Titan CTP Program - Navint Has Been Nominated!

Our good friend at Microsoft, Umang Vasa, has nominated Navint for participation in the Titan Community Technology Preview (CTP) Program - a pre-release program related to the next release of Microsoft CRM for Microsoft Dynamics partners.

Through the Titan CTP Program, Navint will receive:

- Access to key information about the Titan Platform
- A chance to work with early Titan code and begin to develop products and messaging around Titan
- Participation in weekly deep-dive technical calls that provide essential information about Titan
- Access to previously held conference calls during the initial phases of the TAP program
- Access to Newsgroups to give feedback, ask questions of the developers and interact with CTP participants

Stay tuned!

Daylight Saving Time Changes and Microsoft CRM

Starting in 2007, the start date and the end date for daylight-saving time (DST) in the United States will transition to comply with the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

DST in the United States will start three weeks earlier than it has started in the past. DST in the United States will start at 2:00 A.M. on the second Sunday in March. DST will end one week later than it has ended in the past. DST will end at 2:00 A.M. on the first Sunday in November.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 will require a hotfix to comply with the new start and end dates for DST in the United States. The hotfix will be made available here.

For more information about support for DST changes in Microsoft Windows operating systems, visit this website.

Convergence 2007 - Navint Update

At Navint, we are committed to ensure that our clients get the best value for their investments - that’s why we want to make sure you join us at Convergence 2007.

At Convergence, you can take advantage of key insights and advice from peers, partners, industry experts, and Microsoft employees to help your business make the most out of your Microsoft investments.

Here is just some of what Convergence has to offer:

- 247+ breakout sessions
- User Experience Lounge
- Structured Networking
- The Microsoft Learning Center
- Hands On Labs

If you’ve never attended before, check out this video about getting the most out of your experience.

As a valued-client of Navint, you will also be invited to:

- Your choice of joining us at our Navint-sponsored golf outing or sailing outing on Sunday afternoon, March 11
- An exclusive social event on Tuesday evening, March 13
- Meet with Navint Leadership, 1:1
- Network with key Microsoft personnel and share your feedback

And you can still save off the full price of $1,395 if you register by February 9th, 2007. Save even more when you register three or more people for Convergence.

Don't wait. Register now.

Be sure to include your Partner Sponsor Code (11036) to enter into a drawing for a Microsoft Xbox 360!

Microsoft CRM Analytics Toolset Soon To Be Released!

Are you ready for an analytics toolset for Microsoft CRM 3.0 that enables:

- Business performance management dashboards
- Business reporting and ad hoc analysis
- Predictive analytics

Then you'll want to take a look at Microsoft CRM 3.0 Analytics Express: Foundation. (Yes, I know, Microsoft has been talking about releasing this toolset since October 2006.)

But if Satya Nadella is posting about it on his blog then you know that Microsoft is getting very is close to letting us get our hands on it.

Want to know more? Me too. But for now this is what I can tell you:

Analytics Express: Foundation is an analytics toolset that will provide UDM cube samples, sample reports, KPIs, dashboards, and predictive data mining functionality - all delivered through Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0.

Stay tuned!

Optimizing The Performance Of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0

Microsoft has release a White Paper titled, Optimizing the Performance of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0, which discusses how to optimize the performance of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 system.

Included in the white paper is guidance on re-indexing, de-fragmenting, and regularly maintaining CRM databases to increase the speed with which Microsoft Dynamics CRM accesses data.

The document discusses more advanced techniques as well, such as improving report performance, configuring Microsoft SQL Server, and optimizing Microsoft Internet Information Services and the .NET Framework. (There are even complete SQL scripts that can be copied and used immediately!)

Finally, it's chocked full of additional information and resources, such as performance enhancements, security updates, Knowledge Base articles, and related Microsoft Dynamics CRM documentation.

Get it here.

Drinking The Kool-Aid: How Microsoft Uses Microsoft CRM 3.0

On January 22nd, Mike Bishoff from Microsoft is going to provide the details of how Microsoft uses Microsoft CRM 3.0.

Although this upcoming web conference is only open to Microsoft Partners, I'll be sure to post my notes from the meeting here.

Stay tuned!

Microsoft Debuts Multitenant CRM Offering

Along with my blog post from last week, Microsoft has officially announced its multi-tenant offering, CRM Live. Not too many details yet, but exciting nonetheless!

Navint is currently working with Microsoft and expects to participate in the company's TAP program related to the CRM Live (Titan) release.

More details to follow... Stay tuned!

Running Microsoft CRM Outlook Client On An Office 2000 Machine

As most of you are well aware, the hardware and software requirements for Microsoft CRM 3.0 specify that if you want to run either of the Microsoft CRM Outlook clients that you need to have Microsoft Office 2003 with SP1 (or Office 2007) installed on the client machine.

While this is true, Microsoft Dynamics Support has also confirmed that you can actually run Office 2000 with an Outlook 2003 upgrade on the client machine and successfully install either of the Microsoft CRM Outlook Clients on it.

What's more - especially if you are planning on implementing Microsoft CRM 3.0 Small Business Edition - is that the Windows Small Business Server 2003 Premium Edition CAL includes a license for the Outlook 2003 upgrade!

