What's new in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013

The following post describes small information about new features in CRM 2013. It may useful to all who are learning CRM 2013.

Welcome to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013!

New CRM apps for Windows Phone, iPhone, and Android

With the new smartphone apps, you can now access important customer information from your phone.
Download the app from Windows Marketplace, Apple Store, or Google Play, or check with your CRM admin (if that's someone other than you) for instructions for your organization.
Key features:

• See your CRM data quickly displayed and optimized for a mobile screen.
• Add and modify contacts, tasks, and notes as well as other relevant sales data.
• View activity feeds and see addresses on Bing Maps. Windows Phone only.
• Get back to recently viewed records even when you're not connected. Windows Phone only.
• All this with no additional license fees.

More information: CRM for phones: Set up and use

New CRM apps for Windows 8 mobile devices or your iPad

Microsoft Dynamics CRM for tablets helps you stay connected and productive wherever you are. Use your Windows 8 device or iPad to stay up to date with your customer info—even when you're on the go. Arrive prepared for every appointment, and update your notes, tasks, contacts, accounts, and leads while the details are still fresh in your mind.
Download the app from Windows Marketplace or the Apple Store, or check with your CRM admin (if that's someone other than you) for instructions for your organization.
Works with:

• Windows 8 (including Surface Pro or Surface RT)
• iPad (4th Gen)
• iPad (3rd Gen)

Key features:

• Access your activities, accounts, contacts, leads, and opportunities from an easy-to-use dashboard.
• Quickly enter customer data with only a few taps.
• Track progress for key performance indicators visually with charts.
• Use Skype to communicate with your contacts.
• Access your personalized views of lists to see the data most important to you.
• Pin tiles to the app dashboard to get to the info you need quickly.
• All this with no additional license fees.

More information: CRM for tablets: Set up and use

New business processes help you follow best practices for common scenarios

Check out the Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace for several business process solutions that help organizations like yours follow best practices for common scenarios. These solutions help you save time by giving you a great starting point for creating business processes that match the way you do business. More information: Business process solutions available for download
The system also comes with several business processes already installed. You can use them as-is, or edit them as needed. More information: Add ready-to-use business processes
For a short, easy-to-read intro to business processes, check out the eBook: Business processes. This eBook is designed to help users get up and running quickly with business processes.
For a step-by-step guide to changing a business process to match the way your organization does things, check out the eBook: Change a business process. This eBook is intended for administrators or managers.

Announcing Social Insights powered by InsideView

With Social Insights, powered by InsideView, your Microsoft Dynamics CRM account information goes from static to dynamic with constant updates to three essential types of information – data, insights, and connections. InsideView applies proprietary triangulation and validation techniques across 30,000+ sources and millions of company and people profiles to deliver relevant, accurate company and contact information that helps sellers find more leads, win more deals, and retain and grow customer accounts.  Microsoft Dynamics CRM brings Social Insights to you with every Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Professional license at no additional charge (U.S. only).
Create compelling customer interactions. Access more degrees of connection for every prospect. Social Insights helps sellers to be more efficient and effective, while driving CRM adoption, because it gives them the real-time insights they need to succeed – all in one place; all within Microsoft Dynamics CRM.  Learn more about Social Insights

Navigate easily with the redesigned user interface

The new user interface makes doing common tasks quicker and easier:

• No more Navigation Pane. To move around in the web application, you'll use the nav bar at the top of the page. The nav bar includes “breadcrumbs” to let you know where you're working in the system. More information: eBook: Start working in CRM
• It's easier to enter data. Look for the Create command in the nav bar at the top of the page. Just click or tap the command, and then enter data in a few fields to get new information into the system. More information: Quick create--Enter new contacts (or other data)--fast!
  You can add products quickly to opportunities, quotes, and orders -- and update details like price, quantity, and discounts right on the screen where you're working. Plus, you can look up and add key stakeholders and see at a glance who is involved and what their role is. More information: Create or edit an opportunity
• Click or tap to contact someone. Stay in touch with your customers by clicking or tapping a phone number to make calls via Lync or Skype. Click or tap an email address to send an email. In addition, you can see addresses on Bing Maps. More information: Place calls with Skype or Lync

Microsoft Dynamics CRM is ideal for touch-enabled monitors as well as for monitors that require a mouse.

New color scheme improves readability of tiles

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 Update Rollup 1 introduced a new brighter blue color for the tiles in the Sales, Service, Marketing, Settings, and Help areas, and changed the background color for the rows of tiles to light gray. The greater contrast between the background and foreground colors makes the tiles easier to see and use.


For example, the new light gray background makes it easier to see the row of tiles for the different record types, such as accounts, contacts, leads, opportunities, and cases. Additionally, it's easier to read the names for the groups of tiles, for example: My Work, Customers, or Sales.


The greater contrast makes it easier to read the names of records you viewed recently. To see an example: On the nav bar, click or tap Sales and then click or tap Accounts. Click or tap the down arrow on the Accounts tile to see the new lighter background for recently viewed records.