Enabling project information exchange between Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft Dynamics AX

In Service Industries there are moments-of-truth when organizations either achieve or fall short of excellence in client service. Nowhere is this more evident than in the execution of handoffs between client service professionals, and particularly between pre-sales pursuit and post-sales service delivery teams. Internal miscommunications and misunderstandings of project scope, cost estimates, and fee proposals often lead to incorrect client expectations and sow seeds of future dissatisfaction or write-offs.

With the following new capabilities, we help bridging the gap between project sales activities that occur in Microsoft Dynamics CRM and the project delivery activities that occur in Microsoft Dynamics AX. For example, a sales professional can view up-to-date project status information right in Microsoft Dynamics CRM. A project manager can see project quotation information right in Microsoft Dynamics AX. This enables the project sales and project delivery teams to use role-oriented tools of choice to collaborate effectively.

Here is a scenario flow that will be enabled:

1. Create and submit a project quotation
   A sales professional will be able to create a project quotation in Microsoft Dynamics CRM, add items to the project quotation and submit the project quotation to Microsoft Dynamics AX. This will create a linked project quotation in Microsoft Dynamics AX.
2. Specify details of the project quotation
   A project manager will be able to pick up the project quotation created in the previous step and add the required details using the rich project planning and costing capabilities of Microsoft Dynamics AX (and Microsoft Project client if preferred for planning). Then, the project quotation is taken through the quotation approval workflow. Once approved, the project quotation details are synchronized to Microsoft Dynamics CRM, and the sales professional sees that the quotation is now approved by the project manager.
3. Win the quotation and update the status to ‘Won’
   A sales professional will be able to activate the project quotation and finalize the quotation process (quotation is won, lost or cancelled). This status is synchronized back to Microsoft Dynamics AX, so the project manager will be aware of the result, and can take appropriate action.
4. Create a new project and sync to Microsoft Dynamics CRM
   If the project quotation is won, a project manager typically transfers it to a project, adds scheduling details and assigns resources. This project status is synchronized back to Microsoft Dynamics CRM, where the sales professional can keep track of how the project is progressing.

Solution

This is a new scenario to be supported by the existing Connector for Microsoft Dynamics. The solution adds a new project construct to Microsoft Dynamics CRM and then extends the existing sales quotation to support project quotations and synchronize related data with Dynamics AX.

Ready to dive in and learn more?

• Learn: more information about this solution is available here.
• Watch: view the “Microsoft Dynamics for service industries: vision and direction” session from Convergence EMEA 2013, click here if you’ve already registered for Virtual Convergence. If you’re not registered, click here to sign in for free access to this and other sessions.
• Attend: join us for the Microsoft Dynamics AX Technical Conference, slated for February 3–5, 2014, in Bellevue, Washington. Click here for more info.

//Elliott Ichimura

Global Industry Director, Services, MBS

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3 is a pre-release product under development.  All features and dates are preliminary based on current expectations and are subject to change without notice.  The information herein is for informational purpose only and represents Microsoft’s current view as of the date of this blog. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft.

Comments

• Anonymous
  December 14, 2013
  I cannot find the standard template for the same in my existing Connector ????

• Anonymous
  January 08, 2014
  Great post. This mode gives deeper integration.

• Anonymous
  February 13, 2014
  When trying to install the Integration Solution for Dynamics AX projects and Microsoft Dynamics CRM, I cannot generate the mapping for the new entities (mbs.microsoft.com/.../MSDCRMAXIntegrationSol). I followed the installation guide, however it seems that the exe file is corrupted. When getting to the stage of installing the mappings for the new services (Step 5 Page 18 of the installation guide), I cannot access the exe file. Another ways is to create the map from the file map. When doing that I get an error in the Event Log Unexpected service error on call : www.microsoft.com/.../CreateMap --- Exception Dump --- Caught Exception: [System.InvalidOperationException] There is an error in XML document (252, 37). Stack trace:   at System.Xml.Serialization.XmlSerializer.Deserialize(XmlReader xmlReader, String encodingStyle, XmlDeserializationEvents events) . . . . . Has anyone reported this issue? Ahmed

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  December 07, 2015
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