Integrate with Dynamics CRM Online using Web API

Build a REST service layer as an integration point to CRM

Why integration

The Enterprise Information System is like modern warfare, both are composed of highly sophisticated elements. In the modern battlefield, adding new weapons like stealth aircraft can not win a war; Situational awareness with information sharing and collaboration between military assets from ballistic missile submarines to special forces on the ground is the “game changer”. In the current business environment, to gain an edge, just implementing a top-rank application like Dynamics CRM is not enough, the key is to collaborate with vital business data to help business users to make informed decisions.

In military terms, it is called “Network Centric Warfare”. In Business, it is called Integration.

Integration with CRM

Recently, I have been working on a project to integrate Dynamics CRM into an Enterprise Service Bus system. I found that the process of integration to CRM as a whole is not well documented for beginners. The purpose of this article is to share my experience in building a REST service layer as an integration point to CRM 2016.

Scenario

To illustrate the integration process, let’s assume a company recently implemented Dynamics CRM 2016. The sales team wants to integrate an enterprise mobile app with CRM. The Mobile app will…