The simple secret to getting the customization that you need the way you want it is to communicate it well. We have labored to make the process as easy as possible for you to communicate what you need and as efficient as possible for us to drive the costs down with volume while maintaining the highest quality product that can be ordered by anybody and produced quickly.

Use our on-line form that allows you to describe the need briefly and include relative information about your company, why you have the need, who will benefit and use the customization , and off course your time-line and budget. The key to our process is that your early brief description is routed instantly to a senior consultant that will apply the benefit of an experienced professional in business process, industry breadth, and CRM technology to your description of your need. If you haven't done so already you should start now by giving us some basic information about your need here:

Once you have ordered a Custom Specification to be created and have completed the CPR form you'll want to create a mock-up of your report or your screens. This is not a required step but again the simple secret is communicate what you want. We provide a couple of easy to use tools to help you actually create a mock-up of your custom report or custom functionality screens that we encourage you to look at and attempt to utilize. An e-mail reminding you of the value these tools along with some instructions on there use will be e-mailed to you.

If you haven't ordered the Custom Development Specification Creation Service yet, which is the starting point for getting your customization developed, you can do so here:

The custom specification is only $50 per hour to create and the vast majority of specifications can be sufficiently completed to approve and begin work for only the 5-hour minimum or $250.00. For many reports and the simplest customizations this can be half (1/2) the project cost. But that cost estimate is based on good input from you!

The Custom Report Mock-up Tool is a Microsoft Excel based sheet that allows you to easily select the criteria typical and possible in a custom report. Download the tool here to see just how easy it is:

The Custom Functionality Mock-up Tool is a Microsoft Visio set of shapes that copy the look and feel of all of the design elements of Microsoft Dynamics CRM. You need to have Visio which comes with some versions of Microsoft Office and if you don't have it on your machine your IT Dept. may have a license for it. Download the the tool here to see how easy it is:

The Functionality Mock-up tool, a series of Visio shapes specifically for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 to speed up the process of mocking up CRM UI screens, was created by our friends at Invoke Systems and made available on the Microsoft Got Dot Net CRM Sandbox site for community use.

Once you have ordered a Custom Development Specification Creation Service, and have completed the CPR form as well as created a mock-up and sent it in as instructed, a Senior Consultant assigned to you, will contact you by e-mail to arrange a brief (15-30) minute remote "Live" web and phone discussion to review your documents, your own system, and to probe and make suggestions. From this conversation the initial Custom Specification is created for return to you. Typical cycle times are 24 to 72 hours. An example is shown here:

The Custom Development Specification specification, along with the senior consultants project notes are routed to DynamicCenter's development dept. where it is initially started from a template by a liaison specialist then forwarded to an assigned programmer who adds the description of the technology to be used and details how it will work, look, and be developed. From there it is routed back to the assigned senior consultant who reviews specification against his knowledge of the clients' needs and as needed the specification is returned with comments or a review meeting is scheduled ASAP to complete the specification ASAP. The competed specification is e-mailed to the client along with a request for a second "Live" web and phone conversation to review the specification for possible changes or approval to start the project.

The client will have only one direct contact and will maintain a relationship with that individual for continuity of the communication and relationship. The better DynamicsCenter understands the business and needs of the client the better we serve our clients. Most client's maintain an on-going relationship with DynamicsCenter and often have purchased other services or products from DynamicsCenter.com.

The specification details all the costs of the project as specified. Revisions to the specification after the project has been approved and started will likely result in a change to the cost outlined on that specification. All projects costs are paid prior to beginning work on the phase of the project. Project costs are presented in hours, because DynamicsCenter is efficient at the process and the service lie-items offered in simple to understand and utilize formats. The three (3) basic are line-items of DynamicsCenter's core customization sevice line items in our Custom-Development-Service-For-Anyone easy access format are here:

As the development is progressing, which is often a single work session for the programmer, the customization will be tested on one of DynamicsCenter demo environments IF the filed and data requirements to test the customization are available. In some cases the client's production Microsoft Dynamics customization schema, an easily available export, is requested. In rare cases data will be requested which can be obtained in a number of ways, one of which will be provided in training for the client. Preferably customizations will be tested on the client's "Test" Environment. If a test environment is not available and the customization testing involves little risk to the environment in which in runs than the client's production environment will be utilized under the standard best-practice procedures of back-up and security.

During the initial stage of the engagement, e-mails requesting permissions for access and requirements for access to the client's environments will be communicated and obtained.

Next the client will be contacted by e-mail by the Senior Consultant assigned to review the customization on the prescribed test environment or directly on the client's production environment for most customizations - reports and many functionality additions not involving work flows or significant modifications to the isv.config or web.config files or the database. Revisions may be required and the steps are repeated as many times as required to me the specification and satisfaction of the client.

Finally the completed customization is installed on the client's production server. Additional services are often requested by the client in conjunction with the custom development process outlined above. Typically "Help Menu" or custom client and customization specific documentation is developed to support the long-term on going use of the custom functionality. That line item of service can be reviewed and ordered here:

Staff training can be arranged in a number of formats and is available through the Implementation services area of this site or arranged with you your Senior Consultant contact.

For a small percentage of the cost of a CRM project, DynamicsCenter's custom report and functionality development can make the difference between a small gain and a BIG gain in the return on your CRM initiative.

The tips and tools of this page are beneficial in any custom development engagement. The engagement process described here and the reference to times and costs here are for the specific development line-itemed services referenced on this page. These line-items represent a packaged and systematized process-driven service offering at low cost for those engagements and client needs where this fits. Many client needs require more time with a senior consultant, direct communication with the development department, project planning, and other professional services. These more traditional professional services are described in service line-items in our Implementation & Support area and serve a wider scope and a different rate structure competitively in-line with these industry services.