CRM 2015 Vega Outlook Client/Exchange Integration Highlights

The following are some of the highlighted enhancements to Dynamics CRM 2015 for Outlook and Exchange.

• Synchronization Enhancements
  • Sync more addresses and phone numbers
  • Sync Outlook assigned tasks
  • Sync appointment attachments
  • Configurable field level sync direction
    • Control what comes down and what goes up to the CRM server
  • Private notes
  • Read-only CRM data
  • Transparency
    • Very easy to know exactly what data is synced down and up to the server
    • Sync directions graphically depicted in filter interface
  • OOB FLS impact on synchronization
  • Review Outlook synchronization white paper for more information
  • Currently don’t offer ability to not sync contacts
• Authentication
  • Introducing OAuth for Outlook Client
    • Enables multi-factor authentication
    • Allows for custom login UI
    • Brings consistency across CRM clients
    • Also available for XRM solutions
  • Streamlined Configuration Experience
    • One text box for entering organization URL
    • Copy and past url from web client
    • All the work will be done to understand the sever address, organization name and make the connection
    • Can also enter a discovery/server URL
    • Select “CRM Online” from drop down (default for Online customers)
    • User will be prompted for login credentials
    • Can support multi-organization scenarios
    • AD customers will automatically flow through to configure client
      • User can override automatic AD credential pass through to prompt for login credentials to use another identity
  • Continued support for silent configuration
  • OAuth and multi-factor authentication is limited Windows Server version
    • Windows Server 2012 R2 and later has the new ADFS that has OAuth
    • If you have version of Windows Server poor to 2012 R2 only the non-OAuth flow will be available which will show the old dialog for authentication seen previously
• Compatibility Changes
  • Official support dropped for the following
    • Office 2007
    • IE 8, IE 9
    • Windows Vista,
    • Windows Server 2008 Remote Desktop Services
    • Windows 2008 R2 Desktop Services
    • You may continue IE 8, IE 9 and Windows 2008 R2 Server, using CRM for Outlook even though products are officially unsupported.
    • Installation will not be blocked for these configurations however it is recommended to upgrade to the latest version of IE and Windows
• Upgrading CRM for Outlook
  • To upgrade to CRM 2015 for Outlook the existing CRM for Outlook must be 2013 or higher
  • CRM for Outlook must be in online mode before upgrading
  • All CRM 2013 for Outlook clients can be used while online against a CRM 2015 server
    • Offline mode not supported
  • Recommended Upgrade Path
    1. Upgrade existing Outlook clients to 2013
    2. Upgrade CRM server to 2015
    3. Upgrade Outlook clients to 2015
  • From an enterprise perspective make sure Outlook clients are compatible before upgrading the server to 2015
  • Citrix XenApp 6.5 is supported
  • Will continue to only support primary sync to a single org
  • More notifications for users who attempt to sync to multiple orgs and causing duplicate records
  • Stronger enforcement of client versions that can connect server
• Server Side Sync (SSS)
  • Hybrid deployment of CRM online and SharePoint on-premises will not be supported in Vega release
  • There are currently no published benchmarks for SSS performance differences against Outlook sync
  • Supported mail servers
    • Exchange
    • Outlook.com
      • Some limitations
    • Yahoo
    • Gmail