Workflow-based Integration for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Seeks to Reduce Customization, Increase Flexibility

Over the last two versions of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, the ability to configure workflow without coding has significantly improved.  There are now two broad flavors of workflow tools in Dynamics CRM to manage a business process: user-initiated dialogs and background, automated workflows.

The use of Windows Workflow Foundation has been a supported capability of Microsoft Dynamics CRM for several versions, but with Dynamics CRM 2011, some vendors and customers are looking to utilize workflow as the key to more streamlined and process-focused integrations that connect CRM data to the rest of the enterprise. 

While several advanced platforms and solutions exist for connecting Dynamics products with each other and other systems, appStrategy Inc.'s appCompass 5.0, announced in Apil 2011, is one of the first  to have developed an integration and automation solution for Dynamics CRM 2011 specifically geared toward deployment through Workflow Foundation. 

"Our product is targeted to Microsoft Dynamics users and it's in the integration/migration space," said appStrategy CEO Greg Ozuzu. "What we've added is the new wrinkle of automation...And what I see is all the Dynamics family and other future products from Microsoft are going to be leveraging Windows Workflow Foundation to extend their processes," he said. "So we believe it puts us at the very edge of this new type of integration."

Ozuzu said many customers want to move data from one place to another and integrate processes but they also want to automate different processes.

"So using our product they can set up a workflow that automatically responds that will help them do certain things like employee onboarding," he said. "They want automation because companies are moving their data to the cloud. ...