CRM UK - the official blog of the CRM specialists at TSG

Dashboards for Marketing

Business data visualisation and analysis expert Stephen Few, stated in his 2006 book ‘Information Dashboard Design’, that:

“A dashboard is a visual display of the most important information needed to achieve one or more objectives; consolidated and arranged on a single screen so the information can be monitored at a glance.”

Dashboards have caught on and are becoming more and more popular, especially for those in Marketing. A report from early 2008 found that nearly 47% of marketers surveyed indicated their organisations were launching a marketing dashboard project or had plans to do so. The reasons were mainly to simply help marketers get a better grasp of their data; one of the marketer’s most important and often overlooked marketing tools.

Dashboards help businesses work together, speed up decision-making and improve ROI. They help create organizational alignment because everyone is looking at the same thing. However, they’re not about large business intelligence projects or massive technology implementations. They are readily available to everyone.

So, many marketers have been successfully using dashboards for some time. They can be highly effective tools for marketing professionals. They work. The questions are: how can they work for you? And how can you get started?

Concentrix has released a free whitepaper: “Top 5 Best Practices for Creating Effective Campaign Dashboards”. This whitepaper (which you can download here) describes how dashboards can work for you, how you can get started, the top 5 best practices, and 7 mistakes to avoid.

Tableau software is a great tool for developing marketing dashboards (here’s some Tableau screenshots). However, the whitepaper is ‘product agnostic’ - it sticks to the principles of dashboards and is not product specific.

So, to find out more about marketing dashboards, download the whitepaper or feel free to request a copy from [email protected]. Also if you’re interested in Stephen Few’s book ‘Information Dashboard Design’, (which has some excellent reviews) it’s is available on Amazon.co.uk here

Sage CRM 6.2 – Some questions answered

We recently announced that Concentrix is supplying the latest version of Sage CRM, (which is Sage CRM version 6.2). Since then we’ve had a few queries about the new release of the software, from new and potential users. So, here’s the answers to a selection of the questions we’ve had about Sage CRM 6.2 (in no particular order).

Q: Are the updates in Sage CRM v 6.20 applicable to the Sage CRM module of Sage 200?

A: No, the updates are not applicable to the Sage 200 CRM module. Sage 200 CRM will be updated in due course and probably include several key aspects of the Sage CRM 6.2 update, but they will not necessarily be the same. 

Q: What SQL systems does version 6.2 run on?

A: Sage CRM 6.2 runs on SQL 2000, 2005 or 2008. CRM install is supplied with SQL 2005 Express

Q: Using the new Related Entities feature in Sage CRM v6.2, how many relationships can one record (e.g. a Company) have?

A: One record can have as many relationships as required.

Q: Does Sage CRM v 6.2 have a limit to the amount of records that can be shown in a relationship box?

A: Yes, there is one relationship per box.

Q: The Sage CRM 6.2 What's New Guide states that an Extensibility Module License is needed to record or script a component. Do you also need this license to install a component recorded/scripted on another system that does have the EM License?

A: This statement simply means you need a full CRM licence that allows development

Q: Using Outlook integration, a non-CRM user creates an appointment in Outlook that includes a user of the same Exchange Server who is also CRM user. When synchronisation occurs, does the Communication appear in CRM?

A: Yes.  When the CRM user is due for synchronisation, the appointment will come across.  It will appear in the user's calendar.

Q: Can the Related Entities functionality be used on Custom Primary Entities.

A: Yes. If you’re using the Sage CRM v6.2 Entity wizard it will automatically set up the functionality needed to create relationships between custom entities.

There’s more information about Sage CRM 6.2 on our website (or in a previous post). However if you have specific questions or queries about this latest release of the software, or any other aspect of Sage CRM, please contact Concentrix.

 

Sage 200 v 2009 due shortly

The next generation of Sage software is coming soon! In the form of Sage 200 – 2009, the mid-market ERP system.

 

What is Sage 200?

Sage 200 is a powerful suite of business management software for mid-sized companies. The latest release is due out in February 2009, and will help you manage your entire business.

 

What does Sage 200 do?

Sage 200 automates and brings together all the key processes within your company. This improves your business efficiency, competitiveness, customer satisfaction and ultimately profitability.

 

How does it work?

Sage 200 uses integrated software modules to help manage each part of your business. There are modules for marketing and sales right through to finance, customer service and much more.  It is a genuine business-wide application. Rather than having to run separate, unconnected pieces of software to manage different areas of your company, the Sage 200 modules enable your organisation to control all of its main businesses processes from within a single software suite. In other words, Sage 200 is a fully integrated business management software solution.

 

Sage 200 modules

The Sage 200 suite consists of two foundation modules. These are Sage 200 Financials and Sage 200 CRM. Then, there’s a variety of additional modules available so Sage 200 can be deployed to meet your specific industry, sector, or business process requirements. The optional Sage 200 modules include:

·                     Sage 200 Commercials

·                     Sage 200 Project Accounting

·                     Sage 200 Construction

·                     Sage 200 Manufacturing

·                     Sage 200 Point of Sale

·                     Sage 200 Wholesale and Retail

·                     Sage 200 Business Analysis and Forecasting

 

The new Concentrix website has full details on Sage 200, including a Sage 200 factsheet and overview, brochures, datasheets, Sage 200 screenshots, full details of all the modules, and industry specific solutions. So, for more information please take a look at the accounts and ERP software section of our website, or please contact us direct.

Sage CRM Version 6.2 has been released.

Sage CRM version 6.20 was launched in November 2008. The newest version of the software brings a variety of new features which significantly improve the functionality of the solution.

The features of the new software include:

Themes – This functionality enables you to change the look of your Sage CRM system , you can therefore customise the colour of the system relevant to job roles. This feature provides the end user with the ability to customise their solution with their company colour, font and logo. The result is that the end user can ensure that their CRM solution emulates their corporate identity.

 

Relationship Manager – This feature enables the end user to set up relationships between primary entities, it also enables you to link the primary entities. Subsequently you can relate a company to a person, or an opportunity. You can also set up Parent, Child and Sibling relationships. This tool provides the end user with a visual representation of the relationships which exist, facilitating a greater understanding.

 

New Email Editor Toolbar – This new toolbar includes:

• Enhanced formatting
• Ability to insert tables
• HTML editor
• Preview/Print Options
• Spell Checking functionality

All of these functions enable the end user to create and send emails which are accurate, exciting and different.

Improved Microsoft Outlook Integration - The enhancements in the integration between Outlook and CRM mean that there is a more seamless user experience; this significantly improves the efficiency and effectiveness of the system and ultimately your organisation.

For more information about Sage CRM 6.2 and its new features, please contact Concentrix.

Concentrix Christmas Customer Surgery

Our next customer surgery is on Friday 12th December, at our head office in Mountsorrel.

The surgery gives our existing customers the opportunity to have an hour’s consultancy completely free of charge. You can talk to our experts about anything, whether you need more information, help or training. All you need to do is provide us with an agenda of what you want the hour to cover.

And with Christmas fast approaching we will be providing some Christmas themed refreshments, so why not come and join us for a mince pie!

To book your place at the Customer Surgery, or if you have any questions please contact us on 01509 410500 or email [email protected]