Dynamics 365 CRM vs Referral Maker

Last Updated:

Our analysts compared Dynamics 365 CRM vs Referral Maker based on data from our 400+ point analysis of CRM Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Dynamics 365 CRM Software Tool
Referral Maker Software Tool

Product Basics

Dynamics 365 CRM streamlines customer relationship management through a cloud-based platform. Tailored for mid-size to large businesses, it centralizes interactions, automates workflows, and fosters data-driven insights. Key benefits include sales force automation, marketing campaign management, and service case tracking. Popular features like social listening and lead scoring help nurture potential customers. User reviews within the CRM landscape praise its robust customization options and seamless integration with other Microsoft products. However, the subscription-based pricing model, starting at per-user monthly fees, can be a cost consideration for smaller businesses.

Pros
  • Robust customization
  • Seamless Microsoft integration
  • Strong sales automation
  • Intuitive interface
  • Mobile app functionality
Cons
  • Potentially complex setup
  • Higher learning curve
  • Subscription-based pricing
  • Limited reporting options
  • Occasional performance issues
read more...
Referral Maker is a cloud-based solution that helps businesses manage leads, client feedback, databases, performance tracking and more from a central location. With features like a Dashboard and Priority Action Center, it boosts productivity and lead-to-close ratio.

Suited for businesses of all sizes, it maximizes sales efficiency and expands operations through relational marketing.
read more...
$65/User, Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
$49 Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
Small 
i
Medium 
i
Large 
i
Small 
i
Medium 
i
Large 
i
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Gain a 360-Degree View: Sales and marketing benefit from a single source of customer data to provide a consistent experience for buyers. Customer service teams also get a view of every customer’s journey across all touchpoints. 
  • Execute Multichannel Campaigns: Target a number of channels for lead generation, including email marketing, events, SMS, landing pages and more. A connector to lead gen forms for LinkedIn enables audience targeting, lead nurturing and buyer journey creation using LinkedIn information. 
  • Deliver Exceptional Service: Predictive care tools and AI insights provide customer service agents with data to tackle issues proactively and reach the best outcomes. Other tools include intelligent case routing, gamification elements that encourage high performance, self-service options, agent performance metrics and more. 
  • Boost Conversion Rates: Scoring models help determine which contacts are most likely to convert, and smart scheduling capabilities ensure reps reach out at the best time. Sales reps can view lead score, lead trend and lead grade metrics to determine the status of each contact and target the hottest opportunities for better win rates. 
  • Personalize Messaging: Leverage embedded insights to use the most relevant, personalized messaging. Use in combination with segmentation to ensure tailored content reaches the right audience. Customize landing pages using prospects’ data. 
  • Connect With LinkedIn Sales Navigator: Create trust with contacts and conduct relationship selling using relevant data and rich profiles, such as related leads. 
  • Optimize Content: Know which contacts open emails, reply, click links and interact in other ways through metrics. Make informed email strategies, provide relevant content and reply with timeliness. Understand customer needs accurately using customer surveys. 
  • Use Other MS Tools: Microsoft Dynamics 365 has Office 365 apps built in, facilitating work with familiar tools like Excel and Outlook. 
  • Streamine Processes:: AI-driven prompts simplify data entry for records, and playbooks centralize sales techniques, ensuring more focus on selling. 
  • Coordinate Marketing and Sales: Ensure a smooth hand-off from marketing to sales, and automatically send leads to sales reps once lead scores reach the predetermined level. 
read more...
  • Simplify Access: A simple, easy-to-use interface improves adoption rates while reducing the learning curve. 
  • Ensure Data Security: Ensure data safety through privacy-preserving encrypted data processing and automated scheduled backups. 
  • Leverage Cloud-Based Deployment: Leverage a cloud-based suite that prevents hardware investments and supplies operational agility. 
  • Get Mobile Accessibility: Access the software through a mobile website login and dedicated mobile apps over Android and iOS devices. 
  • Avoid Data Duplicity: Run duplicity scans to solve data duplicity and redundancy issues while managing contacts, listings and document data. 
  • Increase Revenue: Boost revenue by optimizing sales processes and improving win rates for faster ramp-up times and larger deal sizes.  
read more...
  • Campaign Builder: Set up and execute campaigns via a visual building tool, and design customer journeys by arranging templates using the drag-and-drop interface. It’s also possible to set triggers based on a range of rules, choose segmented groups, assign emails, include events or surveys, and more. 
