Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Salesforce are the industry leaders in CRM solutions. Both solutions have similar features and market positioning.
There are numerous comparisons between the two products with no clear winner, but we thought we would highlight some of the key differences:
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 365 Advantages
- Single sign-on to Microsoft 365 simplifies the user experience and IT management.
- Security inside Microsoft Azure protects your CRM data.
- Scalability inside Microsoft Azure allows growth without putting a strain on IT.
- Much simpler for your IT to manage security, permissions and access to data and applications.
- Integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products like Outlook, Teams, Word, SharePoint, and Business Central.
- Dynamics 365 CRM shares the Microsoft Power Platform with Business Central. Microsoft Power Bi reports can include CRM and Business Central data easily and effectively.
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM licensing is less than Salesforce. Salesforce have a lot of ‘extras’ so it is important to ask Salesforce to provide a total cost for the solution over 2 years that includes anticipated growth.
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 have more flexible pricing. Less expensive Power Apps licensing options are available for users who don’t need full CRM functionality.
- The Dynamics 365 CRM implementation opens up the Microsoft Power Platform and Dataverse. Bespoke applications and automated processes that are related to CRM processes can be created using the same data as the CRM modules. These applications can leverage existing Dynamics 365 CRM, or Power Platform licenses.
- Microsoft Power Platform applications can be created that not are related to the CRM system. These applications can use a Dynamics 365 CRM or Power Platform license to access an unlimited number of ‘PowerApps’. This means that a Microsoft license can be used to access an almost unlimited number of applications developed in your Microsoft 365 environment.
- Power Pages (Power Platform Portals) allow you to create your own inward and outward facing portals that connect to your CRM data and Dataverse tables. This provides the ability to improve your customers and stakeholders experience by providing functions like self-service portals.
- Microsoft are investing heavily in AI with optional features like Sales Insights.
- Exceptional integration, development, training, and support provided by Orby.
Salesforce Advantages
- Slightly more 3rd party integrations although Microsoft is catching up with Power Automate
- Sales Performance Management is simpler though Deal Manager is helping MS catchup again.
Our simple (and likely biased) conclusion
If your organisation spends most of it’s time working in the Microsoft 365 environment using applications like Outlook, Teams, Word, SharePoint and Business Central – Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM is the obvious choice.