Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: CRM software

  1. #1
    Senior Member Tobeman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    IN YOUR FRIDGE, AWPIN' YOUR NOOBS
    Posts
    1,823
    Thanks
    34
    Thanked
    11 times in 11 posts

    CRM software

    I'm soon to start a new job, and need to implement a CRM system from scratch. It would be used for planning a day ahead for members of staff, who to call, who to pay visits to, who to chase up, who to thank.

    It needs to store personal information regarding clients, right down to their personal interests as it will be used for taking them out on functions and hospitality events. It should also have the ability to log any correspondence, or log that correspondence has been made (dates, method (phone, email, visit) etc.)

    My only real experience lies with ACT! And that is very limited. What are your thoughts? Though I've barely used it, I can see it seems to integrate well with the Office package (Not sure aboug 2007?) which is a real plus for the others that will be using it.
    Any other recommendations? I've heard that the rest of the
    business uses "Fusion" (I think thats what its called) but we have the go ahead to use what we want.

    Ta!

  2. #2
    Does he need a reason? Funkstar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    19,874
    Thanks
    630
    Thanked
    965 times in 816 posts
    • Funkstar's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte EG45M-DS2H
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core2Quad Q9550 (2.83GHz)
      • Memory:
      • 8GB OCZ PC2-6400C5 800MHz Quad Channel
      • Storage:
      • 650GB Western Digital Caviar Blue
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 512MB ATI Radeon HD4550
      • PSU:
      • Antec 350W 80+ Efficient PSU
      • Case:
      • Antec NSK1480 Slim Mini Desktop Case
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2407 + 2408 monitors
      • Internet:
      • Zen 8mb
    we have been looking at Microsoft CRM at my place. It's quite expensive, but nothing else we looked at could touch it as far as customisation, integration with Exchange and remote access are concerned. We are also now looking at replacing Sage with Great Planes too. No idea when this will happen, probably at the start of the next financial year to be honest.

    I did also notice an advert or two for SAP SME software. Not had a look at it, but it looks like they are trying to get more than just the large enterprise business.

  3. #3
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    53
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    • azrael's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Rampage II Extreme
      • CPU:
      • I7 920
      • Memory:
      • 6Gb DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 4 x 146Gb 15k U320 SCSI in RAID 0
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2 x XFX GTX280
      • PSU:
      • Thermaltake 1KW
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster CM Stacker 830
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Ultimate
      • Monitor(s):
      • 3 x 24" Dell Ultrasharp
      • Internet:
      • ADSL Max
    Funkstar has mentioned two of the best. It just depends on what your budget is.

    Goldmine is another but again is expensive.

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Leicestershire
    Posts
    1,212
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    31 times in 30 posts
    • madman045's system
      • Motherboard:
      • P9X79 Pro
      • CPU:
      • I7-3820
      • Memory:
      • 32GB
      • Storage:
      • Not enough!
      • Graphics card(s):
      • HD7970
      • PSU:
      • 850w Corsair
      • Case:
      • Corsair Carbide 300R
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7 Ultimate X64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2713HM & 2007WFP
      • Internet:
      • Plusnet FTTC - 30mbit/7mbit
    We are currently having fun at work installing Microsoft CRM.

    We got it as part of our action pack subscription.

    Problems so far, SQL not installing correctly and the reporting service not installing correctly in IIS and permissions issues.

    I will let you know tomorrow when im in the office what its like to use.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Tobeman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    IN YOUR FRIDGE, AWPIN' YOUR NOOBS
    Posts
    1,823
    Thanks
    34
    Thanked
    11 times in 11 posts
    Quote Originally Posted by azrael View Post
    Funkstar has mentioned two of the best. It just depends on what your budget is.

    Goldmine is another but again is expensive.
    Microsoft CRM, Great Planes, SAP SME, Goldmine.

    Noted

    Will investigate. Don't suppose you could provide a brief comparison, pros and cons, notable features of each.. or any you have experience with could you?

  6. #6
    Senior Member Tobeman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    IN YOUR FRIDGE, AWPIN' YOUR NOOBS
    Posts
    1,823
    Thanks
    34
    Thanked
    11 times in 11 posts
    Quote Originally Posted by madman045 View Post
    We are currently having fun at work installing Microsoft CRM.

