Which CRM Deployment is Right For You?
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(Source: Oracle) Certain vendors preach the software deployment model du jour as the only sure-fire path to CRM success before understanding your business requirements. Selecting the right deployment model must first and foremost address your key business problems and challenges, enabling you to meet your strategic business goals. And the more you know the pros and cons of each deployment model, the more certain it is that you will embark on a path to CRM success. Find out which CRM Deployment option is right for your business, register now.
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Fully integrated ERP, CRM, and accounting for small to midsized businesses. Graphical client runs on Linux, Mac, and Windows (built with open source Qt framework). Business logic resides in PostgreSQL database server. Fully international-ready.   We're happy to announce the beta release of PostBooks - the free edition of the xTuple ERP Applications, version 2.3.1.  This is primarily a bug-fix and cleanup release, although there are more new features that you would typically find in a minor "dot release."  Please see the release notes for details on the over 100 new features and enhancements, including a long-awaited fix to the multi-location/lot/serial can't-cancel snarl (if you're a longtime user, you know what I'm talking about).  This will be a short cycle, and we probably won't do another beta unless we find some real issues - so please have a go at it, and let us know what you find!  Best way to contact us is the forums at www.xtuple.org.  After 2.3.1 final is released, we will be kicking off the 3.0 development cycle, and will have a great deal to say about roadmap, architectural improvements, and long-term vision.  Stay tuned!  More details below...      Release Notes xTuple Applications OpenMFG - PostBooks Version 2.3.1Beta1 February 8, 2008 ==================================  This is the first Beta release of version 2.3.1, marking the end of new feature development for this release cycle. We move now into refining, testing, and bug fixing mode leading up to the final release.  Highlights of this Beta release include the following:  * Consolidated Invoice by Customer * API views for Item, BOM, BOO * Print Travelers in batch * Credit Card support for Authorize.NET * Split Receipt capability * Redesigned CRM Account screen   ==================================  The following features and bug fixes have been added to the applications since the release of 2.3.0:  New Features:  * [Accounting] Added option to print a Sales Journal from Unposted Invoices screen * [Accounting] Added ability to split a receipt so it may be partially vouchered * [Accounting] Enabled time based credit hold capability in OpenMFG * [Accounting] Moved Chart of Account to first position in "Accounts" menu structure * [Accounting] Added ability to view Voucher line detail from Vendor History * [Accounting] Added ability to view Voucher line G/L detail in Vendor History * [Accounting] Added PO# column in Vendor History * [CRM] Added the ability to see merged comments from the Account window for subordinate Customer, Contact, Vendor and Tax Authority records * [CRM] Added the ability to see opportunities from the Account window * [CRM] Added default Address to CRM Account master * [Manufacture] Added more right-click options to manufacturing windows * [Manufacture] Added new Work Order schedule by Work Order Number display * [Manufacture] Added CANCEL button to lot/serial distribution screen * [Manufacture] Added batch printing capability for Travelers * [Purchase] Reorganized layout of Voucher screen * [Purchase] Added New Event For PO Line Item Insert * [Sales] Multiple additions to Customer Information Workbench, including: A button linked to CRM Account screen; a button linked to A/R workbench; a QUERY button to refresh all the information in this screen except for C/C payments; Invoice list shows 0 and non-0 balance, with most recent records at the top; right-click on Sales Order to find two more menu options (i.e., Shipment status and Shipment information); credit limit added; and credit status made bold * [Sales] Added support for lot/serial and Characteristic printing on Packing Lists * [Sales] Allowed viewing and editing of Sales Orders associated with Returns by right click from R/A line items * [Sales] Allowed credit to be given on replacement Return Authorizations * [Sales] Multiple CRM Account/Customer Workbench enhancements, including: Added a button to launch Customer Workbench from Account window; right-click launch to Sales Order from Invoice Items; allowed printing of Sales Orders, Invoices, and Credit Memos on Customer Workbench; launch Cash Receipt from Invoice tab; link to jump to Shipment tracking from invoice; added due date of Invoices; late Invoices displayed in RED * [Sales] Added Batch Manager support for automatic allocations * [Sales] Added the ability to consolidate Invoices by Customer * [System] Changed term "Buffer Management" in Neo menu to "Constraint Management" * [System] Added Authorize.net Credit Card processing capability  Bug Fixes:  * [Accounting] Fixed error received when canceling Cash Receipt * [Accounting] Fixed Check Register to print detail * [Accounting] Fixed Credit Card error received when posting Cash Receipt * [Accounting] Restored TAB order on Expense Category * [A/P] Re-enabled copy function of in Bill of Operations list * [A/P] Fixed screen resizing problem on AP open Items screen * [A/P] Fixed error when attempting to copy an Item Site * [A/P] Added line Characteristics and missing Notes to Quote report * [A/P] Fixed problem preventing printing of CheckFormat.xml report * [A/P] Fixed AP Credit Memos to use Terms from Vendor file * [A/R] Fixed open AR Items screen resizing problem * [A/R] Fixed issue where wrong Customer Invoice was appearing on Customer Information Workbench * [A/R] Fixed loophole where Cash Receipts against Credit Cards could be deleted after the Credit Card charge has been processed * [A/R] Fixed problem preventing processing of Credit Card refund against a Customer Deposit * [A/R] Fixed erroneous error when posting Misc. Invoices * [G/L] Fixed issue with Budgets not updating properly * [CRM] Enabled inactive flag for To-Do Items * [CRM] Fixed issue with To-Do List right-click options being disabled incorrectly * [CRM] Fixed issue with To-Do List requiring two 2 clicks to enable EDIT button * [Inventory] Fixed ISSUE ALL BALANCE button on Issue Stock to Shipping screen to honor sufficient Inventory requirement * [Inventory] Fixed issue preventing deletion of posted Count Slips from the Count Slip Edit List * [Inventory] Fixed issue allowing return of different Serial Numbers when returning line items back to stock * [Inventory] Fixed error received when trying to return stock from Shipping * [Inventory] Added lot/serial group back to the default Packing List * [Inventory] Fixed issue preventing selection of Location radio button on Item Site screen * [Inventory] Prevented entry of duplicate Warehouse Locations * [Inventory] Enforced relationship between "Stocked" flag and Order Level on Item Site screen * [Inventory] Fixed error received when attempting to delete an Item * [S/R] Disabled "Require Sufficient Inventory" option on Issue Stock to Shipping screen if S/O Allocations are enabled * [S/R] Enabled RA line item notes to transfer to S/O's linked to RAs * [Manufacture] Enabled backflush of Job Item Work Order Material Requirements * [Manufacture] Fixed issue preventing posting of Misc. Production when "Track Machine Overhead" is flagged as "with General Overhead" * [Products] Fixed issue causing Copy Item function to be slow when all options are selected * [Products] Prevented users from select anything but Material Issue UOMs when entering a BOM item * [Products] Prevented deletion of Bills of Materials having valid revisions * [Products] Fixed issue causing BOM components not to be copied when copying a BOM * [Products] Fixed issue preventing addition of BOO items * [Products] Restored missing Characteristics tab to Item master * [Products] Disabled editing of Max Desired Cost currency on Item master * [Products] Liked UOM ratio formatting to Locale setting * [Products] Fixed PostBooks only issue preventing deletion of Items * [P/D] Fixed BOO report to ignore expired Operations and also added missing information * [Purchase] Changed PO report definition to dynamically find Warehouse Address * [Sales] Enabled alternate Shipping Warehouse for Return Authorizations * [Sales] Fixed issue with Availability information not being displayed on the RA Item screen * [Sales] Fixed issue with new Order value being overwritten when using RA authorize buttons * [Sales] Added Shipping Warehouse label to RA Item screen * [Sales] Fixed issue preventing creation of Sales Account Assignments if Returns are enabled * [Sales] Added filtering on RA header to only show valid Sales Orders for specified Customer * [Sales] Fixed issue with extraneous lot/serial numbers showing up on Invoices having RA processing in their past * [Sales] Enabled changing of RA line item dispositions after line items are created * [Sales] Fixed issue where default Warehouse always was showing for returns, regardless of Warehouse specified * [Sales] Fixed issue preventing printing of RAs * [Sales] Fixed error found when attempting to create Work Orders in S/O and R/A for Items that had BOM items with no Item Site * [Sales] Fixed error received when selecting to cancel a newly-created RA after adding a line item * [Sales] Hid browse button next to New Order field on RA header * [Sales] Fixed crash behavior when showing pending availability on Sales Order item screen * [Sales] Fixed pending availability as indented BOM on Sales Order Item screen to properly show deeply nested BOMs * [Sales] Fixed issue with RA Checks getting a -1 value at first * [Sales] Fixed issue with RA item credit exceeding original qty. * [Sales] Fixed failing update of salesorder api if no shipto is given * [Sales] Fixed Customer screen to use AR Terms only * [Sales] Fixed issue with right-click options working inconsistently in Inventory Availability By Customer Type screen * [Sales] Fixed issue with Notes not saving on Returns * [Sales] Fixed font color inconsistencies on Inventory Availability By Customer Type screen * [Schedule] Fixed planning BOM percentages to work properly * [System] Fixed error message received when running the createbufferstatus function * [System] Fixed XML import error received with Item Type is "Job" * [System] Rescaled user's initials field on Maintain Users screen * [System] Removed non-functional Verisign credit card authorization option * [System] Fixed issue preventing Hot Keys from working * [System] Fixed Item view which was incorrectly allowing inserts without a Class Code * [System] Fixed issue causing Credit Card configuration screen to crash * [System] Removed invalid XML found on Credit Card posting * [System] Fixed issue with Item Characteristics being hidden when multi-Warehouse functionality was disabled * [System] Fixed XML import to read ID and Note codes properly * [System] Fixed issue where Yahoo XML contains Freight information not found on Sales Order * [System] Fixed issue with actual Yahoo Store XML Order Numbers being out of range * [System] Fixed issue which required Post Journal Entry permission to post any transaction in the system * [System] Improved wording of error code returned when issuing to Shipping
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TechWeb - Availability of Entellium's code could speed development of industry-specific CRM products.
