Microsoft Dynamics CRM Users: How to Bootstrap Your Mobile Integration for Offline Work

It is estimated that by 2016 there will be approximately 196 million smartphone users in the U.S. alone, with that number rising to 220 million in 2018. In addition, it's estimated there will be 57.1 million tablet PCs sold in 2015, with that number growing to 60.3 million in 2016.

One of the more obvious cultural impacts associated with the rise of the smartphone and tablet markets is the ever-connected user. Whereas, in times past, individuals were bound to a desktop or laptop computer, especially when working, the modern worker now has the ability to be productive anywhere they have a wireless signal.

Microsoft's Azure Mobile Connector SDK

While the move away from the desktop has been a boon for many startups and app developers, it can pose a challenge for companies with established applications; Microsoft Dynamics' software is no exception to this new rule. Originally conceived in the era when desktop computers reigned supreme, current Dynamics users have struggled with a lack of offline features and synchronization.

"Smartphone users have come to expect that their most critical apps will work offline, even when it's mostly a matter of convenience," writes Donna Malayeri, Program Manager, Azure Mobile Services, in announcing Microsoft's new Azure Mobile Connector SDK for Dynamics CRM Online.. "For some apps, offline sync is not just convenience - it's critical to business productivity."

The goal of the Mobile Connector SDK is to make it easier for organizations to build and deploy cross-platform mobile apps that allow offline use and sync data with Dynamics CRM.

We've seen that many business apps lack this critical offline ...