Use D365 Sales to Improve Customer Data and Reduce Errors

Good Data is Everything in Today’s Sales World

The days of just winging it on important sales decisions are long gone. Expert insights will always have their place in decision-making. Still, time and time again, the value of high-quality customer data has proven to be the most reliable foundation on which sales teams should build their success.

Data is important for more than just decision-making. Sales teams rely heavily on good information to personalize interactions, identify prospects with the greatest long-term value, and ultimately close deals. So, any errors in customer data can have significant, negative downstream effects and lead to missed opportunities, damaged relationships, and lost revenue.

Smart Sales Teams Need Intelligent Data Management Tools

That is where Dynamics 365 Sales (D365 Sales) comes in. Its powerful customer relationship management (CRM) system offers precise customer data collection, analysis, and end-to-end management. It includes features that streamline data entry, automate routine tasks, and provide real-time insights.

Guide to Moving from Salesforce to Dynamics 365 Sales

We here at Velosio have been very interested in understanding how valuable D365 Sales can be for our operations and clients. This article will explore how D365 Sales can help your organization reduce errors and extract maximum value from your customer data, setting you on the path to sustained success.

Why is Collecting Accurate Customer Data Important?

In our digital-native world, data underlies everything.

Accurate customer data is the backbone of effective sales strategies and overall business success. – Jason Wietharn, CE Practice Director

Informing Decision Making

In today’s data-driven world, sales professionals and managers rely heavily on CRM systems like Dynamics 365 Sales to provide them with real-time, accurate data. Thirty-nine percent of decision-makers regard CRM data as crucial for making informed choices. When CRM data is accurate and error-free, it serves as a reliable foundation for making sound business decisions, reducing the risk of errors, and enhancing overall efficiency.

Revealing New Customer Insights

Accurate customer data helps you understand customer needs and anticipate what they might want tomorrow. With reliable data, businesses can gain valuable insights into customer behavior as they engage with your sales team and digital resources, as well as their preferences and ongoing purchasing patterns. These insights enable sales teams to tailor their approaches, offering personalized solutions that resonate with customers. They can reveal opportunities for upselling or cross-selling and help your people forge stronger relationships.

What Can Hold Back Data-Driven Customer Relationships?

We here at Velosio have seen patterns of a few key challenges that hinder the optimal use of customer data. Two of the most prevalent issues are data silos and manual errors.

1. Data Silos

Data silos occur when information is isolated within different departments or IT systems rather than available to the organization. Siloed data quickly creates fragmented and incomplete customer profiles. When data is not integrated and shared across the organization, sales teams may lack a comprehensive view of the customer, making it difficult to personalize interactions and fully understand their needs.

2. Manual Errors

Another significant challenge is the prevalence of errors in manual data entry. Despite technological advancements, many organizations still rely on manual processes for entering and updating customer information. Duplicate entries, incorrect data, and outdated information creep into customer records all too easily this way.

How D365 Sales Improves Customer Data Management

Dynamics 365 Sales offers powerful solutions to overcome common challenges in customer data management, ensuring that sales teams have access to accurate, integrated, and actionable customer information.

Centralized Data Eliminates Silos

D365 Sales centralized customer data in a secure, cloud-based repository to provide a unified view of all customer interactions and information. Sales and other teams throughout your organization can access comprehensive customer profiles, including contact details and communication history, to purchase patterns and service interactions.

Automated Data Entry

Dynamics 365 Sales significantly reduces the risk of manual errors by automating routine data entry tasks. It includes features like data capture from emails, form submissions, and integration with other business systems, which streamline the process of updating customer records.

AI and Machine Learning Will Lead a Sales Process Revolution

D365 Sales leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to provide deeper insights and more accurate data analysis. Microsoft Copilot is the most notable addition. It can automate routine tasks, like data entry and routine email follows.

It can also perform more advanced work, such as predictive analytics, to help you identify high-potential sales leads. For instance, AI can analyze past interactions to suggest the best times to contact a customer or identify which products a customer is most likely to be interested in.

How Does D365 Sales Reduce Errors?

A significant 38% of sales professionals say that real-time data access is crucial for making informed decisions and strategic planning. Dynamics 365 Sales addresses this need by providing real-time access to comprehensive customer data. Sales representatives in the office or on the road can instantly retrieve up-to-date information on leads, opportunities, and customer interactions. This real-time accessibility ensures that sales teams are always equipped with the latest insights, enabling them to make strategic decisions swiftly and confidently.

