CRM

[Anonymous]

Any architecture firms out there using a CRM (Customer Relationship
Management) package with Outlook and Exchange? I'm basically looking for
something where the principal gets a call from a client, he can qickly pull
up the latest correspondence created by the project managers. And vice
versa.


Mike

[Anonymous]

Outlook 2003 with Business Contact Manager and Microsoft CRM
SEE:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/outlook/contactmanager/prodinfo/comparison.mspx

Outlook 2003 with Business Contact Manager
SEE:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/outlook/contactmanager/prodinfo/default.mspx

Microsoft SharePoint Products & Technologies
SEE: http://www.microsoft.com/sharepoint/

Deciding When to Deploy Windows SharePoint Services and SharePoint Portal
Server 2003
SEE: http://www.microsoft.com/sharepoint/evaluationoverview.asp

--
<%= Clinton Gallagher
A/E/C Consulting, Web Design, e-Commerce Software Development
Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin USA
NET csgallagher@REMOVETHISTEXTmetromilwaukee.com
URL http://www.metromilwaukee.com/clintongallagher/




"Mike D" wrote in message
news:3532C523DEA5A9113E8E4E39BB1472A9@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Any architecture firms out there using a CRM (Customer Relationship
> Management) package with Outlook and Exchange? I'm basically looking for
> something where the principal gets a call from a client, he can qickly
pull
> up the latest correspondence created by the project managers. And vice
> versa.
>
>
> Mike
>
>

[Anonymous]

Hi Clinton

I was looking at the Business contact manager, but it seemed a step back,
designed for organizations without Exchange server, probably to fill the gap
left by the elimination of Net folders in Outlook. The Share Point Server
I'll have to check out.



"clintonG" wrote in message
news:DE63FDA2862A22131958346B4AC5E80B@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Outlook 2003 with Business Contact Manager and Microsoft CRM
> SEE:
>
http://www.microsoft.com/office/outlook/contactmanager/prodinfo/comparison.m
spx
>
> Outlook 2003 with Business Contact Manager
> SEE:
>
http://www.microsoft.com/office/outlook/contactmanager/prodinfo/default.mspx
>
> Microsoft SharePoint Products & Technologies
> SEE: http://www.microsoft.com/sharepoint/
>
> Deciding When to Deploy Windows SharePoint Services and SharePoint Portal
> Server 2003
> SEE: http://www.microsoft.com/sharepoint/evaluationoverview.asp
>
> --
> <%= Clinton Gallagher
> A/E/C Consulting, Web Design, e-Commerce Software Development
> Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin USA
> NET csgallagher@REMOVETHISTEXTmetromilwaukee.com
> URL http://www.metromilwaukee.com/clintongallagher/
>
>
>
>
> "Mike D" wrote in message
> news:3532C523DEA5A9113E8E4E39BB1472A9@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > Any architecture firms out there using a CRM (Customer Relationship
> > Management) package with Outlook and Exchange? I'm basically looking
for
> > something where the principal gets a call from a client, he can qickly
> pull
> > up the latest correspondence created by the project managers. And vice
> > versa.
> >
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
>
>

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure if this is what you're looking but here are two links to open
source CRM projects.

http://www.compiere.org/

http://xrms.sourceforge.net/

Before you go purchasing anything I recommend searching
http://sourceforge.net/ to see if there is an open source solution that fits
your needs.

Tim Riley



"Mike D" wrote in message
news:3532C523DEA5A9113E8E4E39BB1472A9@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Any architecture firms out there using a CRM (Customer Relationship
> Management) package with Outlook and Exchange? I'm basically looking for
> something where the principal gets a call from a client, he can qickly
pull
> up the latest correspondence created by the project managers. And vice
> versa.
>
>
> Mike
>
>

[Anonymous]

I didn't have anything to say about Microsoft CRM Mike but since
you do use Exchange and likely SQL Server both of which are required to
deploy a Microsoft CRM solution you may want to have a look anyway...

