CRM vendors are moving their architecture from client/server, Web-enabled, and 3-tier architectures to full N-tiered architected applications.

CRM vendors are including more portal architecture.

CRM vendors are incorporating field force automation modules.

Many CRM vendors are beginning to offer product configuration tools.

Wireless components are increasingly common in CRM platforms.

XML is playing a major role in all areas of CRM.

Web services are the new software infrastructure that will facilitate a whole new generation of super-charged business interactions in CRM; another emerging standard is DOM.

Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) is now being offered by many vendors.

Many vendors are beginning to align and develop new products with framework architecture.

Vendors are re-architecting products to service the requirements of ASPs.

Enterprise/satellite server architecture is being offered by more vendors.

CRM vendors are increasingly providing CIC (customer interaction center) solutions.

More CRM vendors are beginning to address multilingual/multicurrency at the core of the architecture.

More CRM vendors are offering graphical workflow mapping tools.

Numerous CRM vendors are incorporating Business Intelligence through ETLs or connecting to data warehouses.