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

Concentrix Customer Surgery

Just a quick reminder about the Concentrix Customer Surgery on Wednesday 26^th August - we still have a few places left! The surgery is a great opportunity for existing customers to spend an hour with one of our CRM, Accounts, or Business Solutions specialists completely free of charge, while enjoying some light refreshments.

You can talk to our team about anything, ranging from your existing system, to software upgrades, tips, advice and future developments.

To book your place*, either email [email protected] or call 01509 410500 by Monday 17^th August.

*Please note to attend the surgery you have to book a place first.

Tableau 5.0, Business Intelligence Software packed with new features to enhance functionality

Tableau, the leading provider of Data Visualisation & Business Intelligence Software has recently released an updated version of their software. The next generation of Tableau software - Tableau 5.0 is faster, more secure and easier to manage than ever before.

Tableau 5.0 has more than 60 new features across four main themes including:

- Active views & dashboards

- Authoring rich experiences

- New data options

- Server Scalability and performance

So what are the benefits of the latest version? Well, all the new features are designed to improve the user experience, enabling users to ask better questions of their data. In addition, it will enable users to and provide better answers to questions based on the information they have found from the data.

Essentially, Tableau will provide users with a clearer view of what is happening within their organisation, enabling them to plan for the future – something which every organisation, irrespective of size or sector needs to do.

What makes Tableau even more appealing is that you do not need to be technically minded to use it. If you can use Excel you can use Tableau!

Concentrix is a key distributor of Tableau in the UK, and can connect the software to the live data in your Data Warehouse, CRM system, accounts system, marketing software, Excel spreadsheets or any other source.

For more information about the new features of Tableau 5.0 and to find out how Tableau can help your business, contact Concentrix on 01509 410500 or email [email protected]

Concentrix provides CRM systems to the Passenger Transport Sector

The passenger transport market is highly competitive and targets driven. All companies are striving to increase passenger numbers, reduce the amount of late arrivals and ultimately magnify profitability.

The majority of us use public transport from time to time.  For some, it is part of their daily routine. However, with the increased awareness of global warming and government schemes to reduce carbon footprint, it seems extremely likely that more and more of us will use public transport for our daily commute.  But with an increasing number of passengers, how can transport operating companies ensure that everyone receives excellent customer service? Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems could provide the answer.

CRM is a way of improving business efficiency. It is about building and strengthening customer relationships to keep them coming back. CRM systems provide substantial advantages to transport companies as they significantly improve the way the organisation operates. Deploying a suitable CRM system could significantly change the customer service for passenger transport operators by

- Improving service, communication and transparency with the customer

- Increasing operational efficiency

- Providing real-time reporting on all elements of performance against KPIs

- Enabling  quality control

However, implementing a CRM system is by no means the whole story. For a CRM system to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and ultimately productivity, it needs to be part of much wider cultural shift. In order for this to happen, many organisations require CRM training once their system has been deployed and this is something which Concentrix can provide.

Concentrix is an independent CRM, and IT solutions specialist based in the heart of the midlands in Loughborough. Concentrix supplies the best in breed CRM solutions including Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Sage CRM and FrontRange’s GoldMine. Concentrix also provides Security solutions from GFI, Sophos and WatchGuard.  Concentrix takes a product agnostic approach to supplying all software and this ensures you get the solution which is right for your business.

For more information about how CRM for the Transport Sector, and how CRM can help Passenger Transport operators to enhance their profitability, contact Concentrix on 01509 410500 or email [email protected]

Concentrix Helps Manufacturing Business Redeploy Sage 200.

Concentrix has released a new Sage 200 Case Study about canopy manufacutring company Inside2Outside.

Although Inside2Outside already had a Business Management Solution in place they needed a solution and more importantly a supplier who was capable of understanding their requirements and facilitating their needs.

As a leading manufacturer of outdoor canopies and the only canopy manufacturer concentrating on the education sector, Inside2Outside needed a Business Management Solution and more importantly a supplier who was capable of understanding their requirements and facilitating their needs.

Inside2Outside chose Concentrix as their preferred partner as their professional approach gave them the confidence that they were capable of understanding and interpreting their needs.

Concentrix provides the best in breed solutions including Sage CRM, Sage 200, Sage SalesLogix, Microsoft Dynamics CRM and FrontRange’s GoldMine. After assessing Inside2Outsides requirements Concentrix recommended Sage 200 as the best fit solution.

Sage 200 is perfect for organisations that need a solution which can be customised to fit their exact business requirements and integrates across departments and sites.

The sage 200 suite redeployed by Concentrix has enabled Inside2Outside to:

- Significantly reduce duplication of effort through a single, centralised system

- Provide employees with a complete overview of customers

- Improve efficiency, effectiveness and profitability

- Improve management information

- Facilitate better customer service

- Streamline business processes

Full details of this project are on the CRM Case Studies section of the Concentrix website. You can also download the case study as a PDF here. 