CRM Flash Demo
http://www.microsoft.com/BusinessSolutions/content/demos/MSCRMdemos/full_demo.htm

Microsoft Business Solutions CRM
SEE:
http://www.microsoft.com/businessSolutions/Microsoft%20Customer%20Relationship%20Management/default.mspx

There are some specific construction industry solutions that may be
useful to know about...

Industry Solutions
SEE: http://www.greatplains.com/solutions/industrysolutions.asp

--
<%= Clinton Gallagher
A/E/C Consulting, Web Design, e-Commerce Software Development
Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin USA
NET csgallagher@REMOVETHISTEXTmetromilwaukee.com
URL http://www.metromilwaukee.com/clintongallagher/





"Mike D" wrote in message
news:E8092F5B84A6439B02CA714BFC6A6774@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Hi Clinton
>
> I was looking at the Business contact manager, but it seemed a step back,
> designed for organizations without Exchange server, probably to fill the
gap
> left by the elimination of Net folders in Outlook. The Share Point Server
> I'll have to check out.
>
>
>
> "clintonG" wrote in message
> news:DE63FDA2862A22131958346B4AC5E80B@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > Outlook 2003 with Business Contact Manager and Microsoft CRM
> > SEE:
> >
>
http://www.microsoft.com/office/outlook/contactmanager/prodinfo/comparison.m
> spx
> >
> > Outlook 2003 with Business Contact Manager
> > SEE:
> >
>
http://www.microsoft.com/office/outlook/contactmanager/prodinfo/default.mspx
> >
> > Microsoft SharePoint Products & Technologies
> > SEE: http://www.microsoft.com/sharepoint/
> >
> > Deciding When to Deploy Windows SharePoint Services and SharePoint
Portal
> > Server 2003
> > SEE: http://www.microsoft.com/sharepoint/evaluationoverview.asp
> >
> > --
> > <%= Clinton Gallagher
> > A/E/C Consulting, Web Design, e-Commerce Software Development
> > Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin USA
> > NET csgallagher@REMOVETHISTEXTmetromilwaukee.com
> > URL http://www.metromilwaukee.com/clintongallagher/
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "Mike D" wrote in message
> > news:3532C523DEA5A9113E8E4E39BB1472A9@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > Any architecture firms out there using a CRM (Customer Relationship
> > > Management) package with Outlook and Exchange? I'm basically looking
> for
> > > something where the principal gets a call from a client, he can qickly
> > pull
> > > up the latest correspondence created by the project managers. And
vice
> > > versa.
> > >
> > >
> > > Mike
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Anonymous]

Last time I looked Microsoft CRM was bucks. Did you guys fork out a lot of
dough?

-Dan

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't even bother looking into it. You know it won't live up to the
hype, like every other Microsoft product.

Tim Riley


"Dan Elkins" wrote in message
news:f19b453.4@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Last time I looked Microsoft CRM was bucks. Did you guys fork out a lot
of
> dough?
>
> -Dan
>
>

[Anonymous]

"Tim Riley" wrote in message
news:6743A746A85963D4089B4BF9FCA380E6@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I wouldn't even bother looking into it. You know it won't live up to the
> hype, like every other Microsoft product.
>
> Tim Riley

Hahhahahhahaahhahahahhahaha. Funny stuff.

Re: MSCRM - we looked at it, hard. Bottom line, to us, is that the
acquisition of Great Plains still isn't finished, nor is there a real stable
plan for exactly whats happening in the future. A lot of left hand/right
hand stuff. The level of integration with other MS apps while high, wasn't
exactly what you would expect.

The price was very competitive, however, relatively cheap. Unlike most
other MS software though, it's being resold through financial app resellers,
who are sharks, and who are going to want $$$$ to "implement" the software.
Look long and hard to determine if you really want those services. As with
most very flexible applications, the degree of complication seems to notch
up.

Take a look at the crm newsgroup, microsoft.public.crm for more feedback.

Mike

[Anonymous]

Microsoft has changed its policy about who can and who can not
sell Microsoft CRM so that issue is no longer relevant.

