Microsoft Dynamics 365 + LinkedIn Sales Navigator: the big update

A couple of weeks ago, LinkedIn trumpeted that it has now exceeded 500 million registered users across 200 countries on its platform!  Shortly after, Microsoft EVP of Cloud and Enterprise Scott Guthrie announced the Dynamics 365 LinkedIn Sales Navigator integration… This long-anticipated union has now propelled Microsoft Dynamics 365 as the most compelling offer there is on the CRM market. Here is why – time to tune up our sales numbers!

By John Roddy

Launched back in the autumn 2016, Microsoft Dynamics 365 brings about an end-to-end environment in the cloud — integrating intelligent business applications such as sales, marketing, field service, operations, project service automation, customer service, and finance. Built on a per-user, per-application basis, it has the ability to grow with organisations using the software.

While Microsoft has continued to push enhancements to the software (check their Dynamics 365 Roadmap page), many Sales professionals like me have been longing for what I see as their biggest update: the one that brings Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales and LinkedIn’s Sales Navigator closer and makes these two products remarkably affordable together.

360-degree view on prospects and recommended leads

But what does it mean for us salespeople? Dynamics 365 for Sales + LinkedIn Sales Navigator represents a major development for the sales process. It will make us more effective and allow us to save valuable time in order to tune up our sales pipeline:

• 360-degree view on our prospects: we will be able to view LinkedIn information, in the Dynamics 365 Sales dashboard, where we are already tracking our sales activities, contacts and opportunities
• No more need for manual data entry and update: Dynamics 365 and LinkedIn Sales Navigator will sync their data every day – Sales Navigator will always be up to date on activities recorded in Dynamics 365 for Sales (and vice versa)
• New leads: we’ll have the ability to see new leads directly in Dynamics with ‘Recommended Leads’ from LinkedIn’s data and to send them tailored content or promotional messages
• Recommended next best action(s): this new Microsoft Relationship Sales solution will allow us to monitor engagement signals across email, CRM and LinkedIn to get contextual recommendations for the next best steps to take

The new Microsoft Relationship Sales Solution will allow salespeople to find related leads to their prospects to map out the entire buying committee.

Not only am I excited to get to use Microsoft Relationship Sales Solution myself, but also I look forward to sharing the benefits with our customers.

This Microsoft Relationship Sales solution will be available from 1^st July as a single offer bringing together LinkedIn Sales Navigator and Dynamics 365 for Sales at about half the cost of current competitive solutions in the market.

Going Forward

Microsoft looks to bringing more enhancements and additions to Dynamics 365’s functionality, thereby further empowering end users to do more and to make more informed decisions by breaking down silos and using business intelligence.

Learn more about the business value of Microsoft Dynamics 365 and how it will help you achieve more by joining us for a free Dynamics 365 webinar on Thursday 25th May at 11.00am (GMT), as David Riordan – Dynamics Business Group Lead at Microsoft – gives us an inside look into the benefits Dynamics 365 can bring to businesses of all sizes.

Or simply contact us for a free consultation, we would be happy to explain how Microsoft Dynamics 365 can give you a competitive advantage.

John Roddy is the Commercial Director of our Microsoft practice. Since its beginning in 2010 our Microsoft practice has become the largest Microsoft practice in Ireland. It now operates with a team of 90+ business-focused technical experts across all industries.