Microsoft will start selling its CRM 3.0 package from
early next month after recently releasing the public beta of the
product.
Microsoft CRM 3.0 is more tightly integrated with the company's
Office suite, and includes an improved range of customisation tools
to enable users to get more out of the platform.
Microsoft is skipping version 2.0 of the product and going
straight to version 3.0 after its upgrade plans were delayed, to
the annoyance of some customers. Version 2.0 was originally
promised in the first quarter of 2004.
The 3.0 beta was released at the end of October and was
scheduled to run for 60 days. Microsoft had planned to start
manufacturing the software before the end of the year, with a
general commercial release in the first quarter of next year.
By bringing forward a commercial release, Microsoft seems
confident the continuing beta trial will not throw up any major
bugs. The first customers for CRM 3.0 early next month are expected
to be sites already using version 1.0 of the software.
CRM 3.0 includes new marketing automation facilities and a new
service scheduling module to manage field services staff.
The new version is also more tightly integrated with the
company’s SQL Reporting Services, so users don’t have to rely as
much on third-party reporting tools.
Better integration with Office includes the easier export of CRM
data into Excel files.
Microsoft is introducing a small business edition of CRM 3.0,
designed for companies that use Windows Small Business Server 2003
Premium Edition. This version will deliver a simplified
installation.