ERP Consultant Blog

Microsoft Dynamics CRM and SharePoint for Unified Document Alliance

Written by Ken Jacobsen | Thu, Feb 27, 2014

Microsoft Dynamics CRM and SharePoint for Unified Document Alliance Microsoft Dynamics CRM and SharePoint create the best solution for your document management relationship! Microsoft SharePoint Server is the premier team collaboration and content management solution that streamlines how you search, house, and share data and information. It assists your team to work in partnership effectually by ensuring protected admission to documents that are required to make business decisions.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online support the integration with SharePoint that enables you to use the document management abilities of SharePoint from within Microsoft Dynamics CRM. It allows you to collect and manage documents in the context of a Microsoft Dynamics CRM record on a server that is running SharePoint, and can control SharePoint to share, manage, and collaborate effectively. Because the documents are stored on a server that is running SharePoint, non-Microsoft Dynamics CRM users can gain access to the documents on your server (provided that they have appropriate privileges on the SharePoint Server to do so).

SharePoint integration with Microsoft Dynamics CRM enables you to:

  • Create, upload, view, and delete documents on a server that is running SharePoint from within Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
  • Use the SharePoint document management abilities within Microsoft Dynamics CRM, such as revisions, who is checking the document(s) in and out, viewing version history, and changing document properties.

You can use Microsoft Dynamics CRM for opportunity tracking and SharePoint for controlling the opportunity-related documents such as quotes, RFP responses, vendor pricing and estimate Excel Workbooks. You can also effortlessly use Microsoft Dynamics CRM and SharePoint Web Services as a progression of custom CRM Workflow entities. Events within Microsoft Dynamics CRM can consistently generate and populate sites and document libraries which contain an iFrame within a new CRM tab called “SharePoint.” In fact, you can also use rules in the workflow such as “when and opportunity has a 60% or more probability, create a SharePoint Folder."

Why create folders for opportunities that haven’t completed the qualification stages? You can use the “Notes Tab” in Microsoft Dynamics CRM to attach documents to Accounts, Leads, Opportunities or any other Microsoft Dynamics CRM standard or custom entity. You’ll notice there is a paperclip icon on most screens which will do this. However, Microsoft SharePoint allows for a richer set of document management tools, including check in/out management and versioning, and integration with Information Rights Management helps ensure that proprietary and confidential information is better protected. Additionally non-CRM users can access the documents through the SharePoint interface.

Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services comes free with the Windows Server operating system. Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server is licensed separately and adds extra functionality such as enterprise search. Now is the time to contact The TM Group at 888.482.2864 for your SharePoint, CRM and ERP goals. We have been providing superior business technology solutions since 1984. Our TMG Consultants vast expertise can architect the ideal system within your budget and timeline. Visit our website at: www.tmgroupinc.com for more information today.

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