Microsoft® Dynamics CRM 2011 Administration Bible

Chapter 11. Using Dynamics CRM for Outlook

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Comparing the Outlook and Web versions of Dynamics CRM

• Navigating the Outlook interface

• Sharing data between Microsoft Outlook and Dynamics CRM

• Taking Dynamics CRM offline

• Using Outlook only functionality

Microsoft Outlook has become the communications, scheduling, and contact management hub for most business people. With the introduction of Outlook 2010, even social networking connections have become visible in Outlook. As a result, every CRM solution provider makes integration with Outlook a high priority for their product. As you may expect, Microsoft has done an exemplary job of integrating Dynamics CRM with Outlook. Businesses that are using Dynamics CRM report that this integration has played a significant role in reducing the learning curve for their users and getting the business to realize a return on their investment faster.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 for Outlook (also referred to as the Outlook Client) takes the already outstanding integration with Microsoft Outlook and ratchets it up a level of magnitude. As you work with Dynamics CRM for Outlook you will find that much of the Dynamics CRM functionality is available in the Outlook forms that you use every day (such as e-mail, appointments, tasks, and contacts). All of the Dynamics CRM views and forms can also be accessed directly within Outlook. When accessing Dynamics CRM views within Outlook, you have access to many of the same functions that you already use with ...