Microsoft Dynamics CRM Customization Integration Tools Review
Crystal Reports - feel free to create Crystal report - tables and views structure is self explanatory. Try to avoid the temptation to create your own SQL view or stored procedure in MS CRM database, instead - create custom database and place your view and stored proc in it.
Microsoft CRM SDK this is software development kit with C# and partly VB.net code samples it is supported by Microsoft Business Solutions technical support. It is based on web service calls, if you are C# .NET developer you are excellently positioned to do this type of customizations. This is the preferred modification scenario and this should be easily upgradeable customization. VB.Net examples will be available soon.
From Reporting & Analysis to Transactions Entry. Microsoft has wisdom and ability to launch technical solution not as a technical solution itself, but also as a probe to be the future market guide. Look at eConnect, primarily created for eCommerce developers to connect to Great Plains objects Customer, Sales Order, Invoice. Now eConnect is the middle connection level for Dynamics GP, Integration Manager and Business Portal. Initial idea of classical (non Microsoft) Business Portal of 1990th was primarily reporting and analytics. When Microsoft released MS CRM as Web Interface the idea to move transactions to the web became popular
No Cross-Modules links. You can not associate report with the tables from non-related modules. For example you can not have Sales Order Processing (SOP) and Purchase Order Processing data on the same report (you actually can but you need Dexterity programmer help)
Gift Card puzzle. There are few funny things in MS RMS you should be aware. Imagine you issue Gift Certificate. It exists on the Headquarters level and each store knows about the balance on the card. Customer uses card in store A and then walks in to the store B. If worksheet mechanism didnt play during this time interval store B gift card balance will show incorrect value. To fix the issue you need to trigger worksheet creation and launch on the headquarter level to replicate new balance to all the stores.
Good luck with customization and if you have issues or concerns we are here to help! If you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com
Microsoft RMS Architecture and data flow. As it is POS automation application, it assumes that all the POS transactions are originated at the store. The mechanism used is worksheets. When store is closed Headquarters pulls its transactions via worksheet. There are some exceptions global data, such as global customers are updated on the headquarters level and updates propagated to the stores.
Gift Card puzzle. There are few funny things in MS RMS you should be aware. Imagine you issue Gift Certificate. It exists on the Headquarters level and each store knows about the balance on the card. Customer uses card in store A and then walks in to the store B. If worksheet mechanism didnt play during this time interval store B gift card balance will show incorrect value. To fix the issue you need to trigger worksheet creation and launch on the headquarter level to replicate new balance to all the stores.
Good luck with customization and if you have issues or concerns we are here to help! If you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com
Legacy ASP integration this is somewhat more sophisticated. You have to deploy HTTP handler to be a middle party between CRM which is .Net based and ASP which is legacy IIS. The trick is you have to have INI file with security settings to penetrate into MS CRM with proper credentials, calling web service.
Data Update. If you need custom logic work with the POS transaction you have to update store database data. If you try to update Headquarters database the chances are that it will be rolled back by the next worksheet, because original data sits on the store level and is different from your altered data in the HQ
From Analysis to Workflow. The idea of Microsoft as we see it is to make it invisible for the user to judge where is say, Microsoft CRM, Business Portal or where is Sharepoint. Sharepoint is the platform for workflow and In the event you adored this informative article as well as you would like to get more information with regards to Www.micropromocodes.com generously pay a visit to the page. document management, and being integrated into Business Portal it can compete with traditional workflow management tools, such as IBM Lotus Notes Domino.
Crystal Reports - feel free to create Crystal report - tables and views structure is self explanatory. Try to avoid the temptation to create your own SQL view or stored procedure in MS CRM database, instead - create custom database and place your view and stored proc in it.
Integration with Great Plains or other SQL Server Accounting package. RMS normally replicates transactions from the stores to Headquarters upon the store business hours close. At this time they are ready to be integrated with such accounting system as Microsoft Great Plains. Here we are talking about custom integration, which you can create as a stored procs set.
