Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics CRM are indeed similar. As professional consultants, we’d like to share some expertise to help you decide between the two.

CRM At-a-Glance

 E-mail marketing, automation, organization, data management, case management, process workflows, documentation management, lead nurturing, smart analytics, and more. These are the makings of a great CRM solution. If you have yet to be introduced to the benefits of CRM in general, we suggest you start here: What is XRM?

If you’re familiar with CRM, you’re probably on a reconnaissance mission comparing CRM features and capabilities. As mentioned above, Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics CRM are at the top of their class. And although similar, the information we have gathered with years of experience in the industry allows us to make our choice for a clear champion.

5 Reasons We’re Team Microsoft Dynamics CRM

1. Best Bang For Your Buck

While Salesforce is considered high-end in price, Dynamics CRM sits somewhere around the middle of the price spectrum. Dynamics CRM has pricing of $30 to $65 per month per user. Meanwhile Salesforce starts at $65 per month per user and can run as high as $125 per month per user.

These numbers aren’t even close, and then we get to add-on’s that can make or break the bank. Dynamics CRM has a storage add on at $9.99/month/GB, but comes with Knowledge Base and Offline Access. Salesforce on the other hand, charges $250 per GB/month, $50 per user per month in Knowledge Base and $25 per user per month in Offline Access. Yikes.

2. Ease of Use

Microsoft has been around since 1975 and has decades of experience writing software for the desktop and cloud; Salesforce has been around since 1999 and has a sole focus on software as a service (SaaS). It’s difficult to say which path leads to the best solution, but if you currently use Microsoft software it will probably make more sense to integrate the software that integrates with your existing programs.

For example, with Salesforce you may have to jump from window to window to perform simple, day-to-day tasks like gathering information to include in an email through Outlook. Whereas Outlook and Sharepoint both easily integrate with Dynamics CRM. Much of the Dynamics CRM functionality can be even be accessed directly from Outlook and many users find they can do most of their CRM work without leaving Outlook. If you are familiar with the Microsoft way of life, Dynamics will come easier to you and your employees; allowing them to spend less time learning new functionality and more time doing.

3. Customization

Microsoft Dynamics CRM focuses on drag and drop features when it comes to setting up your data and customizing visuals. Microsoft has built customization tools into their programs for ages, while Salesforce has produced apps that might involve extra downloads and per user fees.

When you need a custom CRM solution, Microsoft Dynamics CRM is king. You can hire folks like us to work through setups, workflows, and super technical solutions. With Salesforce, you have to set up a meeting with sales or account management, who will then schedule another meeting with a technician who can basically tell you the capabilities and limits of the system and what “add-on” to purchase that might solve your problem.

4. Vertically Challenged?

CRM deployments can vary greatly by vertical market. Salesforce is, as the name implies, sales focused. It’s a traditional CRM for a traditional sales and customer service business.

With all of the customizations available, we’ve found that Microsoft Dynamics CRM can fit practically any vertical, not just a traditional corporate office.

We’ve found niche applications for CRM with manufacturing, call centers, and even government. CRM has evolved from customer relations to organization, visual plotting, and general management in any industry, and in our experience, Microsoft Dynamics has worked particularly well with public sector organizations.

5. Not Just the Cloud

Salesforce has cloud deployment from anywhere, and so does Dynamics CRM. However, Dynamics offers an on-premise option for no additional cost. To have the option of accessing information from different venues including home base is quite the option. Some businesses love the option of managing their own servers and data without relying on the cloud.

In connection to applications and other integrations, Microsoft has existing native apps that can be accessed through the Dynamics program. Salesforce has applications that are accessible as well, however few are native to the core program itself.

1. Best Bang For Your Buck

While Salesforce is considered high-end in price, Dynamics CRM sits somewhere around the middle of the price spectrum. Dynamics CRM has pricing of $30 to $65 per month per user. Meanwhile Salesforce starts at $65 per month per user and can run as high as $125 per month per user.

These numbers aren’t even close, and then we get to add-on’s that can make or break the bank. Dynamics CRM has a storage add on at $9.99/month/GB, but comes with Knowledge Base and Offline Access. Salesforce on the other hand, charges $250 per GB/month, $50 per user per month in Knowledge Base and $25 per user per month in Offline Access. Yikes.

2. Ease of Use

Microsoft has been around since 1975 and has decades of experience writing software for the desktop and cloud; Salesforce has been around since 1999 and has a sole focus on software as a service (SaaS). It’s difficult to say which path leads to the best solution, but if you currently use Microsoft software it will probably make more sense to integrate the software that integrates with your existing programs.

For example, with Salesforce you may have to jump from window to window to perform simple, day-to-day tasks like gathering information to include in an email through Outlook. Whereas Outlook and Sharepoint both easily integrate with Dynamics CRM. Much of the Dynamics CRM functionality can be even be accessed directly from Outlook and many users find they can do most of their CRM work without leaving Outlook. If you are familiar with the Microsoft way of life, Dynamics will come easier to you and your employees; allowing them to spend less time learning new functionality and more time doing.

3. Customization

Microsoft Dynamics CRM focuses on drag and drop features when it comes to setting up your data and customizing visuals. Microsoft has built customization tools into their programs for ages, while Salesforce has produced apps that might involve extra downloads and per user fees.

When you need a custom CRM solution, Microsoft Dynamics CRM is king. You can hire folks like us to work through setups, workflows, and super technical solutions. With Salesforce, you have to set up a meeting with sales or account management, who will then schedule another meeting with a technician who can basically tell you the capabilities and limits of the system and what “add-on” to purchase that might solve your problem.

4. Vertically Challenged?

CRM deployments can vary greatly by vertical market. Salesforce is, as the name implies, sales focused. It’s a traditional CRM for a traditional sales and customer service business.

With all of the customizations available, we’ve found that Microsoft Dynamics CRM can fit practically any vertical, not just a traditional corporate office.

We’ve found niche applications for CRM with manufacturing, call centers, and even government. CRM has evolved from customer relations to organization, visual plotting, and general management in any industry, and in our experience, Microsoft Dynamics has worked particularly well with public sector organizations.

5. Not Just the Cloud

Salesforce has cloud deployment from anywhere, and so does Dynamics CRM. However, Dynamics offers an on-premise option for no additional cost. To have the option of accessing information from different venues including home base is quite the option. Some businesses love the option of managing their own servers and data without relying on the cloud.

In connection to applications and other integrations, Microsoft has existing native apps that can be accessed through the Dynamics program. Salesforce has applications that are accessible as well, however few are native to the core program itself.

Choosing a CRM and learning about all the options can be daunting, even to the most tech-savvy decision-maker. As consultants, our job is to provide our experiential input and give you the tools needed to make a guided decision.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM is closing the gap, and the proof is in the positive response of current users and experienced consultants. In our experience, Microsoft is the nominee of choice when considering its customization, price, user interface, and access.

We also realize that choosing the right implementation partner for Dynamics CRM can be critical to its success. As always, when you need assistance in analyzing and determining a solution to fit your objectives, we’re here to help you sort through the facts.

Let’s Talk