    We got it as part of our action pack subscription.

    Problems so far, SQL not installing correctly and the reporting service not installing correctly in IIS and permissions issues.

    I will let you know tomorrow when im in the office what its like to use.
    I installed Sage (which includes SQL server) for my MD to take a look at on his POS eMachines PC at home that is in such a need of a format. A good 30gb of music, thousands of photos, emails dating back till 2003 in Outlook and 2 kids with all the usual install and web browse traits they come with at that age!

    That took a good hour to install.

    I tried looking for screenies, if you could post some that would be handy, a decent UI for the IT-backwards is going to be a necessity!

  7. #7
    Senior Member Tobeman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    IN YOUR FRIDGE, AWPIN' YOUR NOOBS
    Posts
    1,823
    Thanks
    34
    Thanked
    11 times in 11 posts
    Got a guy coming in from FrontRange tomorrow to discuss Goldmine, anything you guys can leave feedback on?

    Anything I should know that he may not tell me?

  8. #8
    Does he need a reason? Funkstar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    19,874
    Thanks
    630
    Thanked
    965 times in 816 posts
    • Funkstar's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte EG45M-DS2H
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core2Quad Q9550 (2.83GHz)
      • Memory:
      • 8GB OCZ PC2-6400C5 800MHz Quad Channel
      • Storage:
      • 650GB Western Digital Caviar Blue
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 512MB ATI Radeon HD4550
      • PSU:
      • Antec 350W 80+ Efficient PSU
      • Case:
      • Antec NSK1480 Slim Mini Desktop Case
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2407 + 2408 monitors
      • Internet:
      • Zen 8mb
    don't know much about Goldmine. Does it need to be accessed remotely? I know with Microsoft CRM the whole interface delivered through your browser, although you would never know if you didn't look properly. This means you don't have to train people twice for the web and non web interfaces.

    Looks like we are going down the Microsoft Dynamics GP route. Instead of MS CRM and Great Planes for accounting etc. Dynamics encompasses it all and uses a different licensing model. It's going to be a lot of money to get set up, but most of that is getting it set up, licencing is only about 20% of the cost.

    This could cost up in the region of £100K including hardware and training.

  9. #9
    HEXUS.net Webmaster
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    3,108
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    I've got years of experience in delivering CRM solutions for companies, primarily using Siebel but I've looked at Oracle, PeopleSoft and Clarify. If you're looking to deploy an off the shelf solution for a small user base look at Sugar CRM, it's free under certain licence conditions and pretty easy to modify.

    www.sugarcrm.com

    Can't comment on Goldmines I'm afraid, first time I've heard of it

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Leicestershire
    Posts
    1,212
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    31 times in 30 posts
    • madman045's system
      • Motherboard:
      • P9X79 Pro
      • CPU:
      • I7-3820
      • Memory:
      • 32GB
      • Storage:
      • Not enough!
      • Graphics card(s):
      • HD7970
      • PSU:
      • 850w Corsair
      • Case:
      • Corsair Carbide 300R
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7 Ultimate X64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2713HM & 2007WFP
      • Internet:
      • Plusnet FTTC - 30mbit/7mbit
    Ive installed, used and administered Goldmine and for what it is, is a very good product.

    Certainly along side Act

    I have not seen the latest one as of yet.

    Iain,

    We have looked at SugarCRM, easy to install etc.. yes, but configuring it and the client maintaining it, no as we found they could not do it.

    I personally am looking at it from home as i found it a quick and cheap solution.

    But we mainly resell Act so thats what we use at the moment.