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com December 6, 2004, 2:13 PM PT. This priority jumped up two spots into second place as CRM returns into the spotlight among top software initiatives alongside directory services and open source.
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Ziff Davis - Microsoft CRM leans on partners to fill functionality gaps.
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(InfoWorld) - SAP continued to ramp up its on-demand CRM offering this week, announcing that it will now include service-level capabilities, the third key component of CRM solutions. In February SAP kicked off its software as a service business with a sales force automation solution. In May the company added marketing, and in its third update within the year it is now announcing SAP Service. Liz Herbert, a senior analyst at Forrester Research, said that the SAP CRM solution is now displaying the kind of depth SAP is known for. "SAP added a component for managing products that many on-demand CRM vendors don't have. You can use it as the product master or bring in the product master which is typically found in the ERP system," said Herbert. The new service component includes Service Ticket Management, Rule-based Service Ticket Distribution, and Service Level Monitoring. Also included is a rules-base service-level determination calculator that automates the routing of service tickets based on a customer's service level agreement, said Angela Bandlow, vice president at CRM Solutions Marketing. "It's a tiered service that tracks SLAs based on the customer and the required response time," said Bandlow. One of the key differentiators for the SAP offering, according to both Bandlow and Forrester's Herbert, is its ability to integrate easily with MySAP ERP systems on the back end. Using product information found in the ERP system, a sales person can pull up manufacturing availability and pricing information and deliver a quote in real time online. Bandlow said while this completes the three major components of SAP CRM OnDemand, quarterly updates can be expected with the next update due in December. To date, the solution, like almost all on-demand solutions, is not industry-specific. But Bandlow said the company is looking at that and will respond to customer demand.
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(InfoWorld) - Salesforce.comÂ is starting to provide some details about the next version of its hosted CRM (customer relationship management) software, including the product's primary focus, which will be customization. Known as Salesforce Winter '07, the upcoming release will become generally available in the fourth quarter of this year, Salesforce.com said Wednesday. The vendor plans to launch aÂ Web siteÂ on Thursday to invite user feedback on the Winter '07 version. The idea is to foster a closer working relationship between Salesforce users and the vendor's developers, Marc Benioff, the company's chairman and chief executive officer, wrote in an e-mail. Winter '07 will feature a new user interface based on Ajax or asynchronous JavaScript and extensible markup language, a group of software development tools and standards that help create interactive Web applications. Users will be have the ability to customize the CRM application's desktop console and components. Other new features include a hook-in to Cisco Systems' computer telephony integration option and full support for IBM's Lotus Notes collaboration software. Salesforce.com's on-demand CRM is available in different versions targeting a variety of users including its Personal, Team, Professional, Enterprise and Unlimited Editions. The vendor's last major CRM version, Summer '06,Â debuted in JulyÂ along with a connector for its Enterprise and Unlimited Editions integrating its software with SAP's R/3 ERP (enterprise resource planning) applications. Salesforce.com competes with a variety of players in the hosted midmarket applications arena including SAP, Oracle, and NetSuite.
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InfoWorld - SAP continued to ramp up its on-demand CRM offering this week, announcing that it will now include service-level capabilities, the third key component of CRM solutions.
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SugarCRM has released the 5.0 version of its open-source customer relationship management software following a long period of development and testing.Sugar 5.0 features improvements in three main areas, according to the company:&#160;A new on-demand architecture designed to improve security, tools that let nontechnical users build custom modules, and an AJAX e-mail client that is compatible with any server that supports the POP3 protocol. The release also delivers upgraded dashboarding capabilities.The software went through three beta cycles and was tested more than 30,000 times by members of SugarCRM&#39;s open-source community, said Chris Harrick, senior director of product marketing for the Cupertino, California, company.Harrick said the open-source development model allows software to be vetted far more thoroughly than an in-house quality testing team can.In-house teams &quot;serve their purpose. They do a good job, and they&#39;re hard-working people. But [open-source provides] the wisdom of the crowd,&quot; he argued.Harrick downplayed the fact that it took three betas to achieve a release-worthy product. &quot;I think it&#39;s really a result of our development process. We iterate quickly and get it out there,&quot; he said.The company has created a Flash demo that walks through the new features in detail.China Martens, an analyst with the 451 Group, said SugarCRM is looking to land larger enterprise customers with the 5.0 release.&quot;This is the most substantial kind of project they&#39;ve done ... it was really crucial for them to try and get this right,&quot; Martens said.&quot;We think it&#39;s good, but the bottom line is we want to see bigger users for Sugar until we get really excited,&quot; she added.In a space crowded by seemingly similar CRM offerings, SugarCRM has tried to differentiate itself partly through fostering a user-friendly image, according to Martens. The company&#39;s attitude, according to Martens, is, &quot;Forget about the technical guys, we&#39;re Sugar and you can configure us. We&#39;re friendly.&quot;SugarCRM Professional in on-demand form costs $40 per user per month.
