Microsoft Dynamics 365™ for Outlook™ software – also known as Outlook client – is the original Outlook customer relationship management (CRM) add-on. This full-featured product, which allows you to perform CRM tasks in Outlook software, is designed for desktop applications as well as offline use. Unfortunately, it is not designed for mobile devices.
Microsoft released its Microsoft Dynamics 365 App for Outlook software in late 2016. In addition to providing new features and capabilities, the new app is faster, more convenient, and more versatile than the previous Dynamics 365 for Outlook product. It also allows you to track email and CRM data from nearly any location.
In the TechNet section of its website, Microsoft compared the features and capabilities of the two products:
| Feature | Dynamics 365 App for Outlook | Dynamics 365 for Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Track and set regarding for email | ✔ | ✔ |
| Track and set regarding for appointments | ✔ | ✔ |
| Track and set regarding for contacts | ✔ | ✔ |
| Track and set regarding for tasks | ✔ | |
| One click set regarding | ✔ | |
| Shows recipients' summary | ✔ | |
| Shows the regarding record summary in email/appointment | ✔ | |
| Works with Outlook on the web | ✔ | |
| Works with Outlook desktop | ✔ | ✔ |
| Works with Outlook for the Mac | ✔ | |
| Works with phones | ✔ | |
| Open and create Microsoft Dynamics 365 record directly | ✔ | ✔ |
| Apply custom forms and business logic | ✔ | ✔ |
| Work offline | ✔ | |
| Apply email templates | ✔ | ✔ |
| Apply sales literature | ✔ | ✔ |
| Apply knowledge articles | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ability to monitor emails after sending | ✔ | |
| Sort, filter, format, group, and categorize views | ✔ | |
| Create Word mail-merge documents | ✔ |
Source: “Comparing Dynamics 365 App for Outlook With Dynamics 365 for Outlook,” Microsoft Corp., Nov. 28, 2017, https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn946901.aspx#BKMK_Compare. The chart has been reprinted, as provided by Microsoft.
Mobile Access
One of the biggest advantages of the Dynamics 365 App for Outlook software is its accessibility from a variety of mobile devices:
- Apple™ iPhone™/iPad™ devices running iOS version 8, 9, or 10 software
- Android™ devices running Android 4.4 (KitKat), 5.0 (Lollipop), 6 (Marshmallow), or 7 (Nougat) software
- Windows Phone™ devices running Windows™ 8.1 or Windows 10 software
You can use the app without logging in to the Outlook program, and synchronizing Outlook data happens server-side – so you won’t have to worry about your workflow email being undeliverable.
Drawbacks
Unfortunately, the app will not let you track and set-regard tasks, work offline, manipulate views, or create Word mail-merge documents. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to work around these deficiencies.
Prerequisites
To use the app, contact your Dynamics 365 system administrator. Otherwise, you can add it by using the proper permissions and if any of the following apply:
- Your organization synchronizes mailboxes with server-side synchronization.
- You have Microsoft™ Internet Explorer™ 10, Internet Explorer 11, or Microsoft Edge browsers.
- You have either the latest version of the Google Chrome™ or Firefox browsers on a Windows operating system.
- You have the Apple Safari™ (version 9 or version 10) browser on Mac OS X.
For more details about the app’s capabilities, features, and prerequisites, visit the Dynamics 365 App for Outlook User’s Guide provided by Microsoft. In addition, see “10 Reasons to Love the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Outlook App.”
Get more information about Crowe CRM services for Microsoft Dynamics 365 software. Have a question or interested in evaluating the CRM functionality in Microsoft Dynamics 365 software? Contact us today.
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