People need to know that the Microsoft Partner Program is being
re-engineered at this very point in time. Unlike the CPAs who entered
the IT services markets through the backdoor partners will now have
to establish and maintain their credibility on the basis of merit and will
also be publically rated by customer feedback to mention but one
of many ranking criteria. Change is underway.

The left hand/right hand stuff in the product lines are due to the fact that
the financial and business management applications were acquisitions that
are still being re-engineered themselves. They are quite good now and are
only going to get better.

Yes, I agree, the newsgroups are a good source to interact with others
and is a great source to compare notes and contrast opinions.

-
<%= Clinton Gallagher
A/E/C Consulting, Web Design, e-Commerce Software Development
Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin USA
NET csgallagher@REMOVETHISTEXTmetromilwaukee.com
URL http://www.metromilwaukee.com/clintongallagher/




"Mike Donahue" wrote in message
news:89A9D2E0FD836E7D1B050C62D7FED8C3@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
>
> "Tim Riley" wrote in message
> news:6743A746A85963D4089B4BF9FCA380E6@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > I wouldn't even bother looking into it. You know it won't live up to the
> > hype, like every other Microsoft product.
> >
> > Tim Riley
>
> Hahhahahhahaahhahahahhahaha. Funny stuff.
>
> Re: MSCRM - we looked at it, hard. Bottom line, to us, is that the
> acquisition of Great Plains still isn't finished, nor is there a real
stable
> plan for exactly whats happening in the future. A lot of left hand/right
> hand stuff. The level of integration with other MS apps while high,
wasn't
> exactly what you would expect.
>
> The price was very competitive, however, relatively cheap. Unlike most
> other MS software though, it's being resold through financial app
resellers,
> who are sharks, and who are going to want $$$$ to "implement" the
software.
> Look long and hard to determine if you really want those services. As
with
> most very flexible applications, the degree of complication seems to notch
> up.
>
> Take a look at the crm newsgroup, microsoft.public.crm for more feedback.
>
> Mike
>
>

[Anonymous]

Well, all that said, I'm about as big a Microsoft (edited) as you'll find, and
I still couldn't recommend the product. IMHO, the pain you'd go through
growing along with the product doesnt outweigh the pluses of the software.
There's too many other mature CRM offerings out there. Will it be a great
product? Probably. Is it right now? I don't think so.

My 2 cents, take them for what they're worth. 🙂

Mike

[Anonymous]

>Take a look at the crm newsgroup, microsoft.public.crm for more feedback.

What exactly is "CRM"?

Is it basically contact management stuff?

If yes.... what abt just using ACT?

Just curious...

John

[Anonymous]

CRM software processes are much more robust enabling tracking,
work-flow, analysis, forecasting and so on.

--
<%= Clinton Gallagher
A/E/C Consulting, Web Design, e-Commerce Software Development
Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin USA
NET csgallagher@REMOVETHISTEXTmetromilwaukee.com
URL http://www.metromilwaukee.com/clintongallagher/




wrote in message
news:ach4rvc8utc9q0puu0goqq4niu8e2luutb@4ax.com...
> >Take a look at the crm newsgroup, microsoft.public.crm for more feedback.
>
> What exactly is "CRM"?
>
> Is it basically contact management stuff?
>
> If yes.... what abt just using ACT?
>
> Just curious...
>
> John

[Anonymous]

Where did Microsoft CRM not meet your expectations?
Which 'mature offerings' would you be referring to?

