For anyone who was leery about Microsoft (News - Alert)'s move to buy LinkedIn, the move is starting to bear some really noteworthy fruit. Recent word from the company suggests that the plans to integrate LinkedIn (News - Alert) with Dynamics 365 are well under way and, by the end of the summer, will be available for current users.
The reports suggest that, as of July 2017, LinkedIn's Sales Navigator and Microsoft's Dynamics 365 for Sales will be integrated and offering up some exciting new value. Users will be able to not only get context-based recommendations provided to them, but also will be able to get tailored content routed to them, along with lead updates, overall account updates, and more.
Further word suggests that there will be a promotional bundle for users that brings together not only the Enterprise Edition of Dynamics 365 for Sales, but also the LinkedIn Sales Navigator Team edition for $135 per user per month.
That's not all Microsoft had to offer, though, as Microsoft directly announced a new human resources-focused app, Dynamics 365 for Talent. Connecting directly to LinkedIn Recruiter, it offers a complete human resources profile that not only connects Office 365, but also both Dynamics 365 and LinkedIn. This also would be made available in July, along with preview versions of the Dynamics 365 apps for both sales and marketing functions.
Further, Microsoft unveiled its Dynamics 365 for Retail, which would give retailers better access to management functions for employees, customers and inventory, along with certain balance sheet elements.
No matter how you look at it, Microsoft either has brought out or will be bringing out soon a wide array of tools for its LinkedIn connection. Most of these are Dynamics 365 related, but given the sheer number of fields it's walking into, this isn't exactly a bad move. Some might be underwhelmed, yes, but Microsoft is certainly making hay while the sun shines. Given that LinkedIn is actually expanding its subscriber base—reports put it as up to 500 million registered members as compared to 450 million back in October 2016—Microsoft's move to offer more services helps keep that expanded membership base in place.
Microsoft has a valuable property in LinkedIn—it paid $26.2 billion for it, after all—and all these tools help make sure Microsoft gets the most value out of it as well. With all the new Dynamics 365 tools out, that should go a long way toward getting that value.