CRM MVPs Speak: Looking Ahead to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016

A lucky few have seen Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016, which is now in preview, hidden behind non-disclosure agreements. Customers are eager to know, what kind of training will it require? Can they leapfrog earlier versions and go right to CRM 2016? Are Dynamics consultants prepared to help them integrate Office productivity tools? What does Dynamics CRM Online do that CRM on-premise does not (and vice versa)?

A star panel of Dynamics CRM MVPs answered those questions and more in a webcast with MSDynamicsWorld last week. You can view the full recording here. And we'll highlight some of their responses below (edited lightly for clarity), asked both by the moderator and by audience members. Joining us were:

• Chris Cognetta, Director of the center of excellence and client field engineering team at Tribridge Consulting;
• Donna Edwards, a senior architect with Hitachi Solutions America;
• Alex Fagundes, CIO of PowerObjects;
• Jukka Niiranen, a consultant at Digital Illustrated in Finland;
• Gretchen Opferkew, director of education with PowerObjects.

What are the big gains in functionality in CRM 2016, and which will be different in CRM Online versus on-premise?

CC: There are components that will be online only. Eventually they'll catch up, but as Microsoft is leading with CRM Online, that's the roadmap objective, that's where you'll see new features first.

AF: It's also the first time [we're] seeing a main feature, a main component being avail in only CRM Online. I'm specifically speaking about offline capabilities in the mobile clients. I hope ...