  11. #11
    Anthropomorphic Personification shaithis's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    The Last Aerie
    Posts
    10,857
    Thanks
    645
    Thanked
    872 times in 736 posts
    • shaithis's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P8Z77 WS
      • CPU:
      • i7 3770k @ 4.5GHz
      • Memory:
      • 32GB HyperX 1866
      • Storage:
      • Lots!
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire Fury X
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX850
      • Case:
      • Corsair 600T (White)
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • 2 x Dell 3007
      • Internet:
      • Zen 80Mb Fibre
    Quote Originally Posted by Tobeman View Post
    It needs to store personal information regarding clients, right down to their personal interests as it will be used for taking them out on functions and hospitality events.
    Be VERY careful what you store, the moment you talk about anything "personal" you are starting to tread on thin ice as far as the data protection act goes.
    Main PC: Asus Rampage IV Extreme / 3960X@4.5GHz / Antec H1200 Pro / 32GB DDR3-1866 Quad Channel / Sapphire Fury X / Areca 1680 / 850W EVGA SuperNOVA Gold 2 / Corsair 600T / 2x Dell 3007 / 4 x 250GB SSD + 2 x 80GB SSD / 4 x 1TB HDD (RAID 10) / Windows 10 Pro, Yosemite & Ubuntu
    HTPC: AsRock Z77 Pro 4 / 3770K@4.2GHz / 24GB / GTX 1080 / SST-LC20 / Antec TP-550 / Hisense 65k5510 4K TV / HTC Vive / 2 x 240GB SSD + 12TB HDD Space / Race Seat / Logitech G29 / Win 10 Pro
    HTPC2: Asus AM1I-A / 5150 / 4GB / Corsair Force 3 240GB / Silverstone SST-ML05B + ST30SF / Samsung UE60H6200 TV / Windows 10 Pro
    Spare/Loaner: Gigabyte EX58-UD5 / i950 / 12GB / HD7870 / Corsair 300R / Silverpower 700W modular
    NAS 1: HP N40L / 12GB ECC RAM / 2 x 3TB Arrays || NAS 2: Dell PowerEdge T110 II / 24GB ECC RAM / 2 x 3TB Hybrid arrays || Network:Buffalo WZR-1166DHP w/DD-WRT + HP ProCurve 1800-24G
    Laptop: Dell Precision 5510 Printer: HP CP1515n || Phone: Huawei P30 || Other: Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Pro 10.1 CM14 / Playstation 4 + G29 + 2TB Hybrid drive

  12. #12
    Senior Member Tobeman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    IN YOUR FRIDGE, AWPIN' YOUR NOOBS
    Posts
    1,823
    Thanks
    34
    Thanked
    11 times in 11 posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Funkstar View Post
    don't know much about Goldmine. Does it need to be accessed remotely? I know with Microsoft CRM the whole interface delivered through your browser, although you would never know if you didn't look properly. This means you don't have to train people twice for the web and non web interfaces.

    Looks like we are going down the Microsoft Dynamics GP route. Instead of MS CRM and Great Planes for accounting etc. Dynamics encompasses it all and uses a different licensing model. It's going to be a lot of money to get set up, but most of that is getting it set up, licencing is only about 20% of the cost.

    This could cost up in the region of £100K including hardware and training.
    Waaaaay out of our budget! But then again, theres only going to be upto 5 users for the time being..

    Quote Originally Posted by Iain View Post
    I've got years of experience in delivering CRM solutions for companies, primarily using Siebel but I've looked at Oracle, PeopleSoft and Clarify. If you're looking to deploy an off the shelf solution for a small user base look at Sugar CRM, it's free under certain licence conditions and pretty easy to modify.

    www.sugarcrm.com

    Can't comment on Goldmines I'm afraid, first time I've heard of it
    Permission to pick your brains, guv'nor?

    Quote Originally Posted by shaithis View Post
    Be VERY careful what you store, the moment you talk about anything "personal" you are starting to tread on thin ice as far as the data protection act goes.
    I was thinking things like "Enjoys golf".. is that a crime?

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Mechcommander 2
    By Lee H in forum Gaming
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 23-03-2006, 05:59 PM
  2. Cut software piracy, boost UK economy?
    By Trippledence in forum Question Time
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 20-12-2005, 04:29 PM
  3. Linux - Install Java
    By nvening in forum Software
    Replies: 41
    Last Post: 20-12-2005, 03:14 PM
  4. Software devs still not doing their jobs right!
    By aidanjt in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 46
    Last Post: 08-08-2005, 06:54 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •