Announcement: Scribe 6.5 Product Launch Webcast on April 16

I just attended a webcast for Scribe partners to learn more about Scribe 6.5. This is an important release and includes many new features and enhancements.

I recommend you attend the webcast scheduled for next week. Details are below.

In addition, you can download a release overview document at http://www.scribesoftware.com/Products/Docs/ScribeInsight6.5ReleaseOverview.pdf.


Webcast: Scribe 6.5 Product Launch – Thursday, April 16 @ 11am – 12pm EST

Insight 6.5 is a major release which includes an extensive list of features that have been requested by Scribe partners and customers. The new release also includes significant new functionality targeted at enterprise accounts. These are:

- Failover/Disaster Recovery
- Web Services Adapter
- Support for 64-bit Windows Server 2008

Scribe Presenters for the webcast will be:
Bob Sturim - Vice President, Products
John Gravely - Vice President, Marketing and Product Marketing
Lou Antonucci - Director, Sales

Please register at the following registration URL: https://www.livemeeting.com/lrs/8001615779/Registration.aspx?pageName=8nlw1x85309wfbns

Migrate from Salesforce.com to Microsoft CRM Using Scribe Insight

Are you using Salesforce.com and want to replace it with Microsoft Dynamics CRM, but you're not sure how you are going to migrate all your data?

Have no fear! Scribe Insight is here!

I know, I know. That's cheesy. But the fact is that Scribe Insight is an extremely valuable tool.

Scribe Insight is a product from Scribe Software that is used to migrate data from one database to another, or to integrate systems. Learn more here: http://www.scribesoftware.com/microsoft-dynamics-crm.asp.

As an example, a project I'm working on involves migrating the following objects from Salesforce.com to Microsoft CRM:

• Leads


• Accounts


• Contacts


• Opportunities


• Events


• Tasks


• Notes

Scribe connects directly to both the Salesforce.com and Microsoft CRM databases, so there is no extracting of data into a staging database, no CSV or text files, and no Excel files. The data is extracted from Salesforce.com, transformed, and loaded into Microsoft CRM in one step with no human intervention.

While some of the fields are direct mappings with no transformations, other data must be transformed to some degree. For example, a text field in Salesforce.com might be mapped to a picklist in Microsoft CRM, which stores a number in the database rather than the actual text. Or a field might be a picklist in Salesforce.com, but a lookup to a custom entity in Microsoft CRM. Or a 255-character text field for the address in Salesforce.com must be split into three 50-character fields (line1, line2, and line3) in Microsoft CRM. Scribe Insight handles all of these situations, and many more.

Normally, moving data from Salesforce.com to Microsoft CRM can be a pain, but Scribe Insight and the adapters for Salesforce.com and Microsoft CRM make the process relatively painless. As a result we are able to migrate thousands of records within minutes or hours.

Typically, we migrate selected data into Microsoft CRM, validate the data, make changes to the data mappings, if necessary, and then continue migrating additional data. Once all data has been validated and the users have completed their testing and training, we'll delete all the test migration data from Microsoft CRM and run all the migration processes one last time at cutover. This process works very well.

While many people consider data migration a "technical" task, you don't want to delegate this to the technical people unless they have a complete understanding of the data that is in Salesforce.com: what it represents and how it is used. And I do mean complete. Somebody who understands what every field represents and how it should be mapped to Microsoft CRM MUST be involved.

This project will be going live next week. Thanks to Scribe Insight, the data migration has been a complete success.

Scribe Insight Level 2 Training

I attended a 2-day course last week for Scribe Insight Level 2 Training, and it was very helpful. Even though I was already certified, the Level 2 training covered materials in more depth and detail, providing me with a much stronger understanding of how Scribe Insight works and how to install and configure it.

For example, I now have a complete understanding of how the queue-based integration processes work, and when to implement them (hint: this technique alone will help reduce the length of a daily integration from 10 hours to less than 2).

If you're interested in developing your Scribe skills, then learn more on the Scribe site:

• PDF data sheet for Level 2 training


• Customer Training

Navint and Tribridge Merge!

Big news at Navint! Effective last week, Navint merged with the 2008 Microsoft Dynamics Partner of the Year, Tribridge (http://www.tribridge.com), and we are now known as Tribridge.

Read the news release to learn more (Two U.S.-based IT Services Firms to Combine in Merger of Equals):

• PDF
  
  
• HTML
  

What does this mean for you, the client? It means that you now have even MORE resources at your disposal, including experts in all Microsoft Dynamics products, SharePoint, Business Intelligence, Infrastructure, Security, and Managed Services.

