CRM software: How to buy Microsoft Dynamics CRM
Selecting the right customer relationship management (CRM) solution is not always an easy process. Requirements for small business can differ greatly from those for large organizations. But there are five simple steps that all companies can follow when evaluating CRM choices for future business planning.
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Choose an edition that fits your business
Three server editions are available for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0:
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Workgroup Server
| • | Includes and supports a maximum of five user licenses. |
| • | Runs on Windows Server 2003; Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2. |
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Professional Server
| • | No licensing limit on number of users. |
| • | Runs on Windows Server 2003; Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2. |
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Enterprise Server
| • | Supports multi-tenant deployments. |
| • | No licensing limit on number of users. |
| • | Runs on Windows Server 2003; Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2. |
Other Product Licenses
Please refer to the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Implementation guide for documentation on technical requirements for running Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. Licenses for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 do not include licenses for other products that may be required for your installation; product licensing rights for these must be established separately.
To find out how Microsoft Dynamics CRM can meet your specific needs, contact your local Microsoft Certified Partner. Need help finding a partner? Contact us
Get Microsoft Dynamics CRM as part of your Microsoft Dynamics solution
Microsoft Dynamics CRM is available with the Advanced Management edition of Microsoft Dynamics enterprise resource planning (ERP) products. This lets you buy and deploy a full Microsoft Dynamics solution that spans customer relationship management (CRM), financial management, and supply chain management. For details, see the Microsoft Dynamics Advanced Management edition section of the Microsoft Dynamics editions and licensing page.
Note
Microsoft Dynamics CRM user licenses are not included with the Microsoft Dynamics Advanced Management edition and must be licensed separately.
Microsoft Dynamics CRM will continue to be available through the Microsoft Volume Licensing program, the same licensing model that is used for Microsoft Office, Windows and Microsoft Exchange.
Already using Microsoft Dynamics?
If you're already using Microsoft Dynamics Professional (modular-based pricing) and are on a current Enhancement Plan, you could be eligible to receive Microsoft Dynamics CRM ProfessionalServer at no extra charge (you must purchase at least one Microsoft Dynamics CRM user license to use the product). Contact your certified Microsoft Partner for more information.
The power of choice
Microsoft Dynamics CRM provides you with the Power of Choice so you can evolve your business unencumbered by technology limitations. Multiple deployment options are available to suit your business current and future business needs:
| • | On-premise. Microsoft Dynamics CRM is deployed easily in the IT environment of any company, from small business to enterprise. It provides a full suite of marketing, sales, service functionality with a native Microsoft Outlook user experience, and it can quickly be tailored to meet your business needs. Because Microsoft Dynamics CRM products run on the same code base, you can easily switch from an on-premise model to a software-plus-services environment. |
| • | Partner-hosted. Microsoft Dynamics CRM is offered as a software-plus-services solution by our partners around the world. They deliver fast, flexible CRM solutions hosted in their own data centers and tailored to fit the needs of various markets or industries. And since all Microsoft Dynamics CRM products run the same code base, you can easily move from partner-hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM to an on-premise environment or even Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. View hosted CRM partners. |
| • | Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is delivers a fast, flexible software-plus-services solution that is operated within Microsoft data centers. It offers an outstanding user experience through Microsoft Outlook or a Web browser, with rich configuration and customization capabilities. Because its built on the same code base as other Microsoft Dynamics CRM offerings, you can easily move to a partner-hosted or on-premise environment. |
Integrate Microsoft Dynamics CRM into your business environment
Microsoft Dynamics CRM is designed to take full advantage of key Microsoft business productivity products and tools, including Microsoft Office Outlook, Microsoft Office Excel spreadsheet software, Microsoft Office Word, the Microsoft Office PowerPoint presentation graphics program, Microsoft SharePoint, and Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services. A Microsoft Certified Partner can assess current software and hardware capabilities as well as the future hardware and software needs of your organization and determine how to integrate Microsoft Dynamics CRM into your evolving business environment. A Microsoft Certified Partner also can:
| • | Help integrate Microsoft Dynamics CRM into the existing software and hardware environment of an organization so that the business gains maximum value from its Microsoft Dynamics CRM investment. |
| • | Work with a business to help ensure that customer records stored on other systems can be migrated into the new Microsoft Dynamics CRM environment. |
| • | Use their expert knowledge of Microsoft .NET technology and third-party software to craft powerful custom solutions that work seamlessly with Microsoft Dynamics CRM. |
| • | Help maximize the performance of a Microsoft Dynamics CRM deployment so that it performs optimally for all people within the organization. |
Select the right service plan for your business
Microsoft Dynamics service plans do more than simply help to ensure that your software is well maintained. Service plans are a key part of making the most of a business investment in Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Through support, training, and product upgrades, Microsoft Dynamics service plans can help keep your Microsoft Dynamics CRM system current, safe, and fully effective.
Microsoft offers a broad range of service plans. Find the one that's right for you:
| • | Deluxe Support Services The highest level of support, Deluxe Support Services for Microsoft Dynamics CRM includes an assigned professional to manage support; one-hour response time for critical problems; discounts for Microsoft e-courses; and more. |
| • | Flex support These affordable pay-as-you-go plans enable a business to purchase a fixed number of support contacts in advance or to purchase per-incident support. |
| • | Select or enterprise agreements Volume purchasers benefit from unlimited technical support, online chat support for fast responses, collaboration with other Microsoft Dynamics CRM users through newsgroups, and more. |
| • | Software assurance Microsoft Volume Licensing customers are automatically enrolled in this program. The program offers six technical support incidents, discounts for flex support options, online training, and many more benefits. |
Learn more about the service plans available for Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
Contact a Microsoft Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Partners can build the Microsoft Dynamics CRM system that is right for any business. Partners can integrate software from non-Microsoft vendors, design the right hardware system, and design services to help ensure smooth implementation.
To find a Microsoft Certified Partner, you can:
With Microsoft Dynamics CRM, a business can unlock its full potential to meet customer expectations, create success for managers and employees, and meet and adapt to any business challenge.
