This week we released a Service Pack for SmartConnect 2011. This has turned out to be a little more than a service pack and has included one big change to the User Interface. The User Interface for SmartConnect is now entirely external to Microsoft Dynamics GP.

WHY:

1. To support CRM 2011 we had to use .net 4 controls. Dexterity did not allow this on GP 2011 - so we have moved outside of dex completely to provide the functionality out partner require.
2. To better leverage all of the destinations and data sources available in SmartConnect. It makes little sense to build an Excel to SalesForce integration inside of GP!
3. To simplify security by not having to deal with multiple layers.
4. The depth of SmartConnect now means that many partners are using SmartConnect for projects that may not have anything to do with GP. Here are a few examples:
1. Exporting data to XML from Microsoft CRM:  (Uses a CRM datasource and File destination)
2. Pushing data from a GP SQL table to a custom SQL table. (ODBC data source and SQL destination)
3. Reading an XML and turning it into an Excel file. (XML data source and File destination)
4. Moving data from CRM on premise to SalesForce.com
5. Exporting CRM online data to a local SQL table for reporting. (Other integrations call this amazing cloud technology - it is standard with SmartConnect).
6. Integration from a POS system into BI SQL tables.
7. This list goes on for ever.

FAQ QUESTION 1:  Does this mean we are moving away from GP as a core product? 

Absolutely not. We are still a GP centric integration and automation tool. That said we have heard our partners and understand the need for a single tool for all your integration needs. Technology changes meant we had to move outside of GP and this is entirely a good thing for all our existing customers and all our future customers. So when you upgrade SmartConnect next time around - you can still launch SmartConnect from the GP menus (if you want) - but doing so will launch SmartConnect external to GP.


FAQ QUESTION 2: Do we lose any functionality?

Absolutely not. All the current functionality remains inside of SmartConnect - but this move has opened us up to add more functionality that was not available inside the GP dev limitations.

FAQ QUESTION 3:   So what is next in the plans with SmartConnect?

Sex. Yes now that we are outside of GP we get to go sexy. SmartConnect will be getting a new and friendly user interface to make it more fun to work with. We are excited about this and think all of you who use it will be equally inspired. 
We are of course always looking for feedback and development ideas - so if you have dreamt up a feature or discovered a gaping hole that needs filling during one of your projects,  now is the time to tell us about it.