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Dynamics 365 CRM Consulting
Continuous Improvement Ideas for Manufacturing Using Dynamics 365 CRM

The world of Dynamics 365 CRM continues to evolve, and with it comes the imperative need for manufacturers to stay ahead through continuous improvement. This blog explores the cutting-edge strategies and considerations that manufacturers can take using Dynamics 365 CRM for continuous improvement.   Five Ways to Use Dynamics 365 for Continuous Improvement   Get Deeper Process Improvement Insights With AI-Powered Data Analysis Explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the data analysis process, automating everything from Lead Scoring to Prospecting, leading to more efficient use of Dynamics 365 and increased accuracy in customer interactions. Increase Productivity With the Dynamics 365 2024 Release Wave 1 Updates Let Microsoft do some of the work for you! Leverage the newest features being introduced in the Dynamics 365 2024 Wave 1 updates, such as AI functionality like Microsoft Copilot for Sales and enhanced Customer Insights (Marketing) Journeys. These new capabilities can significantly increase productivity with minimal effort on your part.   Customize Your CRM With Low-Code/No-Code Solutions Explore the growing popularity of low-code/no-code platforms for customizing CRM entities, fields, workflows, and approvals enabling organizations to tailor their CRM systems without the need for extensive coding.  These tools for Dynamics 365 are all available under the Power Platform and a lot of their capabilities are available to you at no extra charge. Enhance the User Experience With User-Centric Design and Training Focus on the importance of the CRM user experience. User-centric design principles and targeted training programs contribute to successful CRM adoption. “Engaging End Users Early and Often” is one of the core tenets of our CRM Success Methodology. Reviewing how end users are engaging with your CRM can often reveal simple changes that will improve their experience and increase productivity. Learn From Dynamics 365 Community Insights Take advantage of the real-world case studies and insights from the Dynamics 365 CRM community, highlighting best practices and lessons learned from successful CRM implementations and projects. We encourage all our clients to join the Dynamics 365 CE / CRM group at Dynamics Communities.   Navigate the Future of Dynamics 365 CRM Successfully If you’re a manufacturer striving to harness the full potential of Dynamics 365 CRM in 2024, a forward-looking and strategic approach is essential. Contact the team at Dominic Systems to learn how we can support your journey to continuous improvement. <Schedule Free Consultation>    

Dynamics 365 CRM Consulting
Latest Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM Features to Revolutionize Your Business in 2024

As we step into the promising realm of 2024, it’s the perfect time to reevaluate and elevate your technology stack and how Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM fits into it. In this blog, we’ll explore how you can harness the latest features of Dynamics 365 CRM to revolutionize your operations and propel your business to new heights in the coming year.   1. Streamlined Customer Relationship Management: Manage and nurture customer relationships effectively with Dynamics 365 CRM. The latest features and updates ensure a seamless customer experience, from lead generation to after-sales support. 2.  Enhanced Automation for Increased Efficiency: Boost your team’s productivity with the latest automation within Dynamics 365 CRM. CRM automation  can help streamline repetitive tasks, allowing your workforce to focus on more strategic and value-driven activities. 3. Integration for a Unified Ecosystem: Unify business processes with the integration capabilities of Dynamics 365 CRM. When you integrate your Dynamics 365 CRM with other Microsoft applications, you can build a cohesive ecosystem, breaking down data silos and providing a holistic view of your business operations. 4. Data-Driven Decision-Making: In the age of data, make informed decisions by harnessing the analytical power of Dynamics 365 CRM. Delve into the reporting and analytics tools that offer valuable insights into customer behaviour, market trends, and overall business performance. 5. Scalability and Flexibility: Ensure your CRM evolves with your business to adapt to your growing needs. Dynamics 365 CRM brings scalability and flexibility to the table. 6. Collaboration and Communication: Enhance collaboration among your team members by leveraging the collaborative features of Dynamics 365 CRM. Uncover tips and tricks for seamless communication, document sharing, and project collaboration within the CRM environment.   Position Your Business for Success and Growth in 2024 With Dynamics 365 CRM As we embrace the opportunities that a new year brings, Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM stands as a key player in transforming the way businesses operate. By staying updated on the latest features and functionalities, you position your business for success and growth in 2024. Revolutionize your approach to customer relationship management, automation, and data-driven decision-making with Dynamics 365 CRM, and embark on a journey toward a more productive and prosperous year. Schedule a free consultation