<%= Clinton Gallagher




"Mike Donahue" wrote in message
news:8DE5C66B034C66883AC46EB0C8D8734A@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
>
> "clintonG" wrote in message
> news:002A39C5093205E7864109A8A2F01321@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > Microsoft has changed its policy about who can and who can not
> > sell Microsoft CRM so that issue is no longer relevant.
> >
> > People need to know that the Microsoft Partner Program is being
> > re-engineered at this very point in time. Unlike the CPAs who entered
> > the IT services markets through the backdoor partners will now have
> > to establish and maintain their credibility on the basis of merit and
will
> > also be publically rated by customer feedback to mention but one
> > of many ranking criteria. Change is underway.
> >
> > The left hand/right hand stuff in the product lines are due to the fact
> that
> > the financial and business management applications were acquisitions
that
> > are still being re-engineered themselves. They are quite good now and
are
> > only going to get better.
> >
> > Yes, I agree, the newsgroups are a good source to interact with others
> > and is a great source to compare notes and contrast opinions.
> >
> > -
> > <%= Clinton Gallagher
> > A/E/C Consulting, Web Design, e-Commerce Software Development
> > Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin USA
> > NET csgallagher@REMOVETHISTEXTmetromilwaukee.com
> > URL http://www.metromilwaukee.com/clintongallagher/
> >
> >
>
> Well, all that said, I'm about as big a Microsoft whore as you'll find,
and
> I still couldn't recommend the product. IMHO, the pain you'd go through
> growing along with the product doesnt outweigh the pluses of the software.
> There's too many other mature CRM offerings out there. Will it be a great
> product? Probably. Is it right now? I don't think so.
>
> My 2 cents, take them for what they're worth. 🙂
>
> Mike
>
>

[Anonymous]

"clintonG" wrote in message
news:DAE7F76BB48FADAB840337CB785B70E0@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Where did Microsoft CRM not meet your expectations?
> Which 'mature offerings' would you be referring to?
>
> <%= Clinton Gallagher
>
>
Well, we're heading into a thread more apropos for the ms newsgroup, but:

1. It didnt feel like a "Microsoft" product. It felt like a product
Microsoft had bought (see Frontpage 1.0, aka VandeMeer).
2. Integration with Office should have been seamless; it wasnt.
3. It seemed weak in the area we most needed, Marketing.
4. It didn't allow for many-to-many relationships (although I understand
future versions will).

Again - I'm not knocking the product, per se; it just isn't right for us at
it's current level of maturity. What's listed in 2.0 seems like much more
of a fit.

Re: others, salesforce.com, Saleslogix, etc., etc. There are a lot of
players in the mid-size range, right above the Act/Goldmine crowd.

Just personally, unless a first version of any product from any company has
substantial benefits, I'm inclined to be doubtful about it. Not an anti-MS
thing. I've jumped on the Exchange and Sharepoint bandwagon from their
first versions, but each offered something unique.

Mike

[Anonymous]

That would be 'Vermeer' from which FrontPage was derived.

I'm big on SharePoint myself as I'm thorougholy convinced it is well on
its way to become a sweetheart solution for the A/E/C markets.

<%= Clinton Gallagher




"Mike Donahue" wrote in message
news:D85D033B7EB55F7425816D4A05630BA6@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
>
> "clintonG" wrote in message
> news:DAE7F76BB48FADAB840337CB785B70E0@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > Where did Microsoft CRM not meet your expectations?
> > Which 'mature offerings' would you be referring to?
> >
> > <%= Clinton Gallagher
> >
> >
> Well, we're heading into a thread more apropos for the ms newsgroup, but:
>
> 1. It didnt feel like a "Microsoft" product. It felt like a product
> Microsoft had bought (see Frontpage 1.0, aka VandeMeer).
> 2. Integration with Office should have been seamless; it wasnt.
> 3. It seemed weak in the area we most needed, Marketing.
> 4. It didn't allow for many-to-many relationships (although I understand
> future versions will).
>
> Again - I'm not knocking the product, per se; it just isn't right for us
at
> it's current level of maturity. What's listed in 2.0 seems like much more
> of a fit.
>
> Re: others, salesforce.com, Saleslogix, etc., etc. There are a lot of
> players in the mid-size range, right above the Act/Goldmine crowd.
>
> Just personally, unless a first version of any product from any company
has
> substantial benefits, I'm inclined to be doubtful about it. Not an
anti-MS
> thing. I've jumped on the Exchange and Sharepoint bandwagon from their
> first versions, but each offered something unique.
>
> Mike
>
>

[Anonymous]

"clintonG" wrote in message
news:0E01C2D552F153DA72598190FC98E43E@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> That would be 'Vermeer' from which FrontPage was derived.
>
> I'm big on SharePoint myself as I'm thorougholy convinced it is well on
> its way to become a sweetheart solution for the A/E/C markets.
>
> <%= Clinton Gallagher
>
>

Sorry, the memory is going. Yep, SPS has an excellent future. I wonder if
we're deep enough in the thread to speculate freely about it's ability as a
poor man's Buzzsaw.

