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Month: October 2023

Administration

Admin Delicacies: Starting with Liz’s Appetizer of CRM Best Practices & Tools!

In this special installment of our admin series each of us will present our top recommendations for CRM administrators. The combined knowledge and experience we’ve accumulated over the years is represented by these suggestions, which aren’t ordered in any particular order. We invite our readers to participate as we discuss each tip in detail. Please feel free to provide any further information or advice in the comments or on social media. Keep in mind that the beauty of the CRM community is in the collaboration and sharing of knowledge. Join me as we set out on this enlightening voyage!

First, Liz discusses her views on best practices for administration and her personal favorite administrative tools.

1. Don’t build directly in the Production Environment

Every CRM administrator should refrain from building straight in the production environment as it’s a risky decision. No matter the scale of the business, configuration must be done in at least one lower environment, such a development sandbox. Additionally, if you’re using several environments, make sure that any problems found there are fixed before switching to production. This tip also encompasses data modifications as well as setups and solutions. To avoid potential disruptions or data loss, test any substantial changes in a lower environment before implementing them in production.

2. Consistent form & view design

For a seamless user experience, form and view design consistency is essential. To prevent confusion and user annoyance, fields that appear on several forms should be placed consistently. For example, frequently used data like the owner field should be positioned consistently, such as in the header. In the same way, columns that appear in different views should keep the same order. Additionally, avoid making the first column in a view a lookup column that leads to a different record. Inadvertent clickers may become confused by this. Finally, avoid putting frequently changed fields in the header because doing so requires an extra step and increases the risk of users missing them.

3. XrmToolbox for admins

Attribute Usage Inspector

Have you ever wondered how often certain fields on your form are being used? Especially when users complain about the abundance of fields they never utilize? The Attribute Usage Inspector is the answer. This tool allows you to run a report on a per-table basis to determine the usage frequency of each field. Business needs evolve over time and a field that was once deemed essential during deployment might become redundant and unnecessary. With the Attribute Usage Inspector, you can make informed decisions about which fields to retain and which ones to remove.

User Settings Utility

One of the challenges CRM admins face is setting default user settings. While the out-of-the-box CRM doesn’t allow for this, the XrmToolBox’s User Settings Utility does. Instead of training each user to update their personal settings, admins can now do it for them. A notable feature of this tool is its ability to show current user settings. Simply click on a user’s name, and you’ll see their existing configurations. The XrmToolBox community is dynamic, with regular updates and enhancements to its tools. This ensures that you always have the best and latest features at your disposal.

Personal Artefact Manager / Personal View Manager

As an admin, accessing personal items like user charts or dashboards can be challenging. This becomes even more problematic when a user who has created numerous charts or dashboards leaves the organization. How do you access, clean up, or reassign these personal artefacts? The Personal Artefact Manager or Personal View Manager in the XrmToolBox is the solution. It grants admins the ability to view, manage, and reassign these personal items, ensuring continuity and organization within the CRM.

What a fascinating journey through the CRM administration halls with Liz’s excellent advice! There is always something new to learn and apply, from navigating the production environment’s nooks and crannies to the delightful discoveries in the XrmToolbox. But as the saying goes, getting there is only half the battle. Keep those digital sneakers on because Ali will be the next person in our series to continue the CRM admin tips & tricks journey! She has been eager to share her top CRM admin advice that has influenced her career. Liz’s insights were only the appetizer, prepare yourself for Ali-style CRM wisdom as the main course.

Check out our CRM admin podcast series…

  1. Episode 1: What’s an Admin anyway?
  2. Episode 2: What team does your CRM admin belong on?
  3. Episode 3: Tips for Troubleshooting

Administration

CRM Troubleshooting: Expert Tips for Quick Answers

Every CRM Administrator needs to be proficient in troubleshooting in the always changing world of technology. Finding the appropriate solutions quickly can help you deliver excellent solutions to your clients while saving you significant time. We will dive into some of the best approaches for troubleshooting.

Utilize MVP Resources

Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) frequently have in-depth expertise in particular fields. Visit the MVP website to learn more about MVPs and their areas of expertise. The bios, histories, and activities listed in MVP profiles often give you a sense of their level of knowledge.

Leverage LinkedIn

MVPs and other Dynamics experts typically highlight their skills on LinkedIn. You can easily determine their areas of focus by looking at their profiles. Additionally, asking questions on LinkedIn can start fruitful dialogues and put you in touch with subject-matter experts.

Forums

Microsoft Community: There is a wealth of knowledge on the Microsoft community website. Users are able to ask questions and frequently get answers from both knowledgeable advisors and Microsoft product staff. It is a rich resource that addresses a variety of subjects.

Dynamics User Group (DUG) Discussion Forums: DUG provides a dedicated forum for discussing Dynamics-related questions and issues.

Independent Blogs: Look for independent blogs when looking for information online. In the comment box, bloggers frequently interact with their readers and are happy to assist. For direct contact, you can also locate bloggers on LinkedIn.

Be Mindful of Dates

Always look up the posting and response dates on internet forums. Older solutions might not be applicable now because technology is developing quickly. Whether you come across an old post with a comparable problem, check to see if it still applies today or look for more recent conversations.

