Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4 event for the Government sector

In association with PMI we recently held the first Dynamics CRM event for the public sector in the Microsoft Atrium building in Sandyford, Dublin.

My colleague John Thompson demonstrated how to use CRM version 4 to perform the following tasks using a fictional freedom of information (FIO) system.

• Capture the information from multiple sources
• Route to the relevant user / team
• Process the Request
• Associate emails, tasks, appointments and other activities
• Integrate with a Document Management System
• Auditing
• Security
• Searching, Viewing and Analysing the Data
• Managing a Citizen Database
• Extending the Application
• Workflow
• Form builder customisation

Afterwards I talked about the CRM product from a developers perspective. How to integrate with it using web services, .Net code, windows workflow foundation (WWF) and SQL reporting services.

I then followed up with demonstrations of possible integration options such as:

• Telephony integration to show the CRM contact details when an incoming call is received by looking up the "caller ID" of the persons phone number
• Using CRM on mobile devices (using a windows mobile 5 XDA Exec device blown up on the big screen) 
• Mapping integration with virtual earth to show "CRM Account" company locations on a map and perform spatial searches to show other organisations nearby  

The entire event was recorded so we may publish some or all of it in the coming weeks as a Webcast.

It went very well with excellent feedback received from all participants so another event for the private sector may well be organised.