Posted By
Darren Love
on
29. January 2013 01:03
If you enter the cloud-based CRM arena, there is heavyweight Salesforce and underdog Microsoft Dynamics CRM fighting it out. On the other hand, industry heavyweights like Oracle Siebel and SAP CRM stand by.
So how do you decide whether to implement Salesforce or Microsoft Dynamics CRM? One way to decide, of course, is to sign up for a free trial with each vendor – but that will quickly eat up your valuable time.
So here is an in-depth comparison of SalesForce versus Microsoft Dynamics Online to help you decide.
Comparison in a Table
Here’s a quick comparison chart that provides some perspective.
Salesforce Enterprise Edition
|
Microsoft Dynamics
|
|
Pricing |
$150/user/month |
$115/user/month |
Attachment Size |
25 MB |
128 MB |
Data Capacity |
1 GB Data Storage 2 GB Data Storage |
5 GB of storage for the organization. Additional storage can be purchased at $9.99/GB/Year Max 50 GB.
|
Business Rules/ Workflow |
Visual workflows Rules to schedule/execute tasks Approval processes |
Workflow can run automatically or on-demand. Two types of Workflows: Process Dialog |
Browser Support |
Internet Explorer Microsoft Edge Chrome Safari Firefox |
Internet Explorer Microsoft Edge Chrome Safari Firefox |
Device Support |
Salesforce1 (mobile app for Android and iOS) Windows Mobile 8.1 (mobile browser app only) |
Dynamics 365 for phones (mobile app for Android, iOS, and Windows) |
Website lead to CRM |
Available |
Web-to-lead using CRM SDK |
Test New Release Before Automatically Upgrading |
Possible |
Not possible |
Sandbox |
Developer sandbox (refresh limit: daily/data limit: 200 MB) Developer pro sandbox (refresh limit: daily/data limit: 1 GB) Partial copy (developer sandbox + selected Partial copy (developer sandbox + selected production data) (refresh limit: 5 days/data limit: 5 GB) Full copy (refresh limit: 29 days/data limit: same as production) |
1 sandbox instance/tenant |
Login and Password Security |
Login types:
Active directory or LDAP Single sign-on Social sign-on
Security:
2-step verification Trusted IP range |
Login types:
Forms authentication Window authentication Live ID authentication On-premises active directory federation services
Security:
Multi-factor verification Trusted IP Range Location-based access rules |
Search Functionality |
Universal search Lookup search Federated search |
Universal search Advanced Find Federated search using lithium connector |
Google Apps Integration |
Available |
Available using connect bridge |
Offline Capability |
Limited capabilities (paid) |
Full capabilities (free) |
Other Considerations
Apart from the differences above, there are some other things to consider when comparing Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics Online.
# User Experience
When comparing Microsoft Dynamics CRM with Salesforce, user-friendly experience is very critical. The user interface of Microsoft Dynamics CRM is one distinct advantage. Why? That it effortlessly fits into the intuitive, process-oriented interfaces that Microsoft products are known for. This advantage makes the users more empowered because it becomes easy for them to navigate through this system and accommodate itself.
But that's not all. Microsoft Dynamics CRM pushes the user experience a step ahead due to its superb mobile features. It caters to all your needs whether you are an iOS fan, a Windows user or Android lover. This versatility allows you to stay connected and productive on your preferred mobile device, promoting a certain level of portability that enhances the CRM experience.
# Development
Development in Microsoft Dynamics CRM has always been thought of with simplicity and flexibility, meaning easy experience to developers as well users.
- Universal Web Standards: One of the main features that make Microsoft Dynamics CRM a particularly strong product is its ability to use universal web standards. It utilizes the power of JavaScript, .NET and HTML without having to specialize in different programming languages.
- Integration with Microsoft Applications: Microsoft Dynamics CRM takes it one better by incorporating smoothly with a wide array of the most popular Microsoft applications. They include Excel, Outlook, OneNote PowerPoint SharePoint Solutions, Skype , Word and Yammer.
- Streamlined Development Workflow: Developers can use this integration to speed up their workflow. For example, they may import data straight from Excel into CRM; schedule meetings in Outlook or collaborate on documents in SharePoint all the while remaining within the CRM environment.
- Enhanced User Experience: From a user’s point of view, this integration increases the overall experience. For instance, a user can easily access customer information from CRM within Outlook to make very informed and timely interactions.