D365 Sales also continuously monitors data entries and identifies discrepancies. For example, AI algorithms can detect duplicate records, incomplete fields, or anomalies in customer information. Once an error is detected, the system can automatically correct it or prompt the user to make the necessary adjustments.

The Future of CRM and Sales Processes

More than 27% of sales professionals believe that CRM systems will create a sales process revolution in the next five years. By integrating sophisticated data analytics, real-time insights, and seamless collaboration tools, these systems empower sales teams to work more efficiently and strategically. As CRM systems evolve, they are becoming central to streamlining sales workflows.

In addition to baseline CRM advancements, the role of AI and machine learning in sales processes is becoming increasingly significant. That is why more than 19% of respondents to a Velosio survey felt that AI and machine learning tools will be the most important sources of change in sales processes in the future.

Dynamics 365 Sales is at the forefront of this trend with Copilot for Sales. Copilot for Sales helps sales professionals prioritize leads, forecast sales outcomes, and tailor their strategies to meet customer needs more effectively.

If you’re interested in exploring how AI and machine learning are transforming sales strategies, access our webinar on Copilot for Sales: Revolutionizing Sales Strategies with Generative AI.

Dynamics 365 is a Transformative Sales Tool

By centralizing customer data, automating data entry, and leveraging AI and machine learning, D365 Sales ensures that sales teams have accurate, real-time information at their fingertips. These capabilities enhance decision-making and customer insights, streamline sales processes, and boost overall efficiency. With features like real-time data access, error detection, and correction, D365 Sales empowers sales professionals to operate more effectively and close deals more successfully.

Contact Velosio today to learn more about how we can help you maximize D365 Sales’ potential.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) How to Access Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement?

Accessing Dynamics 365 customer engagement capabilities is straightforward:

Subscription: Ensure you have an active Dynamics 365 subscription that includes customer engagement applications, such as Dynamics 365 Sales, Customer Service, or Marketing.
Login: Go to the Dynamics 365 portal (https://dynamics.microsoft.com) and log in with your Microsoft account credentials.
Navigation: Once logged in, navigate to the specific application you want to use (e.g., Sales, Customer Service, Marketing) from the Dynamics 365 home page.
Mobile Access: Download the Dynamics 365 mobile app from the App Store or Google Play Store to access customer engagement capabilities on the go.
Permissions: Ensure you have the necessary security roles and permissions assigned by your Dynamics 365 administrator to access the required features and data.

2) What are Customer Engagement Capabilities in Dynamics 365?

Dynamics 365 offers robust customer engagement capabilities that enable businesses to build and maintain strong relationships with their customers. These capabilities include:

Customer Insights: Gain a comprehensive 360-degree view of your customers through data integration and analytics.
Personalized Experiences: Deliver personalized customer experiences with AI-driven recommendations and tailored interactions.
Omnichannel Engagement: Engage customers across multiple channels, including email, social media, chat, and phone, providing a seamless and consistent experience.
Customer Service Management: Enhance customer service with case management, self-service portals, and knowledge base articles.
Marketing Automation: Automate marketing campaigns and track their performance to nurture leads and drive customer engagement.
Sales Automation: Streamline sales processes with lead and opportunity management, forecasting, and pipeline management.

3) What are the Benefits of Dynamics 365 Sales?

Dynamics 365 Sales offers numerous benefits to help sales teams improve their performance and efficiency:

Enhanced Productivity: Streamline sales workflows and automate repetitive tasks, freeing up time for sales teams to focus on high-value activities.
Improved Customer Relationships: Access comprehensive customer data and insights to personalize interactions and build stronger relationships.
Sales Performance Insights: Gain real-time visibility into sales performance with dashboards and analytics, enabling data-driven decision-making.
Seamless Integration: Integrate seamlessly with other Microsoft products, such as Outlook, Teams, and LinkedIn, enhancing collaboration and communication.
Mobile Access: Empower sales teams to work from anywhere with the Dynamics 365 Sales mobile app.
AI Capabilities: Leverage AI-driven insights and predictive analytics to identify opportunities, forecast sales, and improve accuracy.