Customer relationship management (CRM) programs were once been best suited to large enterprises, but today they are essential to businesses of all sizes, and are available to small businesses in various forms. CRM solutions will enhance any business's productivity in sales, marketing, and for the customer service staff, as well as reduce the costs of finding and retaining leads, and increase revenues by unifying many business management processes in one platform. Of course, the trick to success with small business CRM is finding the right solution for your company.
Enterprise-scale CRM can be intimidating for smaller businesses, and it also tends to offer many more capabilities than smaller companies require, and at a price small-business owners will likely balk at paying. Adding even more expenses, large-scale CRM often requires more IT support than small businesses can readily provide. Thankfully, the growing need among small businesses for streamlined sales, marketing, and customer management processes has led to the emergence of small business CRM software, which many refer to as "CRM lite." These solutions acknowledge that employees of small businesses tend to wear many hats and have a variety of responsibilities, and these platforms are traditionally dialed-down versions of the large-enterprise products.
This brings us to an important thing to consider when selecting a small business CRM solution for your company: scalability. Most businesses start small, but when choosing a CRM solution, you have to look down the line and take consideration for growth. Your chosen solution should be able to both accommodate an increase in the user base, and allow for more capabilities as the company's needs evolve. Numbers-wise, small business CRM platforms are designed for companies with fewer than 500 clients, or fewer than 50 customer-facing staff members. And though CRM lite products have a small-business slant, they can still be fitting for divisions of larger enterprises with fewer than 100 simultaneous CRM users. For the most part, small business CRM caters to companies whose user bases are physically concentrated, rather than spread out over multi-server networks.
Almost as important as selecting the appropriate system for a certain number of end-users: deciding which type of deployment is best for your company: on-premise or hosted. Most small business CRM solutions are offered as software-as-a-service (SaaS), or on-demand platforms, which is an option that provides numerous benefits to small enterprise. For starters, on-demand solutions require much less up-front capital, as they require neither hardware nor the licensing fees necessary for on-premise CRM platforms. On-demand CRM solutions are ideal for budding companies in need of a system than can be deployed quickly, and with little impact on IT resources, as on-premise solutions often call for long and complicated implementation processes. On-premise solutions tend to work best for large enterprises that need a constant pulse on their CRM data, and that can afford the temporal and monetary costs of implementation.
The best small business CRM solutions will allow companies to customize the platform's dashboards and key features. This customization is usually offered in the form of smaller "license bundles" that allow users to pick and choose only the features needed, and therefore prevent them for overpaying on extensive packages with features that will remain unused. Small business CRM solutions also reflect the tendency smaller companies have of managing business across a number of different (and sometimes disjointed) productivity applications. This propensity to work across disparate applications adds to the importance of a simple user interface and options for customization, and explains why CRM systems that resemble basic word processing and reporting applications are so successful.
Many small business CRM offerings are primarily contact managers that secondarily provide the ability to organize sales and marketing campaigns, and offer some standard reporting capabilities. Common add-ons include help desk automation, sales forecasting, order-processing and tracking, and advanced analytics. Two companies that offer web-based CRM solutions and recently released contact management tools are Salesforce.com and SugarCRM. Salesforce's Contact Management Edition and Sugar's SugarExpress are both very basic forms of CRM, offering simple contact information and communications records, and both are meant for a small number of users (about 5-10). They are intended for the smallest business users, but the good thing about these products-and another advantage of SaaS solutions-is that they are wholly integrative into Salesforce's and Sugar's more extensive CRM products should the company grow.
Another thing you'll want to look for when choosing the right small business CRM: social networking tools. There has been great debate as to how helpful integrating products like Twitter and Facebook is to CRM processes, but there is no doubt that small businesses benefit greatly from incorporating social media. Unlike large enterprises, small businesses have more direct interactions with their customers, so while large enterprises use social networking tools to maintain a strong web presence and track conversations about their brand, small businesses have the advantage of using these platforms to nurture their existing relationships with customers. Most SaaS CRM solutions have social networking integrations, so look for a system that provides basic social media functionality and has a good tool for monitoring conversations.
