Parallels announced that its Parallels Automation data center solution now supports Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0, a fully integrated customer relationship management (CRM) system. Parallels Automation provides a complete back-office infrastructure so service providers can go to market and incorporate CRM into their service offerings.

 Parallels Automation provides both operational and business support systems to help service providers optimize the use of server resources. Using a single login, service providers can deliver integrated offerings that include multiple services such as hosted Microsoft Exchange, hosted Windows SharePoint Services and hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Service providers that already sell hosted Microsoft Exchange can use Parallels Automation to up-sell customers to Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

 "Parallels Automation for Dynamics CRM allows service providers to offer businesses a cost-effective alternative to in-house CRM solutions," said Serguei Beloussov, CEO of Parallels. "This solution delivers the benefits of the Parallels Open Platform architecture combined with Dynamics CRM to help service providers tap into the hosted CRM opportunity and the broader software-as-a-service (SaaS) market." 

 Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 gives businesses the capability to create and maintain a clear view of customers from first contact through purchase and post-sales. With tools to enhance sales, marketing, and customer service processes -- along with Microsoft Office Outlook compatibility -- Microsoft Dynamics CRM delivers a fast, flexible and low-cost solution.

 “With more and more customers adopting on-demand CRM solutions, there’s no question this is among the fastest-growing market segments. Microsoft Dynamics CRM has multi-tenant support and a user-friendly interface, making it an appealing option for service providers to offer CRM as a service, in conjunction with offerings such as hosted Microsoft Exchange and Windows SharePoint Services,” said John Zanni, director of Worldwide Hosting at Microsoft Corp. "Parallels Automation provides comprehensive back-office support that enables service providers to deliver Dynamics CRM applications to attract new customers and upgrade existing hosted Exchange customers."