Zendesk, a provider of cloud-based contact center software, partnered up with Microsoft (News - Alert) to help sales and support organizations to work together. The companies revealed a two-way integration with Microsoft Dynamics CRM and contact center software.

The integration allows customer service agents to access Microsoft Dynamics CRM customer data from Zendesk and vice versa. Organizations can choose their preferred platform because both customer views are available through both platforms.

“Zendesk for Microsoft Dynamics CRM provides organizations a way to give the personalized experience customers want by allowing every employee who is in contact with a customer -- from a sales rep to a support agent -- to quickly see every interaction the customer has had with the company,” said Zack Urlocker, Zendesk’s COO, in a statement.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM is updating with a primary theme of “CRM Anywhere.” It’s extending the reach of the product with a groundbreaking mobile solution, cross browser support, enterprise cloud, and enhanced social capabilities. The update will include a new cloud-based, cross-platform native mobile client for Windows Phone 7.5, iPad, iPhone (News - Alert), Android and Blackberry devices called Microsoft Dynamics CRM Mobile. All mobile configuration, security, and management needs are taken care of in the cloud, and provides zero-touch mobile updates and keeps your CRM data up to date in the background.

Zendesk’s contact center software includes features such as ticket management, multi-channel support, reporting and analytics, self-service support, custom branding, integrations, security, and internationalization. More than 65 million people around the world receive support from Zendesk-powered customer service departments and help desks. Its customers experience positive ratings for over 86 percent of their interactions.

Zendesk isn’t the only company that finds Microsoft’s CRM solution appealing. Saia, Inc., a less-than-truckload (LTL) company, chose Microsoft Dynamics CRM solution to enhance its sales and marketing efforts, becoming one of the first LTL carriers to utilize the product. The software was selected due to its robust capabilities and ease of integration and interface with other Microsoft products.