  • Dashboards: Access a host of metrics related to leads, revenue and other data sources from dashboards and customize them to show the most important KPIs. Dashboard types include: 
    • User Dashboards: Visible to and controlled by individual users. 
    • System Dashboards: Visible to everyone, with the option to reduce visibility to certain roles. Customized and controlled by system admins. 
  • Lead Nurturing: Account-based marketing features provide capabilities such as customer segmentation, personalized email content and performance metrics. Build buyer journeys and set rules that define a lead’s score based on the individual lead record, the related contact or the related account. 
  • Integrations: Apart from the Dynamics 365 toolset and other MS applications, the platform integrates with partner systems. Integration with Zapier offers access to more than 1,500 apps, ensuring greater extendability. 
  • Event Management: Control all aspects of events, from registrations and speakers to sessions and venue logistics from an event portal. It integrates with ON24 and other providers to support running webinars. 
  • Customer Service Insights: Powered by AI, machine learning and BI tools, this feature helps track KPIs visually for at-a-glance insights. Monitor: 
    • Customer satisfaction levels
    • A range of case metrics
    • Backlog trends
    • Incoming support topics
    • Engagement patterns
    • Support agent performance
  • Customer Insights: This add-on feature uses AI to support marketing efforts. 
    • Use Microsoft Graph to input audience intelligence.
    • Build triggered workflows with Microsoft Flow.
    • Customize reports and dashboards with the Power BI connection.
    • Microsoft PowerApps enables custom app creation.
    • Governance tools and security features ensure GDPR compliance and data privacy.
read more...
  • Dashboard: Get a visual overview of key metrics, activities and reports with a drag-and-drop customizable dashboard. Track metrics like average list price, average sales-to-close ratio, commission and upcoming appointments in real time. Collect useful insights for decision making at a glance. 
  • Calendar Management: Integrate with Google and iCalendar to get meetings, calls and appointment reminders in a timely manner. 
  • Campaign Management: Create and manage concurrent campaigns across multiple channels while tracking and optimizing them in real time to improve conversion rates. 
  • Contact Management: Store, organize, group and segment contacts centrally. Add tags and custom fields while using smart filters to search for contacts with similar attributes. Linear communication timelines make relevant information readily accessible. 
  • Email Marketing: Engage leads and build customer retention and loyalty through each stage of the buying journey with the email marketing module and customizable dynamic templates. 
  • Goal Tracking: Set up and track quantifiable time-based goals at the user, team, and organization levels to stay on the right track and maintain performance. 
  • Interaction Tracking: Track call and meeting details and attach notes for further information and follow-up activities. Track response rates for email interactions. 
  • Lead Management: Maintain a sales and marketing lead database while recording all marketing interactions between each prospect and the organization, including website visits, email clicks, scoring changes, and data updates and history. Also, track the sales activities for each prospect and their movement along the sales pipeline. 
  • Pop-By: Track clients in the vicinity and schedule visits through advanced mapping technology on the mobile version of the software. 
  • Priority Action Center: Get automatically populated to-do lists for the day with prompts for all activities such as calling prospects, writing notes and planning client meetings. 
  • Referral Tracking: Utilize an existing network of customers and users to send, receive, and track business referrals and sales leads. Keep networking activities up-to-date in one place. 
  • Reporting and Analytics: Access reports about data contained within the system, including sales, marketing and operational activities. Create ad hoc reports according to specific requirements. 
  • Task Management: Access an intuitive task management module that curates meetings and other important tasks and sets up automated reminders and notifications. 
  • Video Messages: Record and attach video messages to emails for increased engagement rates with an add-on feature. 
read more...

Product Ranking

#4

among all
CRM Software

#196

among all
CRM Software

Find out who the leaders are

User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 5825 reviews
Great User Sentiment 42 reviews
82%
of users recommend this product

Dynamics 365 CRM has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 82% when considering 5825 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

86%
of users recommend this product

Referral Maker has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 86% when considering 42 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

4.6 (21)
n/a
3.7 (1433)
n/a
4.3 (3779)
4.31 (21)
n/a
4.3 (21)
4.5 (23)
n/a
3.9 (569)
n/a

