The software-plus-services approach from Microsoft combines the best aspects of client software, on-premise servers, and services delivered over the Internet. Microsoft Dynamics business management software takes advantage of this blended approach to provide customers with flexibility and choice in how they use, buy, deploy, and manage their business processes, such as sales and marketing, finance, or operations.
The most appropriate delivery model for each business process is dependent on the unique characteristics of each company and its industry. Microsoft is committed to providing the greatest amount of choice in software delivery—whether on premise, partner-hosted or Microsoft-hosted. The Microsoft Dynamics software-plus-services approach is based on three cornerstones:
A business-driven IT platform. Microsoft Dynamics enables a flexible IT infrastructure that responds to business drivers. Microsoft Dynamics uses software-plus-services to help companies:
Succeed in fast-changing business environments.
More effectively grow into new markets.
Quickly adjust to regulatory and market changes.
Multiple delivery options. Microsoft Dynamics gives customers the power to choose the delivery model that best fits specific business processes:
A hosted solution provides companies with a way to reduce costs and speed implementation.
Traditional on-premises solutions provide superior integration and customization opportunities.
A software-plus-services approach lets Microsoft Dynamics customers switch between hosted and on-premises delivery, or create a hybrid solution that takes advantage of both models.
Optimal user experiences and community. For employees, the software-plus-services approach combines the rich experiences and accessibility of client software and the simplicity of applications delivered over the Internet.
Boost employee collaboration and productivity by taking advantage of the Microsoft Office system, including Microsoft Office Excel, Microsoft Office Outlook, Microsoft Office Word, and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server.
Give employees line-of-business data and functionality in the applications they use every day.
Give users a way to network and collaborate with Microsoft Dynamics community, a Microsoft-sponsored online gathering place of interactive forums, blogs, and news.
Microsoft Dynamics takes advantage of a software-plus-services approach to:
Enable growth. Choose the deployment option that best suits your needs (whether traditional on-premise or on-demand) and effectively support local languages, business practices, and legal requirements.
Help reduce IT spending. Flexible deployment options—on-premise, on-demand, or a hybrid approach—help accelerate return on investment, scale to meet increased demand, and let you align your deployment model with your business focus and current IT capabilities.
Boost employee productivity. Streamline access to systems and information and rework business processes. For example, Internet services make it easier to deliver access to information in the most suitable form and presentation factor, such as on a desktop, in a Web browser, or on a mobile device.
Explore hosted service offerings for Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft offers several hosted services for Microsoft Dynamics business management software. Microsoft-hosted services are managed by Microsoft experts in world-class data centers, alleviating information technology (IT) departments from having to worry about behind-the-scenes tasks or hiring outside specialists. They are simple to deploy, as well. These offerings help customers incrementally move to a model where particular business processes—customer relationship management (CRM), certain aspects of marketing, online auctions, and online payment processing, for example—are supported by online services.
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is hosted in Microsoft data centers and offered directly from Microsoft on a subscription basis. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online uses a single, multi-tenant code base so that customers can switch between on-premises and on-demand deployments as their needs change. The first set of processes supported by Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is focused on sales, marketing, and service.
The Microsoft Dynamics community portal is a rich, online resource with content specifically relevant to your career. The community allows you to stay current on pertinent industry news items, read articles about developments in your profession, and interact with peers via blogs, forums, and other networking tools.