- Scalability and Adaptability: Microsoft Dynamics CRM is highly scalable and adaptive due to its reliance on universal web standards as well integration capabilities. As your business grows, the CRM system can grow with it as well; changing needs and expanding functionalities need not be major development challenges.
# Deployment
As for the deployment options, selecting the suitable CRM software is a pivotal choice for any organization. Regarding this, two major players in the CRM space are Salesforce.com and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Now that we have chosen the two platforms for our project.
- Salesforce.com Deployment: Salesforce.com is essentially a CRM solution in the cloud application. This essentially means that all your data, applications and functionalities live in the cloud. The cloud-based nature of Salesforce.com could be considered as a strength and weakness at the same time.
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM Deployment: Contrastingly, Microsoft Dynamics CRM offers more deployment options. It provides cloud, on-premises and hybrid deployment models. If you like the agility of cloud, or control offered by on-premises, Microsoft Dynamics CRM helps your need.
- Licensing Options: Licensing is yet another important point. Microsoft Dynamics CRM provides a variety of licensing options that can be adapted to suit the specific needs and budgets of various organizations. This can include plans such as Essential, Professional or Enterprise depending on the features and capabilities you need for your business.
- Service Level Agreements (SLAs): In terms of reliability, Microsoft Dynamics CRM offers 99.9% SLA-backed Service Level Agreements . This means that you can expect a high level of uptime and performance, which is very critical for seamless business operations.
# Pricing
The decision between Salesforce Enterprise Edition and Microsoft Dynamics CRM, concerning pricing can affect your budget significantly.
Microsoft Dynamics CRM can be significantly cheaper than Salesforce Enterprise Edition. Perhaps, for small firms the difference in prices is not that significant. But for large organizations, this difference can be huge and may reach thousands of dollars a year – not tens but hundreds. While Salesforce can provide strong features, its price may be a significant consideration for large organizations.
# Extendibility
It is important to understand that Microsoft Dynamics CRM has incredible capabilities as a development platform when it comes to extendibility.
Here's what you can achieve:
- Custom Views: By Microsoft Dynamics CRM , it is really easy to personalize views according to the specific requirements of your business. This means you are able to filter, sort and display information in a format that works for your workflow without having to deal with complex code.
- Business Entities: It is easy to create and edit business entities using this CRM platform. Whether you need to add new entities or update existing ones, it is an easy process that increases your CRM effectiveness.
- Fields: Do you need data related to your business that’s unique? Microsoft Dynamics CRM enables you to develop fields that are customised without going into the complications of programming.
- Forms: Customizing the user interface is important for a smooth CRM. With this system, you can create and modify forms according to your organization’s requirements.
# Unparalleled Flexibility with Integration
Although Salesforce also provides customization facilities, Microsoft Dynamics CRM goes one notch higher by offering integration properties. Here's where it truly shines:
- Seamless Integration: Microsoft Dynamics CRM integrates effortlessly with other products and services from Microsoft. So you can leverage the power of tools such as Office 365, Power BI and Azure for a comprehensive integrated business platform.
- Third-Party Integrations: Beyond the Microsoft ecosystem, this CRM enables integration integration with a plethora of third-party applications. The possibilities are endless; whether it is marketing automation, analytics and e-commerce platforms.
# Future Stability
- Salesforce: Salesforce has been the unrivaled leader within CRM market with an exceptional performance in management of sales, marketing and customer service areas. Over the last few years, Salesforce has shown consistently that it is capable of adjusting and growing. An interesting feature of Salesforce is its product variety. It doesn’t end with sales and marketing; it covers even accounting, offering a full set of tools for companies regardless of their size.
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM: Microsoft Dynamics CRM has a persuading advantage to businesses with its affordable pricing plan. This affordability can be a savior for small businesses and startups seeking to develop effective CRM foundation. Amidst an environment where accessibility holds importance, Microsoft Dynamics CRM provides cross-browser support for the customers to view their CRM data effortlessly on various platforms and devices. Microsoft has been vigorously investing in the improvement of its CRM solution. With every update, the businesses will have smoother operations and higher efficiency.
Even though Salesforce currently dominates the market it would be a mistake to overlook the capabilities of Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Its affordable pricing, focus on accessibility and performance improvements demonstrate promise. As businesses strategize for stability in the future it is crucial to evaluate the strengths of both platforms and align them with their requirements and aspirations, for growth. In this changing environment making an informed decision is vital to guarantee success, in the long run.
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