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

The Sage 200 Suite v2010, Business Intelligence and Microsoft Small Business Server

Here’s a quick technical update about Sage 200.

When Sage released the most recent version of their Sage 200 Business Management Software suite in June this year (Sage 200 v2010), it did not support the Sage 200 Business Intelligence module running on Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 or Microsoft Small Business Server 2008 domain controllers.

Sage has fully investigated this issue and recently announced that Sage 200 Business Intelligence is now fully supported when running on Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 and Microsoft Small Business Server 2008 domain controllers.

Please note this information is mainly of use by Sage Business Partners but if you are an end-user and feel this is relevant to your organisation, please contact your Sage representative.

An introduction to Microsoft Dynamics NAV

Over the past few years, the use of technology has become essential for business success and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software is an essential component of many organisations.

So what is ERP?

Enterprise Resource Planning software is an integrated computer-based system used to manage internal and external resources. Through using an ERP solution, there is enhanced visibility across an organisation and therefore significantly enhanced efficiency and effectiveness. ERP solutions have enabled businesses to streamline their internal processes - enabling them to reduce operating costs by being able to control inventory costs and lower production and marketing costs. ERP can also make the day to day management of a company easier.

Why Choose Microsoft Dynamics NAV?

Often the hardest things about implementing a new piece of software within any business is achieving user uptake, and this really is essential to the success of the project. However, with Microsoft Dynamics NAV, this is something which is easier than ever. So, you are obviously thinking why?

Well, the great thing about Microsoft solutions in their familiarity. The vast majority of people use some sort of Microsoft Application in their day to day job, whether that is one of the office programs or Microsoft Outlook. The Microsoft look and feel has been carried over to Microsoft Dynamics NAV which means it looks and works just like any other Microsoft Application. This results in not only user adoption but in many instances user addiction.

Another issue which businesses often face is poor productivity. More often than not, this is because of all of the distractions which users encounter on a daily basis. Within Microsoft Dynamics NAV, this issue has been addressed, with the addition of Role Tailored Functionality. Role Tailored Functionality removes 90% of features on the users desktop which they don’t need to see and it highlights those which they need to use. This significantly enhances user productivity, which  impacts on efficiency and effectiveness and therefore the overall profitability of the organisation.

What's more, Microsoft Dynamics NAV fully integrates all the business functions you need it to. The standard functionality of Microsoft Dynamics NAV includes financial management, supply chain management, manufacturing, sales, and marketing, human resource management, project management and service management. It is also a stand-alone accounting solution.

For more information about Microsoft Dynamics NAV or to arrange a free demonstration, Contact Concentrix on 01509 410500 or email [email protected]

Concentrix Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Beta Testing Update, Comments and Feedback

The beta version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 has been out for a few weeks now, and as a beta testing partner, Concentrix staff have been trying out the product. Several of our clients were also keen to try out the beta version, and they’ve been giving us their comments and feedback.

A number of Concentrix staff have used the product – including technical developers, senior CRM consultants, marketing and sales staff – and our MD! Among the clients that are beta testing the product, some have used Microsoft Dynamics CRM before (albeit Microsoft Dynamics CRM version 4), some are currently using other CRM software solutions, while others are completely new to the world of CRM. But this means we’ve had a good selection of feedback, and had some good conversations about the product.

So what’s everyone saying about Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011? Well, based on the Beta version it’s a great product and the feedback is really enthusiastic about it. Here’s what people have commented on most:

Multiple Form Configuration is a Surprising Hit!

A new feature which a lot of our clients have commented on, and which to be honest we didn’t expect it to be picked up to this degree, is multiple form configuration. This means admin users can create multiple versions of the same form, with different layouts and fields. Users can see one, or perhaps several different versions of the same form, dictated by their job role. It’s building on the success of role-based functionality already used in products like Microsoft Dynamics NAV.

Multiple form configuration improves security and productivity, and like other role-based features of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, provides users with the information they need, when they need it. For example, a Sales user may look at a customer record, and be interested in things like credit rating, past sales, product interest and so on. But a user in say, Customer Service could look at the same account and be interested in past support cases, current contract level or service history. So, it makes sense to configure the form so that the Customer Service Rep sees just this information, the Sales person sees the information they are interested in, and admin can easily remove the stuff each user doesn’t need to see and let them get on with their day jobs!

