Businesses with complicated operations are often faced with a difficult decision to choose between an out-of-the-box software solution that doesn’t fully meet their needs or a highly customized, and often more expensive, solution. With advances in modern business management solutions, businesses can have the best of both worlds. Microsoft Dynamics xRM offers powerful functionality with the ability to personalize features to meet unique business needs.
Microsoft Dynamics CRM is most commonly known as a powerful sales, service and marketing tool. However, what many IT teams overlook is that it’s based on a strong, flexible platform – also known as xRM. As discussed in “The rapid-start development platform of Microsoft Dynamics CRM,” an eBook, this platform can be tailored to address specific needs for many different types of businesses, managing data from a variety of processes including people, objects, contracts, and anything else. This flexibility can accelerate development and deployment over building a line-of-business application from scratch.
Library Catalogs Artifact Collections with xRM
A global nonprofit organization needed a way to connect over 200 volunteers, catalog historic artifacts, and share data with the nonprofit’s central library catalog system. With nearly 40% of the needed functionality already built in and the flexibility to tailor other key features, Microsoft Dynamics CRM was the obvious choice. The xRM platform was used to build the Library Media Collection Management system and provided a secure and efficient way to manage the following key processes:
- Volunteers: Hundreds of volunteers found across the globe are contacting people to collect photographs, memorabilia and historical information.
- Artifacts: A variety of materials are being collected, ranging from audio files, photographs, and other objects. Some of which must be returned upon documentation.
- Documentation: Data pertaining to the artifact documentation is transferred to the nonprofit’s central library catalog system.
The development of the Library Media Collections Management system using the xRM platform of Microsoft Dynamics CRM provided the nonprofit with stronger security for protecting the sensitive nature of certain documents. Multi-language support improved communication and workflows streamlined the collection and documentation processes.
Sometimes an out-of-the-box solution doesn’t quite fit the bill. In this case, a flexible and scalable solution, like xRM, was the perfect way to meet operational needs and strict budgets. Download the eBook and contact PrenticeWorx for more information about leveraging xRM to support your unique business needs and drive growth.