Dynamics 365 CRM Consulting
How to Use Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Christmas Campaigns: A Holiday Guide for Businesses

How to Use Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Christmas Campaigns: A Holiday Guide for Businesses   How can you make the most of Microsoft Dynamics 365 this holiday season? In this festive blog post, we’ll explore four ways Dynamics 365 can bring joy to your business operations during the most wonderful time of the year.   Four Ways to Use Microsoft Dynamics 365 During the Christmas Holiday Season   Automate Your Holiday Campaigns Automate holiday-themed campaigns, from personalized email greetings to targeted promotions, using Dynamics 365 Marketing to help ensure your messages reach your target audiences.   Sleigh Through Sales with Dynamics 365 Sales Optimize the sales process during the holiday rush with Dynamics 365 Sales, using lead management to close deals efficiently and real-time insights to empower your sales team to make data-driven decisions.   Spread Cheer With Customer Service Keep up with customer inquiries during the busiest season with Dynamics 365 Customer Service, using AI-driven chatbots with a knowledge base integration to address customer inquiries promptly.   Supply Chain Magic with Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management To meet increased demand during the holiday season, use Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management to support inventory management, order fulfillment, and logistics optimization.   Get a Holiday Helper With Dynamics 365! Dynamics 365 is not just a business solution but a holiday helper, streamlining operations, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Book a free consultation and ask us how to leverage the power of Dynamics 365 to make this holiday season the most successful yet for your business.   Schedule a free consultation

Dynamics 365 CRM Consulting
Best Practices for Data Migration to Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM

Companies are increasingly turning to robust Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, like Microsoft Dynamics 365, because they need customer data to competitively enhance business operations and customer interactions. However, the successful adoption of a CRM platform hinges on quality data, including historical customer data, to tell the full story. This article will help you migrate your customer data into a new CRM using best practices.   Best Practices for a Smooth and Effective Data Migration to Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM   1. Thorough Data Assessment Before initiating the migration process, conduct a comprehensive assessment of your existing data. Identify the critical data fields, eliminate duplicates, and clean up irrelevant information. This not only streamlines the migration but also ensures that only relevant and accurate data is transferred to Dynamics 365.  Your users will find the Dynamics 365 CRM system more useful.  User adoption and engagement – key factors in success – will increase. 2. Data Mapping and Transformation Establish a clear mapping of data fields between your current system and Dynamics 365. Ensure consistency in data formats and structures. If there are discrepancies, implement necessary transformations to align the data correctly. This meticulous planning prevents data loss and maintains data integrity during the migration process.  Management will get more useful reporting more quickly. 3. Data Backup Prioritize the safety of your data by creating a secure backup before migration. This precautionary step provides a safety net in case of unexpected issues during the migration process. Regular backups serve as a safeguard against data loss, allowing you to revert to the previous state if needed. 4. Engage Stakeholders Collaboration with key stakeholders is crucial for a successful data migration. Involve individuals from different departments to provide insights into specific data requirements and ensure that all relevant data is accounted for during the migration. This collaborative approach helps in creating a more comprehensive and accurate CRM database. It also boosts use engagement and adoption. 5. Data Validation and Testing Performing practice migrations with rigorous testing is paramount to identify and rectify any errors before the final migration. Validate data integrity by cross-referencing migrated data with the source system. There should be some reporting and/or analysis that can be run in both the old and new systems to verify that the numbers ‘stack up’. Conduct test migrations in a controlled environment to address any issues and refine the migration process iteratively. 6. Incremental Migration Consider adopting an incremental migration approach, especially for large datasets. Break down the migration process into manageable chunks, focusing on specific data segments or departments. This approach minimizes disruption to daily operations and allows for targeted troubleshooting if issues arise. 7. User Training and Communication Equip end users with the necessary CRM Success training to navigate and utilize Dynamics 365 effectively. Clearly communicate the migration process, timelines, and potential impacts to all relevant stakeholders. Proactive communication helps manage expectations and ensures a smoother transition. 8. Post-Migration Monitoring Monitor the system closely after migration to identify and address any post-migration issues promptly. Establish a support system to assist users with any challenges they may encounter. Continuous monitoring ensures a seamless transition and enhances user confidence in the new CRM system.   Enhance the Success of Your CRM Data Migration Dominic Systems can help you migrate your CRM data using a meticulous and collaborative customized approach and our time-saving custom migration tools. Learn more about our migration services or book a free consultation to discuss your migration project.  

