Microsoft Dynamics CRM: Reporting and Dashboards

Dynamics CRM
Reporting & Dashboards
Extending the Power of CRM
Mike Hammons – Director, Solution Architects

October 19, 2011 | Copyright © 2011 Infinity Info Systems

Presenters:

Marketing Manager

Director, Solution Architects


Agenda:

• Reports & Dashboards
• Challenges
• What’s Available
• Q&A
• Announcements


Infinity Info Systems

WHY REPORTING & DASHBOARDS


Dashboards vs. Traditional Reporting

DashboardsAnalytics Traditional Report :
• Much more visual and interactive • Supports reporting with simple drills and
• Typically 3-5x faster to build a DAR light charting capability
solution versus a canned report with • Pre-Built canned reports
Crystal • Typically printed or distributed via PDF
• Charts, graphs, etc can be changed • Requires expertise and a developers
by user license to make changes
• Easier to access other data sources • Access to other data sources can be
challenging


Challenges

• CRM Online
• Database Driven
• View One Entity At A Time
• SSRS & SharePoint
Required for BI on CRM



REPORTS


Reports in Dynamics CRM 2011
Similar to the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Data Connector for
Microsoft ® SQL Server ® Reporting Services
Two components
• Fetch Data Processing Extension (Fetch DPE)
• SQL Data Processing Extension (SQL DPE)
Installation required for any of the following activities
• Create a report with the Report Wizard
• Use Out of Box reports
• Schedule reports
• Upload Custom Fetch Based Reports
• Enable MUI Packs
• Import organizations and create new organizations
• Shared Reports

Reporting Extensions
• Upgrade of Reports
– The Dataconnector in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0
needs to be uninstalled and the Microsoft Dynamics
CRM 2011 CRM Reporting Extensions installed
– During upgrade, reports created by the Report Wizard
are converted to fetch-based reports
– Reports created using the wizard, but modified in
Visual Studio will not be upgraded (SQL-based
reports)
– Out of box reports not converted


Reporting Extensions

• Out of Box Reports in Dynamics CRM Online
– SQL-based
– Embedded code moved to custom assemblies
– Reports have the least execution privileges
required to run


Excel Reports & Dashboards
• One of the most powerful and under-utilized
reporting options in Dynamics CRM is
exporting to Excel.
• Simply go to a Filtered View and click the
Export to Excel button.
• Go to Opportunities, select Open
Opportunities
• Click Export to Excel button
• Select Dynamic Pivot Table


Excel Reporting Tip
• Write SQL queries against CRM without all that
fiddling around in Visual Studio.
• The use of Excel for queries instead of SSRS also
fits in with Microsoft's aim of giving the power to
configure to the end user.
• There are few end users who are brave enough to
tackle Visual Studio but there are plenty that will
play with Excel and most companies have at least
one person that can write basic SQL SELECT
queries.


Let’s Try it
• On the Excel Data tab click Properties
• Click the Definition tab
• In the command text field, add a new field,
opportunity0.actualvalue as ‘Actual Revenue’
then click OK
• You should now see the field in the PivotTable list
field.



CUSTOM REPORTS


Custom Reports
– Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS)
• Authoring environment
• WYSIWYG editing
• Formatting
– SQL Based Reports
• OnPremise Only
• Use Filtered Views
– Fetch Based Reports
• Online and OnPremise
• Use FetchXML queries


Getting started with Fetch XML

• What to do if you are not familiar with Fetch
XML
– Build your query with Advanced Find
– Create a base report with the Report Wizard


Using Advanced Find
• Create a new Advanced Find query to pull the
records you need and then download the Fetch
XML:


Using Report Wizard
• Create a base report with the Report Wizard. Mark the
new report and then choose Edit. Now from the Actions
dropdown select Download Report :


Using BIDS and Fetch XML
• Requirements to use Fetch XML in BIDS
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Report Authoring Extension:
– http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=13818
• Choose the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Fetch type for the
Embedded Connection:


Using BIDS and Fetch XML
• Requirements to use Fetch XML in BIDS
• If using IFD then use your
https://dev.<yourdomain>.com:<port>/;<organization name>
for the connection string.
• Enter the credentials for the connection:

• Ensure the query is in Fetch XML syntax then try to run the
query.