From an operations and relationship perspective, nothing changes for you. You will have the same Relationship Manager and you will work with the same people. As we continue to integrate the organizations, you will be notified of any changes that impact you.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact your Relationship Manager or other contact at Navint.

Update to post

In my post dated 12/10/2008 titled "How to correct Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 user record if Active Directory domain logon changes", I documented the procedure to correct the logon for a user in CRM.

Well, I came across kb article 930853 that discusses this in more detail. Hope it helps.

Add AutoNumber functionality to Microsoft CRM

We have had many clients request the automatic generation of unique identification numbers for various entities in Microsoft CRM. For example, automatically generating and entering an account number for the Account entity or an opportunity number for the Opportunity entity.

Depending on the convention used and the complexity (e.g., sequential number, date-based number, etc.), the solution typically involves one of the following options:

• Manual generation and entry (inefficient)


• Custom JScript (not appropriate for more complex requirements)


• Custom Callout/Plugin (requires .NET developer and may be too costly to develop and maintain)


• Free (and unsupported) solutions from ISVs (not necessarily appropriate for production deployments since they are unsupported)

Well, I finally have another option: a paid (and supported) solution from an ISV.

This solution is inexpensive and appropriate for a production deployment of Microsoft CRM.

AutoNumber from CRM Innovation is a perfect option for the vast majority of situations I've come across, with only a couple of complex situations requiring something more advanced.

The pricing is VERY reasonable. Note that all prices are absolute prices and not per-user prices.

Up to 49 users: $295
50 - 199 users: $495
200 -499 users: $695
500 - 999 users: $1,295
1000+ users: $1,995

Note that maintenance, support and upgrades are all included for the first year, and 20% annually thereafter.

Support is via email, although it can be escalated if necessary.

I tested AutoNumber in my CRM 4.0 VPC image on the opportunity entity and it worked beautifully. The documentation made installation and configuration very easy and quick.

Some of the customizable options are:

• Prefix


• Suffix


• Increment or decrement


• Starting values


• Lengths and leading zeroes

AutoNumber can be configured for both system and custom entities.

AutoNumber will work even when records are imported using the built-in import utility or third-party import tools such as Scribe Insight.

A particularly helpful feature is the Backfill utility that enables assigning unique numbers to existing records. Ideally, you would run this utility after implementing AutoNumber in a Microsoft CRM deployment that includes records that were created prior to implementing AutoNumber, but before you start creating new records.

It's obvious that AutoNumber was designed based on real user requirements. As a result, it provides real value.

If you have a need for automatically generating unique identifiers for Microsoft CRM 4.0, then I highly recommend that you check out AutoNumber. More information on features, FAQs, and screenshots and videos are on the website.

Let me know your experiences and thoughts if you try it out.

How to correct Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 user record if Active Directory domain logon changes

Issue:
We had a client using Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 who created a new user in Active Directory, and then created the user record in CRM.

They then realized that the user's last name was misspelled, including the domain logon, which was in the format of first name initial and last name.

They corrected the spelling in Active Directory. They then attempted to update the user record in CRM by updating the domain logon field. The updated information is pulled in from AD. However, when they attempt to save the record, they receive a dialog box with the following message:

"You are attempting to create a user with a domain logon that is already used by another user. Select another domain logon and try again."

Resolution:
The solution is to modify the CRM user record to use a domain logon that is NOT currently used for a CRM user. Once the record is saved, you can then modify it again to pull the correct domain logon from Active Directory.

Case Study: Using Scribe Insight to Integrate Microsoft CRM with 4 Other Systems

This summer I worked on an interesting and challenging Microsoft Dynamics CRM project for a large university. This project involved not only implementing Microsoft Dynamics CRM, but also integrating 4 other systems with CRM so that CRM became the central repository of student and alumni data, making it easy for users to find data and report from one system.

The kicker is that each of the 4 systems used a different database platform!

The key to making this project successful was the use of Scribe Insight, a tool from Scribe Software (http://www.scribesoftware.com/) used to migrate data into just about any system, and integrate systems. Thanks to the power of Scribe Insight, we were able to integrate all systems with Dynamics CRM.

Here's the rundown of the applications we integrated with Microsoft CRM:

Application: Web-based career center management application
Source Data Format: Text files created by exporting data from the source system
Integration Type: Periodic batch load to CRM

Application: Campus calendar application with events that students register for
Source Data Format: mySQL database
Integration Type: Ongoing two-way real-time integration with CRM

Application: Student information system
Source Data Format: Sybase database
Integration Type: Initial batch load and ongoing one-way real-time integration to CRM

Application: Alumni information system
Source Data Format: Oracle database
Integration Type: Initial batch load and ongoing one-way real-time integration to CRM

Conclusion:
If you ever need to do ANY kind of systems integration work regardless of whether a Dynamics product is involved or not, then I recommend you check out Scribe Insight.

