Best CRM out there?

[04diamond<3]

Any opinions? My company is wanting to find a new database and I'm in charge of finding something amazing. I've heard the cloud products are awesom, but they look pricey.... We have about 40 people and we work in insurance. Any ideas would be awesome!!!

 

[LLJsmom]

We have tried a couple of products and the first one really bombed. Because I don't won't to discuss too many details I will refrain from saying the name. But I would definitely encourage that they allow you to somehow test I on your site, using your data (not theirs) before committing. I have 10-11 applications going at any one time, and we were told later that most of their clients used only 4-5, which was why everything was so slow. We went with a new cloud provider who set our company up with our own unshared server, and it has been performing better. Our company us less than 15 people but we are very document heavy, a CPA firm. Best of luck!! Be prepared for a transition pains.

 

[04diamond<3]

Thanks LLJsmom! Hopefully I'll get to. The two I'm hearing a lot abour are salesforce.com the cloud stuff versus the Microsoft Dynamics. The price comparison is pretty big. Does anyone have any experience with either of these two products? We need somthing that keep up with us and that will be compatible with our phone system. We'll be updating that too, but I don't know what we're going to.

 

[justginger]

I don't work in business, or technology, or understand any of it. I think it's pretty important to preface with this small fact: I have no idea what you're actually asking for. However, I *do* know that my college boyfriend -- who is a computer genius -- started his own business last year with a 'revolutionary' cloud computing management thingy. Yes, thingy. I thought I'd mention his company because they've recently reached full start up capital and I think all is going very well.

https://www.divvycloud.com

 

[bliss_cathy]

Hi 04diamond,

I've used Salesforce and Cegedim Dendrite. I've used three others as well (lotus?) that were terrible and I can't remember the names of them off the top of my head.

I am not technically minded at all, so I don't know what you mean by the cloud, does that mean you can use it remotely with your iPad and blackberry?

Salesforce is user friendly and Dendrite is as well.

JustGinger, CRM stands for customer relationship manager (I think), a software tool used to record customers details and interactions, sales figures and targets.

 

[justginger]

Hi 04diamond,

I've used Salesforce and Cegedim Dendrite. I've used three others as well (lotus?) that were terrible and I can't remember the names of them off the top of my head.

I am not technically minded at all, so I don't know what you mean by the cloud, does that mean you can use it remotely with your iPad and blackberry?

Salesforce is user friendly and Dendrite is as well.

JustGinger, CRM stands for customer relationship manager (I think), a software tool used to record customers details and interactions, sales figures and targets.

Then I am an idiot, and my suggestions can happily be ignored. I just saw 'cloud' and thought, "Hey! I know a new cloud management company!" Sorry for being totally irrelevant.

 

[04diamond<3]

Hi 04diamond,

I've used Salesforce and Cegedim Dendrite. I've used three others as well (lotus?) that were terrible and I can't remember the names of them off the top of my head.

I am not technically minded at all, so I don't know what you mean by the cloud, does that mean you can use it remotely with your iPad and blackberry?

Salesforce is user friendly and Dendrite is as well.

JustGinger, CRM stands for customer relationship manager (I think), a software tool used to record customers details and interactions, sales figures and targets.

the sales force is a cloud thing I believe. Good to know about Salesforce!

 

[Karl_K]

It has been a few years and versions ago but I had a client who had a totally rotten experience with a Microsoft Dynamics migration. Nickel and dimed to death and it never quite worked right.
Is there a vertically integrated one specific to your industry?
They are often the best option.

 

[04diamond<3]

It has been a few years and versions ago but I had a client who had a totally rotten experience with a Microsoft Dynamics migration. Nickel and dimed to death and it never quite worked right.
Is there a vertically integrated one specific to your industry?
They are often the best option.

Not that I'm aware of...which is why I was asking. That's not good about Dynamics because that was top two....Uh oh....

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

whoever the one owned by Sebel - they are bad too.
You need a smaller firm IMHO.
or DIY
I have a magic system for less than 10 users made by one of the DiamCalc engineers who migrated to Australia a few years ago from Russia.
He needed to settle in and learn better English etc so we gave him a job for 6 months and the system is so much better than anything we could find out there.
All up over perhaps 7 years with further part time development on non CRM systems (bill of materials) and integration with other proprietary software its probably run close to $100k, but 3 of my lovely sales team are ladies over 60 who use it all the time - I never made them, they used diaries before, but they almost never not have the PM system not open.
They are not compute literate at all.
So consider that - or if you have some associate businesses in a society etc, then maybe the association could develop something or find a larger company who would customise a program?

 

[Karl_K]

It has been a few years and versions ago but I had a client who had a totally rotten experience with a Microsoft Dynamics migration. Nickel and dimed to death and it never quite worked right.
Is there a vertically integrated one specific to your industry?
They are often the best option.

Not that I'm aware of...which is why I was asking. That's not good about Dynamics because that was top two....Uh oh....

Often a good place to start is your suppliers and see if they are aware of a package that offers single data entry with their systems.
Many times you can get that with a vertically integrated product vs general purpose.
Be aware that such modules are added cost add ons 99% of the time.

 

[SMC]

AMS360 is a tool designed specifically for insurance agencies. It can help you manage your policies, claims, etc.

I've used Salesforce and Saleslogix at my previous companies. I prefer Salesforce (it seems more seamless) but it's pricier.

 

[bliss_cathy]

Saleslogix! That's one of the ones I couldn't remember.

My order of preference would be:
Salesforce
Cegedem Dendrite
The one I still can't remember sorry
Sales Logix (not great)
Lotus (so so terrible)