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Automatically tracking every Outlook Contact as a Contact in CRM RRS feed

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    Hello,

    We have a requirement to automatically track every Outlook Contact as a Contact in CRM 2011, in other words when a user creates a Contact in Outlook that Contact automatically getting pushed out to CRM. Furthermore, we have the Outlook Client installed on the users' machines.

    Thanks for your feedback.

    Friday, April 5, 2013 7:21 PM

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    CRM for Outlook client functionality is not extensible in the way that you need. So unless users click the Track in CRM button, there is no way to automatically track Outlook contacts as CRM contacts. KawasakiRider03's suggestion applies only to e-mail recipients/senders and who may not be Outlook contacts.

    A server-side solution would be better. Riva Intgeration Server is definitely something to look at (http://www.rivacrmintegration.com/microsoft-dynamics-crm/). I've deployed it for server-side appointment synchronization and it's very robust and affordable.

    Beware with Outlook contact synchronization! If you track them all in CRM, you're going to have a constant data quality battle with duplicate records. You might regret meeting this requirement!

    Neil Benson, CRM Addict and MVP at Slalom Consulting. Find me on Twitter. Join over 20,000 other CRM professionals on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM group on LinkedIn.

    Friday, April 5, 2013 8:36 PM
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    I think you could achieve the functionality you seek by enabling an option under the CRM Options to automatically create a new contact record from any incoming tracked emails. Go to File/CRM/Options/Email and you should see the option that I pasted below. You also have the option to track all of your Outlook Contacts using the "Track" button similar to how you track or set regarding to the CRM for other records. I assume you are using CRM 2011 on-premise?

    Not sure if that completely answers your question but hopefully it helps.

    -Trevor

    Friday, April 5, 2013 8:01 PM
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    CRM for Outlook client functionality is not extensible in the way that you need. So unless users click the Track in CRM button, there is no way to automatically track Outlook contacts as CRM contacts. KawasakiRider03's suggestion applies only to e-mail recipients/senders and who may not be Outlook contacts.

    A server-side solution would be better. Riva Intgeration Server is definitely something to look at (http://www.rivacrmintegration.com/microsoft-dynamics-crm/). I've deployed it for server-side appointment synchronization and it's very robust and affordable.

    Beware with Outlook contact synchronization! If you track them all in CRM, you're going to have a constant data quality battle with duplicate records. You might regret meeting this requirement!

    Neil Benson, CRM Addict and MVP at Slalom Consulting. Find me on Twitter. Join over 20,000 other CRM professionals on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM group on LinkedIn.

    Friday, April 5, 2013 8:36 PM
    Moderator
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    If we install the Email Router on the server, would then this become a possibility (to automatically push out Outlook Contacts into CRM)?

    Thanks

    Monday, April 8, 2013 1:18 PM
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    No. The CRM E-mail Router does not synchronize contacts, appointments or tasks.

    Neil Benson, CRM Addict and MVP at Slalom Consulting. Find me on Twitter. Join over 20,000 other CRM professionals on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM group on LinkedIn.

    Monday, April 8, 2013 4:22 PM
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