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InfoGrow Blog

See your organization thrive! Improve the customer experience by keeping your sales, marketing
and customer service teams on the same page. 

Dynamics CRM Updates: View our Video Library

 
Dear Bob,

Where can I get the latest insights as to what changes and enhancements are coming down for Dynamics 365 CRM?

- Jackie 

Dear Jackie, 

We maintain a video library on our website - check out the Dynamics 365 CRM Coming Soon tab. 
Dynamics 365 Usability Enhancements
New Dynamics 365 Sales Mobile Experience
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Free CRM vs Dynamics CRM

 
Dear Bob,
I have a client asking me what is difference between a free CRM system and Dynamics?  Since free is always good - how do I provide him with guidance?
-- Phil, MSP 

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Dear Phil,
​
For getting started, the simple answer is that any CRM will do. A CRM system is like a young child. At first, the focus is just getting the child to talk and walk.  Long term, however, you want them to mature, learning and do more. As your client moves to do more, mature with their CRM system, that is where a basic tool and more advance tool quickly separate. 


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When is CRM worth the cost?

 
When is CRM Worth the Cost?
Dear Bob,
My CFO is asking if our Dynamics CRM deployment was worth the cost. We are in year three of our use of Dynamics and I was not here for the decision to purchase. How do I respond?

-- Jack, New Sales Manager


Dear Jack,

Since you were not part of the decision process it will be difficult for you collect all of the deployment cost to build your case. I therefore suggest using a combination of the following approaches:

Cost Avoidance
Consider not only the savings over what was in place before but what insights have been learned from using Dynamics that has caused you to reduced spending. For example, you have now been able to better measure the return for a specific marketing campaign and find that it’s not worth the resources.

Improved Sales
​
Not only look at improved actuals, but also look at the speed of the sale flow. Is having a sales process spelled out in Dynamics 365 helping your team to move through the sales process faster? Does having a believable pipeline help account mangers better focus?

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Deepening Client Relationships with Value-Added Services

 
Dear Bob,

I have a client with an older copy of Goldmine that they just have outgrown. I am afraid to outsource what I don’t know and risk the relationship.
​ -- Mike

Dear Mike,

Don’t be afraid to partner. Don’t be afraid to tell your client that CRM is not your specialty, however, you have the capability to bring in someone who is an expert.  And together, we can work with you to provide the best possible solution.

​Change is inevitable – but how do you keep evolving?

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2020 Wave 2 - Dynamics Sales Usability Enhancements

 
Dear Bob,
Bob, what are some of the key features added to Dynamics 365 Sales in the latest release?
​
-- Beth

Dear Beth,

I have picked out 3 features in the latest release that should get your attention.
​
Duplicate Detection – Enhanced Email Experience – Added PDF Capabilities

The feature overview video below, highlights new capabilities included in the latest update to Dynamics 365 Sales. 

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Leading a Horse to Water - Microsoft Dynamics Implementation

 
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You’ve heard that old saying “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink”.  I often hear managers complain that their CRM doesn’t work because they don’t have enough user acceptance. Well “leading a horse to water” is the same type of dilemma. 
​
Two basic principles must be in place to achieve user acceptance of a CRM system.
  1. What is in it for them?
  2. What business processes are reinforced to drive the desired behavior?


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3 Reasons Why CRM Makes Your Customer a Smarter Marketer

 
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​Dear Bob,
 
What is the best way my customers can use CRM to be better Marketers? 
 
- Jane
​


Dear Jane,
 
It’s not hard to see why CRM data, made up of customers, prospects and influencers is the most important marketing asset. After all, how can a marketer be successful without the right data? And how can a marketer discover or fine tune a message without insight into behaviors and their service needs? But, keeping this data organized, current, and easily accessible for every relevant team member, throughout an organization, can still be a massive challenge.
 
A versatile, robust CRM system is still the best way to store, manage, and use critical customer data for sales AND marketing. However, many marketers who invest in a CRM system fail to fully capitalize on its marketing value.


