Microsoft has a long history of offering choices! Just consider how each individual can configure their Outlook usage differently from every other user and yet it is also consistent. This is a very interesting balance.
In the world of Microsoft Dynamics CRM and particularly in the world of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online (currently v2016 aka 8.0.0.xxxx) the choices list is getting so long that I rarely hit a request that doesn't have many options.
Take for instance the integration to Microsoft Outlook and E-mail.
We have the traditional CRM Outlook Add-In Application which has continued to be updated and upgraded and we have a new Outlook App! Jesper has provided a really nice table of the differences in this blog post.
There is also the new MOBILE EXPERIENCE and MOBILE APPS and it is quite the experience or experiences ! Microsoft is now tapping into the incredible power of AZURE to further enhance the mobile offerings. I so love it when the development teams work closely together for even more WIN/WIN/WIN!
In terms of the details : Many of the partners are blogging on these new mobile features such as indicated in these links
- http://beringer.net/beringerblog/microsoft-dynamics-crm-2016-whats-new
- http://blog.dynamicscrm2015.com/2015/10/13/dynamics-crm-2016-and-full-mobile-offline-experience/
- https://crmspec.wordpress.com/2015/12/02/faq-microsoft-dynamics-crm-2016-autumn-wave/
- https://cynergies.net/developers/your-business-benefits-of-microsoft-dynamics-crm-2016-part-iii-mobile/
- http://www.powerobjects.com/events/why-go-mobile-with-dynamics-crm-2016-webinar/
BUT Wait that is not all! Welcome to the world of POWERAPPs! and you definitely want to follow the PowerApps team blog to keep an eye on this whole new business space. I mean don't you want to write your own app, without a developer?
The options don't stop there. There was a time when I would hear a bit of grumbling from the senior techie guru programmers who were not CRM Centric, but this grumbling is fading into a thing of the past. Developers can now work in the world of Dynamic CRM with hundreds of different technology choices. They can leverage the incredible application security depth of CRM, the business friendly process control, the "entity" relationship structure and the power of CRM to meet numerous custom solution needs.
Check out these three videos for more on leveraging the ANYTHING transactional relationship management platform.
Module 1: https://youtu.be/GI54dCi2sIg
Module 2: https://youtu.be/MC2NaanB5Mk
Module 3: https://youtu.be/c-TrDYQ6VQY
And as such I encourage all of the readers to adopt a mindset of continual learning, continual re-evaluation and continual planning to adopt all of the great. Choices are relevant depending on timing and given this world of change that we live in, timing constantly changes. So learn and question, learn and question and grow, grow, grow!