Hi,

Pre-selling a Dynamics CRM / xRM project typically is not a simple task as Dynamics CRM is a big product and also, extremely extensible which means that almost everything is possible to be done, integrate, etc.

Hence, when trying to size a project, it’s really important that you make the right questions that could drive to better estimations. The better you understand the project and your client expectations, the better you may estimate it.

So, I decided to share here some first level questions and topics I use to consider in order to have a better idea about the project and properly size it. I am going to share this info within two posts, categorized by areas, starting with Business (you should always start with Business questions ):

[Business]

• Understand the concrete business objective / problem that the client expects to resolve with the product.
• Who are going to be the final users?
• How many users in total, at least approximately?
• How are those users going to access the system? (intranet / Internet / Offline / Mobile??)
• Are there subsidiaries and/or other local offices that will need access to the system?
• In case there are, are they different companies that are part of the same economic group or just different locations of the same organization?
• Different cultures and/or currencies?
• How do they communicate today? How do these users have access to current systems?
• Which CRM modules is the client mostly interested in [accounts, contacts, sales, marketing, services]?
• Does the client already have another CRM system? In case it does, which are the premises / main reasons for migrating to Dynamics CRM?
• Which modules / info is going to be migrated?
• What is going to happen with current CRM. Is it going to be completely replaced by Dynamics CRM once project is completed?
• Project strong constraints? (ie. deadlines, important milestones, budget)

[Hosting model]

• On-premise?
• Does the client already bought seats for CRM and/or has a volume licensing agreement?
• Within its infrastructure, has it got Active Directory and SQL Server ? (2008 + in case of CRM 2011)
• For CRM 2011, is it a 64 bits infrastructure?
• Outlook? Which versions? Are all of them 2007 or 2010?
• On-line?
• Does the client know the limitations so far? (i.e. no custom WF activities)
• Does the client know the trade-offs? (i.e. having to use Azure AppFabric service bus for integrating company internal systems)
• Hosted?
• Any significant advantage compared to online?

[Size]

• Quickly understand basic figures about the project size / impact:
• Volume of users that may have the system
• Volume of accounts?
• Volume of contacts?
• Volume of opportunities / leads / services/ etc. to be created within xx hours?

[Data Migration]

• Where do accounts / contacts / other entities data currently are currently stored and maintained?
• Migrating this data should be considered as part of the project scope?
• Which format is the data accessible today to be imported?
• Is it possible to get some sample data?

...continue on PART II here...

Hope you find it useful,

PP