Step-by-Step Guide to Updating Multiple Microsoft CRM Records Using SSIS

Microsoft Dynamics CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is a powerful tool for managing customer relationships and data. Using SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) packages, you can update CRM records efficiently. Data can be extracted, transformed, and loaded into CRM using SSIS. Our step-by-step guide will walk you through updating Microsoft CRM records using an SSIS package.

Prerequisites:

1. Microsoft Dynamics CRM instance and access to the system.
2. SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) installed on your machine.
3. Basic understanding of SSIS and CRM concepts.

Step 1: Set up the SSIS Environment

1. Launch SQL Server Data Tools or SQL Server Business Intelligence Development Studio.
2. Create a new Integration Services Project.
3. Add a new SSIS package to the project.

Step 2: Configure the CRM Connection Manager

1. In the SSIS package, drag and drop the “CRM Connection Manager” component from the SSIS toolbox onto the design surface.
2. Double-click on the CRM Connection Manager to configure the connection properties.
3. Enter the CRM server URL, username, and password to establish the connection.

Step 3: Extract Data from the Source

1. Add a suitable data source component to the SSIS package (e.g., OLE DB Source, Flat File Source).
2. Configure the data source to retrieve the necessary records that need to be updated in CRM.
3. Use SQL queries, data transformations, or any other suitable methods to shape the data according to your requirements.

Step 4: Add CRM Destination Component

1. Drag and drop the “CRM Destination” component from the SSIS toolbox onto the design surface.
2. Connect the output of the data source component to the CRM destination component.
3. Double-click on the CRM Destination component to configure its properties.

Step 5: Map Source Columns to CRM Fields

1. In the CRM Destination component editor, select the appropriate CRM entity (e.g., Accounts, Contacts, Leads) to update.
2. Map the source columns from the data source to the corresponding CRM fields in the destination component.
3. Ensure that the mapping is accurate to avoid data mismatches or errors during the update process.

Step 6: Set Update Options

1. In the CRM Destination component editor, navigate to the “Mappings” tab.
2. Configure the update options for the destination CRM entity. a. Select the primary key column that uniquely identifies the records in CRM. b. Choose the update action (e.g., Update, Upsert, Merge) based on your requirements. c. Specify error handling options, such as ignoring errors or redirecting them to an error output.

Step 7: Execute and Monitor the Package

1. Save and build the SSIS package.
2. Execute the package to initiate the update process.
3. Monitor the execution progress and review any error or success messages.
4. If errors occur, troubleshoot and fix them accordingly.
5. Analyze the package execution log or reports to ensure the updates were applied successfully.

Step 8: Schedule Package Execution (Optional)

1. Deploy the SSIS package to SQL Server Integration Services Catalog or any suitable location.
2. Utilize SQL Server Agent or any other scheduling tool to schedule the package execution at specific intervals.
3. Configure appropriate logging and notifications to monitor scheduled executions.

SSIS packages provide a flexible and efficient way to manage and synchronize Microsoft CRM records. With the power of SSIS, you can seamlessly update CRM records from various sources by following this step-by-step guide. Keep your CRM system’s data integrity by validating the data, ensuring accurate mappings, and monitoring execution.