We are using Microsoft Dynamics CRM as a help desk ticketing system.
IT Telehealth Specialist at Clinical & Support Options
Highly accessible, light on maintenance, but complex customization
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features of Microsoft Dynamics CRM are the accessibility of the service because we can access it either in the office or when we're out in the field."
- "The options for customizing Microsoft Dynamics CRM are very limited or highly complex."
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
Microsoft Dynamics CRM was more reliable than Spiceworks, which is what caused us to switch. The reliability has benefited our organization.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of Microsoft Dynamics CRM are the accessibility of the service because we can access it either in the office or when we're out in the field.
What needs improvement?
The options for customizing Microsoft Dynamics CRM are very limited or highly complex. You'll need to understand all of the Administration settings, as well as Microsoft Flow.
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November 2024
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For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Dynamics CRM for approximately one year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Microsoft Dynamics CRM is highly reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have no scalability concern for Microsoft Dynamics CRM in the foreseeable future.
We have approximately seven people using the solution in my organization. It is used by our whole IT department.
We do not use the solution extensively. However, we hope to be able to use it for slightly different purposes, and there are other departments within the company. We only use it for our IT help desk ticketing system. It's a full-fledged CRM. It could be used in a variety of different ways.
We have plans to increase usage in the future.
How are customer service and support?
I have not used the support from Microsoft.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We previously used Spiceworks and we switched because it was not as stable as Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was complex, it took us months to do.
I would rate the ease of setup of Microsoft Dynamics CRM a one out of five.
What about the implementation team?
We did the implementation of the solution in-house. The solution is lightweight on the Maintainance needed.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is open source and is free. However, it does require a Dynamics 365 subscription.
What other advice do I have?
My advice to others is to be aware that the customization of Microsoft Dynamics CRM is spectacularly complicated. However, it is a rock-solid solution.
I rate Microsoft Dynamics CRM a seven out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
CRM Analytics Lead-Consumer Insights at a retailer with 1,001-5,000 employees
Works effectively with Microsoft tools and has been exponentially helpful, but is not agnostic when working with other platforms and requires a lot of work on the backend
Pros and Cons
- "The way it effectively works with the array of other Microsoft tools, such as Azure, is valuable. It works very well with the use of data linking and things like that. Overall, it is a great overall tool to have an effective understanding of the transactional background of each of our customers."
- "When it comes to any necessary changes or updates, we have issues. It is not very agnostic in terms of working with other platforms. A lot of data transformation had to be done internally in order to send it to various systems."
What is our primary use case?
It is a general CRM. It almost acts as the central hub through which all of our transactions, whether e-commerce or retail, are funneled. It also brings in everything from our inventory. So, essentially, the overall collection of all of that data is deployed through it. This is the main tool that we use.
What is most valuable?
The way it effectively works with the array of other Microsoft tools, such as Azure, is valuable. It works very well with the use of data linking and things like that. Overall, it is a great overall tool to have an effective understanding of the transactional background of each of our customers.
What needs improvement?
One of the biggest challenges is that there is a huge disconnect between, "The business wants this data available," and making that data available in our systems. It requires a lot of effort. There's a huge disconnect, and that's because of a lot of backend work that needs to get done.
From a user standpoint, it is fairly intuitive. Its user interface is nothing phenomenal, but it is intuitive. However, on the backend, a lot of work is required to effectively push the data through. It requires a very heavy lift on the organization's part. It is a complex backend.
When it comes to any necessary changes or updates, we have issues. It is not very agnostic in terms of working with other platforms. A lot of data transformation had to be done internally in order to send it to various systems.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for one year and five months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Its performance is reliable, but when it comes to any changes or updates, we have issues.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a challenge to grow it quite substantially. It involves a lot of work, but the solution overall is scalable as long as you're sticking with Microsoft.
We have anywhere between 50 and 60 end-users, and on the backend, we have about 15 users. It is used quite extensively. All of our data filtering from transactions is flowing into it.
How are customer service and support?
In terms of overall technical support, we work with partners. So, we have Microsoft partners who support us with day-to-day issues.
In terms of online tools and various instructional write-ups, Microsoft is quite comprehensive. There is a multitude of information available. It is down to the user to dive into it, but it is all there.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I don't believe we were using anything else previously. A majority of our systems are Microsoft systems.
What about the implementation team?
We had our team, but that wasn't enough. We had to work with specific partners. There are a few companies where the challenge is the amount of legwork to get things going for the business and the startup cost.
There was quite a large set of developers. There were upwards of 20 developers, and there were upwards of five business analysts who were effectively capturing use cases from the business to help understand how we wanted the data. It was overall managed by three or four key managers and one director. It took upwards of eight months.
