First steps to getting started with Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online
Published: February 8, 2008
Welcome to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online! While you are waiting for the e-mail message announcing your organization has been created, and before you sign into Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online for the first time, speed up your initial setup by taking a few minutes to make a few useful decisions and gather some information.
On This Page
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Select a System Administrator |
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Select the base currency |
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Compile a list of people to invite |
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After you receive the e-mail confirming your organization is ready |
Select a System Administrator
The System Administrator is the person who will set up Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online with the initial settings that affect the entire organization, such as business hours, auto-numbering, and fiscal information. Initially, this is also the person who will invite additional personnel to your Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online organization.
You can choose to do these tasks yourself, or you can designate someone else. To choose another person, you need an e-mail address, which is also a valid e-mail address associated with a Windows Live ID. If they do not have one, when they accept the invitation they will be asked to create one.
The e-mail announcing your organization is ready has instructions on how to get started with Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online and gives you the option to enter the e-mail address of the person you've selected as your System Administrator. Additional System Administrators can be added later, from the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online application.
Select the base currency
Selecting the base currency for your organization is a one-time decision that sets the primary or default currency that is most used by your organization, and the currency in which your organization does its financial reporting. You cannot complete setup without setting this option and you cannot change it after it has been set.
However, if your organization records transactions in other currencies, you can add additional currency records, including the currency symbol and the exchange rate to use. When you save financial information in a record, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online converts the monetary values to the base currency. This conversion ensures that all financial information is available in one currency for reports and other types of data analysis.
Compile a list of people to invite
The two previous decisions are the only descisions you have to make before getting started, but if you haven't received your welcome message yet and have the time, you can get a jump start on getting others to start using Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online too.
The minimum information you need before starting to invite people is:
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First and last name of each person to be invited
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Valid e-mail address associated with a Windows Live ID, or addresses that can be converted to a Windows Live ID
Read more about Windows Live ID.
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A security role for each person in Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online
(Roles are explained in the following section.)
What are security roles?
A security role is an assigned set of privileges that determines how different types of records can be accessed and what tasks can be completed by one category of employees, such as all salespeople. Everyone in your organization who will be using Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online must be assigned at least one security role to access the system.
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online provides pre-defined security roles for your organization. These security roles can be customized and new roles created after you start using Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. Other than System Administrator, no other security role is required, though we do not recommend assigning all of your personnel the System Administer security role.
In addition to the pre-defined roles listed below, there are also roles for vice presidents and business managers who manage the organization at the business-unit and corporate level.
Pre-defined security roles
| Security Role | Description |
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Sales Manager |
Manages sales activities at the local or team level |
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Salesperson |
Engages in sales activities at any level |
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CSR Manager |
Supervises customer-service activities at the local or team level |
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Customer Service Representative |
Engages in customer-service activities at any level |
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Marketing Manager |
Manages marketing activities at the local or team level |
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Marketing Professional |
Engages in marketing activities at any level |
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Scheduling Manager |
Manages services, required resource, and working hours |
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Scheduler |
An employee who schedules appointments for services (service activities) |
There is a specific security role for people who customize your system. The System Customizer role does not have access the rest of the application. Once you are signed into Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, you can look up more information regarding security roles in the Online Help topic "Controlling Data Access."
After you receive the e-mail confirming your organization is ready
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Cllck the link to sign into Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online.
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If you are designating another person to be the System Administrator, select that option, complete the form to invite him or her, and then click the arrow. The designated System Administrator will complete the subsequent tasks.
If you are setting up your organization yourself, select the option to configure Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online yourself.
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Select the base currency, and then click the arrow to go to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online.
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The Getting Started: Recommended Tasks page can help you start setting up Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online and inviting other people to join your Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online organization.
Tip
After you sign in to your organization you can read more articles about getting started with Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online by clicking Resource Center on the Navigation Pane.
