Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 - Whats new

What’s new in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0?

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 includes several new features that offer flexibility, scalability, and ease of use.

Multi-tenancy
Earlier versions of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server were a single-organisation solution. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 lets you host multiple organisations in a single deployment. This feature is a great benefit for hosted solutions or businesses that require a separation of data inside the organisation. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 now implements two kinds of databases:
• A single configuration database that stores metadata and location information for all organizations
• One or more organisation databases

Server role groups
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Enterprise introduces two new server role groups. This increases flexibility and scalability. You can opt to have a computer dedicated to one server role group or to both.
The server role groups selected and installed during Setup are as follows:
• Application Server Role Group. This group provides the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Web user interface and services.
• Platform Server Role Group. This group provides the asynchronous services, such as the Workflow and Bulk E-mail services.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Connector for SQL Server Reporting Services
The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Connector for Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is a service that connects the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server to the Microsoft SQL Report Server. The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Connector for SQL Server Reporting Services eliminates the Kerberos double-hop authentication that was required for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 deployments when Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services was installed on a separate computer.
The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Connector for SQL Server Reporting Services is installed as a separate component.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Language Pack
A Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Language Pack lets users display the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 user interface in a different language than the base language. Also, users can display Help in a language that differs from both the base language and the language displayed in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 user interface.

Multicurrency
Multiple currencies are now supported for transaction-based records.

Resource Center
The Resource Center is a place in the application where users, administrators, and implementers will find information to help them use and configure Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. The Resource Center presents rich content and links to valuable information. Much of the content in the Resource Center is created by experts in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM community.

What’s new in data management?
New data management features are tools to load data into most entities in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0, and ways to make sure of data quality by detecting and merging duplicate records. These features can help you as follows:
• Comma separated values (CSV) formatted data derived from different sources can be migrated into Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 by using the Data Migration Manager. This wizard is installed on a client computer.
• If the source data requires custom entity, attribute, or list-value creation, the Data Migration Manager can customize Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 as part of the migration process.
• Data Migration Manager lets you reuse data mappings from previous migrations. You can then import similar data without the need to remap the data every time.
• Data Migration Manager preserves the relationship between records when you migrate data.
• A new import auto-mapping feature simplifies mapping source data. If the records use attribute display labels as column headings in a CSV file, the data is automatically mapped to the correct attribute.
• Data can be imported into most entities by using the new Imports area in the application. For each import, the user can view the status of each record in the import.
• Users can receive an e-mail notification when an import is complete.
• Duplicates can be detected automatically in various scenarios. For example:
• When you import records.
• When you create or update a record.
• When Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Microsoft Office Outlook goes from offline to online, or because of a workflow action.
• System administrators can run recurring duplicate detection on selected entities as an asynchronous job.
• Users can run duplicate detection from any view on selected records, or all records, in the entity.
• System administrators can define the rules for duplicate detection for each entity.
• Access control to data management features is based on privileges for the new entities: data imports, import maps, and duplicate-detection rules, and on new global duplicate-detection settings, which control where duplicate detection is enabled.

What’s new in customisation?
Several of the new customisation features include the following features:
• Set Form Assistant options in form properties. You can set options for how the Form Assistant displays for each entity.
• Enable duplicate detection. In each entity you can decide whether to enable duplicate detection.
• Select Input Method Editor (IME) mode for each attribute. IME mode can be set for attributes that accept text or numbers. IME is used for East Asian languages, such as Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, accommodating the thousands of possible characters in these languages to be entered by using a keyboard.
• Download Web Services Description Language (WSDL) files. Use links available in the Customization area to download WSDL files for programming.
• Set Application Mode. In System Settings, you can select whether Microsoft Dynamics CRM will run in application mode, which hides the address, tool, and menu bars on the browser.
• Set ISV integration. In System Settings, you can select whether custom buttons or menus appear.

What’s new in workflow?
The new workflow features include the following options:
• In earlier versions of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, creating workflows was limited to users who were granted permission to access the server that was running Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Workflow creation is now available to all users of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Web client. In addition, administrative users can now monitor individual workflow jobs in the new System Jobs area of the Web client.
• System jobs are processes that run in the background, such as workflow jobs and bulk import. When a system job is started, the person starting the job can select who should be notified by e-mail when the job is finished.
• The new Web-based workflow system is fully integrated into the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Web client and replaces the server-based Workflow Manager tool. Based on Windows Workflow Foundation, the new Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 workflow system also supports a broad range of activities created outside the Web client by using development tools such as Microsoft Visual Studio.

What’s new in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 E-mail Router?
The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 E-mail Router includes the following new features:
• Support for multiple Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server computers.
• Separately maintained incoming and outgoing e-mail server configurations.
• Support for POP3 incoming e-mail servers.
• The E-mail Router can now be installed on a Windows Server that is not running Microsoft Exchange.

What’s new in Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook?
Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Microsoft Office Outlook includes the following new features:
• The E-mail Router is no longer required to send and receive Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 e-mail messages.
• Setup and configuration are now separate programs.
• There is an updated look that uses the 2007 Microsoft Office system user interface components, such as the Ribbon, which replaces the traditional menu and toolbar.
• A Diagnostics Wizard can be used to troubleshoot issues with Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook.
• The Mail Merge feature has been added to the Web application. You can now specify the details of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM activity created by Mail Merge.
• There are several technical changes to synchronisation to reduce the time that is required to go offline.
• Activity tracking and synchronization improvements are included. Microsoft Office Outlook tasks can now be mapped to Microsoft Dynamics CRM letters, faxes, tasks, and telephone calls.