It does require maintenance, which is handled by our technology team.
What was our ROI?
I can't put a number to it, but the use of this system and the collection of the data has exponentially helped the company.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It is a part of one comprehensive user license, which depends on the role of the individual. This is where Microsoft excels.
It is a very comprehensive package. We get everything from Access to D 365. We get Microsoft's suite of tools. I'm not too sure about the pricing, but I can't imagine it being cheap.
In terms of additional fees, we have particular partners we have to work with. It is very similar to how Google has Google partners. We have dedicated partners, and the fees with them are quite high.
What other advice do I have?
Understanding your overall strategy with data is critical. When you are using or getting used to one particular client platform, an enterprise requirement to scale it up requires enormous amounts of capital.
It is definitely not geared towards small-sized or medium-sized businesses. It has to be large organizations. I do know that D 365 does have things for small-sized and medium-sized businesses, but I haven't worked with it in that capacity. Knowing what I know about how it works at an enterprise level, the amount of work or cost incurred to make it more and more scalable is definitely something that small-sized and medium-sized businesses can't do.
I would rate this solution a seven out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Dynamics CRM
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
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Salesman at Manacor
The solution's most valuable feature is its ability to store all the information in one application
Pros and Cons
- "The solution's return on investment is worth it."
- "They should work on improving the solution's scalability."
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution for customer service, marketing follow-ups, and sales.
What is most valuable?
The solution's most valuable feature is its ability to store all the information in one application. Also, it allows me to check what my colleagues are doing on their systems. Along with this, it facilitates a communication platform with the customers.
What needs improvement?
They should work on improving the solution's scalability.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using the solution for 10-15 years now.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution did stop working three weeks ago for a while. It was highly improbable for it to go off. Other than that, it is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution integrates well with other applications or ERP, Business Central, Finance and Operations, and SAP programs. Considering the flexibility of integration, it is a scalable solution. Our organization has 15-20 customers and about 90 employees using the solution. I rate its scalability as a seven as sometimes it needs a connector to link with other applications.
How are customer service and support?
The solution's tech support team's response is fast.
How was the initial setup?
The setup was straightforward. It works just like any other product of the Microsoft family.
What was our ROI?
The solution's return on investment is worth it.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The licenses of the solutions are available for purchase on a monthly or yearly basis. There are no additional licenses or fees apart from the standard license. I rate the solution's pricing as a seven out of ten.
What other advice do I have?
The solution's maintenance requires three to four technical executives. I recommend the solution to others and rate it as a nine.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller
Market Response Coordinator at a financial services firm with 201-500 employees
Allows you to work with segments and is scalable and stable
Pros and Cons
- "The feature I like best in Microsoft Dynamics CRM is being able to market to segments instead of choosing individual people to market to."
- "My company's biggest challenge with Microsoft Dynamics CRM is wanting to market solely to leads without having to create a contact and link the contact to the lead. From a marketing standpoint, there's room for improvement in the lead process of Microsoft Dynamics CRM."
What is our primary use case?
We use Microsoft Dynamics CRM for marketing and sales, for example, for basic contact and lead management and email marketing.
What is most valuable?
The feature I like best in Microsoft Dynamics CRM is being able to market to segments instead of choosing individual people to market to.
What needs improvement?
My company's biggest challenge with Microsoft Dynamics CRM is wanting to market solely to leads without having to create a contact and link the contact to the lead.
From a marketing standpoint, there's room for improvement in the lead process of Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
In the next version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, I'd like to see built-in tutorials because the solution isn't as user-friendly in some aspects, for example, building segments you may not be familiar with. Microsoft Dynamics CRM seems to be designed for engineers, not necessarily for people with marketing or sales backgrounds or who may not have that many technical skillsets or backgrounds.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using Microsoft Dynamics CRM since the day I started working in the company, which is about a year and a half. I'm unsure how long the company's been using Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Overall, Microsoft Dynamics CRM is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Microsoft Dynamics CRM is a scalable solution.
How are customer service and support?
I've never contacted the technical support team for Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
How was the initial setup?
I wasn't involved in the initial setup and deployment of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, so I have no information on how complex or straightforward the process was.
What about the implementation team?
The implementation of Microsoft Dynamics CRM was in-house.
What was our ROI?
My company has seen ROI from Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I'm not aware of any licensing costs for Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
What other advice do I have?
I have firsthand experience with Microsoft Dynamics CRM. It's the solution my company uses.
I'm using the latest version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM. The solution is deployed on the cloud.
