Sechedule Service Activity in MSCRM 2011

 

The diagram in this article illustrates how you can schedule a service activity in Microsoft Dynamics CRM. A service activity is an appointment to provide a service to a customer. It uses one or more resources to perform a service at a specific time.

• Initiate - A customer calls to make an appointment.
• Request - The scheduler creates a service activity, selects a service that the customer wants, and then searches for availability within a time frame, such as “This Week.”
• Search - Microsoft Dynamics CRM uses the selection rule to search for available times in the work schedules of the resources that can perform the service.
• Reserve - The scheduler discusses the choices with the customer, who chooses one.

      

Automated Service Scheduling works the way you work

Microsoft CRM  includes an appointment-based service scheduling capability that enables you to define your services, resources, work schedules, and service locations. A sophisticated scheduling engine manages appointment booking and service availability according to your business rules. You can adjust it to optimize scheduling and reduce resource usage and costs. Point-and-click reports help service managers identify trends and adjust services and resources to meet demand. And because service scheduling is an integral part of Microsoft CRM  your staff can easily reference customer histories, demographics, and preferences in scheduling services. This functionality enables you to deliver more personalized, customized service as well as feed customer service histories back into your marketing and sales processes.

For example, an automotive repair shop might define services in Microsoft CRM as brake jobs, front-end alignments, transmission overhauls, and other service offerings. The repair shop might define resources as individual mechanics, vehicle bays, tools, and parts. When a customer calls for a service appointment, any worker in the shop with access to a computer can schedule an appointment. Depending on the service needed and time slots that are open, Microsoft CRM  displays the dates and times that are available. The Suggestion Pane even lists resources and services that the customer has used before. With the customer on the phone, the worker can schedule an appointment in a click. Then the appointment (scheduled and finished) becomes a permanent part of that customer's Microsoft CRM record.