For more information about Sage 200 or Concentrix, please contact us on 01509 410500 or email: [email protected].

Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Sage 200 and Developer Vacancies at Concentrix

Due to continued strategic expansion, Concentrix currently has three job vacancies. These are for:

- C#/ASP.NET Developer - SQL, Microsoft IIS

- Sage 200 Consultant

- Microsoft Dynamics CRM Applications Consultant

Full details are on the job vacancies section of the Concentrix website. No agencies please (really, you’re wasting your time, sorry).

The closing date for all three job vacancies is 31^st August 2009.

Concentrix is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

CRM AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS SPECIALIST CONCENTRIX ATTAINS MICROSOFT AUTHORISED EDUCATION RESELLER STATUS

Here's the latest press release from Concentrix:

CRM AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS SPECIALIST CONCENTRIX ATTAINS MICROSOFT AUTHORISED EDUCATION RESELLER STATUS

Leading independent CRM and Business Management solutions specialist Concentrix has been achieved Authorised Education Reseller (AER) status from Microsoft. This means Concentrix can supply educational licences, which are heavily discounted, direct to qualifying customers.

John Odell, Senior Microsoft Consultant at Concentrix commented “We’re really pleased to have attained Authorised Education Reseller status in the Microsoft Partner Program. Along with our Gold Partner Status, it not only proves Concentrix has high levels of expertise with Microsoft Products, but also means we can pass on significant discounts to our customers in the education sector – of which we have many. ”

Established in 1999, Concentrix has a variety of customers in the education sector, and has delivered some substantial projects into UK colleges and training institutions. The company offers a selection of Microsoft solutions, including Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft Dynamics NAV and SharePoint, as well as accounting software, business intelligence software, hardware, IT infrastructure and a comprehensive range of supporting services.

Concentrix is seeing increased interest in its products and services from throughout the education sector. Microsoft Authorised Education Reseller status means the company can provide the discounted licences to schools, colleges, universities, institutions, boards of education, teachers, academic staff, students, and related institutions such as museums and libraries.

To achieve Microsoft Authorised Education Reseller Status, Concentrix had to meet a number of strict criteria set by Microsoft, including specific training and successfully passing an examination.

Background Information

Concentrix is a leading UK independent business management, customer relationship management (CRM) specialist, and IT solutions provider. Founded in 1999, Concentrix helps companies increase competitiveness, profitability and customer satisfaction by improving business processes, systems and IT.

Concentrix solutions are based on recognised, 'best-of-breed' software products. As well as providing Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Concentrix also supplies the Sage 200 suite, Sage CRM, Sage SalesLogix, and FrontRange's GoldMine software. Concentrix has also developed a number of complementary, add-on CRM software modules, and has a dedicated team of software programmers and developers.

As well as business management software, the company supplies leading brand hardware, a comprehensive range of support, training, courses, upgrades, advice and consultancy. In other words, Concentrix provides complete solutions: software, hardware and supporting services.

Concentrix is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, a fully Accredited Sage Business Partner and a FrontRange Premier Partner.

Concentrix is based in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire and has a satellite office in central London.

Is Your IT Fully Supported?

Minimise downtime, ensure quick resolution of hardware issues and gain peace of mind, with professional IT and Hardware Support from Concentrix.

Over the years, you’ve probably made significant investments in IT hardware. However, looking after it takes up time and resources, and doesn’t always get problems solved as quick as a dedicated supporting team can.

Professional IT and Hardware Support from Concentrix provides you with

- Dedicated telephone and remote support, weekdays from 8.30am – 6.00pm

- Remote server management and fault diagnosis

- Technical consultation

- An experienced team of field engineers who will carry out routine checks on your hardware

What’s more, it will free up your time so IT staff can focus on key tasks, not problems with hardware!

To find out more, take please take a look at our support overview on our website. (you don't have to have bought hardware from us, we'll still support it)

Or to arrange a free IT Systems Health Check,  a Support Consultation, or for an informal chat about how we can help, please contact us on 01509 410500 or email [email protected]

 

Concentrix Offer: 25% Discount on GFI Endpoint Security

Purchase GFI EndPointSecurity this quarter from Concentrix and we’ll give you 25 percent off list price.*

In the current economic climate, the theft of business-sensitive and confidential information by employees is emerging as a real threat to companies. With redundancies being made across all sectors along with rising job insecurity, more and more employees are using the confidential information they have gathered with their current employer.

GFI EndPointSecurity offers these business benefits:

- Prevent data leaks and theft by comprehensively controlling access to portable storage devices with minimal administrative effort

- Prevent introduction of malicious and other unauthorised software to the network

- Gives administrators greater control – you can block devices by class, file extensions, physical port or device ID

- Allows administrators to grant temporary device or port access for a stipulated timeframe

- Support for 32 & 64 bit platforms: Including Windows Vista and latest RC of Windows Server 2008.

To take advantage of this offer, or for more information, please email [email protected]  or call 01509 410 500

*This offer is for UK customers only. Offer applies for new GFI EndPointSecurity purchases only (not additional user purchases, upgrades, etc) and is applicable until September 30, 2009.

The Biggest Problem with Accounting Software? New Survey Says Integration, Reporting and Ease of Use.

Concentrix, a UK Business Management and CRM software specialist, has published a new report on the current business management and financial software environment.

The report, based on a survey targeted at senior finance professionals in the UK, found that integration with other systems, reporting and ease of use were most commonly stated as areas for improvement among financial and accounting software users.

Commenting on the reports findings, Peter Elgar, Marketing Manager at Concentrix said “It was no real surprise that integration came out as a problem area. This is why Concentrix is keen on fully integrated business management solutions such as Sage 200, which addresses integration between front and back office processes extremely effectively.”

Concentrix commissioned the survey, carried out by an independent third-party, to provide a snap shot into the current state of the market, and also to help gauge how companies are reacting to the recession with respect to business management software. So has the recession had any effect?

Rebecca Rooney, the report’s author, said, “Over three-quarters of survey respondents said they didn’t intend to review their accounting software within the next twelve months, despite the vast majority of organisations, 79%, having had a system in place for over three years. I’m sure most of this reluctance is down to caution in the current economic climate”.

Although the survey was targeted at a cross-section of organisations, nearly half of the survey respondents were smaller businesses with five or less accounting software users. Bearing this in mind, it is perhaps unsurprising that the majority of respondents also use Sage 50 – because it’s an application designed for smaller organisations and arguably the UK’s most popular accounting solution.

But did the survey deliver any surprises? Rooney continues “the biggest surprise was that very nearly half of survey respondents said they didn’t have a CRM system. As times become tougher, increasing customer retention and improving business process efficiency are extremely good reasons to invest in a CRM system. I guess I was surprised that so many companies still haven’t done so”.

The full report “Business Management Software: Key Issues and What You Can Do” which includes detailed breakdown and analysis of results, along with recommendations on how organisations can address the key issues raised, is available by request from Concentrix via [email protected].

Background Information

Founded in 1999, Concentrix is a leading business management software, CRM software and IT solutions provider. Concentrix helps companies increase competitiveness, profitability and customer satisfaction by improving business processes, systems and IT. The Concentrix product portfolio includes software, hardware and a full range of supporting services.

Concentrix takes a product agnostic approach to implementing systems, ensuring their customers get a solution which matches their strategic objectives and business requirements.

Concentrix is a UK Company with its head office in Loughborough, Leicestershire. Concentrix also has a satellite office in central London.

Refreshing changes to Sage CRM pricing and licensing structure

Although pricing and licensing changes are not normally good news, the recent adjustments Sage UK has made to Sage CRM are surprisingly different! Sage has seriously changed its licensing model for Sage CRM. The new price structure offers greater flexibility, choice, and above all, it can save you money. This makes the product a strong competitor on price against other CRM solutions which don’t have the features and functionality Sage CRM provides.

The new price structure and licence costs are a strategic shift for Sage, which implemented the changes from 1st July 2009. Here’s a summary of how it now works:

You can now buy single licenses, rather than bundles

OK you're thinking, “So what?” Well, this change is significant. In the past, irrespective of how many users you had, you could only buy licenses in bundles of five. Effectively this meant companies had to pay for licences even when they didn’t have the users to accommodate them. It wasn’t always a major issue because many businesses like to have a few spare licences in stock for new starters or extra users. But as times get tougher and businesses only want to spend exactly what they need to, buying single licences as and when you need them makes good sense. This change also reduces the entry cost of Sage CRM and also makes the cost of adding additional users much less.

You can now have concurrent licensing

Concurrent licensing offers real benefits to many businesses. It means that Sage CRM can be allocated between users with more flexibility, and can keep the overall cost of ownership right down. Other CRM providers have offered concurrent license pricing for some time as it simply suits some types of organisation. What’s more, you don’t have to have concurrent licensing if you don’t want to – you can still choose named-user licensing if that suits your business better.

There are two types of licence now available

Sage has created two different types of licence for Sage CRM– Standard and Advanced. Although the Standard license has slightly less functionality, it provides companies with a new alternative which can lower costs even further.

Let’s face it, Sage CRM is incredibly feature-rich and not all businesses will use the whole product. Both standard and advanced licenses have exactly the same core or base functionality, and exactly the same sales functionality. With the standard licensing option however, you do lose a some of the marketing features (campaign management, marketing reports and outbound call management), the whole of Sage CRM’s customer service functionality, and a couple of add-on functions (the CTI connector and web self-service toolkit).

For a full comparison of the differences between Sage CRM standard and advanced licensing options, please see our Sage CRM Licensing Factsheet.

For more information about Sage CRM or the changes to the pricing and licensing structure, please contact Concentrix on 01509 410500 or email [email protected].

Concentrix is an Accredited Sage Business Partner.