I was recently talking to one of our new customers of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 about how this organization generated sales quotations for their customers using their old CRM system. This organization spent a little over $1 million dollars deploying a new Sales Performance System, with the goal of simplifying quote generation and order entry for their sales representatives.
As we discussed their quote generation process in detail, I asked them to show me their “old” way of building quotes for their customers, and as they demonstrated their “old” process, I was astonished at the shear number of times a sales representative combined Copy, Paste and Alt+TAB keystrokes to get data from their CRM system into their customer quotes. After about the fourth ALT+TAB from their old CRM system to Microsoft Word, this customer- with a hint of I can’t believe we paid a million dollars for this in his voice said, “See why we went to Microsoft CRM?”
Yes I do.
In March of this year, the Microsoft Dynamics released a new add-in for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 designed to integrate line of business data natively into Microsoft Office applications.
Microsoft Dynamics Snap Business Data Lookup for Microsoft CRM is a lightweight, Visual Studio Tools for Office (VSTO)-based solution that eliminates the need to toggle between applications when building sales quotations (or really any Microsoft Word communications) for customers.
This solution, a value-add solution provided to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 customers at no charge, enhances end-user productivity by allowing a sales representative to search, view and use Microsoft CRM – all without leaving Microsoft Word.
Figure 1: Accessing and using Microsoft CRM within Microsoft Word
In addition, this solution also enables the saving and uploading your documents directly into Microsoft Dynamics CRM – giving you an accurate picture of pending sales quotes or a copy of letters sent to your customers.
So, for all of you still frustrated with the ALT+TAB, Copy + Paste keystrokes needed to generate letters for your customers, I offer a simple reminder that Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 offers a better way: make the tips of your thumb and third finger touch, press down with your thumb, and quickly move your third finger in a downward motion. That sound, or snap, will remind you that there is hope for you yet.
Microsoft Dynamics Snap for Microsoft CRM is a value-added solution provided for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 customers through the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Sandbox – a gotdotnet community. For more information please visit Microsoft Dynamics Snap-ins.