MD

[Anonymous]

>I'm big on SharePoint myself as I'm thorougholy convinced it is well on
>its way to become a sweetheart solution for the A/E/C markets.

Could someone be so kind as to explain in laymens terms
what Sharepoint does and is? And how it will benefit
us?

John

[Anonymous]

wrote in message
news:al57rvcfoj1g7enp967j5mqp2o73je3u6u@4ax.com...
> >I'm big on SharePoint myself as I'm thorougholy convinced it is well on
> >its way to become a sweetheart solution for the A/E/C markets.
>
> Could someone be so kind as to explain in laymens terms
> what Sharepoint does and is? And how it will benefit
> us?
>
> John

Sharepoint is an umbrella term for two products; Portal Server and
Sharepoint Services.
Portal server is the full blown, expensive (relatively) portal solution. it
will do Document Management, Search and Indexing, team sites, personal
sites, yadda yadda.

Sharepoint Services comes free with Windows Server 2003. It will let you
create basic team websites; group documents, goup calendar, etc.

Check it all out (including a good comparison of the two) at
http://www.microsoft.com/sharepoint

Mike

[Anonymous]

"Mike Donahue" wrote in message
news:41006F71E4FBC69BD5F5C9F689F7C702@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
>
> "clintonG" wrote in message
> news:0E01C2D552F153DA72598190FC98E43E@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > That would be 'Vermeer' from which FrontPage was derived.
> >
> > I'm big on SharePoint myself as I'm thorougholy convinced it is well on
> > its way to become a sweetheart solution for the A/E/C markets.
> >
> > <%= Clinton Gallagher
> >
> >
>
> Sorry, the memory is going. Yep, SPS has an excellent future. I wonder
if
> we're deep enough in the thread to speculate freely about it's ability as
a
> poor man's Buzzsaw.
>
> MD
>

Buzzwhat? 😉

<%= Clinton Gallagher

[Anonymous]

Here's another great article that focuses on the functionality of
the SharePoint Portal Server itself. No marketing hype...

What's New in Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003
SEE: http://www.microsoft.com/office/ork/2003/six/ch21/ColB02.htm

In a nutshell, the Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) and the SharePoint
Portal Server (SPS) can be confusing to understand due to similar naming.

Basically SPS requires WSS to function as the WSS provides the plumbing
for the services to work. WSS is free and also provides team oriented
collaborative processes. The SPS is a commercial product that extends
what can be accomplished using the free WSS.

In due time, both WSS and SPS will become defacto standards in
A/E/C organizations.

--
<%= Clinton Gallagher
A/E/C Consulting, Web Design, e-Commerce Software Development
Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin USA
NET csgallagher@REMOVETHISTEXTmetromilwaukee.com
URL http://www.metromilwaukee.com/clintongallagher/











"Mike Donahue" wrote in message
news:EAA48221B48BF8FB800C87F5AEE2F116@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
>
> wrote in message
> news:al57rvcfoj1g7enp967j5mqp2o73je3u6u@4ax.com...
> > >I'm big on SharePoint myself as I'm thorougholy convinced it is well on
> > >its way to become a sweetheart solution for the A/E/C markets.
> >
> > Could someone be so kind as to explain in laymens terms
> > what Sharepoint does and is? And how it will benefit
> > us?
> >
> > John
>
> Sharepoint is an umbrella term for two products; Portal Server and
> Sharepoint Services.
> Portal server is the full blown, expensive (relatively) portal solution.
it
> will do Document Management, Search and Indexing, team sites, personal
> sites, yadda yadda.
>
> Sharepoint Services comes free with Windows Server 2003. It will let you
> create basic team websites; group documents, goup calendar, etc.
>
> Check it all out (including a good comparison of the two) at
> http://www.microsoft.com/sharepoint
>
> Mike
>
>