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Dynamics CRM / XRM Integration with GIS and PowerMap

Post Author: Joe D365 |

Over the last several years, a new dimension has been added to reporting in Dynamics CRM: visualization. PowerObjects has taken visualization a step further by introducing maps into XRM solutions. It's a little thing we call PowerMap—another inexpensive and great add-on by PowerObjects that installs in a few clicks and does magic when it comes to data visualization.

PowerMap & XRM Integration with GIS

PowerMap takes addresses from your CRM and plots them on a map in the form of pins. With it, you can look at all your leads, accounts and contacts on a map. You can use PowerMap to create business plans based on lead/account/contact locations, for reporting (just click on a pin to get more details), to see what clients are located nearby when you travel for a conference, to make your CRM look cool…the opportunities are endless. And because we are constantly improving our products, future versions of PowerMap will have even more functionality, such as different colored pins for different types of customers, heat maps, routing, and directions.

As an example of how PowerMap can be used, let's take a look at a recent project where PowerObjects helped a county in rural Minnesota integrate their GIS (Geographic Information System) with Dynamics CRM 2011. (We even got a nice little write-up about the project in MS Dynamics World.)

The permits in this customer's CRM system require a geographic location, and entering that geographic location information in the form plots a dot on a map. This data is sent to their GIS system in nightly batches. Essentially, they use CRM to update information in two systems: CRM and GIS. One of the many uses of this information is to determine which addresses are in a floodplain, shore land, a bluff, and so on. They also use this new system to track photos and associate them with a geographic location. This information is available in both GIS and CRM.

Before the integration with mapping visualization, our clients did a lot of research to implement an off-the-shelf product that would integrate both the systems. They found out that most of the generic products available out there are first of all, fairly expensive, and second of all, have many functionalities that they did not require. That's when PowerObjects came into the picture and built a custom solution that only had the functionalities that they required—no more, no less.

PowerObjects is not new to XRM integration with GIS systems/mapping components. However, many businesses have keen interest in visualizing vital data. Where are  leads/contacts/accounts located? You want to see the distribution of your leads based on their ranking/score--where are the hot/warm/cold leads? Which region of the country brings you the most revenue? How do you identify your "VIP" accounts in the country so you could send them an invite to the annual fundraiser?

These are some of the questions that can be answered by PowerMap.

If you're interested in PowerMap's capabilities, or integrating mapping visualizations with your CRM/XRM, we'd be happy to discuss with you your requirements and implement a robust integration. Meanwhile, give PowerMap a shot. You can download and try it free for 30 days, like all of our add-ons.

Happy CRM'ing!

Joe CRM
By Joe D365
Joe D365 is a Microsoft Dynamics 365 superhero who runs on pure Dynamics adrenaline. As the face of PowerObjects, Joe D365’s mission is to reveal innovative ways to use Dynamics 365 and bring the application to more businesses and organizations around the world.

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