Dynamics CRM Webhooks

Question

I want to integrate our Sales CRM dynamics system with another application. Approaches we are considering are using web api and webhooks.

• Can we use webhooks without using an azure function/azure service?
• what all are the challenges?
• Is there any other better methods to pull data from Dynamics CRM?
• What all things should be considered while doing an integration with Dynamics CRM system?

(I am new to Dynamics) link followed:https://dynamicsninja.blog/2019/05/22/d365-webhooks-part-1/

Answer 1

If it's a relatively simple integration, using Power Automate might be your best bet.

https://flow.microsoft.com/

To answer your specific questions, though:

• Can we use webhooks without using an azure function/azure service?
  • No. You'll need to use Power Automate, Logic Apps, or some other method to watch for changes.
• what all are the challenges?
  • That's a pretty broad question, can't help you without specific things you've already tried.
• Is there any other better methods to pull data from Dynamics CRM? What all things should be considered while doing an integration with Dynamics CRM system?
  • If you're just doing reporting (pulling data) then PowerBI is a good choice, otherwise it's the API for custom integration or Power Automate/Logic Apps for something that needs a little less customization.

Answer 2

If you realy want to have a CRM fully integrated i would consider to try

• Power Automate (as said before): it's a good way to easily connect several systems

• Azure Functions: Sometimes power automate is just not enough but with azure functions you can easily create some serverless code. I have some aazure functions that are triggered by receiving a message in a queue by power automate for example. You can make both work together and that what we have at work :)

The biggets challeng is the "know-how" I guess. A lot of people do not know it yet. Azure functions can be a little difficult at the beggining (even more if you want to use early bound classes for you CRM). With some time you will get it.

Answer 3

If you want do distribute your tool as a dynamics solution package which than should be added to an organisation without generating API token in azure and stuff like that i would suggest you don't pull data from dynamics (that way you need to authorize at the ms webapi with a token generated in azure and so on). Instead use web components and plugins triggered by core messages to push the data to your api.