Microsoft Dynamics is a seemingly all-encompassing CRM system with seamless integration with all things Microsoft, and there's no doubt that it has taken the world by storm in recent years. You may well have already have implemented a Microsoft Dynamics CRM system and you may be happy with the results. Or you may not yet have any CRM system in-place, but you'd like to find out what's possible without investing heavily in a single product.
As with all business systems - cloud-based or otherwise - the strength of a CRM system comes in its implementation and how it impacts your organisation. If your company provides a distinctive service to your clients, you may find that a stand-alone CRM system won't quite capture the detail and processes that you need to capture.
The term 'CRM system' has become somewhat overused to describe any intranet development, extranet development or stand-alone web-accessible database that you use to support your company's business processes. We understand that it's often difficult to see the wood for the trees. Things get even more complicated when you start looking for a system that supports your company's operation, your clients, your team and your strategic direction, while keeping one eye on the future as your company grows.
So are there any Microsoft Dynamics alternatives out there? Sure… the list is almost endless - Salesforce, GoldMine and ZohoCRM all play in this CRM systems space - and each has its pros and cons. Without exception, any Microsoft Dynamics alternative faces the same risk - a terrible implementation will lead to a terrible user experience, data will become inaccessible and users will stop using the system. It's also likely that any CRM system will need to be continually modified as your organisation changes the way it does business - in our view there is no such thing as a 'finished' CRM system.
So are you looking for a Microsoft Dynamics solution, a Microsoft Dynamics alternative, or are you looking for some consultancy to understand what you need from a CRM system, an intranet, a cloud business system - and then some CRM system development to deliver a system that suits your needs?
A much larger part of any CRM system development isn't the system itself - it's putting the right processes in place to ensure that the system is used properly and that your company is capturing the right data an moving in the right direction. Any CRM system - Microsoft Dynamics or otherwise - will fail unless you take a longer-term view of your data, team, processes, workflow and reporting.
At Thirdrock we combine business consultancy, software development and cloud technology, working with you to create systems that work for you. Please feel free to get in touch if you'd like to find out more.