M-Dollar: Microsoft Dynamics Snap: a better way to request vacation days
This week Microsoft introduced four new products that "snap" into Microsoft Office 2003. The suite of products has been named Microsoft Dynamics Snap, and it is meant to assist users in data organization by integrating Office 2003 with Microsoft Dynamics AX 3.0 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0.
The four applications that make up Microsoft Dynamics Snap are:
Business Data Lookup Snap-In for Microsoft Dynamics AX
Business Data Lookup Snap-In for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0
Timesheet Snap-In
Vacation Management Snap-In
The two Business Data Lookup Snap-Ins will allow users to sift through data using Word, Excel, or Outlook. Data can then be copied into Office documents or attached to AX and CRM records. This snap-in would prove useful in a situation where a customer needs order status updates sent to him via e-mail.
The Vacation Management Snap-In works with Microsoft Dynamics AX 3.0. Using Outlook, the snap-in allows employees to request vacation days. After a vacation day is requested, an e-mail is sent to a manager who then can view the employee's vacation history and send back a response. If approved, the vacation day is automatically entered into the Dynamics time and attendance module.
Finally, the Timesheet Snap-In looks to be the best of the bunch in terms of increasing productivity. Users can submit and view times for different tasks, and the Timesheet Snap-In synchronizes Dynamics AX times with Outlook appointments all the while tracking any changes made. Basically, this snap-in coordinates tasks between Outlook and Dynamics AX 3.0. It also gives users statistics about how they allocate their time.
The four snap-ins will be available under the Microsoft Permissive License, which allows them to be customized as individual businesses see fit. Once released, users can download Microsoft Dynamics Snap and its source code from GotDotNet.