Another Common Theme – It’s Easy to Use

Some of the most commonly repeated comments from throughout our base of beta testers were about the ‘user friendliness’ of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011. A lot of testers mentioned how the use of many standard Microsoft Office and more Outlook type functions, like navigation bar, improved ease of use and they liked the familiar look and feel. They didn’t need to learn how to use these features either because they already knew - they use them in other Microsoft applications.

Many Small Updates Work Together

Although there are many small tweaks and functional improvements, which could almost go unnoticed if they were done on their own, in combination they significantly improve the product. In the words of one of our Beta testing clients who’s known for having a critical eye “I’ve been pleasantly surprised …. some of the changes are quite subtle but the overall effect is dramatic”.

Everyone Mentioned the Dashboards

We‘ve had a lot of excellent comments about the dashboards. People are really impressed by them. Other CRM software has included dashboards for some time (a long time in some cases) and arguably Microsoft has been behind the curve here. But in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Microsoft has delivered with dashboards – in fact leapt ahead of other CRM solutions and everyone we know who has used the Beta version has been enthusiastic about them and highlighted them in their feedback.

The main feedback about dashboards has again been about how easy they are to use – that they show information clearly, the info and graphics can be customised by the user, and they are easy to create (note there are a number of dashboards illustrated on the Concentrix website in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 screenshots section). Some Beta testers also said that they liked the way Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 makes it easy to quickly arrange dashboard graphics using drag and drop.

Any Issues?

Although nearly everyone’s comments have been positive, there have been one or two bugs and errors reported. But that’s why software companies release Beta software. It means they can find bugs and errors and fix them before the product released officially. And you can be assured all errors uncovered by Concentrix or our testers have been formally reported to Microsoft and will be fixed before Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 is released.

Release Dates

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Online (the cloud version) is scheduled for full release in the UK within the next few weeks (the release date will probably be the end of November – yet to be confirmed), and the on-premise version will be out in the first part of 2011.

We hope this update has been useful. If you need any further information about Microsoft Dynamics CRM, please contact Concentrix.

New Microsoft Dynamics CRM Technical Papers Added to Concentrix CRM Knowledge Base

Microsoft Dynamics CRM is one of the core CRM software products offered by Concentrix. And like any of the business software solutions we provide, making sure our customers and clients are not only fully trained in using and administering the product, but also have a full understanding of the deployment and implementation process, is a key part of our service. It all helps ensure the success of our customers’ projects.

As well as ‘hands-on’ training, we also like to provide our clients with technical papers, guides and written documentation. We find they like to use these as projects progress, to share the knowledge with other people involved in the projects, and as useful sources of reference.

For Microsoft Dynamics CRM version 4, Concentrix has developed a number of documents to help our customers understand the product, how it works and various aspects of the implementation process. Based on the documentation we give to our customers, we’ve produced some technical papers for general use, and added them to the CRM Knowledge Base on the Concentrix website. These technical papers are generally aimed people seriously investigating Microsoft Dynamics CRM as a possible option for their CRM solution, for example project team members with a technical or business interest in the solution.

Whether you’re a Concentrix customer or not, if you’re interested in Microsoft Dynamics CRM we hope the documents in the CRM knowledge base will help you understand a bit more about the product, implementation and deployment.

The following technical papers and documents are free of charge and you can access them without registering or leaving your details. Please click on the links below to view the documents, which are in PDF format:

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Data Import Guidelines

This document provides high level information about the data import process and how clients typically need to provide data to Concentrix for import into their new or existing Microsoft Dynamics CRM System.

Data Migration and Import Tools in Microsoft Dynamics CRM

For more advanced users, this document shows and outlines some of the key differences between the Import Data Wizard and the Data Migration Manager tools in Microsoft Dynamics CRM version 4.

Assigning, Owning and Sharing Records in Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Shows some of the options for assigning, owning and sharing records in the product.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Outlook Client Setting Options

Describes the common client settings within Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook.

Email Routing Options for Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Provides high level information on the email routing options for Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Email Tracking and Activity Synchronisation

Describes email tracking and activity synchronisation.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Internet Facing Deployment

Provides an understanding of internet facing deployment of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, its configuration and factors you need to consider during implementation.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Introduction to Custom Automation

Gives and general description of the options for customising the software beyond adding entities, attributes and relationships.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Introduction to Relationships

Information on how you can link entities within Microsoft Dynamics CRM and set various options.