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Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM - 10 Common Mistakes in Deployment

 
Mistakes in Deployments

​Today's CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is better than yesterday's because: (a) CRM systems such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM can now deliver greater productivity returns and (b) vendors' software usability is much improved. These advancements (and others) mean less time and lower costs to implement a CRM system. And the more people in a given company who use a CRM system translates to more benefits and a higher ROI on a CRM investment. Research notes that for every dollar a company invests in a CRM system, it earns $5.60.
 
But not everyone who has a CRM system is experiencing the expected return and, thus, some are even Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM haters. It may depend on how you choose and implement your CRM system. To help you get the most from your CRM, here are some common mistakes and ways to avoid them.

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How to use Dynamics CRM for Customer Lifetime value

 
Customer Lifetime Value
If your account reps could sell more, marketing could target better, and customer service was more responsive to key accounts, life would be great, wouldn't it?  It may not be as hard as you think using CLV with Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM.

​You’ve probably heard that it costs less to keep and grow an existing customer than to acquire a new one.  And it’s true. But, for many organizations this truism seems to have fallen on deaf ears, as companies still spend a large amount of their time and resources on chasing after new, potential clients.  Even then, their efforts can be fragmented and the results less than desirable.  This is hard to understand because keeping and growing current customers, and finding new ones like them does not have to be hard.


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The case for an external Dynamics CRM expertise provider

 
Most customers who have, or are looking to purchase a Dynamics CRM system are looking to achieve basic results which boil down to two frequently stated objectives: retain current customers and acquire new customers to power growth. Both of these objectives rely on extensive understanding of customer relationships grounded in business data such as account details, sales history, end use information, industry assessment, response to campaigns, etc. If the business does not win through the transformation of time-sensitive management of this data to systems that provide not more data, but useful information and insights, they will lose to competition who are leading in this strategic approach. If your customers are not moving to this new business reality, then they are falling behind.

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Sales opportunities: How to sell to a team of  decision makers

 
Decision Maker
How many opportunities in your world today are decided by a single decision-maker? I suggest that many are not. It also is highly likely that the sales process of your clients is running the same as they work to build a trusting relationship with multiple decision-makers or decision influencers. A recent study found that there are 6.8 people involved in the average B2B buying decision, yet a LinkedIn study reported that 78% of sales professional are connected to either only one person or not connected at all into accounts they’re trying to close. Are account managers communicating with the other 5+ people in the decision-making process? Are they helping all the people involved get the background information they need to help make an informed decision?


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How do you justify / Evaluate a CRM System Investment?

 
ROI Calculation
Most software ROI calculations are built off of two tenets: sell more or cut cost. The problem that most organizations run into is that they have no solid numbers to address either; “sell how much more”, or “save how much time” are elusive concepts.

I suggest that there are three fundamental business objectives that sales, marketing and service must focus on: find more customers like our best ones, keep the ones we want, and increase profitable transactions.  The way to justify a Dynamics 365 CRM system is to start by asking:  "What is the cost of inaction in effectively supporting and measuring progress associated with these three fundamental business objectives?"


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Do Clients Really Need a CRM System to Grow Their Business?

 
Grow your business
The most fundamental requirement for growing a business is having sound sales processes that can be tracked, measured, and audited. Such processes must be written down and followed closely, not shared through word-of-mouth like an urban legend. A documented sales processes allow your clients to create a repeatable blueprint for success.

So where do they keep such data and monitor their results?


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DO your clients know the cost of a lead?

 
Cost of a lead?
Leads can come in many ways; website, referral, trade show, direct mail, email drip and even an account rep prospecting. But if we don’t know the sales return from each or the cost of each, how do we evaluate where to invest a limited marketing budget?


