Top 7 Microsoft websites and portals for Dynamics Customers
While working for Microsoft, I became aware that very few Dynamics end-users knew about or were using the key websites and portals which were specifically created for their benefit. This is the downside of being a channel driven organisation – Microsoft doesn’t always access or communicate directly all of their end-users and rely on the partners to proactively promote all the tools that are available to the customers. Sometimes the information gets through but sadly in many cases it doesn’t.
Thanks to social media nowadays many customers can eventually navigate their way to the important info but there are a number of key portals that they should all be using.
Here are some very useful Microsoft customer focussed sites and platforms:
1. Microsoft Dynamics CustomerSource
Fantastic tool about product updates, licensing, guides, training materials, events, etc..
Pros – you are most likely to find what you are after here. Cons – there is just too much info, some of it can be out of date, and it’s hard to navigate; if you get referred to it, always make sure you ask for the exact link to the document you are after.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource
2. Dynamics User Groups
Independent global organisation with multiple local chapters ran by Dynamics end-users; they organise a number of events, share forums and LinkedIn groups.
Pros – excellent platform to share ideas or concerns. Cons – paid for membership.
Dynamics AX user group – $800-$1500 annual membership depending on the number of your Dynamics users.
Dynamics NAV user group – $400-$1200 annual membership depending on the number of your Dynamics users.
Dynamics GP user group – $400-$950 annual membership depending on the number of your
Dynamics users.
Dynamics CRM user group – $400-$1200 annual membership depending on the number of your Dynamics users.
3. Dynamics MarketPlace
Great tool if you are looking for a Dynamics partner in a different territory or a vertical solution locally.
Pros – nice map view. Cons – not everyone is registered so you’ll probably have a limited view.
http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/marketplace-partners
4. Microsoft PinPoint
Basically very similar to Market Place but is not Dynamics specific – it covers all Microsoft technologies. You can find partners by location, competency, industry focus, etc..
Pros – easy to find info. Cons – same as above, not everyone is registered so do your research outside of it as well.
http://pinpoint.microsoft.com/
5. Dynamics community
You can join a number of generic or product specific forums, read the authorised blogs as well as link your own blog so your articles can be listed there.
Pros – great social tool to ask questions and get a number of answers from the product specialist community. Cons – you might need to join different product communities if you implemented multiple Dynamics products.
https://community.dynamics.com/
6. LinkedIn Groups
There are so many LinkedIn Groups. Here are some suggestions but there are many many more: Microsoft Dynamics Community, Microsoft Dynamics ERP- #1 group for AX, NAV, CRM, GP, SL, RMS & MS SharePoint, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft Dynamics AX Forum, MS Dynamics (3000+), etc..
Pros – you can ask questions in the forum, find out about events, new releases, get in touch with other customers, partners and experts, etc.. Cons – your inbox will fill in with lots more emails with updates.
https://www.linkedin.com (then search for each of the groups)
7. Microsoft Dynamics Twitter account
Great communication channel with 25K followers so don’t miss out.
Pros – you get the latest info. Cons – if you are not a Twitter user yet it might get some time to get used to it.
Hopefully you found this list of sites useful. If so, please share with your colleagues and other companies that might benefit from it.
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