In today's business world it's all but impossible to escape Microsoft. Either you're using MS applications, developing your own, or negotiating your company's acquisition by this techno-behemoth. I must that company is a daily part of my life (in fact I'm typing this article on MS Word). I've found however, that although Microsoft develops many versatile business software products, company's 'one size-fits-all mentality goes only so far. I'm referring to Microsoft CRM system. For you lay-people out there, CRM (customer relationship management) systems are designed to help you gather and interpret customer data in order to anticipate future customer purchasing demands and trends.

Besides costing substantially more than other CRM systems on market, Microsoft CRM system lacks some of great features that come standard with other systems. I like this analogy: Microsoft CRM can be compared to a Cadillac with no extras; no A/C, no four-disc ABS, no cruise control, no sun roof, no radio, no power locks or windows. Sure it'll get you from point A to point B, but you'll not be making trip comfortably. And all this at a premium price. Now you have other CRM systems out on market; let's compare these to an option-packed Hyundai. Sure it doesn't have long reputation of Caddy, people may not notice you coming down road, maybe it only has a 50k mile warranty to Caddy's 75k, but all that will be quickly forgotten as you enjoy deluxe stereo system, sun roof, leather seats while you find shortest route from A to B with your GPS. Best of all, sticker price is a third of what they wanted for Cadillac. Just like you can't rely on brand name alone to sell cars, Microsoft shouldn't rely on its former success to sell CRM systems. This is however, par for proverbial Microsoft course, i.e. Microsoft Office upgrade.

Need Some Advice?

It never ceases to amaze me that every time I give a speech, do a seminar, or talk with people one-on-one, I get inundated with questions seeking almighty answers to all that ails them. However, when I press them to come up with an answer to their own situation, they usually respond by offering their own solution right back to me.

They say things like:

“I know I should do ---------, then ---------, then ---------. After that, all I need to do is get so-and-so to do ---------, and then things will really come together.”

Do you see where this is going?

More often than not, you already know answers to your own dilemmas. I mean, who could possibly give you better advice on your current situation than you could give yourself?