Article

The Opportunities and Limitations of Document Management and Collaboration Using Microsoft Dynamics CRM

by Jason Gumpert
Editor, MSDynamicsWorld.com

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 offers important opportunities to "harness SharePoint for contextual document management," according to Microsoft manager Reuben Krippner.

He told an audience at Convergence 2011 that while Dynamics CRM's document management capabilities have been improved over what they were, they are still limited by the absence of broad searching capability and the ability to do deep collaboration.

By adding SharePoint to the mix, users can significantly extend Dynamics CRM's document management capabilities so that several members of a team can review sales proposals, for example. "You can have a queuing mechanism whereby people can review a document, revise it, and place it back in the que," he said. Roles can be assigned, as well.

He noted that "SharePoint shines in content management." For example, users can establish "multiple approvals" and "version control."  

Since SharePoint can be fully automated with Microsoft Outlook, emails can be pulled into Dynamics CRM as well as part of the document management process, Krippner said.

SharePoint also helps with "document-centric workflows for collaboration."

Convergence 2011 Document Automation Document Imaging Document Management Dynamics CRM
About Jason Gumpert

As the editor of MSDynamicsWorld.com, Jason oversees all editorial content on the site and at our events, as well as providing site management and strategy. He can be reached at jgumpert@msdynamicsworld.com.

Prior to co-founding MSDynamicsWorld.com, Jason was a Principal Software Consultant at Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC), where he implemented solutions, trained customers, managed software development, and spent some time in the pre-sales engineering organization. He has also held consulting positions at CSC Consulting and Monitor Group.

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