Microsoft betting on continued Dynamics CRM Online growth, exec says

Microsoft says the sky's the limit for Dynamics CRM in the cloud.

That was the message Microsoft wanted to put forth to partners attending eXtremeCRM 2014 Las Vegas on Monday. Speaking during the opening keynote earlier today, Marietta Davis, vice president for US Microsoft Dynamics, moved quickly through a presentation that outlined ambitious new goals centered around Dynamics CRM Online.

"The Microsoft target for cloud (online) business is a 95 percent growth year-to-year," Davis told the audience.

The company also wants to increase its margins by 40 percent "on cloud offerings," she added. Davis also touched on a new billion dollar goal for Dynamics CRM by 2017, but our request for clarification has not yet received a response.

Microsoft Dynamics business orders were up by 22 percent in 2014, Davis told the audience, pointing to the price-point of Dynamics CRM when compared to Salesforce, as one advantage.

Dynamics CRM Online revenue is projected to be about 50% of Dynamics CRM revenue in FY15, Microsoft told US Dynamics partners at the US kickoff event in August.

In urging partners to push Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, she said "We will go head to head with Salesforce."

One partner listening in on the presentation said he found Davis' - and Microsoft's - commitment for CRM's online future reassuring.

"Her message was that Microsoft is placing its bets on CRM Online and it is ramping up its efforts," he said. "Her focus was on the cloud."