Dynamics CRM can be the centerpiece of capture management for government contractors, but it is even better when integrated with other office systems. Here are some of the most common scenarios that we encounter, and integrations we have done for our clients and ourselves.
Document Management
SharePoint integration is included in Dynamics CRM, and it provides a great place to store proposal documents such as technical proposals, price lists, resumes, and more. You can automate the generation of folders in SharePoint and populate the folder with standard templates and documents.
Dynamics CRM may be integrated with other document management systems if you are not using SharePoint.
Accounting
Accounting systems such as Dynamics AX, Dynamics NAV, Dynamics GP and Dynamics SL can play a role in capture management. They are likely where you create cost codes to track the activities of a project team. Price lists may reside in these accounting systems. Microsoft offers a Dynamics connector to make it easier to integrate Dynamics CRM with Dynamics ERP and accounting products.
Timesheets
After a project is won, you may want to integrate with your timesheets system in order to create the project and the billing codes and rates for each member of the project team.
At a minimum, you can send a message to the manager of the timesheets system to notify them of the win along with the names and rates of all the project participants.
Project Server
Many proposals call for a project plan which is created in Microsoft Project or Microsoft Project Server. Sometimes the project plan is not created during the proposal, but it is one of the first deliverables in the project.
Integration with Project Server allows you to have Dynamics CRM create a project and notify the project manager that it is time to create a project plan.
If you use Microsoft Project but not Project Server, you can attach the Project files to the opportunity in Dynamics CRM for looser integration.
In summary, you can create basic or full integration with all the products that relate to the sales activities:
Document Management
SharePoint integration is included in Dynamics CRM, and it provides a great place to store proposal documents such as technical proposals, price lists, resumes, and more. You can automate the generation of folders in SharePoint and populate the folder with standard templates and documents.
Dynamics CRM may be integrated with other document management systems if you are not using SharePoint.
Accounting
Accounting systems such as Dynamics AX, Dynamics NAV, Dynamics GP and Dynamics SL can play a role in capture management. They are likely where you create cost codes to track the activities of a project team. Price lists may reside in these accounting systems. Microsoft offers a Dynamics connector to make it easier to integrate Dynamics CRM with Dynamics ERP and accounting products.
Timesheets
After a project is won, you may want to integrate with your timesheets system in order to create the project and the billing codes and rates for each member of the project team.
At a minimum, you can send a message to the manager of the timesheets system to notify them of the win along with the names and rates of all the project participants.
Project Server
Many proposals call for a project plan which is created in Microsoft Project or Microsoft Project Server. Sometimes the project plan is not created during the proposal, but it is one of the first deliverables in the project.
Integration with Project Server allows you to have Dynamics CRM create a project and notify the project manager that it is time to create a project plan.
If you use Microsoft Project but not Project Server, you can attach the Project files to the opportunity in Dynamics CRM for looser integration.
In summary, you can create basic or full integration with all the products that relate to the sales activities:
|
System
|
Simple
|
Full
|
|
Accounting
|
Notify
accounting and request budget code
|
Create
budget code and timesheet entry
|
|
Timesheets
|
Notify human resources
manager and create timesheet codes
|
Create timesheet codes
|
|
Project
Server
|
Notify
project manager to create project plan
|
Create
project plan and add resources based on proposed team
|
|
Document
Management
|
SharePoint integration
included out of the box
|
Automate creation of
standard documents based on templates
|