We hope you find these technical papers useful. If you have any questions, feedback or comments about these documents, would like a more or a broader overview of the product, or for any other information about Microsoft Dynamics CRM, please contact Concentrix.

Concentrix Whitepaper – Security for your Finance and CRM system!

As a result of the technical revolution, the use of email and internet has become part of the daily routine. In actual fact, some organisations have based their business model on the internet. Both email and internet have changed the business world for good. They provide organisations with beter communication, instant access to information and an enhanced business opportunity – with the ability to compete in global markets. However as a result of the technological phenomenon a whole new world of threats has emerged and organisations need to be aware of these in order to protect themselves against them.

For the majority of companies, data is their most important asset. If you take the data held in your CRM system for example, this tells you everything you need to know about your customers and enables you to deliver an exceptional level of customer service. As a result, securing the data in your CRM, Accounts or Business Management Solution is one of the biggest challenges you will face. What’s more, it is important to be aware of both the internal and external threats.

The Concentrix whitepaper: Security for your Finance and CRM system provides an insight into the security threats businesses face. This whitepaper discusses the importance of protecting your organisation from both internal and external security threats. It also provides suggestions as to how you can ensure that your organisation’s hardware, software and network are protected as well as providing information about the different types of security products available.

For more information about the security solutions provided by Concentrix, contact us on 01509 4105500 or email [email protected].

Bar Coding Software Specifically for Sage 200

For many businesses manually booking stock in and out is part of the daily routine. However, this is a time consuming process and can become a thing of the past with Datalinx Bar Coding Software, enabling you to concentrate on more business critical activities.

Datalinx Bar Coding Software has been specifically developed in to work with Sage 200 and Sage MMS. The Software automates the process of booking stock in and out, enabling staff to focus on other business critical activities.

Datalinx will deliver a number of key benefits to your business including:

- Improved Productivity

- Increased accuracy in terms of stock levels

- Enhanced Customer Service

- Improved internal processes

- Easy to use

- Increased speed and accuracy of stock taking

For more information about Datalinx, Sage 200 or the Datalinx and Sage integration, please contact Concentrix on 01509 410500 or email [email protected]

Stand out from the crowd with Sage Stationery!

In a business world where there is ever increasing competition it is essential to differentiate yourself from the competition. However, with tightening company budgets, this can be a difficult task. But it’s important to remember that the thing which differentiates you from your competition doesn’t have to be a company jet or the bottle of champagne you send every customer – in actual fact it is the smallest things which will often make the biggest difference and this is where Concentrix can help!

Concentrix is now providing the following Sage Stationery:

- Branded Accounting Stationery

- Branded Payroll Stationery

- Sage Cheques

What’s more

- All Stationery is 100% compatible with Sage software

- If ordered before 12pm, you will get next day delivery

- Personalised stationery is available.

For more information about Sage Stationery or to place an order, please contact Concentrix on 01509 410500 or email [email protected]

Vizola E-marketing

Communication is essential for developing relationships with customers. However, we are increasingly living in a digital world and as a result there has been a move away from the traditional methods of communication in terms of a phone calls and letters. Technology now touches everything we do, including the way we communicate. As a result, most businesses now rely on email as the main form of communication. However, with every other company doing the same thing how do you know if your email has been delivered and if it was read? The reality is that you don’t, unless you have a piece of software which can tell you all of this information.

Vizola is an e-marketing add-on for Microsoft Dynamics CRM.  Vizola is an innovative solution which improves the output of information from email campaigns delivered through Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

Although there are a number of e-marketing software solutions available, some can prove expensive, as you pay for the number of emails you send. With Vizola E-Marketing, this doesn’t happen and what’s more, there won’t be any problems importing data.

Vizola email marketing software for Microsoft Dynamics CRM utilises industry-standard techniques to provide instant feedback on recipient behaviour - it can tell you if an email has been opened or read and it provides you with analytics so you can make more informed decisions about campaigns and who you send communications to.

Features of Vizola E-Marketing Software for Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Usability – No configuration is required – start your campaign email activity and add monitored links and new templates as you go

Multi-lingual support – It supports six European languages on install

Monitors emails which have been read – The software lets you know if any when your emails are being read

Monitors Click-Throughs– Vizola lets you know when embedded links have been visited, and who has visited them

Benefits of Vizola E-Marketing software for Microsoft Dynamics CRM

- Provides comprehensive integration with Microsoft Dynamics CRM

- Provides multi-lingual support

- Tells you if and when individual emails were opened (pictures downloaded) and tells you if and when any recipient clicked through a monitored hyperlink in the email

- Increases effectiveness –equips you with all the facilities to make better use of email communications

- Improves Customer Service – allows you to be more responsive and in-touch with your customers needs

- Gives you a greater understanding of your target –and help you to understand your customers needs and wants.

