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

Internet Explorer Security Patch

Because many customers use Internet Explorer to access their CRM applications, (particularly Sage CRM and Microsoft Dynamics CRM), Concentrix strongly recommends installing the recent IE security patch issued by Microsoft. This patch will fix the ‘zero day’ critical vulnerability in Internet Explorer browser which has attacked over 2m Windows users.

If you have IE’s automatic updates turned on, you should receive the patch shortly. Alternatively you can download from Microsoft here   

For background information there’s a BBC news story "Microsoft issues patch to fix IE"

Hints from Concentrix Support

Before making a call to our support team, it would be helpful if you could answer the following questions in order to help us assess the problem further:

1) Is the problem machine or user specific? To test this, try logging in as a different user or go to a different machine and logon as yourself.

 

2) Try rebooting your machine (you’ll be surprised how often this actually works!)

 

3) Note down the steps taken to reproduce the problem.

 

4) Take screenshots of any errors that appear by pressing the “Print Screen” key on your keyboard. Although it will appear as though nothing has happened, when you open a Microsoft word document and press CTL and V.

Following these steps, may enable us to resolve your problem within a shorter time frame.

CRM: where it is, where it’s going and how to get it right

CXO Europe is a popular business management journal written by executives for executives. It has an extensive circulation, and is published on-line as well as in traditional hardcopy magazine format. Read by senior management across Europe, the aim of the publication is to deliver a well balanced educational resource that serves as an essential tool for decision makers in the alignment of IT and business.

 

As leading UK independent CRM specialists, Concentrix is pleased to have been asked to contribute an article for the December edition of the on-line publication. The article, “CRM: where it is, where it’s going and how to get it right” discusses current CRM technology, the market, developments and trends. It’s an in-depth article and as well as discussing the current CRM market, it looks at how CRM technology is evolving. This includes integrated business management software, visual data analysis and whether the ‘one-size fits all’ CRM model will continue.

 

Please take a look at the article and feel free to post your comments and feedback here. Or if you would like to discuss CRM direct with a specialist, please contact Concentrix.

Concentrix have published a new case study

The latest CRM case study from Concentrix considers Omnichem’s implementation of GoldMine Premium Edition.

Omnichem is one of the leading chemical distributors in the UK, supplying a wide variety of chemicals to a range of different sectors. Omnichem source chemical products from reputable UK and International manufacturers. They also blend chemicals to meet customer’s specific requirements.

Before implementing GoldMine, Omnichem relied on a paper based system which meant that staff often had to carry around copious amounts of paper. Not only was this system inconvenient, it was inefficient and significantly increased the likelihood of error.

Through implementing GoldMine Premium Edition Omnichem have been able to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their operation. Amongst other things, Omnichem have been able to eliminate their reliance on the paper-based reports, quickly, accurately and efficiently respond to customer enquiries and also manage their sales process more effectively.

To view this CRM Case Study in full; please visit the Concentrix website.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year from Concentrix!!

Rather than sending Christmas Cards, we have decided to donate money to charity again this year. The charity we have chosen this year is Niemann-Pick Disease Group (UK).

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and look forward to working with you in 2009!

From All at Concentrix

Concentrix Support Christmas Opening Hours

With Christmas fast approaching we want to make you aware of our support desk opening times for the festive season:

·         Wednesday 24th December:           08.00 – 14.00

·         Thursday 25th December :             CLOSED

·         Friday 26th December:                  CLOSED

·         Monday 29th December :               09.00 – 17.30

·         Tuesday 30th December:               09.00 – 17.30

·         Wednesday 31st December :          09.00 – 14.00

·         Thursday 1st January                    CLOSED

·         Friday 2nd January                        08.00 – 18.00

From Friday 2nd January, we will be operating as usual.

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.