User adoption has been the biggest challenge for CRM implementations and one of the best ways to increase this is by proactively engaging the users with scheduled reports. Instead of relying on the users to login and find the necessary information, it would be a good idea to directly push the data in emails from CRM on regular basis.
We have heard for quite long time that there is no report scheduling facility available for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Online and that is quite true. Further neither the database nor the reporting server can be accessed directly in online environment. A possible work-around solution around this limitation could be scheduling of CRM Views using the newly added functionality of Custom Workflows in the online environment.
Let me demonstrate to you as how easy it is to schedule any CRM data using Report Scheduler add-on for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Online and On-Premise:
Sample Scenario: A Sales Manager would like to receive a report @4.00pm every day of new leads added in CRM by his team
Step 1: Create a Personal View for Leads with filter condition as: “Created On”: “Today”:
Step 2: Schedule the view for email delivery using the Report Scheduler add-on as shown below:
As shown below CRM data has been received in email both inline as well as in an attachment:
Using Report Scheduler add-on, any CRM user can schedule out-of-box System Views as well as user-created Personal Views and have them delivered regularly in their mailboxes on any scheduled day and time. Some of the features are as below:
- Interface to set-up recurring and automated email of your CRM data on a periodic basis.
- Users can easily receive CRM data in few clicks without any IT support
- No dependency on separate Report Server
- Mobile Friendly (option to have the data sent in the body of the email)
- Direct navigation to CRM views from email via a click link
- Handles scheduling across multiple time-zones
- Takes care of all visibility rules set in Microsoft CRM
- Can send the data even to non-CRM user email addresses (with admin approval)
Works with:
- Dynamics CRM Online
- Dynamics CRM On-Premise (requires update Roll-Up 12)
- IFD
- Partner-hosted