The Microsoft Dynamics version 4.0 release is the latest version of Microsoft’s customer relationship management software program, which is a key part of the Dynamics family of business solution software.

The focus of Microsoft CRM Version 4 has been:

• Productivity
• Insight
• Empowerment.

Version 4.0 - multi everything

• Multi-currency
• Multi-lingual
• Multi-tenancy

The 1st area of version 4 to have been released is the multi-aspects of the new application. This release has full multi-currency capability; enables companies to release their system in any of 26 languages - each user can have their preferred language and version 4 will support many 'deployments' from one CRM installation.

The multi-tenancy allows for multiple organisations can be supported in a single deployment of Microsoft Dynamics CRM and on a single Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server.

Version 4 - full duplication detection

With version 4 comes some powerful duplication detection tools. These can be used for both existing records/entities and also for any new records/entities that you may need. These tools are completely configurable and can be run both real-time and batch.

Version 4 - data import & data migration

Included in version 4 is a set of tools to enable data importation through the user interface. With the tool you can create and save you regular data import mappings.

• Users can receive an e-mail notification when an import is complete
• Data can be enriched by exporting data to a Microsoft Office Excel worksheet, adding data, and importing the records
• Duplicates can be detected automatically.

The Data Migration Manager will enable you to migrate data from another CRM application into Microsoft CRM.

Version 4 - new workflow

One of the more thorough changes in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 is to the workflow model. Workflows are now available to end users, who no longer need access to the server in order to create, modify, and monitor them.

Child workflows and workflow templates provide two ways for users to build upon existing workflow logic while they are creating new workflows.

Workflows now support many more record types. Also, they can now be triggered by the update and delete events, and a workflow can be triggered by more than one event..

Version 4 - report wizard

A new report wizard has been included making is very simple to create quite complete reports and graphs from within Microsoft CRM.

Version 4 - entity relationships

In version 3 we are limited to one-to-many type entity links and we could only add new relationships to new entities, not system entities. Whereas in version 4 we can add new links to system entities and create a number of other types of relationships:

Version 4 - Productivity:

• Fully multi currency – the ability to mix the currencies within one company
• No language barrier for global companies
• 25 languages initially supported
• No VPN connection required for external access
• New Smart Start function in Outlook
• New Smart Navigation
• New Smart Email Matching
• No need for a Tracking Token
• No need for Email Router
• New Smart Search
• Automatically completes lookup fields
• Phone calls, letters and faxes can also be synchronised with Outlook
• A contacts related company name synchronised to Outlook contacts
• Convert an email to Lead
• Convert an email to Case.
• CRM now maintains a most recently used list
• Mail Merge Magic
• Powerful & intuitive mail merge to Word
• Word Mail Merge from the Web client too
• Allows for CRM emails to be sent via Outlook
• Significant WAN performance improvements
• New Deployment Wizard eases the set-up of new users.

Version 4 - Insight:

1. CRM excels in Excel
• Data can be updated in Excel and then re-applied to CRM
2. New Reporting Wizard
• enables users to create reports in the way they wish to see it
3. Users can take reports offline
4. All Views can display fields from related entities
5. The Foundation for Workflow:
• Based on Windows Workflow Foundation (WWF)
• Visual Designer
• Workflow Wizard
• Workflow Templates
• Visible from within CRM
• More Events
• All workflows can have stages
• Workflow rules are visible within the Record
• Workflow can be integrated with SharePoint / MOSS
6. Connect to the Community
7. New Resource Centre
8. Sharing best practises
9. Talk to the CRM Community
10. New System Monitor for monitoring work flows, import routines and duplication.

Version 4 - Empowerment:

1. Quick campaign sends and closes activities
2. New licence options
• Read only
• Device licence
• Mix & Match user licences
3. Data Import
• Saved data maps
• Enforce entities required fields
• Back out of imported records
• Perform actions on imported records
4. Users can email short cuts to specific records
5. Addition of Advanced Data Duplication
• Customisable rules
• Covers data entry and bulk imports
• Covers imports and promotions from Outlook
6. Import / Export now includes security profiles and workflow rules
7. Unattended data imports
8. New Outlook Diagnostics Tool included applying fixes and advanced tracing
9. Heal the Outlook Client, automatically applies fixes to all Outlook users
10. Ability to Bulk Add Users
11. New Development Environment for creating:
• Offline web services
• Plug-ins (previously called Callouts)
• Offline Reporting
12. Design your entity relationships:
• Self to Self
• Many to Many
• System to System relationships
13. Expecting a Seamless upgrade from version 3
• Wizard driven
• Auto-detects existing CRM application
• All supported Customisations & Workflows are upgraded
• Existing Callouts are upgraded with Plug-in ‘wrappers’
• We recommend re-coding existing callouts as Plug-ins.

Version 4 - Technicals:

1. Windows Server 2003 & 2008  - both 32 and 64 bit supported
2. Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2
3. SQL Server 2005 & 2008  - both 32 and 64 bit supported
• One database for both meta and data
• Reports are stored in the one database
4. Exchange 2003 & 2007 or POP 3 Mail Engines
• No require for an Exchange Router
• No need for Exchange
• Will work with any mail server
• Will work with any POP3 server
• Will work with hosted mail servers
5. .Net 3.0 support
6. Visual Studio 2005 & 2008
7. Terminal Services and Citrix supported
8. Support for roaming profiles
9. Client:
10. XP & Vista
11. Office 2003 & 2007
12. Internet Explorer 6 & 7
13. Roaming Profiles are now supported
14. Self updating client installation.

Not Supported, as they are out of mainstream support, are:

• Windows Server 2000
• SQL Server 2000
• Exchange 2000
• Windows 2000 Professional
• Office 2000.

Microsoft CRM v4 deployments are supported on:

• SQL Server Mirroring
• SQL Clustering
• Exchange Clustering
• Web Farms.

Version 4 - screen shots: