The Knoxville Chamber of
Commerce, recognized as the 2011 National
Chamber of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives and the
leading voice for business in Knoxville, Tenn., and beyond, has switched to
Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft Dynamics GP to help innovate and develop new programs and benefits for its member
businesses.
"Before Microsoft Dynamics
CRM and Microsoft Dynamics GP, the Knoxville Chamber was working in a box,"
said Mark Field, senior vice president of membership. "This box impeded us from
helping our member businesses reach their potential, but now we feel ahead of
the technological curve. More importantly, our customers can see that shift as
well."
With the help of Microsoft partner LMBC Technologies LLC, the chamber created one of its most beneficial
resources, Chamber Member MD, which helps small business owners identify
potential hazards that might be in the way of achieving their companies' full
potential. The tool then offers customized recommendations to ensure they avoid
those hazards if at all possible.
Microsoft Dynamics
also enabled the chamber to launch an online interactive business directory called iKnowKnoxville.com. The directory is search engine optimized and
allows member businesses to create customized pages that include videos, slide shows,
coupons and more, further highlighting their unique business proposition and
supporting the local economy.
"The support process
that used to take 15 hours each week has been reduced to one hour each week,
and the chamber is able to be more relevant to businesses by providing these
individualized resources," Field said. "This benefits us because we are providing
much-needed resources to our members, and it benefits our members by allowing
them to focus on doing what they do best – running their
businesses.
"Later this year, we intend to
upgrade to the latest versions of Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft Dynamics
GP," Field said. "These improvements will ensure that the Microsoft Dynamics
implementation will continue to grow with the chamber, but really, I've told my
peers that Microsoft should be considered for chambers across the nation."
More information about how
organizations are turning to Microsoft technology is available in the Microsoft
Customer Spotlight newsroom.