Many businesses are often faced with a dilemma when they have to make a choice concerning Microsoft Dynamics vs Salesforce. Cloud technology is increasingly becoming more prominent in the technological world and many businesses are seeking to invest their time and money in cloud-based CRM offerings, regardless of whether they already have a CRM application or not. A typical CRM-application deployment is both a complex and multifaceted process. Numerous obstacles are normally involved in the process. For any successful CRM deployment, the biggest hurdle to overcome is often user adoption. The element of familiarity, however, can help reduce their learning curve, especially concerning new applications.
While Dynamics CRM Online presents a look and feel similar to that of other Microsoft products already widely accepted and used in the business environment and that easily integrates into a Microsoft software environment, Salesforce comes as a standalone product –with its own interface style. In fact, chances are that the typical new CRM user can easily attain high levels of proficiency more effectively with Dynamics CRM online and much quicker than possible with Salesforce.
When making a decision about the two, it is important to analyze the difference in total cost of ownership (TCO). Dynamics CRM Online happens to be the lower cost application in virtually every parameter: from licensing and deployment, to maintenance and long-term TCO. Factors like the initial price tag are not the only aspects to take into consideration when choosing a solution for your business. Apparently, CRM Online is the cost-effective choice over the long haul.
With the recent release of Dynamics CRM 2013, it has become a lot easier to make a choice between Dynamics CRM and Salesforce. The key differentiators that make Dynamics CRM Online the better investment are discussed below:
Microsoft Dynamics VS Salesforce
1. Total Office Experience
The Dynamics CRM Online is not just a plugin, but also a true Microsoft Outlook application, and will make it easier to leverage on the powerful Outlook features to provide users with an exciting experience. As a company, Microsoft is fully dedicated to offering an exceptional user experience through Microsost Office, as well as Share Point, Skype, Lync, as well as Yammer. Salesforce, on the other hand, is repealing Microsoft features; for instance, users are unable to manage opportunities and even leads. This can be very frustrating for the sales teams.
2. Multiple Deployment Options Offered
While Salesforce is provided on a cloud deployment platform, Dynamics CRM 2013 is a little bit more flexible, as it can be deployed on-premise, as well as online (by Microsoft themselves or by partners). Furthermore, CRM 2013 customers can purchase both on-premise and lease online. The solution’s flexibility is showcased in its ability to allow customers to easily migrate across deployment models in order to adapt to changes in business needs.
3. Application’s Dashboards
Dynamics CRM inherits security and data privileges, but Safeforce does not. While Salesforce only reports, Dynamics CRM allows the display of charts, lists, and iFrames. In addition, Dynamics CRM data is real time while a lag of 30-60 minutes exists in Salesforce. And unlike Salesforce, which offers limited data refreshes, CRM 2013 data refreshes are unlimited.
4. Hidden Costs and Value Matters
As you analyze Microsoft Dynamics vs Salesforce in terms of cost, you will realize that they both charge differently for their services. However, Salesforce has some hidden or additional costs that users will have to incur.
For instance, Salesforce sells add-on functionality at an extra cost. Additionally, Salesforce Data Storage cost is twice higher than that of Microsoft (for similar storage space). Decreasing the number of user subscriptions purchased is not allowed in Salesforce. Other costs include SFDC Tax, Mobile $/user/mo. and Knowledge base $/user/mo. Dynamics CRM has a 99.9% uptime financially backed Service Level Agreement (SLA) while SFDC has no such SLA.
5. User Interface Customizations
Dynamics CRM offers an easy-to-use drag and drop capability to its end users. SFDC, on the other hand, offers user interface personalization, but does not allow users to revert changes. Moreover, Salesforce personalization features are for power users and admin only.
6. Inline Analytics
While Dynamics CRM offers Inline Analytics, Salesforce has no parallel offering. Unfortunately, SFDC users have to leave their task or process at hand, and open reports or dashboards, hoping they don’t get distracted.
7. Additional Charges, especially for Mobile Service
In today’s business environment, mobile services is now a part of business and is becoming increasingly valuable. In addition, effective communication and rapid responses are crucial to the overall success of a business. As a result, Microsoft provides Mobile Express free with Dynamics CRM Online.
With Salesforce, however, you will have to incur additional monthly fees to use their mobile service. And while they offer SFDC Mobile Lite with their Professional Edition, it lacks all features of a complete mobile service. Moreover, it neither supports all standard nor custom objects, as it only allows editing of activities and tasks.
8. View Standard and Custom Entities Offline
Dynamics CRM Online carries tremendous value offline, enabling you to view standard, as well as custom entities offline without having to incur additional costs. With Salesforce, however, you will have to incur a monthly charge in order to utilize its Professional Edition offline. Their Contact Manager Edition and Group Edition do not offer offline operation.
Conclusion
Dynamics CRM is a phenomenal application and valuable tool for customers. This package suite includes sales, service, as well as marketing automation capabilities that carry no hidden costs. In addition, while Salesforce DC will charge you for additional services and functionalities, CRM 2013 will provide services such as analytics, mobility, and other standard functionality at no additional cost.
Enhanced daily use across multiple applications
or devices will reduce the learning curve, simplify management, and streamline deployment and, in turn, each will contribute to better productivity. CRM 2013 Online is considered a world-class CRM product, as Microsoft’s continued commitment to value-addition and its strategic road for CRM makes it the “power of choice” for any business that is considering to implement a new CRM system or transition from their existing software to a more powerful CRM platform. Over the long haul – after looking at Microsoft Dynamics VS Salesforce – Dynamics CRM has a lower TCO, and offers greater value than SFDC.