Dynamics 365 CRM Consulting
Boost Customer Service in the Manufacturing Industry With Dynamics 365 

Wildly variable supply and demand issues during the COVID-19 pandemic had an outsized impact on the North American manufacturing industry, creating significant shifts in consumer behaviour that manufacturers had to quickly adapt to. Customer service became even more important than usual. Here’s how to use a CRM system, such as Dynamics 365, to give your customer service capabilities a boost.   How Does Dynamics 365 Improve Customer Service for Manufacturers? Quickly Identify Service Hotspots Specifically tailored to the manufacturing sector, Dynamics 365 streamlines the process of identifying service hotspots, enabling businesses to concentrate on quickly addressing the most important issues.   Get Real-Time Status Updates A CRM for manufacturers provides real-time updates on the status of service cases, eliminating the need to constantly inquire with the ‘back office.’   Seamless Communication Between Departments Dynamics 365 facilitates seamless communication between departments, enhancing overall productivity and coordination. Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) and Field Service Technicians can instantly retrieve customer purchase details, serial numbers, service history and more (particularly if CRM is tightly integrated with ERP).   Increase Customer Loyalty In today’s busy world, customers value businesses that prioritize efficiency and responsiveness. By utilizing automated processes like predictive analytics offered by Dynamics 365, companies can meet their customers’ needs promptly and increase customer retention. This kind of proactive problem-solving also helps improve the company’s reputation and foster stronger customer loyalty.   Prepare for the Future of AI As leaders look to embrace AI, it becomes more critical than ever to prioritize having a data-driven business, fortified with digital and cloud capabilities. This approach will help organizations leverage generative AI as an accelerant to transformation. Why Manufacturers Need to Prepare for the Future of Customer Service  Recent months have put a spotlight on advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the possibilities of its application to deliver pragmatic business outcomes. For organizations around the world, there is an incredible opportunity to enhance products and services. The pace and scale of technological innovation happening today is unprecedented and breathes optimism into what is in many other respects, very demanding economic times.  From Rogers improving connectivity for Canadians through automation and AI to the Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates developing an AI tutor for students, the possibilities are both limitless and part of today’s realities.  Companies leveraging Dynamics 365 — hosted on the most trusted, comprehensive and integrated cloud — are best positioned to take advantage of these advancements.   Is Your Manufacturing Company Ready to Embrace the Next Generation of Customer Service?  Schedule a consultation with Dominic Systems to learn how  Schedule Consultation

Dynamics 365 CRM Consulting
See Five Ways Manufacturers Are Using Dynamics 365 Customer Insights for Customer Engagement

