Wise Observer

Microsoft Client Relation Management system (Microsoft CRM) and Microsoft RMS are both Microsoft SQL Server based applications, however historically Microsoft was purchasing industry leading software applications, such as QuickSell which is now Microsoft RMS. So, RMS design fundamentals were minted a long time before Microsoft CRM. But, still integration between the two is straightforward and what you need is consultant, who is familiar with both systems structures and customization scenarios. Microsoft CRM is currently integrated with Microsoft Great Plains and will be integrated with Microsoft Navision in the close future, RMS integration is not planned to our knowledge, so you should seek third party solutions or create your own integration. We see the need for such the integration when you sell on account in RMS and have customer support call center automated with Microsoft CRM. Let us give you highlights:

• Microsoft CRM custom lookup. More likely you will nee lookup to your RMS headquarters or store records for the customer transactions from Account screen. Microsoft CRM allows you to have custom navigation bar on Account screen by clicking on this bar you could call your custom web .Net application, which will call Microsoft RMS database and return you the grid of customer transactions

• RMS architecture excurse. Microsoft RMS has Headquarters and Store databases. The exchange between the two types of databases uses worksheet mechanism. Most of the transaction types are initiated on the store level and transferred to the Headquarters database (with some global data exception, global customers for example are handled on HQ level and then propagated down to the stores).

• Data Inquiry and Update. The MS RMS architecture suggests you to query primarily Headquarters database and do not change data in HQ database. If you need to change data on the store level from Microsoft CRM custom screen - you should consider placing web service on the SQL Server hardware in the store to deal with the store-initiated transaction

• Microsoft CRM programming. Microsoft CRM has MS CRM SDK (Software Development Kit). This is open source tool, you can download it from Microsoft site and it is description of Microsoft CRM classes and methods with sample codes in C# and VB.Net. Microsoft technical support encourages you to use Microsoft CRM SDK objects and discourages you from direct SQL server programming. If you need to query MS CRM database - you should create your custom database and place your objects: SQL views and stored procedures there. Do not place custom object into MS CRM databases
Do your homework in integration and if you have issues or concerns - we are here to help! If you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies - USA nationwide Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, serving clients in Chicago, California, Texas, Florida, New York, Georgia, Arizona, Minnesota, UK, Australia and having locations in multiple states and internationally ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ), he is CMA, Great Plains Certified Master, Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer. You can contact Andrew: andrewk@albaspectrum.com

Every day more and more businesses of all sizes and types are developing or refining their strategy to transmit, store and retrieve their business documents electronically. And while the majority of all electronic document transmission is primarily conducted via email, or downloaded from the internet, smart organizations realize a critical part of this strategy also involves the handling of their inbound and outbound fax traffic.

Every company needs a fax server for the following reasons:

1. Competitive necessity. The faster business documents transmitted by fax, either sent or received, reach the proper destination the higher probability of increased organizational efficiency.

2. Increase employee productivity. Fax Servers allow users to send/receive faxes from their computers without leaving their desks. These faxes can be sent either from thin, thick or internet based fax client (Microsoft Internet Explorer) or email application such as MS Outlook/Exchange, Lotus Notes, Novell Groupwise. The most common operating systems used are Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows 2000.

3. Minimize consumable costs such as paper, toner. The typical fax transaction first requires the document to be printed to a printer and delivered to a fax machine via sneaker net. Documents that are transmitted via fax server start electronically as word processing documents and end electronically as digital images at the recipients’ destination.

4. Documents transmitted via fax server are recognized as legal documents in a court of law. Once a document has been transmitted by fax, information about the fax transmission is recorded during the process, including date/time of transaction, duration and total # of pages.

5. Improve Customer Relationships and Find New Opportunities. Fax documents are always read or at least perused. If the information on the fax properly addressed to a particular recipient or addresses an immediate business need, there is a good probability of some sort of response. Many fax savvy organizations use fax for newsletters, press releases, billing, product announcements and expedited contract delivery.

Try the following: Go into your existing customer database and choose an existing client. Send a fax concerning a new product release or update directly to his or her attention. In addition, within the fax, provide multiple methods of return correspondence i.e. email, website, telephone and a deadline for response. Chances are you will receive some level of response faster than email!

6. Email Alternative. While sending emails is extremely reliable and common practice, it has its draw backs when dealing with loan applications, purchase orders and signed contracts. Business conducted with these types of documents typically occurs via fax machine or fax server.

Technically, what do Fax Servers do?

Fax Servers compliment all business units in one form or another. They convert documents from their native format into Black and White Tiff G3 or DCX format. These tiff documents are then sent over the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) or IP (Internet Protocol). Fax Servers can integrate into any application, Email system, ERP, CRM or operating system in the world. They can interrogate raw text from any AS400 or Host based output system and convert it into a legible formatted document (either PDF or Tiff). Some Fax Servers can also send email, act as middleware, fax enable websites, operate as a back office application or be used in an ASP service bureau model.

Summary

Fax Server technology has been around since the late 1980’s. Even though all fax servers are not created equal, there are fax servers available for every platform i.e. Microsoft Windows, Unix, Linux. The most reliable fax servers primarily support intelligent fax cards such as Brooktrout, Eicon, Pika Technologies or Natural Microsystems. Depending on your organizations needs, infrastructure and budget, there is a fax server solution out there for you. If you are entire organization is sending or receiving more than 20 pages of fax per day, ROI cost justification can be 3 months or less.

TargetFax Document Imaging - Chris Norwood has been in this industry for over 13 years and is currently the Business Development Manager for One Touch Global Technologies. One Touch Global Technologies is a Platinum Solution Provider, Specialized Software Developer and Systems Integrator for several of the leading fax server and document management technologies on the market. Chris may be reached directly at cnorwood@otgt.com . www.targetfax.com