Upgrading Dynamics CRM on premise to Dynamics 365: What You Need to Know
Microsoft Dynamics CRM has been a popular choice for businesses of all sizes, thanks to its flexibility and range of features. However, as technology evolves, so too do the needs of businesses. That’s where Dynamics 365 comes in. Dynamics 365 is a cloud-based customer relationship management solution that offers greater functionality than its on-premise counterpart. If you’re using Dynamics CRM on premise, you may be wondering if upgrading to Dynamics 365 is the right choice for your business. In this post, we’ll explore what you need to know about upgrading Dynamics CRM on premise to Dynamics 365.
Why Upgrade to Dynamics 365?
There are several reasons why businesses choose to upgrade from Dynamics CRM on premise to Dynamics 365. First and foremost, Dynamics 365 is a cloud-based solution, which means it offers greater accessibility and flexibility. With Dynamics 365, you can access your data from anywhere, on any device, as long as you have an internet connection. This is particularly useful for businesses with remote workers or multiple offices.
Another advantage of Dynamics 365 is that it offers a range of integrated applications, including Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Field Service, and Project Service Automation. These applications work seamlessly together, providing a complete view of your customers and their interactions with your business. This, in turn, helps you to make more informed decisions and improve the overall customer experience.
Dynamics 365 also offers advanced analytics and reporting capabilities, allowing you to gain insights into your business that were previously unavailable with Dynamics CRM on premise. With Dynamics 365, you can track key metrics such as sales performance, customer satisfaction, and marketing ROI, and use this data to make data-driven decisions.
What You Need to Know Before Upgrading
Before upgrading from Dynamics CRM on premise to Dynamics 365, there are several things you need to consider. First and foremost, you need to determine whether Dynamics 365 is the right solution for your business. While Dynamics 365 offers many advantages over Dynamics CRM on premise, it may not be the best fit for every business. For example, if you have unique customization needs, you may find that Dynamics CRM on premise is the better option.
Another important consideration is data migration. If you’re currently using Dynamics CRM on premise, you’ll need to migrate your data to Dynamics 365. This can be a complex process, especially if you have a large amount of data or customized fields. It’s crucial to plan your data migration in advance and work with a reputable partner who has experience migrating data from Dynamics CRM on premise to Dynamics 365.
Finally, you need to consider the impact on your users. Upgrading to Dynamics 365 will require your users to learn a new system, which can be a significant change for some employees. It’s important to provide adequate training and support to ensure your users are comfortable with the new system.
How to Upgrade
Upgrading from Dynamics CRM on premise to Dynamics 365 is a multi-step process. Below is an overview of the steps involved:
1. Assess your current system: Before upgrading, you need to assess your current Dynamics CRM on premise system and identify any customizations or integrations that may need to be migrated.
2. Plan your migration: Once you’ve assessed your system, you need to plan your migration. This involves determining which data needs to be migrated, how it will be migrated, and when the migration will take place.
3. Prepare your system: Before migrating your data, you need to prepare your Dynamics CRM on premise system for the upgrade. This may involve installing updates or making other changes to ensure compatibility with Dynamics 365.
4. Migrate your data: Once your system is prepared, you can begin migrating your data to Dynamics 365. This may involve using a migration tool or working with a partner who specializes in data migration.
5. Train your users: Once your data has been migrated, you need to train your users on how to use Dynamics 365. This may involve providing training sessions or creating user guides.
6. Go live: Once your users are comfortable with the new system, you can go live with Dynamics 365.
Conclusion
If you’re currently using Dynamics CRM on premise, upgrading to Dynamics 365 can offer significant benefits for your business. However, it’s important to carefully consider whether Dynamics 365 is the right solution for your needs and plan your migration accordingly. By working with a reputable partner and providing adequate training and support to your users, you can ensure a smooth transition to Dynamics 365 and take advantage of the many benefits this powerful CRM solution has to offer.