In the company, the number of people using Microsoft Dynamics CRM daily is between one hundred fifty to two hundred. Between five to ten people, particularly specialists, take care of general maintenance and submit support tickets for Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
My advice to others looking into implementing Microsoft Dynamics CRM is that it's a valuable tool. Still, it would be best to have either a team onsite or a third-party vendor familiar with setup and deployment.
I'd rate Microsoft Dynamics CRM as eight out of ten.
My company is a gold-level partner and reseller of Microsoft Dynamics CRM and other Microsoft applications.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner and reseller
Project Manager at a financial services firm with 201-500 employees
Enables us to have a 360-degree view of all our customer interactions
Pros and Cons
- "It ensures that there's continuity, and you don't have to start asking the customer about what happened. From CRM, you can easily see all the interactions and events in the record and take it from there."
- "In terms of the performance, when it comes to loading a large volume of data, it's slow at times, so the system could be optimized."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution for customer relationship management. It enables us to have a 360-degree view of all our customer interactions. We have various touch points and a call center that our customers call into. After every call, we log the interactions with the customer.
We also have customers that walk into our premises, and we attend to various requests like inquiries, requests, or complaints. After the interactions with the customer, we log the interactions. We also have email interactions with customers that are logged on the platform.
When you go to a customer's profile, you're able to see all communications with that customer based on the various touch points. Whether it's a phone call, whether they're coming into the office physically, or whether it's via emails, you're able to see all the interactions and keep a track of all events regarding that customer.
Anybody who looks at the customer profile is able to know what has transpired up until that point and proffer whatever solutions the customer requires based on their inquiries. It's been very helpful.
It's currently deployed on-prem, but we're planning to update to the cloud version.
There are about 125 people using this solution.
What is most valuable?
It's been very helpful in ensuring that we're able to provide the best of services and provide responses to whatever queries we get from all our customers. It ensures that there's continuity, and you don't have to start asking the customer about what happened. From CRM, you can easily see all the interactions and events in the record and take it from there.
We're also able to customize it for some of our core solutions. For example, we do benefit payments, so we're able to utilize the workflow part of that. We found out that when you initiate a benefits payment request, we're able to flow through the different approval stages. We're able to see and keep track of that on the system.
What needs improvement?
In terms of the performance, when it comes to loading a large volume of data, it's slow at times, so the system could be optimized. A lot of those things can be dependent on the kind of resources that you're using, but over time we've been able to scale on the resources and that has actually improved over time.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's stable. It's better if you use it for the core function that it was meant for. When we used it for other processes, like our core processes, we found out that it was quite unstable. But the moment we took that process out, it became much more stable.
How are customer service and support?
Whenever we need to reach out to Microsoft, they're always there to provide required assistance.
How was the initial setup?
Setup was easy, especially when you have capable partners. The only thing is that when we use it for some of our very processor intensive processes, we found out that it couldn't handle that very effectively. We had to take that process out.
We try to maximize the functionality of the system. We have to do a lot of customizations initially for our core processes. CRM is really for managing customer interactions, so by the time you start using it for things that it's not meant for, then you won't get the best of it.
Deployment took about nine months because we used it for much more than customer relationship management. We used it for our core processes too. By bringing in those processes, they actually extended the project timeline. For the core CRM itself, implementation was done within four months.
What about the implementation team?
Our partners implemented the solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The implementation depends on the number of licenses, as well as the partner who is also implementing. It also depends on the core processes you want to bring in. The cost depends on a number of factors, so whoever is implementing it will need to take that into consideration before it is done.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate this solution 8 out of 10.
I would absolutely recommend this solution to those who want to start using it. My advice is that you need to understand what the scope of the project is. What exactly do you want CRM to do? If it's for customers and to manage customer interactions, then it's going to perform excellently well.
If you're bringing in other processes into the solution outside of core CRM functionalities, then you need to ensure that the system is able to handle such processes. But when it comes to handling a large volume of data processing, there might be a drive on the system, but it handles its core functions adequately well.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Solutions Architect at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees
Stable, reliable, and robust
Pros and Cons
- "The stability is excellent."
- "The mobile side of the product doesn't look that great right now."
What is our primary use case?
I have an embedded power app that's launched through Dynamics. I use it almost every day. I don't use any Dynamics features. I go straight to my ISV plugin and that's all.
What is most valuable?
For what I'm using it for it's great.
It's a pretty robust product.
I don't use any Dynamics features. I go straight to my ISV plugin and that's all. I just like this part of the Microsoft stack.
The stability is excellent. It's reliable.
What needs improvement?
The product can be a bit expensive, especially for a smaller organization.
