Saturday, 25 October 2025

Managing Solution Architecture in Microsoft Dynamics CRM – Lessons from the Field

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In large-scale CRM implementations, managing solution layers and platform integrity is critical for stability and scalability. At Volvo, we adopted a structured approach to balance platform governance with development agility.

Here’s what worked for us:


Platform vs Dev Solutions

  • Platform Solution: Core managed components deployed by the platform team—locked for consistency.
  • Dev Solution: Customizations layered on top of the platform solution without breaking its integrity.

Updates vs Upgrades

  • Updates: Incremental changes (e.g., adding fields, modifying views) applied safely over the platform layer.
  • Upgrades: Full solution replacement—only possible when no immutable platform layer exists.

Using Patches

  • Deploy small fixes without re-importing entire solutions.
  • Workflow: Create patch → Import → Consolidate via “Clone Solution.”

Governance Strategies

  • Collaboration: Align platform and dev teams early.
  • Standardization: Separate platform and custom components for clarity.
  • Incremental Updates: Prefer updates and patches over full upgrades.

Publisher Strategy

  • Multiple Publishers: Better governance, accountability, and audit trails.
  • Single Publisher: Simplified upgrades but less oversight.

Key Takeaways:

  • Respect platform layers to avoid deployment conflicts.
  • Use patches and updates for agility without compromising stability.
  • Define clear rules for dependencies, upgrades, and communication across teams.

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