The best small business CRM solution is out there. Just remember to assess your needs, and find a product that is scalable, and offers good contact management and social media integrations.
domingo, 5 de diciembre de 2010
viernes, 3 de diciembre de 2010
Business Intelligence software comparisons for telecommunications companies
Use the software selection tool employed by Fortune 500 companies, Small & Medium Businesses, IT Services and Consultants in thousands software selection projects per year - Access tool and free comparisons below.
Powered by the TEC Expert System, eBestMatch™
... the "Rolls Royce of decision making tools" - ZDNet
Get the best technology match for your company. Our evaluations can save months of research and help ensure a successful project.
What this comparison report will help you to achieve
4Determine which functional aspects are priorities for your business.
4Evaluate and understand the functionality that addresses Telecommunications requirements.
4Find the Telecommunications solutions that are most likely to serve your business.
About Business Intelligence Software
Business intelligence (BI) is a decision support tool used to capture, report, and analyze a subset of organizational data without affecting operational systems. The software provides essential business visibility to help clients' businesses grow by giving them the information they need about product, sales, and customer behavior. It allows clients to look at their businesses in different ways, and helps them to understand the core issues so they can take action to improve performance.
The function of business intelligence and business performance
With BI and BPM modules included in the ERP system or as standalone solutions, telco companies can better analyze the very high volumes of data that emerge from the enterprise's operational systems. BI and BPM systems provide the right tools to manage data at the right time, including those that enable dynamic reporting, data mining, online analytical processing (OLAP) services, balanced scorecards, and key performance indicators (KPIs). All of these functionalities—together with corporate dashboards that help telecommunications managers, decision makers, and knowledge workers be better able to interpret and analyze data—enable accurate decision making and the ability to modify business workflows that need improvement.
About TEC BI software comparison
Developed in conjunction with software analysts and the world's leading software vendors, TEC's enterprise software evaluation reports are designed to give manufacturers and service organizations a comprehensive list of features and functions (criteria) for each of over forty different kinds of enterprise software solutions. With over 1000 vendor products available for evaluation, TEC is the largest service of its kind in the industry. kind in the industry. ndustry. kind in the industry.
TEC helps thousands of businesses, every month, evaluate and select software solutions that meet their exacting needs by empowering purchasers with the tools, research, and expertise to make an ideal decision.
Industry standard terminology aids evaluation process
The language used to describe each category and criterion has been vetted by TEC analysts and provides a standard description that is understood and accepted by leading vendors and consultants in each enterprise area. During the RFI or RFP process, users benefit from clear, concise descriptions of critical functions that prospective vendors can respond to without confusion. This leads to better participation by invited vendors and reduces the possibility of errors.
Report uses by role:
IT project managers: Save time and avoid errors in the creation of high quality requirements for a software acquisition. Use the reports help develop all RFI, RFP and software tender documents.
IT Consultants: Use comprehensive criteria to determine build vs. buy analysis and perform gap analysis for legacy systems against the latest software functionality included in the reports. With ratings on over 1000 enterprise software solutions, you have access to the most comprehensive vendor data available.
Software manufacturers and vendors: Compare your system against the combined feature set of the leaders in your category to help prioritize future development. Use as a template of included features for any software bid.
Powered by the TEC Expert System, eBestMatch™
... the "Rolls Royce of decision making tools" - ZDNet
Get the best technology match for your company. Our evaluations can save months of research and help ensure a successful project.
What this comparison report will help you to achieve
4Determine which functional aspects are priorities for your business.
4Evaluate and understand the functionality that addresses Telecommunications requirements.
4Find the Telecommunications solutions that are most likely to serve your business.
About Business Intelligence Software
Business intelligence (BI) is a decision support tool used to capture, report, and analyze a subset of organizational data without affecting operational systems. The software provides essential business visibility to help clients' businesses grow by giving them the information they need about product, sales, and customer behavior. It allows clients to look at their businesses in different ways, and helps them to understand the core issues so they can take action to improve performance.
