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Microsoft Offers Peek At Next-Gen CRM

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the just-a-taste dept.

4foot10 writes "As reported by VARBusiness.com, Microsoft's next release of its Dynamics CRM application, code-named 'Titan', is moving a little closer to completion. Today, the vendor is making the new software, which uses a single code base to support on-premise and software-as-a-service deployments, available to several hundred business partners for testing, giving them an early start on developing complementary solutions."

12 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. What's a CRM? by seebs · · Score: 5, Funny

    For those of us who haven't eaten alphabits in a few years, what's a CRM, and why do we care?

    --
    My blog: http://www.seebs.net/log/ --- My iPhone/iPad app: http://www.seebs.net/seebsfrac/
    1. Re:What's a CRM? by Meatloaf+Surprise · · Score: 5, Funny

      Manages customer relations, duh

    2. Re:What's a CRM? by mean+pun · · Score: 5, Funny
      Manages customer relations, duh

      You mean it sends them a Xmas card, goes to visit them from time to time, and if they are really good customers it takes them to dinner sometimes? Or is it more like the kind of software that walks into their shop and says `Really nice place you have here, pity if it would burn, eh? Luigi here is really disappointed with your negative attitude to us.'?

    3. Re:What's a CRM? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Crap Released by Microsoft

    4. Re:What's a CRM? by GhaleonStrife · · Score: 2, Funny

      I think it came before DRM.

    5. Re:What's a CRM? by SeaFox · · Score: 3, Funny

      I thought it was Cranial Rights Management. A new way to keep you from enjoying the portions of copyrighted music you remember in your head.

    6. Re:What's a CRM? by $pearhead · · Score: 2, Funny
      I think it came before DRM
      Yeah and first came ARM. However, all that crap is really old compared to the new and exciting E(rr)R(h)M!
    7. Re:What's a CRM? by Linker3000 · · Score: 5, Funny

      CRM is one of a broad range of software applications that can be purchased off the shelf, obtained through Open Source channels or implemented by a software consultancy firm that spends a lot of time with you to determine your needs, develops a draft spec, agrees a stonkingly large fee and then sends a team of developers to live with you for many months, drinking your coffee, attempting to get off with the secretaries and hacking your vending machines.

      Soon, the consultancy company realises they have underestimated the complexity of your requirements and that it is going to take much longer to implement, but they demand more money and time on the basis that YOU have changed the spec. After an extended period of development, a highly-personalised software application is handed over to you and you soon discover that it works pretty much to specification but with quite a few rough edges that will be "dealt with as part of the 5-year snags process".

      The system is so complex to manage that the only people who can support it are the original developers - but they are mostly working elsewhere on other projects by now or have left to become 'independent consultants' advising other customers who are having terrible problems getting their CRM system to work properly due to poor implementation.

      Even though the software consultancy firm cannot support your system to your satisfaction, you are locked into a support contract that means you pay an annual fee to them for the rest of your life. Eventually you begin to abandon parts of the software "'cos it's quicker and easier to do it in a spreadsheet".

      --
      AT&ROFLMAO
  2. What's a customer? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Manages customer relations, duh"

    Well thank God that open-source doesn't have that problem.

  3. and after *that*... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    "which uses a single code base to support on-premise and software-as-a-service deployments"

    And after that, they're going to leverage their synergies!

  4. with Microsoft CRM by oohshiny · · Score: 3, Funny

    With Microsoft CRM, your customer relations can be as good as Microsoft's.

    (Note: the monopoly CRM module, including customer abuse and forced upgrades, costs extra.)

  5. Typical CRM by Psychotria · · Score: 3, Funny

    Microsoft CRM (Customer relationship management). Interesting idea. WGA. Deciding what can and cannot be played/viewed. Having a great help-desk that only ever gets used because people buy a new video card and need to reactivate Windows. In fact, I didn't even know that Microsoft had customer relationships (apart from, we give you a piece of crappy software and you pay us to try and use it). Last time I was involved in Microsoft CRM, it went something like this:

    Me: Hi. I just bought a new video card and now Windows is asking me to reactivate.

    MS: Thanks for calling Microsoft. How can we help?

    Me: I just bought a new video card and now Windows is asking me to reactivate. How do I do this?

    MS: Thanks for calling Microsoft. Your call is important to us. All our operators are busy at the moment. Please hold the line. **Microsoft jingle plays**

    MS Rep: Thanks for calling Microsoft. How can I serve you today?

    Me: Err... I need to reactivate Windows

    MS Rep: How many computers do you currently have Windows installed on?

    Me: None, it's broken

    MS Rep: The Microsoft(TM)(R)(C)(Patent Pending) XP Operating System is for use on one computer only. Because your copy is not installed on a computer, you are in violation of the EULA subclause 287.111, where it clearly says that you must install Windows (TM) (C) (Patent Pending) on ONE computer only.

    Me: Yes, I am trying to install it on this computer

    MS Rep: You cannot install it on that computer because you are in violation of the EULA by not having it installed on any computer at all

    Me: ....