New feed service for the blog

If you have been receiving e-mails whenever new blog posts are created, then please note that we have decided to replace our current Feedburner service with Feedblitz.

If you wish to continue receiving notifications of the newest posts via e-mail, Skype, Twitter, etc., then please sign up again by entering your e-mail address on the subscription form on the home page of the blog and follow the instructions.

Thanks for reading our blog!

Product Downloads for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 on the Resource Center

Tired of searching for Microsoft Dynamics CRM downloads on the Microsoft web site? Talk about navigating a web in a maze in the dark!

Next time you need to download something related to CRM try the Resource Center first. In the Product Downloads section you will find almost everything you need in one place.

http://rc.crm.dynamics.com/rc/regcont/en_us/op/articles/downloads.aspx

Resource Center:

Product Downloads:

Options for creating a test environment for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0

Do you have a need for a test or development environment for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0?

If you have the Enterprise Edition, then you can take advantage of the multi-tenancy feature to create multiple databases without having to purchase additional Client Access Licenses (CALs).

For example, the URL for your production system might be http://crm.acme.com, while the URL for your test system could be http://crmtest.acme.com and the URL for your development system could be http://crmdev.acme.com.

There would be three different CRM databases, but they could all be stored on the same database server and use the same Active Directory organization.

The disadvantage is the additional cost of the CRM Server license (about 3 times the cost of the Server license for the Professional Edition).

If you have the Professional Edition, then your primary option is to take advantage of the software provided in the MSDN Premium subscription. Note that it's MSDN Premium and NOT MSDN Professional.

This can be confusing because there are a number of different subscription options depending on the version of Visual Studio and MSDN subscription that you purchase. However, the key is to purchase the MSDN PREMIUM subscription.

Compare the various options here.

The most common option is to purchase Visual Studio 2008 Professional with MSDN Premium. Check out all the software you get!



Just remember that all software obtained from the MSDN subscription is for NON-PRODUCTION use only! Learn more at the Frequently Asked Questions page.

Navint’s 2008 NY Dynamics Client Summit at Casa Larga on October 29

Do you like wine? Do you use any of the Microsoft Dynamics or Business Intelligence products, such as Dynamics CRM, Dynamics GP, or Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007?

If so, then you're in luck!

You have the once-in-a-year opportunity to attend the annual New York Dynamics Client Summit at Casa Larga Vineyards in Fairport, NY on Wednesday, October 29.

This will be a fun, information-packed event, so I encourage you to attend.

Learn more and register here.

I hope to see you there!

Microsoft CRM 3.0 - Update Rollup 3

In case you haven't heard, Microsoft has released Update Rollup 3 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0. This update rollup contains all of the fixes that were covered in the earlier Update Rollups (1 and 2) as well as additional fixes.

For more information about Update Rollup 3 click here.

To download Update Rollup 3 click here.

As always, when considering applying an Update Rollup please take care in understanding the associated warnings, prerequisites and recommendations made by Microsoft and Navint.

If you have questions about Update Rollup 3 please contact us.

Convergence 2008 Fun - Simulated Sky Diving

Navint's Director of Marketing, Amy Spencer (who totally kicks butt), put together an amazing Convergence Agenda this year including a few hours of simulated sky diving at a place called SkyVentures right down the street from all the happenings at Convergence.

Here is a picture from the event...

Notes From Convergence 2008

For those of you at Convergence this week - whether or not you've attended any Microsoft CRM specific sessions - you've heard all the buzz about Microsoft CRM anyway.

Not surprising, especially considering the recent launch of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 and the soon to be released Microsoft CRM Live (a SaaS version of the same product).

For the Microsoft Dynamics CRM related sessions that I've been able to attend, the repeating themes include:

- Prebuilt in-application dashboards (not SharePoint dependant)
- Improved integration with other line of business Dynamics applications (GP, SL, AX, NAV, SharePoint)
- Enhanced customization tools (i.e., do really cool stuff with even less need for coding)
- Even better Outlook client performance and stability
- And the best for last... interoperability with PerformancePoint (promise to blog about this in detail later!)

Stay tuned...

PS - Got a sneak peek at CRM 5.0 as well but can't really say anything about it since they asked us to sign NDAs.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Hotfix List

Although you've got to be a Microsoft Partner or Microsoft Customer to get access (via PartnerSource and CustomerSource respectively), thanks to this post by Microsoft's Ben Vollmer we now know where to go to get the most current listing of Microsoft CRM 4.0 related hotfixes.