The function of business intelligence and business performance
With BI and BPM modules included in the ERP system or as standalone solutions, telco companies can better analyze the very high volumes of data that emerge from the enterprise's operational systems. BI and BPM systems provide the right tools to manage data at the right time, including those that enable dynamic reporting, data mining, online analytical processing (OLAP) services, balanced scorecards, and key performance indicators (KPIs). All of these functionalities—together with corporate dashboards that help telecommunications managers, decision makers, and knowledge workers be better able to interpret and analyze data—enable accurate decision making and the ability to modify business workflows that need improvement.
About TEC BI software comparison
Developed in conjunction with software analysts and the world's leading software vendors, TEC's enterprise software evaluation reports are designed to give manufacturers and service organizations a comprehensive list of features and functions (criteria) for each of over forty different kinds of enterprise software solutions. With over 1000 vendor products available for evaluation, TEC is the largest service of its kind in the industry. kind in the industry. ndustry. kind in the industry.
TEC helps thousands of businesses, every month, evaluate and select software solutions that meet their exacting needs by empowering purchasers with the tools, research, and expertise to make an ideal decision.
Industry standard terminology aids evaluation process
The language used to describe each category and criterion has been vetted by TEC analysts and provides a standard description that is understood and accepted by leading vendors and consultants in each enterprise area. During the RFI or RFP process, users benefit from clear, concise descriptions of critical functions that prospective vendors can respond to without confusion. This leads to better participation by invited vendors and reduces the possibility of errors.
Report uses by role:
IT project managers: Save time and avoid errors in the creation of high quality requirements for a software acquisition. Use the reports help develop all RFI, RFP and software tender documents.
IT Consultants: Use comprehensive criteria to determine build vs. buy analysis and perform gap analysis for legacy systems against the latest software functionality included in the reports. With ratings on over 1000 enterprise software solutions, you have access to the most comprehensive vendor data available.
Software manufacturers and vendors: Compare your system against the combined feature set of the leaders in your category to help prioritize future development. Use as a template of included features for any software bid.
martes, 23 de noviembre de 2010
Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM offers businesses a complete customer relationship life-cycle management solution for managing organization-wide Sales, Marketing, Customer Support & Service and Inventory Management.
- Award-winning, complete CRM solution
- No long term contracts, pay as you go
- Ease of Customization
Zoho CRM is simple to use, yet packed with features and advanced functionality that allow you to grow your business while having a single view of your customer interactions.
Sales Force Automation:
Zoho CRM helps the sales force, executives, and management with sophisticated sales force automation tools such as, lead generation & qualification, pipeline analysis, sales stage & probability analysis, competitor analysis, real-time forecasting, quota management, reports & dashboards and other useful metrics.
Marketing Automation:
With the Zoho CRM marketing automation, you can effectively plan marketing campaigns, execute email campaigns, track marketing expenditure and improve the quality of lead generation process. In addition, campaign management integrated with sales force automation helps your organization in measuring the performance, return on investment (ROI) and effectiveness of the campaigns.
E-mail Integration:
The Zoho CRM Mail Add-on automatically tracks e-mail conversations you've had with your customers. You don't need to CC: anyone or forward your e-mails to a particular address. You can also choose what e-mails to share with your team and which ones to keep private.
Zoho CRM highlights:
* 360 degree view of your business: sales, marketing, inventory, invoicing and help desk
* Modular and easy to use: Zoho CRM grows with your business, start simple expand and evolve over time
Sales Force Automation:
Zoho CRM helps the sales force, executives, and management with sophisticated sales force automation tools such as, lead generation & qualification, pipeline analysis, sales stage & probability analysis, competitor analysis, real-time forecasting, quota management, reports & dashboards and other useful metrics.
Marketing Automation:
With the Zoho CRM marketing automation, you can effectively plan marketing campaigns, execute email campaigns, track marketing expenditure and improve the quality of lead generation process. In addition, campaign management integrated with sales force automation helps your organization in measuring the performance, return on investment (ROI) and effectiveness of the campaigns.