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Data Silos Bad for Your Clients’ Business -- 9 Reasons to Replace Excel Spreadsheets with CRM

 
Data silo spreadsheet
​Some B2B companies run their sales and marketing activities with Excel because it is easy to use and well known by employees. However, to more efficiently manage and profitably use data, other B2Bs use a relational-based CRM (Customer Relationship Management). A CRM consists of a database and a user-interface with which you can easily create, update, manage, process, share, and report data across the organization.
 
While Excel spreadsheets are great calculators, they are not good as a shareable database. That is because, in part, Excel has no relational tables and limited interface capabilities. Excel becomes cumbersome and difficult to manage with thousands of items.


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CRM: what clients really want

 
collaboration
I was reminded this week of how much fun this business can be working with clients. As I met with three different clients on their Dynamics Roadmap for the next few quarters, it reminded me of why I am in this business of strengthening customer engagement.
​
Each of the clients has been with us for some time and each understand the value of CRM to the organization’s profitability and growth. However, it was good to hear that they also view CRM as a tool to strengthen a deeper relationship with their clients for all the various touch points that they have with the client.  CRM is a tool to guide existing and new users in their behaviors while getting everyone in marketing, sales and customer service on the same page with the client needs. 

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Can CRM make you a smarter marketer?

 
It’s not hard to see why your CRM data, made up of customers, prospects and influencers is your most important marketing asset. After all, how can a marketer be successful without the right data? And how can a marketer discover or fine tune a message without insight into behaviors and their service needs? But, keeping this data organized, current, and easily accessible for every relevant team member, throughout an organization, can still be a massive challenge.

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Are Sales and Marketing Still Not Aligned

 
I have written before regarding the sales growth value of getting your sales and marketing teams on the same page. This is an effort that can’t be left up to sales or marketing alone, it is too important to the organization and must be monitored at the CEO level.
  
InsideView does an excellence job in the following infographic to highlight what current leaders are doing to get things right.  Point number 6 – “Align on Pipeline” is the element I like the most. By emphasizing the sales pipeline you should expect alignment on lead and nurturing campaigns throughout the sales process. This approach will help drive greater cohesion between both team leaders, as well as provide account reps with advanced insight into the contribution of the marketing team.
​

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Do You Really Need CRM to Grow Your Business?

 
Dynamics CRM
Many companies don’t appreciate the value of a CRM system until they understand its pivotal role in closing more sales. CRM’s virtues are not always apparent unless one is intimate with the ins and outs of how business gets done in the organization.


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3 Simple Strategies for Successful Customer Engagement

 
Volumes have been written about customer engagement, which is an increasingly vital part of boosting sales, increasing membership, and satisfying both customers and prospects. While successful customer engagement requires a multi-level strategy, it doesn’t have to be complex... just thoughtful and complete.


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Assessing Your Investment in Free CRM Software

 
You’ve seen the ads. The CRM software is free, forever or on a trial basis. Installation takes seconds. Learning takes minutes. Enter some contacts, play around with reports, and voilà! Within hours, everyone is tracking leads, analyzing pipelines, and monitoring customer interaction.

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What CRM Won’t Do For You

 
CRM can provide significant benefits to any sales-driven organization that’s focused on customer service. And it can have a profoundly positive impact on internal processes and performance, both individually and organizationally. Despite CRM’s inherent ability to boost profits and deliver insights, there are some things that CRM simply can’t do on its own.

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  • Home
  • Why InfoGrow
    • Our Approach >
      • Our Story
      • Our Clients
    • Our Pledge
    • Careers
    • Alliances
  • Dynamics 365 CRM
    • Dynamics 365 CRM Consulting >
      • Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM
      • Dynamics CRM Optimization
    • CRM Manager
    • Dynamics CRM Rescue
    • Dynamics CRM Support
    • Dynamics CRM Reporting
  • Dynamics 365 Solutions
    • Dynamics Marketing Automation
    • Dynamics for Hospice
    • Dynamics 365 Non-Profit Fundraising
    • Application Development
    • CRM SmartMap
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Videos
    • Whitepapers
    • CRM Quiz
    • Store
  • Contact Us