Thanks Ben!

Microsoft CRM 4.0 Launch Event - In Your Home Town?

I know you've missed me so here's the top three on why it's been so long since my last post:

1) I decided to change my focus to an application even cooler Microsoft Dynamics CRM
2) My girlfriend hates it when I use weekends to write blog posts
3) Prospect and customer interest in the new version of Microsoft CRM is totally gangbusters

Well, let me clarify...

1) There actually is no application cooler than Microsoft Dynamics CRM (unless you are comparing version 4.0 to 3.0)
2) We never hang out near a computer so hating isn't even possible
3) It's truly like I said it: Prospect and customer interest in Microsoft CRM 4.0 is gangbusters

I'm serious... Navint has got something like 10 active Microsoft CRM projects going on since the beginning of 2008.

So if you have some time and you want to check out what all the new-CRM-version-commotion is about, come hang out with your favorite Navinteer at any of the following Microsoft Dynamics CRM Launch events:

March 5 - Rochester, NY**
March 18 - New York, NY
March 18 - Los Angeles, CA
March 19 - Hartford, CT**
March 20 - Boston, MA
March 20 - Huntington Beach, CA

Because the two are designed to work well teogether, the dates/locations marked above with a ** will have a Microsoft CRM 4.0 with SharePoint focus.

Let us know if you have any questions. Otherwise, see you there.

PS - The above list is not exhaustive. For a complete list of Microsoft CRM 4.0 Launch dates and locations, click here.

Migrating data from Salesforce.com to Microsoft CRM 4.0 using the Data Migration Manager

I just finished migrating data from Salesforce.com to Microsoft CRM 4.0 using the new Data Migration Manager (DMM) that works with CRM 4.0.

Overall, I was impressed with the DMM. It took some time to learn how it handled certain attributes (e.g., picklists, lookups, statuses, and users).

Pros:

• It's free.
• Does more than the Data Import Wizard available from within CRM.
• Can create custom entities and attributes for you, automatically!
• Can process multiple files at one time.
• Can establish relationships between records in different entities (e.g., set the parent account for a contact).
• Did I mention it's free?

Cons:

• Takes some time to learn how to use it correctly. If you haven't used it before, budget some time for this learning process (at least 2-4 hours).
• Works only with Text/CSV file formats.
• Can't handle files larger than 32 MB.
• Slow migrating from larger files (~10,000 records).
• More difficult to do more complex tasks such as transform data (e.g., use formulas). Rather than an easy-to-use interface such as one that Scribe Insight provides, you usually need to modify an XML file (uggh!).
• Even though there was a map for the Salesforce.com data, it did not handle everything. I ended up creating my own maps so I could become familiar with the data and have more control over the process.

Conclusion:
While I still recommend Scribe for more complex data migrations (and it's always more complex than you think), I believe the Data Migration Manager is a valid solution for many projects. Be sure to investigate the DMM as an option for your next data migration project.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 is available! Download it here.

Want to get your hands on Microsoft CRM 4.0? Check out all the links below. E-mail us if you have questions or would like a demo.

Documentation (manuals, help files, and white papers):

1. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Server Readme
2. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Implementation Guide
3. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 E-mail Router Readme (On-Premise and Hosted Editions)
4. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Data Migration Manager Readme
5. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Internet Facing Deployment Scenarios
6. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0: How to configure the on-premise E-mail Router in different deployment scenarios

Server Applications:

1. Microsoft CRM 4.0 Server
2. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 E-mail Router (On-Premise and Hosted Editions)

Client Applications:

1. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 for Microsoft Office Outlook (For On-Premise and Hosted Editions)
2. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Data Migration Manager

Give Salesforce.com $10,000... For What Is Already Yours!

While commonly known that Saleforce.com charges its customers for their data - you will cry when you hear this...

This morning I was talking to one of Navint's new Microsoft CRM customers. They are in the process of terminating their relationship with Salesforce.com.

It turns out that their contract with Salesforce.com requires them to pay $10,000.00 for a full cut of their data. The only thing they can get for free is a flat file of Account and Contact data.

IMPORTANT NOTE: With the introduction of Microsoft's customer relationship management SaaS offering (CRM Live), when you decide to "switch" you're NOT going to get charged for data that is rightfully yours.

And for those of you...

1) Responsible for doing vendor comparisons - please add this to your list of items to consider when calculating TCO.

2) Responsible for negotiating contractual relationships with CRM vendors - make sure to draw attention to such clauses so that you don't have to end up paying for what is yours.

PS - Maybe this is why Marc Benioff is so defensive regarding CRM Live.