Accessing Non CRM Data

• Joining data from CRM to external data where the report is
run from CRM.
• Run report directly from Report Manager.
• If the collation is different between the databases you may
need to add the collation to the SQL query itself. Ex:
select * from filteredaccount a
inner join TWO..RM00103 b on a.accountnumber = b.custnmbr collate
SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS
• Use a custom Stored Procedure.
• Any custom Tables, Views or Stored Procedures should be
held in an external database. It is not supported to put
these in the CRM database as it will cause problems during
future upgrades.


How can reports be moved between
deployments
• Reports in Solutions
– Export and Import Solutions

– Adding Reports to a Solution



DASHBOARDS


Dashboards in Dynamics CRM 2011

• Integral Part of CRM
• Easy to Create/Share
• Inline Visualizations
• Combine Data from
Different Entities


Benefits & Limitations
Benefits:

• Dashboards are simple to create
• Create powerful dashboards in a short time
• Reduced cost, no additional software or consulting fees
needed

Limitations:

• Dashboards in CRM are not flexible
• Lack of Choice Filters


Dashboard Example



3RD PARTY OPTIONS


Additional Options
• Reporting Services
– Within MS CRM
– Reporting Services Portal
– SharePoint Integrated Mode
• Analysis Services
• SharePoint Dashboards
• Excel Services
• PerformancePoint Services
• PowerPivot


Reporting Services (SharePoint Integrated)
• Integrated into corporate reporting strategy
• Unlocks the power of SharePoint workflow
• Allows reports to become searchable


Emailing Reports
• Schedule the report
• Run it
• Go to Report Server http://servername/reports
• Go to CustomReports
• Rt-click Subscribe
• Select Email
• Enter Details


Analysis Services
• OLAP Structure - Cubes
• Powerful Analytics, allows the user to ask the next
question and get an answer
• Can combine multiple data sources with CRM data
• Can be used as a data source for multiple reporting
avenues
– SSRS
– Power Pivot
– Dashboards


SharePoint/Performance Point
• Combine data from CRM, ERP and other sources into
one UI
• Allows multiple reporting types to be presented on
one page
• Interactive and
actionable


Excel Services
• Excel is a widely used and understood tool
• Can be connected to live data
• Provides user with a
familiar look and feel
• Works Inside
SharePoint
• Ultimate flexibility
from the users
perspective


Microsoft PowerPivot
• Data analysis add-in for Excel 2010
• Gives users the power to create compelling self-
service BI solutions
• Slice and Dice data in a
familiar interface
• User can dynamically build
their own queries
• “Free”
http://www.powerpivot.com


What is PowerPivot
• Microsoft PowerPivot for Excel is a data
analysis add-in for Excel 2010
• PowerPivot gives users the power to create
compelling self-service BI solutions
• http://www.powerpivot.com



Q&A


Microsoft Dynamics CRM: Ask The Experts
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/922335833

Join Infinity and ask our panel of experts your questions on Microsoft Dynamics CRM
2011. Whether you have questions about how to extend dashboards to drive
productivity in your business or you want the latest integration tips and tricks you
have come to the right place. This session will cover everything from application
questions, Outlook usability, Mobility, customization, deployment and training tips and
tricks. We look forward to sharing the latest and greatest on Microsoft Dynamics CRM
2011. This webinar is not to be missed!

For more information contact:
Kathleen Ferrie
Marketing Manager
Tel: 646.747.6398
Email: kferrie@infinityinfo.com


Microsoft Dynamics CRM: Reporting and Dashboards

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