Overheard at Convergence – Upcoming Dynamics CRM Announcements Hint at Product Direction

As partners ramped up on the first registration day of Convergence 2009 in New Orleans, their sessions generated hints as to upcomingannouncements on the future direction of Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

A new Dynamics CRM service update announcement is expectedto the general attendee audience later in the Convergence event.  This service update is expected to focus on features of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM4.0 product and its more flexible capabilities for what Microsoft officials are commonly referring to as xRM. 

With xRM, Microsoft is emphasizing the variety of people management capabilities that use much of the same data model, features, and processes as traditional CRM, but with a broader set of use cases outside oftraditional areas such as sales force automation and order management.  Such new use cases include things likecomplaint management, dealer management, and citizen management. 

New terminology being used with the partners hints as wellat new functionality-- "CRM Plus" and "CRM Minus", depending on the case -expanding on typical CRM or using the XRM approach in the absence of typicalCRM.  Both descriptions appear to be afocus of Microsoft as it tries to grow its vision of the Dynamics CRM footprint, both on-premise and with the expanding Software plus Service offering. 

Indications are that the newest Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Accelerators appear to be generating interest, with 27,000 downloads to date.(See our most recent updates on CRM Accelerators.)

There was also talk about the next Dynamics CRM release on the horizon, presumably released as 5, but now being referred to as"V.Next".   Expect plenty of accelerators, service updates, and enhancements to 4.0 between now and the next full release.