E-mail Integration:
The Zoho CRM Mail Add-on automatically tracks e-mail conversations you've had with your customers. You don't need to CC: anyone or forward your e-mails to a particular address. You can also choose what e-mails to share with your team and which ones to keep private.
Zoho CRM highlights:
* 360 degree view of your business: sales, marketing, inventory, invoicing and help desk
* Modular and easy to use: Zoho CRM grows with your business, start simple expand and evolve over time
Google Announces Definite End of Their SOAP Search API
Google in a blog post discussing their new Google Code Labs overview page mentions that they’ll end the Google SOAP Search API for good on August 31st this year. So far, while it was announced as unsupported and didn’t accept new sign-ups since December 2006 already, it was still working for those who used it in their past projects. “Since then” Google says their SOAP API has “been steadily declining in usage”. In an email sent out to developers who had once signed up for an API key, Google apologized.
I’m making extensive use of the SOAP Search API over at FindForward.com, an older playground for search experiments. Perhaps one of the simplest routes to go once the SOAP API is dead is to create a module which emulates that API using Google’s REST API. Writing a screenscraping wrapper class might also be just as feasible, and it would even survive if Google decides to kill of the REST API one day; such a wrapper may also support those features which the SOAP API had but the REST API doesn’t (querying for the Google cache of a page, and spellchecking, the least).
Google UK didn’t update their SOAP API homepage yet, still showing the old version. Google originally launched the SOAP API in 2002 (according to Ionut).
When you do use the REST API, Google points out this bit: “each search performed with the API must be the direct result of a user action. Automated searching is strictly prohibited, as is permanently storing any search results.”
Companies may do well to not support dead-end projects forever. The bigger problem with Google’s ending of projects is that they rarely give you an honest answer as to why they ended something, as only that could help you on which present and future products and APIs you should bet. The answer for canceling SOAP support may be that, as the casual-API world is moving towards REST + JSON*, there’s too much overhead involved in the protocol. Here’s a bit of background from ex-Google employee Nelson Minar from November 2006:
As someone who bears some past responsibility for well used SOAP services (Google’s APIs for search and AdWords) let me say now I’d never choose to use SOAP and WSDL again. I was wrong.
The promise of SOAP and WSDL was removing all the plumbing. When you look at SOAP client examples, they’re two lines of code. “Generate proxy. RPC to proxy.” And for toys, that actually works. But for serious things it doesn’t. I don’t have the space to explain all the problems right now (if you’ve seen my talks at O’Reilly conferences, you know), but they boil down to massive interoperability problems. Good lord, you can’t even pass a number between languages reliably, much less arrays, or dates, or structures that can be null, or... It just doesn’t work. Maybe with enough effort SOAP interop could eventually be made to work. It’s not such a problem if you’re writing both the client and the server. But if you’re publishing a server for others to use? Forget it.
The deeper problem with SOAP is strong typing. WSDL accomplishes its magic via XML Schema and strongly typed messages. But strong typing is a bad choice for loosely coupled distributed systems. The moment you need to change anything, the type signature changes and all the clients that were built to your earlier protocol spec break. And I don’t just mean major semantic changes break things, but cosmetic things like accepting a 64 bit int where you use used to only accept 32 bit ints, or making a parameter optional. SOAP, in practice, is incredibly brittle. If you’re building a web service for the world to use, you need to make it flexible and loose and a bit sloppy. Strong typing is the wrong choice.
The REST / HTTP+POX services typically assume that the clients will be flexible and can make sense of messages, even if they change a bit. And in practice this seems to work pretty well. My favourite API to use is the Flickr API, and my favourite client for it is 48 lines of code. It supports 100+ Flickr API methods. How? Fast and loose. And it works great.
I’m making extensive use of the SOAP Search API over at FindForward.com, an older playground for search experiments. Perhaps one of the simplest routes to go once the SOAP API is dead is to create a module which emulates that API using Google’s REST API. Writing a screenscraping wrapper class might also be just as feasible, and it would even survive if Google decides to kill of the REST API one day; such a wrapper may also support those features which the SOAP API had but the REST API doesn’t (querying for the Google cache of a page, and spellchecking, the least).
