Microsoft Pushes Dynamics CRM into the Health Insurance Market

Microsoft has introduced an "interoperable framework" to enable health insurance plans to use Dynamics CRM.

The new framework appears to be an extension of Microsoft's efforts to push vertical approaches for its Dynamics, keyed to specific industries. It has concentrated heavily on expanding usage of Dynamics CRM in the professional sports area.

Known as "Health Plan Sales Solution," the new framework will allow health plans to quickly and easily move their marketing and sales processes online to better manage and monitor sales, member service and retention. As a result, says Microsoft, health plans will be able to better compete in the individual and small-group market; reduce multiple points of failure in their current sales, service and retention processes; and operate in conjunction with state health insurance exchanges.

According to Microsoft, the new framework "allows for more seamless integration with existing systems and applications. Partners can pre-integrate their solution to offer health plans a seamless workflow across different applications, and a number of Microsoft's trusted partners, including Ingenix, CosmoCom Inc., VUE Software and Colibrium Partners LLC, are already supporting this framework."

Microsoft says the Dynamics CRM-based platform enables insurers to more easily design and deploy a complete CRM strategy that spans acquisition, retention, health and care management, and service, as well as integrating social media sites into the sales, service and retention processes. Payers also will be able to reduce custom legacy integration costs and maximize their existing investment in both Microsoft and non-Microsoft technologies.

In addition, Microsoft said the Dynamics CRM solution can be deployed wholly on-premise, in Microsoft's cloud computing platform, or as a hybrid solution.