Salesforce – Microsoft Dynamics integration in a multi-company setup: an example

Imagine that you are leading the sales of a large and fast growing international company. You have nothing less than 19 subsidiaries located in multiple regions and one of your biggest challenges is getting information from your 19 local Microsoft Dynamics into Salesforce in order to give your sales staff access to up-to-date customer information. Basically, this means quite a large amount of data that needs to be updated between your two systems. How do you deal with that in the most optimal way? How do you find the best suited solution to your challenges?

Scalable design is key

When you have multiple local Microsoft Dynamics (NAV, GP, AX or 365) databases to synchronize with salesforce you have two major challenges.

1. How to configure the integration so you integrate many local Dynamics systems into one Salesforce org?
2. How to maintain master data across your local Dynamics installations?

The huge benefit of using a tool like RapidiOnline is that you get both major challenges solved with the same solution, it handles both the Salesforce to Microsoft Dynamics integration AND the synchronization of data between local Dynamics databases – without a single change in Dynamics code. Forget all about rigid custom development or traditional ETL technologies.

Because you are growing at a fast pace, you know your number of subsidiaries is very likely to be much higher in a couple of years than it is today – and the volume of data and transfers you need to perform will just keep increasing. Your data integration solution must be able to scale with your expanding business. Take again RapidiOnline , for example. It is built to optimally support organizations with multiple companies/databases – no special programming is needed. You can configure your integration once and use it instantly over and over again to support your local companies or when you open a new company. And, you want to be able to ensure consistent master data across your inpidual companies/databases to turn data into valuable information, ease reporting and act rapidly on changes.

Read also: Simplify international and multisite Microsoft Dynamics installations with a data integration tool

Avoid disruption with a quick implementation

Being part of a fast growing company, you are inevitably always under some kind of time pressure and you cannot afford costly business disruption. When considering which data integration solution to choose, selecting the least disruptive solution is a crucial element. Finding a data integration tool that works 100% as plug and play is more or less impossible, especially if your ERP and CRM solutions are customized to fit your needs. You can, however, reduce the work to be done by selecting a solution such as RapidiOnline that comes out-of-the-box with pre-configured transfers. Such best practice integrations templates (ready to use and based on best practices) would allow you to jumpstart your project. And, if you have specific needs, RapidiOnline can easily be adjusted to match them.

Read also: 3 easy steps to plan your data integration project

Great support and responsiveness

It is true for any solution, whether it is ERP, CRM, or data integration. The better your provider’s support is, the smoother the integration will be – both during implementation and in your daily operations moving forward. You need a provider that offers customer-friendly, dedicated, responsive and technically competent support. And remember that data integration projects are always a little different: when your data integration solution is down, when you transfers don’t happen, you will want to talk with someone who does not only understand the data integration solution, but that person should also have a thorough understanding of the two solutions that are integrated in order to make the fastest and best informed diagnostic and resolution of the issue.

You may argue that many of these arguments can apply to any choice of data integration project, and aren’t specific to international projects but they become even more important in a multi-site or international context. For example, having a proactive, responsive, globally-based support team becomes an even greater asset when you have subsidiaries all around the world.

Read also: Connecting salesforce.com with 19 Microsoft Dynamics NAV companies