Dynamics CRM and Dynamics AX Overview

Dynamics CRM and Dynamics AX will receive multiple updates in 2013.

The Dynamics CRM Online service will receive updates quarterly or more frequently and will gain new features sooner than the Dynamics CRM on-premises software. On-premises software customers will receive occasional updates (possibly twice a year) that deliver new capabilities from the service.

The largest recent update was the Dynamics CRM 2011 Update Rollup 12 (UR12), which gave on-premises software customers compatibility with the Chrome, Firefox, and Safari browsers and some other features. Dynamics CRM Online customers are receiving these features in a “Dec. 2012” service update (which will actually roll out throughout 2013). The Dec. 2012 update also delivers features such as a new “process-oriented” sales user interface that are not yet available to on-premises software customers.

Planned software and service updates code-named Orion will bring on-premises customers some features that appeared first in the Dynamics CRM Online Dec. 2012 update, including the process-oriented sales user interface, iPad sales interface, and Yammer integration. Orion will also deliver new features both online and on-premises. Planned Orion features include improved integration with Office 2013 and Exchange Server 2013, which will probably be receiving service packs or Cumulative Updates (CUs) around the same time. Orion is slated for the second half of 2013.