Microsoft® Dynamics CRM 2011 Administration Bible

Chapter 8. Managing Data

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Importing data into Dynamics CRM

• Using the built-in tools to keep your data clean

The single most critical function of any customer relationship management system is facilitating the creation and maintenance of useful, relevant data. No matter how well your system is designed or how enthusiastic your users are, your CRM system will be of little use if your data is incomplete, out-dated, or incorrect.

This is why Microsoft has put data management tools at the heart of Dynamics CRM. The Get Started pane at the top of system entity views includes links to tools and instructions for importing data and detecting duplicate records, and the Ribbon that is displayed when a user visits the Get Started screen or Settings area also includes links to data management tools (see Figure 8.1) — and it's available from the File menu throughout the application. There is also a feature that allows administrators to import and delete sample data, a feature that is very helpful for development, testing, and user training.

In this chapter, we provide step-by-step instructions for the three primary tools that are included in the Dynamics CRM user interface for data management: the Import Data Wizard, the Duplicate Detection Wizard, and the Bulk Delete Wizard.

Each of these wizards is designed to provide users of all levels with an easy way to maintain high-quality data in Dynamics CRM. Because there are several features common to these three tools, users who become familiar ...