However, Microsoft Dynamics Support noted at least one limitation with the Office 2000 with Outlook 2003 configuration when running either of the Microsoft CRM Outlook clients. That is, users will not be able to leverage Microsoft CRM 3.0's Export to Excel functionality because the Office 2003 version of Excel is needed to export data from Microsoft CRM 3.0.

Bottom Line: Organizations who are running Office 2000 can potentially avoid the cost of an all out upgrade to Office 2003 or Office 2007 and still allow their users to leverage the value of the Microsoft CRM Outlook client.

The Microsoft CRM Trifecta!

After reading Carolyn April's recent article in Redmond Magazine titled, The Many Flavors of Microsoft CRM, I am encouraged by the breadth of Microsoft CRM offerings (soon to be) available.

Following is a quick summary of Microsoft CRM deployment options (click on the picture to enlarge).

Carolyn April notes, "All three offerings are based on the same code base and provide marketing, sales and customer service-related capabilities. Microsoft is positioning its three-pronged strategy as one of choice: You can start on-premise and move to on-demand or vice versa."

While the On-Premise and Partner Hosted options are available today, CRM Live will be offered direct from Microsoft beginning Summer 2007. Stay tuned!

Navint Invites You To Attend Convergence 2007

Are you a Navint customer or prospect?

Are you interested in building skills across all Microsoft platforms and equipping yourself with the tools and knowledge you need to optimize your business?

Would you like the opportunity to interact with peers, partners, Microsoft team members and top industry experts in both structured and informal settings?

Might you benefit from hearing the vision and strategy of key Microsoft executive leaders and gaining insight on the future of the company, product direction and investments so you can align your business and take advantage of the benefits?

If so, Navint would love for you to be our guest at Convergence 2007!

Convergence 2007 is the premier Microsoft Dynamics event, bringing customers, partners, team members and industry experts together in an environment created for you to discuss solutions, address business needs and establish a true community that can be leveraged throughout the year.

Like previous years, Convergence 2007 promises an exceptional program including a variety of speakers, detailed product demonstrations and hands-on learning sessions. You will learn how to enhance your Microsoft investment now and in the future, and gain a stronger sense of community through interacting with industry leaders, Microsoft team members, partners and other customers.

Convergence 2007 will take place in San Diego, California from March 11-14.

To accept Navint's invitation and/or to learn more about Convergence 2007, please contact our Marketing Director, Coreen Wilson, at cwilson@navint.com.

Quick Take - The CRM Connector For GP

As many of you know, early December 2006 marked the re-release of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Connector for Microsoft Dynamics GP.

With this re-release, organizations are able to leverage the Connector to integrate their CRM and GP environments more quickly and at a lower cost than is required for typical enterprise application integration (EAI) projects.

Following is a quick summary of what I have learned about the Connector based on research and implementation experience.

To download the re-released Connector Guide, go here. (Note: To download the Connector Guide, you will need to be an active Microsoft Customer or Partner). Along with the Connector Guide, Microsoft also recommends reviewing the Connector Guide Release Notes.

A Summary of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Connector for Microsoft Dynamics GP

- CRM Candidates: Microsoft CRM 3.0 Professional or Small Business Edition

- GP Candidates: Microsoft Dynamics versions 8.0 and 9.0

- Versions Supported: English Only (i.e., USA, AUS, CAN, NZ, SING, S. AFRICA, UK)

- Additional Licensing Required: Yes (1 CRM user for integration and 1 SQL 2000 CAL for the CRM integration user)

- Additional SQL Server Requirement: As briefly referenced above, SQL Server 2000 is required by BizTalk 2004 to handle messages between CRM and GP. (Note: No other version of SQL Server can be used with BizTalk 2004.)

- Deployment Scenarios: Microsoft recommends a three server deployment where each component (CRM, GP and Connector) lives on its own separate server. If a two server deployment is necessary, the Connector should be installed on the server running GP. Microsoft also supports a single server deployment leveraging Windows Small Business Server 2003 Premium Edition BUT does not recommend this scenario for organizations with more than 5 concurrent CRM and GP users.

- Additional Knowledge Requirements: BizTalk Server 2004 (Partner Edition), eConnect (versions 8 with SP4 or 9), Microsoft Message Queuing (MSMQ)

- Additional Knowledge Required (if Customizing CRM-GP Integration): Visual Studio .NET 2003 and BizTalk Server 2004 SDK

- Connector Tool Descriptions: Settings and Administration Tool (for basic Connector setup including the ability to select specific CRM and GP entities to be published for integration), Data Synchronization Tool (for data migration, synchronization, and correlation between CRM and GP), Integration Monitor (for monitoring integration points between CRM and GP)

- Integrated CRM-GP Entities: Customers/Accounts, Contacts, Items, Products, Orders, Invoices (Note: 1. any of these entities and the standard field mappings they contain may be modified using the Connector Tools described above, and 2. organizations may also customize the standard Connector mappings using Visual Studio .NET 2003 and BizTalk Server 2004 SDK)

- Basic Information Flow: Quotes are created only in CRM which can be converted to Orders in CRM. Orders created in CRM can be submitted to GP. Orders can also be created in GP or received from CRM which can be converted to Invoices only in GP. CRM can only read Invoices from GP. (For more information on the standard information flow and field mappings between CRM and GP, please read the Connector Guide.)

- Known Limitations: The CRM Connector For Dynamics GP has a number of known limitations which are documented. For more information on these limitations please refer to the Connector Guide.