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Easy to Use: 98% of reviewers referencing usability felt the software is user-friendly.
Improved Productivity and Efficiency: The system aids efficiency and productivity, as observed by every user who talks about this aspect.
Customer Relationship Management: 95% of the reviewers who reference this aspect noted that it aids a positive customer experience.
Customization: Adding or removing fields is simple and doesn’t require technical help, as observed by more than 85% of reviews mentioning this feature.
Integration: Important integrations such as Power BI, Cortana, Azure and Office are of great help, as noted by 92% of the reviewers who refer to this element.
Show more
Simple and Easy to Use: Referral Maker is praised for its user-friendly interface and intuitive design, making it easy for users of all technical levels to navigate and utilize its features effectively.
Effective Referral Tracking: The platform provides robust tools for tracking referrals, allowing users to monitor the progress of their referral campaigns and measure their success in real-time.
Customizable Referral Programs: Referral Maker offers a high degree of customization, enabling users to tailor their referral programs to their specific needs and goals, including setting custom rewards, designing unique referral links, and creating targeted campaigns.
Automated Referral Process: The platform automates key aspects of the referral process, such as sending referral invitations, tracking referrals, and distributing rewards, saving users time and effort.
Integrations with Popular Tools: Referral Maker integrates seamlessly with various popular CRM and marketing tools, allowing users to connect their referral program with their existing workflows and data.
Show more
Learning Curve: According to 90% of the reviewers talking about this factor, new customers require a bit of training, which is time consuming.
Pricing: Microsoft Dynamics 365 is expensive, as observed by every user mentioning cost.
Slow Performance: At times, the platform takes time to sync and perform simple tasks, as observed by almost 70% of reviewers referring to this aspect.
Navigation: 90% of the reviews about this feature mentioned the navigation is complicated, especially for new users.
Show more
Limited Integrations: Referral Maker's integrations with other business tools and platforms are limited, making it challenging to incorporate into existing workflows and hindering data synchronization with other essential systems.
Customization Constraints: The platform's customization options are somewhat restricted, potentially limiting the ability to tailor the referral program to specific branding and unique requirements.
Mobile App Deficiency: The absence of a dedicated mobile app can inconvenience users who prefer managing their referral programs on the go, potentially impacting engagement and responsiveness.
Show more

A mix of praise and critique defines 2023 user reviews for Dynamics 365 CRM. Fans champion its robust customization, enabling precise tailoring to diverse business needs, like adding fields to track specific equipment rentals or crafting workflows for complex approval processes. This flexibility, some say, surpasses competitors like Salesforce, where out-of-the-box options might constrain unique workflows. Yet, this very strength can be a double-edged sword. Detractors find the customization curve steep, requiring significant IT expertise or costly consultant guidance, unlike the more user-friendly setup of HubSpot. Integration shines as a clear win for Dynamics 365. Seamlessly blending with Microsoft's ecosystem, including Outlook and Teams, streamlines communication and boosts collaboration. Imagine pulling CRM data directly into an email or setting up team meetings from contact records – a breeze for Dynamics users, while competitors often require clunky workarounds. However, pricing structure remains a sore spot. While subscription fees are competitive, the extensive customization often necessitates additional add-ons and consultancy, potentially inflating costs compared to more all-inclusive options like Zoho CRM. Ultimately, reviews suggest Dynamics 365 excels for businesses seeking in-depth customization and Microsoft integration, willing to invest time or resources in setup. For those prioritizing ease of use or budget-friendliness, alternatives might be a better fit. The key takeaway? Choose the CRM that complements your unique needs and technical capabilities.

Show more

Is Referral Maker a cut above when it comes to making referrals? User reviews from the past year suggest that Referral Maker, while helpful for some, might not be the "referring" champion for everyone. Users appreciate its straightforward setup and ease of use, especially for those already familiar with Buffini & Company's systems. The program's task management and contact organization features are praised for keeping users on top of their client relationships, a crucial aspect of real estate. However, some users find the software's functionality somewhat limited compared to competitors like LionDesk or Top Producer CRM, particularly when it comes to advanced features and integrations. For instance, a lack of in-depth reporting tools and limited customization options are common complaints. Referral Maker seems best suited for real estate professionals already invested in the Buffini & Company ecosystem who prioritize simplicity and ease of use over a wider range of features. If you're looking for a basic CRM to manage contacts and stay organized, Referral Maker could be a good fit. However, if you require robust reporting, advanced automation, or integrations with other platforms, exploring alternatives might be worthwhile.

Show more

Screenshots

Top Alternatives in CRM Software


Copper CRM

Creatio

Dynamics 365 Sales

Freshsales

HubSpot Sales

Insightly

monday sales CRM

Nimble CRM

Oracle Sales Cloud

Pipedrive

Pipeliner CRM

Salesforce Sales Cloud

SAP Sales Cloud

Sugar Sell

Zendesk Sell

Zoho CRM

Related Categories

WE DISTILL IT INTO REAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPARISON REPORTS, PRICE GUIDES and more...

Compare products
Comparison Report
Just drag this link to the bookmark bar.
?
Table settings