I wouldn't want to change any aspect of the product.
The mobile side of the product doesn't look that great right now. It doesn't seem to render. It's the responsiveness across different devices, from light testing, just seemed kind of off. It seems like it really needs to identify when it's on a mobile device and minimize the view. It kind of just does a web page type of thing and it's just really difficult to use. From just the short time I've seen it, I'm not sure how anybody would ever be able to use it.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution from a demo. I've used it in the last few months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is rock solid and very stable. It's reliable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's excellent.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It's kind of pricey. It's about $50 or $60 per user. I have never been on the sales side of it or watched the organization from a licensing perspective. I don't know if it's higher or lower than what else is available. If I was a small business, that price would be too high for me if I was going to run it for my own practice as an individual. I'd either not use it or use something else - maybe something that's cheaper or supports just what I need.
What other advice do I have?
We are an ISV partner, an independent software vendor through Microsoft, and we can publish applications directly to the Dynamics store.
I've been very happy with the solution. I'd rate it at a ten out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Chief Executive Officer at Customersoft Innovation
Integrates well, widely accessible, and useful installation documentation
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature of Microsoft Dynamics CRM is the integration with Microsoft Office 365."
- "Microsoft Dynamics CRM could improve by making it easier to export data to SharePoint because most of our customers use SharePoint. They have to log into a Microsoft environment platform from their SharePoint for access should be made easier. Additionally, if the customer portal was enhanced for it to be customized it would be a benefit."
What is our primary use case?
We were using Microsoft Dynamics CRM in a facility management company for contract and customer relationship management.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of Microsoft Dynamics CRM is the integration with Microsoft Office 365.
What needs improvement?
Microsoft Dynamics CRM could improve by making it easier to export data to SharePoint because most of our customers use SharePoint. They have to log into a Microsoft environment platform from their SharePoint for access should be made easier. Additionally, if the customer portal was enhanced for it to be customized it would be a benefit.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used Microsoft Dynamics CRM for approximately six months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Microsoft Dynamics CRM is stable and accessible for businesses with approximately 50 users. These would be small to medium-sized companies.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Microsoft Dynamics CRM is scalable for the usage of my customers.
The departments that use the solution the most are customer service, business development, sales, and the back office for order processing.
How are customer service and support?
I have not needed to contact Microsoft Dynamics CRM directly. There is enough documentation available to do the installation without any hassles.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Microsoft Dynamics CRM is straightforward. The whole design and new deployment took between four to six months, which is easy deployment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The customers that have Microsoft Office 365, the license price is competitive. It is competitive because the next solution above it is Salesforce, which is licensed quite high. The price annually was approximately $55 per user but we did a combination of users with some of them having the higher range of approximately $85.
What other advice do I have?
My advice to others is they need to choose a capable consulting team because projects fail at a data level. We have to deal with data, and this is where the projects fail.
I rate Microsoft Dynamics CRM a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Asst. Manager Strategic Marketing, Microsoft Partnership at Nous Infosystems
A scalable solution that accurately monitors and keeps track of things
Pros and Cons
- "Integration with other Microsoft tools is a good feature of Microsoft Dynamics CRM."
- "Microsoft Dynamics CRM's customer support could be improved as tickets usually take a long time to resolve."
What is our primary use case?
We maintain a client base on Microsoft Dynamics CRM and regularly update various sales motion statuses on Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
What is most valuable?
Microsoft Dynamics CRM allows you to create reports and download Excel. Integration with other Microsoft tools is a good feature of Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
What needs improvement?
Microsoft Dynamics CRM's customer support could be improved as tickets usually take a long time to resolve.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Dynamics CRM for six months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We did not face too many glitches with Microsoft Dynamics CRM, but the few glitches we faced took a long time to resolve. Microsoft Dynamics CRM is a pretty stable solution.
I rate Microsoft Dynamics CRM an eight or nine out of ten for stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Over 50 users use Microsoft Dynamics CRM in our organization. Microsoft Dynamics CRM is a pretty scalable solution.
I rate Microsoft Dynamics CRM a nine or ten out of ten for scalability.
What was our ROI?
In terms of sales, I have seen a pretty good return on investment with Microsoft Dynamics CRM because it accurately monitors and keeps track of things. Microsoft Dynamics CRM also helps us close sales motions faster.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Microsoft Dynamics CRM is an expensive solution.
I rate Microsoft Dynamics CRM an eight out of ten for pricing.
What other advice do I have?
Microsoft Dynamics CRM is deployed on-cloud in our organization. We get the solution for free as part of our Microsoft partnership.
Overall, I rate Microsoft Dynamics CRM an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
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