Salesforce vs. Microsoft Dynamics CRM: Which Should You Choose?

Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics CRM are two leaders in the customer relationship management software market. While Salesforce may be the 800-pound gorilla, Microsoft has made significant headway in recent years by building a solid foundation with Dynamics CRM and then expanding on it strategically. These two companies are dominating the growth in the CRM industry, outshining IBM, SAP and Oracle.

If your company is looking to invest in CRM software, how do you choose between these two solutions? Beyond identifying differences in the current products, make sure your decision factors in product momentum and the prospects for future success.

Common Ground

To answer that question, we first need to acknowledge that neither company is going away anytime soon. Both Microsoft and Salesforce are successful companies in their own rights with well-known products, established user bases, and continually-updated platforms paired with robust support staff. They're both obviously doing something right. On top of that, both companies' products are well-respected and reviewed by peers, journals and actual users alike.

Because each company is so well-established, it's also unlikely that either company would ever be able to gain such an upper hand as to drive the other out of the market. Both companies have the talent and resources to adapt to the market, as well as the innovations their competitors bring to the market.

In analyzing which software you should choose, another way of asking the question might be: "Which product better aligns with your company's needs?" To answer that, it's advantageous to consider where they differ.

The Differences

One of the main differences between these two companies is the approach each of ...