Product Update: Dynamics 365 Marketing and Dynamics 365 Customer Insights are now one product under the Dynamics 365 Customer Insights name. In today’s competitive manufacturing landscape, manufacturers are no longer just producing goods, they are building relationships with customers who are increasingly discerning, seeking not only high-quality products but also personalized experiences. Manufacturers must adapt to this shift by focusing on customer-centric strategies. In this blog post, we will explore how Dynamics 365 Customer Insights, a powerful new tool from Microsoft, is transforming customer engagement in the manufacturing industry. Five Ways to Use Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement in the Manufacturing Industry 1) Personalized Marketing Campaigns Create highly targeted and personalized marketing campaigns to target individual customers or specific segments by analyzing customer data, including purchase history and preferences. This level of personalization enhances customer engagement and increases the likelihood of conversion. 2) Seamless Multichannel Communication Interact with customers through various channels, including email, social media, and webinars, using a centralized platform to manage all these communication channels. This simplifies channel management and supports consistent messaging and marketing. 3) Marketing Automation Streamline marketing processes with automated email campaigns, lead nurturing, and customer follow-ups. Automation takes care of repetitive communications and tasks so that marketing teams can focus on strategy and creativity. 4) Lead Management and Scoring Convert prospects into customers with effective lead management and lead scoring capabilities that allow you to prioritize leads based on their likelihood to convert. When sales teams focus their efforts on the most promising opportunities, they can improve conversion rates. 5) Customer Insights and Analytics Gain valuable insights into marketing performance with robust analytics and reporting tools that allow manufacturers to make data-driven decision. By tracking campaign effectiveness and customer behavior, marketers can refine their strategies for better results. Easily Integrate Dynamics 365 Customer Insights With Your CRM Dynamics 365 Customer Insights seamlessly integrates with your Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform. This integration provides a unified view of customer data and interactions, enabling manufacturers to deliver a consistent and personalized customer experience across the entire customer journey. Learn more about Dynamics 365 Customer Insights Schedule Consultation

Dynamics 365 CRM Consulting
10 Steps to Integrate Dynamics 365 CRM With Other Systems

Integrating Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM with other systems can streamline your business processes and enhance data consistency. In this blog post, we will walk you through the essential steps to successfully integrate Dynamics 365 CRM with your chosen platforms. How to Integrate Dynamics 365 With Another Platform Step 1: Define Integration Scope Before embarking on the integration journey, clearly define the scope of integration. Identify the specific data, processes, and workflows you want to connect between Dynamics 365 CRM and other systems. A well-defined scope ensures a focused and efficient integration process. Step 2: Choose Integration Approach Based on your integration needs, decide on the most suitable integration approach. You can leverage out-of-the-box connectors provided by Microsoft, utilize middleware solutions, or opt for custom development. The chosen approach should align with your business requirements and technical capabilities. Step 3: Authenticate Securely Implement robust authentication mechanisms to ensure secure communication between Dynamics 365 CRM and the target systems. OAuth or other authentication methods can be employed to safeguard sensitive data during integration. Step 4: Data Mapping Map the fields between Dynamics 365 CRM and the other systems to ensure consistency and accuracy of data. Proper data mapping guarantees that information flows seamlessly between the systems without any loss or discrepancies. Step 5: Data Transformation If the data formats between systems differ, perform necessary data transformations. This step ensures that data is correctly formatted to match the requirements of the target system, facilitating smooth integration. Step 6: Configure Integration Workflows Utilize tools like Microsoft Power Automate or Azure Logic Apps to create integration workflows. These workflows automate the process of data synchronization and ensure that relevant information is exchanged between systems in a timely manner. Step 7: Thorough Testing Before deploying the integration to production, conduct comprehensive testing using sample data. Test various scenarios and edge cases to validate that the integration functions as expected and handles different data scenarios accurately. Step 8: Error Handling Implement effective error handling mechanisms to address integration failures. Define procedures to handle errors, log relevant information, and notify stakeholders, enabling prompt resolution of any issues that may arise. Step 9: Monitoring and Logging Set up monitoring and logging mechanisms to track integration activities and diagnose potential problems. Regularly review logs and monitoring data to proactively address any performance or reliability issues. Step 10: Deployment and Maintenance Once thoroughly tested, deploy the integration to the production environment. Continuously monitor the integration’s performance and maintain it by applying updates, addressing issues, and accommodating changes as your business evolves. Optimize Business Operations With Dynamics 365 Integrations Integrating Dynamics 365 CRM with other systems is a strategic move that can optimize your business operations and enhance data-driven decision making. By following these step-by-step guidelines, you can navigate the integration process successfully and unlock the full potential of your technology stack. Remember, each integration is unique, so adapt these steps to your specific business requirements and technological landscape. For support with your Dynamics 365 integrations, set up a free consultation with one of our integration experts. Schedule a free consultation Click here for E-Book

