Thinking hard about databases
Two new clients in the past month have asked me to help them improve their sales and marketing databases. One is a start-from-scratch job which is nice because there’s gthe opportunity of finding the best functionality and add-ons and enabling a smooth upload and data transition. The other is an upgrade and extend job - which is rather more difficult.
Here’s my list of possibles that I am researching. Are there any more that you’d suggest I add to the list?
Sage’s ACT!
Customers Really Matter’s InTouch
I need to find something with good data, customisable fields, reporting, filtering, campaign management and, preferably, automated unsubscribe / undeliverable updates.
Am trying to start with an open mind….. but finding myself hemmed in by ghastly IT sales talk…. especially the ‘interactive dashboard’ video from Sage. Urgh!
Tags: ACT!, customers really matter, Goldmine, InTouch, marketing database, rebecca caroe, sales database, Salesforce
February 10th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I found your site on google blog search and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. Just added your RSS feed to my feed reader. Look forward to reading more from you.
- Sue.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:28 am
Have you considered SugarCRM? Like Salesforce, they are becoming a platform - meaning your client will eventually be able to get much more than they have signed up for. Unlike Salesforce, its codebase is open source - meaning should the company go belly-up or do something terrifying, the project will likely go on. Plus, their feature set is really compelling, as far as the typical needs for SFA/MA go…
February 11th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I’ve used Salesforce, Goldmine, ACT, Sage, Telemagic. I really do think Salesforce is a great choice for the list of tasks you mention, more so if the aspiration is to extend the use of the solution into forecasting, document repository, salesforce automation etc at a later date…..
If its just a mktg database, you might want to look at Sugar CRM. Very similar to sf.com, only a commercial open source alternative.
Finally take a look at 37Signals’ HighRise. Very simple, hyper intuitive. But possible too basic for your requirements.
Chris
February 13th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Tomas, yes Sugar is on my list but I haven’t yet investigated…. I heard that version 2 is much better. onto the To Do list!
Thanks for your comment!
Rebecca
February 13th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Chris - again, thanks for the new info. Never heard of 37Signals… will also check it out.
The requirements are pretty ‘basic’ for the two clients I have in mind.
What I’d like is to enable is offline / online synchronisation and possibly integration into a PDA or phone.
Have you ever tried out Maximiser? I was at the TFM&A show at Earl’s Court yesterday and saw their demo. A Canadian outfit that sells through resellers in the UK. Deep functionality [way beyond the spec needs for these clients] and really good value, £400 flat fee…..
Cheers
Rebecca
March 13th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Hi Rebecca, I’d echo Chris’s views and suggest you take a look at 37signal’s Highrise. It sit’s nicely alongside their other open-source offering BaseCamp - a creative industry must have when it comes to project management.
Highrise is easy to set-up, incredibly simple to use, though due to its low barriers to entry, does miss some features. It really depends on what budgets you’ve got to play with.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Sugar CRM, is open source. There is of course the enterprise version that you pay for.
AS for 37Signal’s High Rise, you need to take into account that your data is not residing on your server, as much as is SF.
Data that remains under your control is always best.
April 21st, 2008 at 2:24 pm
[…] just updated the earlier databases work to include some which came out of the comments (thanks Tomas and […]
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:34 am
There is another option of course, and that’s to have a custom solution commissioned!