed.
2. Access your data from any web capable device
Web capable devices are becoming more common every day. The most common device is the mobile phone though there is an increasing number of other such mobile devices that are just waiting to be connected to Microsoft CRM.
3. Easily configurable within the CRM UI
Enable the entities you want, select the available fields, then publish. It’s really as easy as that. You can even take advantage of Role based forms.
4. Everybody has a mobile device
Do you know anyone who does not have a mobile device.
5. Real-time access to CRM data
Need up-to-date stock levels, case information, an account’s status or even address data, its live data and you want it now.
6. No installation on mobile device required
No need to install special software, no maintenance per device, just a simple Url, bookmark the Url in your mobile device browser and you’re always ready to go.
7. View, Update and Create CRM data on the move
You may need to check pricing, create an appointment, update an account, close a case, and the list goes on. Why wait until you get back to the office, are you even going to go back to the office?
8. Get the competitive advantage
Are your competitors using a CRM Mobile application? They aren’t waiting around to see if you are, so get it first.
9. Talk to your customer and access CRM data at the same time.
While on your phone or in a meeting, you could be giving your customer info they want right there and then, forget about “I’ll have to get back to you later” statements.
10. Increased Productivity
Having CRM data at your finger tips allows you to create that new appointment or update that case without even opening your laptop or turning on your PC, now you can go get that coffee and donut.
11. It’s FREE
What is there more to say, CRM Mobile Express is free with Microsoft CRM and its waiting for you to connect, check it out and get that competitive advantage now.
and this blog shows you have to quickly get started
http://crmmongrel.blogspot.com/2010/10/mobile-express-for-dynamics-crm-2011.html
http://crmmongrel.blogspot.com/2010/10/mobile-express-for-dynamics-crm-2011_12.html
http://crmmongrel.blogspot.com/2010/10/mobile-express-for-dynamics-crm-2011_2662.html
So my next aim is to try and get work to buy me a sexy new phone so I can demo/test the mobile express functionality. Perhaps Microsoft could send me a phone for writing an excellent blog post on the subject. Its about time CRM 2011 gave something back to me.
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