Raymond James Financial, Inc., one of the largest U.S. financial services firms, has selected Microsoft Dynamics(TM) CRM as its software of choice for customer relationship management (CRM).

The St. Petersburg, Fla., company now recommends that its nationwide network of more than 4,600 financial advisors adopt Microsoft Dynamics CRM as its primary customer relationship management tool. Raymond James will initially offer 3,000 Microsoft Dynamics CRM licenses, but expects to increase the number to more than 5,000 in response to demand over the next two or three years.

“In our effort to provide our financial advisors the best tools possible, we are pleased to offer this high-quality management tool as a recommended option,” said Tim Eitel, chief information officer of Raymond James.

“Raymond James advisors who took part in head-to-head testing to determine the company’s preferred CRM product consistently chose Microsoft Dynamics CRM, including advisors who had already personally purchased other products,” Eitel said. The prime differentiators included these:

- Greater efficiency, tight integration. Most of Raymond James’ corporate technology systems run on Microsoft(R) software, Microsoft SQL Server(TM) and the Microsoft Office system. Financial advisors can input and access customer data directly through Microsoft Office Outlook(R), a program they already use throughout the day. The close integration among the Microsoft products eliminates the need to input customer information more than once, and advisors can also access meeting notes, sales reports, forecasts and other customer data via a single, customized onscreen dashboard.

- Keeping the pulse of projects. Microsoft Dynamics CRM gives Raymond James the platform to provide rich functionality such as mobility and detailed workflows with a reduced time to market.

- Confidence in Microsoft. The scale of Microsoft Corp.’s investment in this area of business software convinced Raymond James that Microsoft Dynamics CRM would eventually become the de facto standard in business CRM. Dramatic improvements with each new version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM also demonstrated Microsoft’s dedication to continued innovation and adaptation of the product as business needs change.

“For companies to reap the benefits of customer relationship management, they need to get their employees to consistently use it,” said Michael Park, corporate vice president of Microsoft’s U.S. Small and Midmarket Solutions & Partners Group. “Microsoft Dynamics CRM works the way that employees do, with a native Outlook experience that lets employees track customer data as part of the tasks they already perform throughout the day.”

About Raymond James Financial
Raymond James Financial (NYSE:RJF) is a Florida-based diversified holding company providing financial services to individuals, corporations and municipalities through its subsidiary companies. Its three principle wholly owned broker/dealers, Raymond James & Associates, Raymond James Financial Services and Raymond James Ltd. have more than 4,600 financial advisors serving 1.6 million accounts in 2,200 locations throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. In addition, total client assets are approximately $195 billion, of which approximately $34.6 billion are managed by the firm’s asset management subsidiaries. About Microsoft Dynamics Microsoft Dynamics is a line of financial, customer relationship and supply chain management solutions that helps businesses work more effectively. Delivered through a network of channel partners providing specialized services, these integrated, adaptable business management solutions work like and with familiar Microsoft software to streamline processes across an entire business.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

NOTE: Microsoft, Microsoft Dynamics and Outlook are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

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