Tribold is a key ingredient in the Microsoft mash. The software giant’s “mashable ecosystem” has been instrumental in putting the power of Microsoft behind independent software vendors (ISVs) like Tribold to raise their visibility to key stakeholders and enable service providers to choose the communications information technology (CommIT) architecture that is right for them.

The Microsoft-Tribold combination provides a robust solution between Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Tribold Enterprise Product Manager, and Tribold’s configure-price-quote (CPQ) services engine, as well as integration with key OSS and BSS applications. This gives service providers the ability to innovate, collaborate and launch new products while populating that information in real time — with all of the pricing and product rules — to CSRs who can then communicate, close and fulfill orders for customers by using Microsoft Dynamics, which then provides real-time notifications to customers and maintains a current view of the services as they’re delivered.

Microsoft Dynamics is a robust, cloud-based CRM platform that possesses unique value of its own. Harnessing the cloud is part of it, as it provides flexibility of access and the power of carrier-grade scalability. However, there is other value too, such as out-of-the-box integration with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, a key communications platform for many organizations. The functionality of Dynamics provides more power than other CRM solutions, like Salesforce.com, whose strength lies primarily in its simplicity. And even though it seems more complex in nature, Dynamics overcomes this potential drawback by providing a familiar Microsoft interface that millions of customers are already quite proficient at using. But to make it telco-ready, Microsoft needs partners like Tribold.

“Together, we help products like Microsoft Dynamics CRM fit into the CSP operating environment by giving it industry-specific, dynamic product rules, pricing and catalog to fuel the CSP’s service and retail channels, whether that be on the web, [at a] call center or in the storefront,” says Ernest Margitta.

Putting products first

The game is changing, but the heart of it remains the same: personalized services and unique customer experience. The pace of change has never been faster, and harnessing product innovation is paramount to service-provider success. Leveraging that innovation throughout an organization in new, creative ways to empower the customer and enhance the experience may be the only competitive differentiator left. As service providers evolve and transform their product experience across each customer touchpoint, they are going to need ISVs like Tribold and its partner ecosystem to create a product-aware and product-centric infrastructure. But it’s about more than that — it’s about creating an experience customers love.

Be like Hank. Make your customers your advocates. Let them rush home to show off their new prize. Let them cherish the experience and share it unabatedly with their friends and family. Gain their unwavering trust and vigorous loyalty. Make Hank proud.