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Dominic Systems is Raising Funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada by Hosting a Charity Golf Tournament in Chilliwack

The Chilliwack MS Golf Tournament hosted by Dominic Systems and Manulife Securities will be returning to the Cheam Mountain Golf Course for its fifth year supporting the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. Through the support of golfers and corporate sponsors, this event charity event hopes to raise $15,000 to support the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. The Chilliwack MS Golf Tournament will take place at Cheam Mountain Golf Course in Chilliwack on September 11, 2023, from 10am to 4pm PST. Ray Murrell, CEO of Dominic Systems, was inspired to organize this golf tournament to provide support for his wife, Patricia Murrell, who has been living with an MS diagnosis for two decades and now relies on a wheelchair to manage her symptoms. Like Patricia, over 100,000 Canadians are currently living with MS, in fact, Canada has one of the highest incidence rates in the world. Events like the Chilliwack MS Golf Tournament play a crucial role in raising funds for research and providing resources to support those affected by MS, including wheelchairs, care, education, and counseling for patients and their families. Speaking about the event, Ray Murrell shared, “The MS Society not only contributes to the long-term goal of finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis, but they are also a lifeline for thousands of Canadians living with this devilish disease. Every dollar really helps someone in need!” Meredith Bongers, Senior Director, Community – Western Canada, MS Canada, expressed gratitude for the support of the Chilliwack Golf community, saying, “We are grateful for the support of the entire Chilliwack Golf community, and together we move one step closer to realizing our vision of a world free of MS. Your fundraising will support MS research, advocacy efforts, and programs and services essential to changing the lives of Canadians affected by MS. ” For more information about this event, please visit the Chilliwack MS Golf Challenge website: https://www.chilliwackmsgolf.com/. About Dominic Systems: Dominic Systems is a Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (CRM) Implementation and Services company specializing in SYSPRO ERP Integration. Learn more at https://www.dominicsystems.com/ Contact: Ray Murrell 604-617-3704

Dynamics 365 CRM Consulting, Guest Blog
How to Use Maplytics Within Dynamics 365 CRM to Catch the Wave of Location Intelligence