Google UK didn’t update their SOAP API homepage yet, still showing the old version. Google originally launched the SOAP API in 2002 (according to Ionut).
When you do use the REST API, Google points out this bit: “each search performed with the API must be the direct result of a user action. Automated searching is strictly prohibited, as is permanently storing any search results.”
Companies may do well to not support dead-end projects forever. The bigger problem with Google’s ending of projects is that they rarely give you an honest answer as to why they ended something, as only that could help you on which present and future products and APIs you should bet. The answer for canceling SOAP support may be that, as the casual-API world is moving towards REST + JSON*, there’s too much overhead involved in the protocol. Here’s a bit of background from ex-Google employee Nelson Minar from November 2006:
As someone who bears some past responsibility for well used SOAP services (Google’s APIs for search and AdWords) let me say now I’d never choose to use SOAP and WSDL again. I was wrong.
The promise of SOAP and WSDL was removing all the plumbing. When you look at SOAP client examples, they’re two lines of code. “Generate proxy. RPC to proxy.” And for toys, that actually works. But for serious things it doesn’t. I don’t have the space to explain all the problems right now (if you’ve seen my talks at O’Reilly conferences, you know), but they boil down to massive interoperability problems. Good lord, you can’t even pass a number between languages reliably, much less arrays, or dates, or structures that can be null, or... It just doesn’t work. Maybe with enough effort SOAP interop could eventually be made to work. It’s not such a problem if you’re writing both the client and the server. But if you’re publishing a server for others to use? Forget it.
The deeper problem with SOAP is strong typing. WSDL accomplishes its magic via XML Schema and strongly typed messages. But strong typing is a bad choice for loosely coupled distributed systems. The moment you need to change anything, the type signature changes and all the clients that were built to your earlier protocol spec break. And I don’t just mean major semantic changes break things, but cosmetic things like accepting a 64 bit int where you use used to only accept 32 bit ints, or making a parameter optional. SOAP, in practice, is incredibly brittle. If you’re building a web service for the world to use, you need to make it flexible and loose and a bit sloppy. Strong typing is the wrong choice.
The REST / HTTP+POX services typically assume that the clients will be flexible and can make sense of messages, even if they change a bit. And in practice this seems to work pretty well. My favourite API to use is the Flickr API, and my favourite client for it is 48 lines of code. It supports 100+ Flickr API methods. How? Fast and loose. And it works great.
martes, 2 de noviembre de 2010
What is ERP?
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) combines methodologies with software and hardware components to integrate numerous critical back-office functions across a company.
Made up of a series of “modules” or applications that are seamlessly linked together through a common database, an ERP system enables operating units such as Accounting and Finance, Human Resources, Production, and Fulfillment and Distribution to coordinate activities, share information, and collaborate.
Learn more about ERP »
There are hundreds of ERP companies to choose from – how do you know which one is right for your business? These five questions will help you find the best possible fit.
7 Tips to Making an ERP Software Decision
The process of purchasing enterprise resource planning (ERP) software can be a complex one, particularly for companies who have never engaged in a project of this scale or scope before. Here are some quick tips to help you find the best solution to meet your needs, and maximize the value of your ERP software.
Disaster-Proofing Your ERP Data
Your ERP data is vital to your company’s ability to maintain optimum levels of efficiency. Learn about the threats that put your ERP data at risk, and how you can avoid them.
ERP A - Z
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions are broad applications that improve productivity and reduce costs across the entire back office. This article takes a look at the expansive reach of an ERP system –
from A to Z.
ERP Benefits for Midsized Businesses
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions can deliver significant value to mid-sized companies. With a solid ERP strategy in place, businesses can boost productivity, minimize expenses, and gain a competitive edge.
ERP Software Key Features
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software provides a broad range of capabilities to support all critical back office functions. With features for manufacturing, supply chain management, human resources, financial management, and more, ERP software can improve core operations across an entire business.
5 Tips to Negotiate the Best ERP Deal
The ERP negotiation process can be quite challenging – particularly for those companies that have little experience with enterprise software deals. Here are five tips to help you get the best ERP software for the best possible price.