- Enables you to make better decisions – and help you to analyse the results of your campaigns and see what works and what doesn’t

- Offers bounce-handling to improve your lists

- Allows you to use standard email templates

- Integrates with workflow to improve processes

For more information about Vizola, please contact Concentrix on 01509 410500 or email [email protected].

Email Marketing and CRM Software

Communication is the key to success within every business, after all it is through communicating that relationships with customers, prospects and suppliers develop.  This is why CRM software has become so critical for businesses as they provide one place to store all information relating to customers, suppliers and prospects alike.

Although CRM provides a place to store all information, communication methods have changed significantly over recent years. There has been a move away from the traditional methods of including telephone and letters, and a rise in the popularity of email.

Email delivers a number of benefits in terms of speed of delivery and the ability to get around gatekeepers. However, it also presents a whole host of new issues, including security breaches, and  spam – unsolicited mail.  Because of the problems caused by spam, more and more organisations are investing in solutions to protect them from the risks surrounding email and ensure that their organisation is safe. It is therefore more important than ever to get the message for you email right to ensure that it actually gets delivered to the recipient, rather than it getting caught in the spam filters.

Once you have got around the problem of spam filters the next issue is making sure your email gets read. To have the best chance of this, it is essential to know who you are targeting and to target the right people. The closer you can match a message to the preference of your target market in terms of its content and delivery mechanism, the higher the probability of its success.

Many CRM systems have an email marketing functionality, but organisations are increasingly using add-on applications which fully integrate with their CRM system. The benefits of these solutions include:

- Providing clear campaign analysis which shows open and click through rates

- Enabling you to manage your bounce backs and keep your data up-to-date

- Managing unsubscribes and updates the contact record in CRM

- Allowing creation of predetermined campaigns collating an audience at a specified time or triggered event for example every Wednesday morning.

- Enabling you to create both HTML and Text emails for greater delivery rates and to avoid the SPAM filters

- Allowing you to see the likelihood of emails being rejected by SPAM filters, due to unsuitable choice of words or content

- Providing you with the ability to personalise through fields in your CRM system to increase open rates

Email Marketing Solutions provided by Concentrix include:

CommunniGator - Email Marketing software which integrates with most CRM systems including Sage CRM, Microsoft Dynamics CRM and FrontRange’s GoldMine.

Vizola – An innovative solution which improves the output of information from email campaigns delivered through Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

SwiftPage – An email marketing solution which integrates with a number of databases including Sage CRM, Sage Sales Logix, Sage Act! and Microsoft Excel.

For more information about any of the email marking solutions provided by Concentrix, please contact us on 01509 410500 or email [email protected]

Swiftpage is added to Concentrix Product Portfolio!

Independent UK Business Management and CRM software specialist Concentrix has added Swiftpage email marketing software to its product portfolio!

Over recent years there has been a considerable change in the way we communicate both socially and in business. Businesses have become increasingly reliant on email as the main form of communication. Many now use email to contact suppliers, customers and prospects alike, the number of emails one person receives a day is significant. But email has bought a fair number of problems including spam and more and more companies are investing in software to protect their organisation from this. What’s more, many individuals are selective about the emails that they actually open and read. Often an email will only get opened if the recipient recognises the sender or if they believe the content might be relevant to them!

But with such a heavy reliance on email for marketing, it has become difficult to gauge the success of campaigns, especially when your email may not arrive in the intended inbox and this is where Swiftpage comes in!

Swiftpage is a piece of email marketing software which integrates with your Sage CRM software, spreadsheets or databases to help you achieve real results from your marketing campaigns.

Swiftpage has a wide variety of powerful features including:

Simple Template Editor – Enabling you to create your own email templates

High Deliverability – Swiftpage uses the latest technology to ensure that the email gets through the spam filters

Personalisation with Mail Merge – Swiftpage has a mail merge feature which enables you to personalise each email

Import your own template -    If you have created an email in HTML you can simply import it into the Swiftpage online editor.

For more information about Swiftpage, contact Concentrix on 01509 410500 or email [email protected].