How to Use Maplytics Within Dynamics 365 CRM to Catch the Wave of Location Intelligence A plethora of well-organized data is an established asset for any business, including location intelligence which can now be organized within Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM using Maplytics. Maplytics, a classic geo-mapping app integrated with Bing Maps, empowers the user with the ability to geo-code and geo-tag the organized data, territorial networking, targeting, market assessment, personalization, integration, and more. This location intelligence can handsomely aid in rebuilding business strategies and elevating productivity. At Dominic, we have partnered with Maplytics by Inogic to harness the power of location intelligence! Why We’re Excited About Maplytics for Location Intelligence Maplytics is an all-inclusive, preferred, 5-star-rated geo-analytical mapping app on the Microsoft AppSource for Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM and Dataverse (PowerApps). It empowers users across verticals with Geographical Data Visualization, Optimized Routing, Automated Appointment Planning, Radius Search, Territory Management, and so on by enhancing their sales, sales territory mapping, and other business processes. Its seamless integration with Bing Maps and availability in 11 different global languages, viz, English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Turkish, Arabic, Hungarian, Dutch, Polish, and Russian within Microsoft Dynamics 365 strengthens the Business data with geo-coded intelligence. While using Maplytics, users can also configure zoom levels, current location, origin, destination, etc. as per their preference and save the same for future use. Users can also create customized views with multiple dashboards based on requirements like appointments, records by Annual revenue, etc. to get a glimpse of the huge data. This way, they can personalize to get the required data and use Maplytics efficiently. Let’s walk through some of the amazing and unique benefits of Maplytics Data Visualization: Dynamics 365 CRM records can be plotted over the Map with respect to their locations, regions, territories, shapes drawn, etc. The client records can be visualized over the map in the form of customized, colored pushpins. Plotted records can be used for better visualization and analysis of the data presented geographically and hence help in making better business decisions for elevated business productivity. The plotted data can be categorized based on contacts, revenue, industry, and so on. Radius/ Proximity Search: If the current location of an on-field rep is provided this feature helps in finding the records that are near i.e., within a specific radius around him. The rep could provide the desired radii and the vicinity of the existing/potential clients within that circle could be visualized over the map within the Dynamics 365 CRM. The clients can also be plotted based on the number of minutes/ hours the rep is ready to travel in order to reach the new clients. This helps in searching for clients that are within the shortest/most convenient distance or time and hence helps to add more meetings to the existing schedule of the day for the rep. This eventually enhances productivity. Optimized Routing: If a field rep has been allotted a few clients, to pay a visit to, this feature helps in plotting an optimized travel route within Dynamics 365 CRM that will be shortest in terms of the distance he’ll have to travel or the time he’d take to cover that distance. These optimized routes can be chosen to be potentially traffic-free, and toll-free, and avoid highways with stagnant movement. In case of cancelation or postponement of a meeting, the routes can be modified and updated as per the new/additional destinations the rep has to travel to for any ad hoc or newly added appointments. Auto Scheduling: Appointments and related travel plans for the reps can be auto-scheduled days and/or weeks in advance for multiple reps using Maplytics within Dynamics 365 CRM. The duration and their start and end times, the duration of the breaks, buffer times in-between meetings, and working days of the reps can all be entered to be considered while creating the schedule along with the availability of the reps. This provides optimized routes as well for the respective appointments created for the rep team. This also considers the availability of the reps by considering if there are any existing meetings. This way both the reps and the managers are well organized in advance to meet clients and complete sales targets effectively and on time. Being punctual and well-planned also leaves a lasting impression on the clients, thus aiding in maintaining good client relationships. Since multiple reps can be scheduled efficiently together, it also aids in easing out the manager’s tasks. Real-Time Tracking: The resources/ field reps can be tracked when on the field in real-time as well as for their trips in the past. This allows the managers to keep a track of where the reps/engineers are traveling on the field and the route they were assigned for travel. Comparing both they will be able to understand if their reps/technicians had deviated from the route assigned to them. They can use this info in real time to guide the rep/engineer on field as well. In the case of ad hoc requirements, the rep that is nearest to the location of the new request can be viewed over the map and redirected to this ad hoc location. Territory Management: Territory Management, a popular and most in demand feature is used to create, align, and manage territories. The ease of the feature aids the managers to create and manage multiple territories within in Dynamics 365 CRM based on region options like zip codes, cities etc. shapes drawn using shape tools, or even shape/excel files. Auto creation of territories is one of the upgraded benefits. Managers can also use the feature of auto territory creation to create territories automatically based on the count of users.  One can create, draft, align and edit territories as per one’s business needs also considering the hierarchies within Dynamics 365 CRM. How to Activate a 15-Day Trial of Maplytics Within Dynamics 365 Unlock the power of geo-analytics using Maplytics within your Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM. Contact us to set up a 15-day trial of Maplytics within your Dynamics 365 account. For more information or to get a free demo on any of these apps, connect with Dominic Systems. See what others are saying about Maplytics Check the 5-star Maplytics reviews and Preferred Solution badge on the Microsoft AppSource Schedule Free Consultation


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