Get the Most From your ERP Purchase
Your ERP investment was a major one, and the pressure is on to get as much value as possible from your new system. Here are some tips to help you realize the full potential of your ERP environment.
Why do You Need an ERP Solution?
An ERP solution can deliver dramatic benefits to businesses of all types and sizes – increased productivity, reduced operating expenses, improved information flow, and enhanced performance management. Why does your company need an ERP solution? Read on to learn more.
How to Protect Your ERP Database
Your ERP database is one of your company’s most important assets. This article contains valuable tips to help you keep your ERP database fully protected, so you can ensure smooth, continuous back office operations.
Made up of a series of “modules” or applications that are seamlessly linked together through a common database, an ERP system enables operating units such as Accounting and Finance, Human Resources, Production, and Fulfillment and Distribution to coordinate activities, share information, and collaborate.
Learn more about ERP »
Tips for Managing Your ERP Project
5 Questions to Ask ERP Companies Before You BuyThere are hundreds of ERP companies to choose from – how do you know which one is right for your business? These five questions will help you find the best possible fit.
7 Tips to Making an ERP Software Decision
The process of purchasing enterprise resource planning (ERP) software can be a complex one, particularly for companies who have never engaged in a project of this scale or scope before. Here are some quick tips to help you find the best solution to meet your needs, and maximize the value of your ERP software.
Disaster-Proofing Your ERP Data
Your ERP data is vital to your company’s ability to maintain optimum levels of efficiency. Learn about the threats that put your ERP data at risk, and how you can avoid them.
ERP A - Z
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions are broad applications that improve productivity and reduce costs across the entire back office. This article takes a look at the expansive reach of an ERP system –
from A to Z.
ERP Benefits for Midsized Businesses
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions can deliver significant value to mid-sized companies. With a solid ERP strategy in place, businesses can boost productivity, minimize expenses, and gain a competitive edge.
ERP Software Key Features
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software provides a broad range of capabilities to support all critical back office functions. With features for manufacturing, supply chain management, human resources, financial management, and more, ERP software can improve core operations across an entire business.
5 Tips to Negotiate the Best ERP Deal
The ERP negotiation process can be quite challenging – particularly for those companies that have little experience with enterprise software deals. Here are five tips to help you get the best ERP software for the best possible price.
Get the Most From your ERP Purchase
Your ERP investment was a major one, and the pressure is on to get as much value as possible from your new system. Here are some tips to help you realize the full potential of your ERP environment.
Why do You Need an ERP Solution?
An ERP solution can deliver dramatic benefits to businesses of all types and sizes – increased productivity, reduced operating expenses, improved information flow, and enhanced performance management. Why does your company need an ERP solution? Read on to learn more.
How to Protect Your ERP Database
Your ERP database is one of your company’s most important assets. This article contains valuable tips to help you keep your ERP database fully protected, so you can ensure smooth, continuous back office operations.
The Business Software
Business Software Alliance (BSA) is a nonprofit trade association created to advance the goals of the software industry and its hardware partners. It is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, BSA is active in more than 80 countries, with dedicated staff in 11 offices around the globe: Brussels, London, Munich, Beijing, Delhi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Tokyo, Singapore, and São Paulo.
View All BSA Members
BSA’s global mission is to promote a long-term legislative and legal environment in which the industry can prosper and to provide a unified voice for its members around the world. BSA’s programs foster innovation, growth, and a competitive marketplace for commercial software and related technologies. BSA members are optimistic about the future of the industry, but believe that the future does not simply unfold. And, we agree that it is critical for companies to work together to address the key issues that affect innovation.
View All BSA Members
BSA’s global mission is to promote a long-term legislative and legal environment in which the industry can prosper and to provide a unified voice for its members around the world. BSA’s programs foster innovation, growth, and a competitive marketplace for commercial software and related technologies. BSA members are optimistic about the future of the industry, but believe that the future does not simply unfold. And, we agree that it is critical for companies to work together to address the key issues that affect innovation.
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