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com October 5, 2004, 2:09 PM PT. This fourth priority&#39;s main focus has been improving or obtaining CRM and ERP software for the past year and a half.
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New hosted CRM package offers customizable platform services, highlighting company's attempt to compete with SAP, Oracle, Microsoft.
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EnterpriseWizard this week is releasing the 2.0 version of its CRM application, a product built on top of its SaaSWizard Web application development platform and designed to be easily customizable.
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Most industry changes start as a trickle, but hosted CRM came in like a tidal wave. When it did, industry giant Siebel (Nasdaq: SEBL) was left standing in the backwash -- at least for a while. By the time the company realized the tide had turned, Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM) had already bottled up much of the market.
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Comparing on-demand CRM products is a lot like comparing ice to steam. Both are technically water, but the form makes all the difference.
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Automating the sales process is one of the most important functions of a CRM system. In fact, much of today's CRM software has its origins back in the mid-'80s and early '90s, not as "customer relationship management" software, but instead as "sales automation" software.
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This integration enables a Salesforce.com customer to integrate and use StrikeIron's CRM-related Web services without having to leave their Salesforce.com account. &quot;By utilizing our Web Services Business Network, Salesforce.com users can be assured of the reliability and security required for their applications.&quot; said Richard Holcomb, CEO of StrikeIron.
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EnterpriseWizard this week is releasing the 2.0 version of its CRM application, a product built on top of its SaaSWizard Web application development platform and designed to be easily customizable.EnterpriseWizard 2.0 employs templates and drag-and-drop style customization of tables and fields through a browser-based interface. Users can also define business rules, sketch out workflows, and generate reports. Other new features include an improved search engine and the ability to automatically transmit information from a client computer when a trouble ticket is sent out.The SaaSWizard platform represents &quot;man-centuries of development,&quot; rather than the man-hours usually used as a measure, according to CEO Colin Earl. But EnterpriseWizard is not alone in offering end users the ability to change its application.&#160;SAP&#39;s recently unveiled CRM 2007&#160;product features an Web 2.0-style interface that users can manipulate to their liking.A difference lies in EnterpriseWizard&#39;s underlying business model. Earl said his company is looking to partner with systems integrators and value-added resellers. The company hopes they will use the core SaaSWizard platform to create and sell customized applications -- both CRM (customer relationship management) and other types -- to customers in vertical industries.&quot;Our vision is not to build these products ourselves,&quot; he said.Many on-demand software companies have the wrong idea, he argued. &quot;What I see happening in the market is the SaaS vendors have a direct sales model, and they are effectively trying to take the whole pie for themselves. I think this is a strategic mistake,&quot; he said.While the J2EE-based product is available on-demand, it is also possible to deploy it on an internal server, a fact that drew a nod from one close observer of the CRM scene.&quot;Generally, the fact they offer both on-premise and SaaS is great -- we feel customers like the choice of being able to move seamlessly between the two environments, assuming the two products are functionally the same,&quot; China Martens, an analyst with the 451 Group, said via e-mail.&quot;It&#39;s impressive they&#39;ve retained high-end customers over years such as Chevron and have a bit under 400 customers in total,&quot; she added. &quot;If they do want to garner more attention amid the plethora of their competition, we&#39;d expect them to seek some VC funding, also advice from VCs as to how to best grow their business.&quot;The company has about 40 employees and financially is &quot;very healthy&quot; these days, according to Earl, though he acknowledges that the years spent developing SaaSWizard were &quot;pretty lean.&quot;EnterpriseWizard costs $65 per staff user per month for the hosted product, and $950 per staff user if it is purchased outright on Linux, with unlimited end-user access, according to a spokesman. The company also offers the software for purchase on Windows or Solaris for about $1,150 per staff user.End users have limited capabilities, including the ability to submit and update their own records, whereas staff users -- such as sales representatives -- have a more sophisticated interface and can gain the ability to change records from other users, the spokesman said.