Specify Your Platform

Dynamics 365 (D365) includes a number of products. To guarantee you’re obtaining responses that are pertinent to your platform, be specific when asking questions.

A successful CRM administrator will excel at troubleshooting. You can speed up your search for troubleshooting solutions using these recommended practices, which include using MVP resources, utilizing LinkedIn, exploring forums, taking post dates into consideration, and specifying your platform. A wonderful resource at your disposal is the community’s collective knowledge, so keep up with the most recent trends and innovations. Happy resolving issues!

Check out our CRM Administration podcast series for additional insights!

Other CRM administration content:

Administration

Mastering CRM Troubleshooting: 5 Essential Tips

We’re excited to continue our admin series in which we examine crucial facets of CRM administration. In this episode, we’ll provide you five essential suggestions for efficient troubleshooting, a set of abilities that any CRM administrator has to have.

  1. Don’t Panic, even if the User is Panicking
  2. Ask the User for Additional Details
  3. Review the User-Provided Information
  4. Reproduce the Issue with Precision
  5. Determining the Solution to the Issue

Don’t Panic, Even if the User is Panicking

The first piece of advice is straightforward but invaluable: keep your cool even when users are panicking. Users frequently overreact to problems, making every issue sound like an emergency. It’s important to control your own panic. Take time to consider the circumstances objectively. While it’s necessary to take customer complaints seriously, it’s also crucial to avoid escalating the level of worry.

Ask the User for Additional Details

The second tip highlights the value of seeking out additional details. Users frequently give hazy descriptions of problems when they report them. Extract as much pertinent data as you can to accurately diagnose and fix the issue. Ask for screenshots, thorough instructions, or even set up screen-sharing sessions. Users should be instructed on the correct reporting of difficulties, and templates should be made for them to use. Important information can also be found by inquiring about the problem’s frequency and timing.

Review the User-Provided Information

After gathering user data, spend some time going through and understanding it completely. Without a thorough understanding, rushing to find a solution can result in fruitless efforts. Before moving on, be sure you grasp the issue completely.

Reproduce the Issue with Precision

Reproducing the issue that was reported is crucial, but it needs to be done correctly. As a system administrator, stay away from duplicating issues with your high level security; instead, keep a dedicated test user account set up exactly like the impacted user. With the same restrictions and permissions, this guarantees accurate reproduction of the issue, assisting in confirming its existence.

Determining the Solution to the Issue

Finding the answer is the last stage, easy right? Use web tools like Google to look up error codes or messages. Ask for help from your internal or professional network of peers. Don’t be afraid to participate in forums and social media sites where professionals frequently offer advice. By asking questions, you can help those who are dealing with similar problems as well as yourself.

Effective troubleshooting is a crucial ability for CRM administrators, and the five key suggestions presented offer helpful direction. Remain composed when users are in a panic, ask for more information to acquire crucial information, carefully evaluate the data the user has provided, and precisely replicate the problem using a special test user account. Finally, after identifying the problem, seek support from peers and use online resources. These procedures enable CRM administrators to efficiently navigate and address problems, assuring the proper running of their CRM systems and eventually assisting in the success of their enterprises.

Next week, we continue our CRM administrator blog series discussing Expert Troubleshooting Tips for Quick Answers.

Check out our CRM Administration podcast series for additional insights!

Other CRM administration content:

Administration

Choosing the Ideal Placement for Your CRM Admin: Business or IT?

Determining where to position your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) admin can be a pivotal decision for many organizations looking to enhance the management and support of their CRM system. This choice is not one-size-fits-all and requires careful consideration. In this article, we explore important considerations to weigh when deciding whether the CRM administrator belongs on the business side or the IT department.

Your organization’s structure is one of the most important things to think about. This choice heavily depends on the responsibilities and relationships of your IT and business teams. Organizational structures can differ, even if the contrast may be obvious in some instances. While larger firms could have centralized IT departments handling many functions, smaller businesses might have IT teams reporting directly to the CFO. Making an informed decision requires having a solid understanding of its structure.

Financial considerations also play a significant role in the placement of the CRM admin. Who funds the CRM admin’s role and investments in CRM system enhancements can significantly impact where they should be located within the organization. The success of CRM can be significantly impacted by the availability of resources. Departments that can secure funding more readily might be better positioned to house the admin, but this varies from one organization to another.

A successful CRM system requires strong collaboration and communication across many departments and leaders, regardless of the placement that is used. An unwavering supporter of the CRM system and a clear definition of roles and responsibilities are essential components in this choice. The administrator needs to promote the CRM system and convince other organizational executives of its importance.

The decision of whether to locate the CRM administrator in the IT department or on the business side ultimately depends on the particular circumstances of your company. Since it depends on things like firm size, structure, and financial considerations, there is no definitive answer.

Spend some time thinking about the unique requirements of your firm and get feedback from IT, business executives, and other stakeholders. The chosen administrator should be able to bridge the gap between technology and business operations as well as being a steadfast supporter of the CRM system.

Regardless matter where your CRM system is located inside your organization, by carefully considering these aspects and matching the CRM admin’s position with your organizational goals, you can make a selection that maximizes the value and effectiveness of your CRM system.

Next week, we will help CRM Admins walk through the basic troubleshooting steps.

For more insights on being a CRM Administrator, view our admin series.

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