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Dunbar Armored, an armored car company headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland, has selected Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 for its sales teams. Dunbar will use the CRM technology to integrate data that is generated in its 80 branches across the US. Microsoft scored over competing CRM systems on the basis of its role-based CRM capabilities.

The Microsoft offering will work alongside Dunbar’s existing systems that store customer information. The deployment of Microsoft will enable Dunbar to eliminate manual processes and working with spread sheets for obtaining information on prospects and customers. Planning and reporting scenarios, such as consolidation and budgeting, are offered through integration with Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server.

South African company i5 has been named the first global winner of the Microsoft Partner of the Year award in the category, Microsoft Dynamics CRM. The award is to be presented at the Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston, Texas, in July.

According to i5 CEO Glen Ansell , the award is the culmination of the company’s determination and sharp focus on the Microsoft technology stack, and specifically, Dynamics CRM. “Having recognised the viability and relevance of Microsoft’s CRM package soon after the inception of i5 in 2004, our company took a strategic decision to become the South African market leader in this aspect of Microsoft’s technology solutions,” he says.

Inetium, a Microsoft partners, has announced that it will be conducting an Accelerated Deployment Program for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online customers. The program will help businesses to start quickly and effectively with the Dynamics online CRM.

Headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota, Inetium provides technology consulting services to organizations of all size throughout the United States. Inetium officials say the their company is committed to increasing people and organizational productivity by providing IT planning services, customer relationship management, business productivity, IT infrastructure, Web strategies and real estate technology products.

Dovarri has announced today the signing of a three year contract with its newest client, the Houston Texans. The Texans, Houston’s National Football League (NFL) franchise, will retain Dovarri to provide Sales Force Automation and Customer Relationship Management (SFA/CRM) services through Orizon, Dovarri’s recently released software.

Orizon, Enterprise SFA/CRM software built entirely on the Microsoft Windows SharePoint platform, integrates with the Texans’ proprietary database, which is also built on the SharePoint platform. Orizon manages the sales process and aligns sales procedures within their sales team.

Frontpages Web Hosting Network has added Microsof Dynamics CRM 4.0 to its roster of hosted offerings. The company is a recent Microsoft Gold Partner and is latest offering will give customers an integrated on-demand CRM solution. The pricing is $99 for small business solutions, $495 per month for corporate and $4,595 per month for enterprise offerings.

Frontpage specializes in offering Microsoft-developed products such as SharePoint, Exchange, Project, PerformancePoint, Office Communications Server and SQL, along with dedicated server hosting.

American of Martinsville, a Virginia-based contract furniture manufacturer, will be deploying Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. American of Martinsville has a major presence in the furniture segment consisting of hospitality and health care markets.

American of Martinsville will use Microsoft Dynamics AX to automate its quoting process, project management and customer communications. Microsoft Dynamics CRM modules implemented by the company include project management, quote management and customer communications.

The company chose Microsoft CRM after evaluating products from Sage, SYSPRO, SAP AG, and Infor.

DVD distributor Magna Pacific has decided to discontinue its use of Sybiz software and implement Microsoft Dynamics NAV as it feels that the old CRM application does not scale well. The company’s administration manager, Sarah Dowling said “In the warehouse, staff would frequently make errors while picking and packing orders. These errors could result in inappropriate product sent to customers so there was a great need for improved accuracy.”

The company tested products from Sage, Innicom, and Sybiz’s Evolution before selecting Microsoft Dynamics NAV. Microsoft Dynamics won the day on the strength of its scalability, custom features, and the extent of functionality offered by it.

The long wait for potential Microsoft customers waiting to try its hosted CRM offering is over. From April 22, Dynamics is available as an online service. The hosted version is based on the Dynamics CRM 4 customer relationship management software. Dynamics CRM Online debuted as Dynamics CRM Live at the Worldwide Partner Conference last July. However; the company chose to stress the “Online” aspect. The hosted service will boost Microsoft’s position as a SaaS player. The company is in the process of developing datacenters around the world and make possible virtual access to data.

“[CRM Online] is not the only service that we plan from Dynamics in the software-plus-services space,” Ballmer said at the time. “You should expect to see more from us in ERP and other areas as we move into the future.”

The other side of Microsoft’s software-plus-services push is a collection of online services that the company has dubbed “Live,” which are mostly free or ad-supported services directed primarily at consumers.

Read more here and here.

iEnterprises, a company into desktop and wireless CRM, has come out with the Mobile Edge Express for Microsoft Dynamics CRM. The mobile application is a joint effort involving iEnterprises, RIM, and Microsoft. The click and run application is targeted at SMBs who are using Microsoft Dynamics CRM Live or partner-hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM and would wish to access the information on their Blackberry Smartphones.

MobileEdge Express is a turn key SaaS solution, which means that it’s inexpensive to deploy and there are no upfront hardware costs, upgrades or licensing fees. The software is a simple download that allows users to obtain instant access to information such as their contacts, opportunities and cases even when they are on the move. The software is available on monthly or annual contract payment.

MobileEdge is perfectly suited for the small screens of handheld devices. Users are spared time consuming data look-ups and slow connections because the MobileEdge uses a client/server architecture that ensures data availability both online and offline; so you are not dependent on cellular coverage for access to information. You can store relevant data on the device as well as on the host server. Intuitive navigation allows viewing of information that is relevant and specific to the need of the moment. Since MobileEdge is deployed and managed wirelessly, upgrades and administration happens smoothly.

Learn more here.

Working With Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 is a guide to Microsoft’s newest release of the software. It has been authored by Mike Snyder and Jim Steger of Sonoma Partners. The objective of this book is to guide those who intend to install, customize, or enhance Microsoft CRM. The book will make its debut at Convergence, which is set to take place in Orlando from March 11 to March 14. Convergence is the event where Microsoft showcases its Dynamics line of business software.

Another publication by Microsoft Press authored by the same duo is Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 and Microsoft Dynamics Live CRM Step by Step. The book is aimed at the end user; it will be released in summer 2008. Apparently Kate Blanchett is keen on the film project related to the book. The film rights have been purchased by Dream Works.

Snyder and Steger are more than qualified to preach on Microsoft Dynamics, the duo have to their credit more than 100 Dynamics CRM implementations.

Read more here.