What is Microsoft Dynamics 365? A guide for businesses

Most organisations know the importance of CRM systems for building customer relationships and converting sales leads. Yet, many fail to implement them efficiently or even at all. Recent studies show that 56% of businesses feel they’re missing important data and insights to improve marketing campaigns and sales conversions. Moreover, over 80% of companies believe their customers leave due to a lack of communication and relevant, personalised messaging.

So, how do businesses overcome these challenges? One way is to invest in CRM systems that understand your business processes, goals, and customers. That’s Microsoft Dynamics 365. It’s designed to bring all elements of your business together in one place.

We’ll show you how Microsoft Dynamics 365 can set your business up for growth, using data-driven insights to improve customer satisfaction, generate qualified sales leads, and power success.

 

What is Microsoft Dynamics 365?

 

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a customer relationship management (CRM) platform. However, it’s not just a CRM system. Microsoft Dynamics 365 integrates your  CRM with enterprise relationship planning (ERP), allowing you to manage every aspect of your business based on data.

It’s a cloud-based, Software as a Service (SaaS) system combining apps across sales, marketing, service delivery , finance, commerce, and supply chain. You can access all these apps from the cloud anytime, with real-time updates, tracking, and monitoring.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is also customisable. Organisations can select which apps they need across the different areas to manage specific departments. For example, some companies may wish to combine sales apps with marketing and HR. Others may need supply chain apps, too. Although they work individually, each app also integrates, sharing data to provide businesses with total oversight of their operations. This results in an end-to-end, personalised solution for every business.

 

Features of Microsoft Dynamics 365 for businesses

 

The Dynamics 365 power platform offers many features thanks to a range of purpose-built apps using data to generate meaningful insights. We’ve outlined some of the most notable features of Microsoft Dynamics 365 below.

Sales insights

Microsoft Dynamics 365 comes with various sales and marketing tools offering unique insights into customer behaviour and trends. Businesses can use apps to automate processes, shorten the sales lifecycle, and understand customer interaction to seek new opportunities for nurturing and converting.

Email integration

Dynamics 365 offers email integration with Outlook 365 to track customer interactions, build profiles and generate insights on performance. Businesses can also access ready-made email attachments and templates to help streamline processes and enhance conversion rates.

LinkedIn configuration

Using LinkedIn Sales Configurator, businesses can view sales leads’ platforms to create more in-depth client profiles. In addition, LinkedIn apps track InMail and messages, pulling critical information for more targeted messages to help convert leads into direct sales.

On-the-go insights

Microsoft Dynamics 365 can be used anywhere, on any device – including mobile. Access the CRM system via the mobile app to view sales and customer contact information on the go.

Customer service dashboard

An intuitive customer service dashboard means businesses can easily track all customer interactions, trends, and activity. In addition, the dashboard lets teams see customer status and their position in your customer service pipeline, especially regarding buying readiness. It also offers areas for improvement to enhance customer relationships and increase the likelihood of conversion.

Smart search

The Smart Search function combines all client information, including activity logs, records, contacts, invoices, templates, and sales opportunities. Users can search through logs to find essential information quickly and easily, with a total overview of client profiles.

Activity timeline

Microsoft Dynamics 365 allows businesses to record all customer activity and interactions, for greater insight into customer relationships. Teams can view all activity in one place using a single feed, accessing data to inform decision-making and identify customer opportunities.

 

What are the benefits of Microsoft Dynamics 365?

 

Dynamics 365 gives businesses greater control and oversight of their organisation, using data-led insights to nurture more customers into conversion. Aside from a powerful CRM tool, Microsoft Dynamics 365 has many benefits:

• Easy to use – Apps are cloud-based, which makes Dynamics 365 easy to deploy whether you’re an in-house, remote, or hybrid company. Apps can be accessed from any device, anywhere, with an internet connection.
• Microsoft integration – Dynamics 365 apps can be integrated easily with the Microsoft suite, allowing for easy sharing of data and analytics between platforms – especially email.
• Scalable – Microsoft Dynamics 365 scales with your business, enabling you to add new apps and more functions as your business grows.
• Customisable – All Dynamics 365 apps are customisable and personalised to your business. You can choose which ones you need, using and adapting built-in workflows, templates, and tools to suit your organisation.
• Improved customer experience – Enhance the customer experience by automating processes, reducing the sales cycle, and delivering more targeted and personalised customer messages by gathering data.

 

Which edition of Dynamics 365 is right for my business?

 

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is available in two different editions, depending on the size of your business:

• Business Edition – for small to medium enterprises.
• Enterprise Edition – for medium to large-sized companies.

The Business Edition is typically geared towards companies with 10-250 employees. Although not as inclusive as the Enterprise Edition, it includes everything small businesses would need from a CRM system. It comprises Microsoft Dynamic’s most popular apps across three models: sales, finance and operations, and marketing. However, customisability means you can easily add or replace other models to create a tailored solution.

Comparatively, the Enterprise Edition is more comprehensive, bringing together modules across all major platforms. Businesses can select from six modules: sales, finance and operations, marketing, customer service, project service, and field service. It suits larger organisations with higher-scale operations and over 250 employees.

 

Why choose Fabric IT for Microsoft Dynamics 365?

 

Implementing an effective CRM system might seem daunting, but you’re not alone. At Fabric IT, our experts are here to help you build, create, and manage a scalable Dynamics 365 solution.

We’re also a Microsoft Gold partner, so we know what it takes to create a CRM system that works for your business, no matter your size, industry, or goals. Speak to a member of our team today to get started. Call us on 01625 443 110.