So some time ago I promised a series on integrating K2 blackpearl with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4, well here it is. This series of posts will discuss a number of ways in which you can integrate Dynamics CRM 4 with K2 blackpearl enabling you to rapidly build process-driven applications that span the organisation, its people, its services, its information and systems.

This series of posts is a work in progress and by no means a "definitive guide" on the subject. The idea of these posts is to begin by simply implementing a point style solution and hopefully over time evolve these into a more robust, repeatable framework (fingers crossed).

Some of the key questions I'll be looking to answer during this series include:

* How do you start a K2 process from within Dynamics CRM 4?

* How do you access a K2 tasks in Dynamics CRM 4?

* How do you use the Dynamics CRM 4 interface for a client events?

* Can I view the View Flow diagram from within a Dynamics CRM 4 user interface?

* How do you action a worklist item from within a Dynamics CRM 4?

* How do I get access to Dynamics CRM 4 entity data in K2 blackpearl processes & K2 SmartObjects?

To address these questions the agenda as it stands at the moment is as follows:

Chapter 1 - Initiating K2 blackpearl Processes

Chapter 2 - Leveraging the CRM UI for Client Events

Chapter 3 - Exposing Actions in CRM forms

Chapter 4 - Completing Client Events in CRM forms

Chapter 5 - Exposing the K2 blackpearl Worklist

... and more to come.

Dynamics CRM 4 Service Broker - Alpha

Together with Seb, I have been working on developing a Dynamic CRM 4 Service Broker to expose the CRM 4 entity model in K2 blackpearl and thereby allowing you to create K2 SmartObjects on top of that. This has been a side project of mine for some time and in an effort speed up its development and generally improve the quality of the end result I will be releasing the source code to the community via K2 Underground in the next couple of days. 

I look forward to all the CRM 4 experts that I know we have in the K2 Community contributing to this and making it a key K2 blackpearl asset. If you'd like to contribute or have any feedback then please get in touch with me through K2 Underground.

UPDATED: The Dynamics CRM 4 Service Broker source code can now be found on K2 blackmarket.