Create Contact Lookup from Opportunity

Did you know in Act! you can create lookups based on your current opportunity list ?

Create a Lookup from the Opportunity list
Create a Lookup from The Magnifying Glass

In Act! click on Opportunity List -> Filter the list as needed based on the options on the top half of the screen -> Click on the magnifying glass icon to the right of the record counter.

 


Automate Data Entry with ACT!

You will read many articles in this blog or elsewhere that unwillingness to enter the data is one of the top reasons CRM systems fail.

Act! is no different.  Yes, it's easy to use shortcut commands like CTRL-H to record history and CTRL-L to schedule a new call.  However, act! out-of-the-box doesn't know the rest of your customized business processes you take

Instead of taking several steps properly record "Call Left Message" for your weekly reports, AutoMatoR1 can create a single button for that. Or, for that matter think of any repetitive task you want to simply and make error free with AutoMatoR1.

If you are trying to make any business process faster in act!, send us a request. Chances are we may have a solution for you.

httpv://youtu.be/9hWIaOz0KRY


3 Reasons Why CRM Systems Fail - Any of Them - Forbes Magazine

After being involved in CRM since 1997 as a consultant, here is my opinion on why CRM fails and how to fix it.

  1. The wrong application has been chosen
  2. Upper management does not use any of its functions or offers buy-in
  3. Data entry is too tedious
  4. The reps have no incentive to update the system

When it comes to motivating reps, some of my clients draw the line saying, "If the note isn't in the CRM; then, it didn't happen. You don't get paid or keep the account".    I believe that's a little too negative via threat. My fear is they will do the minimum not to get fired, but your analytics won't become accurate.

My thought is to design a CRM system it's "self-serving" for the rep.  For instance, the best data entry improvement at one of my client sites was done because the rep saves two hours of admin time by preparing an on-site inspection report.  Before WiredContact, this would take 2 more hours because had to return to the office to fill out a carbon-paper form; then, it took too many additional steps to scan the document and attach it to act!   This inspection report also automatically populates management's report indicating the rep has performed account management duty as well.

If you are a business owner, not getting the results  you want, I recommend three things before switching apps or consultants,  It's a little different from an article from Forbes, but we have similar opinions.

  1. Change your current screens (data entry forms) so it's even easier to enter data
  2. Make it mobile
  3. Show them something self-serving once the data is entered

Salesforce.com: $22 Billion Market Cap, No Profits

Do you really want to pay for this guy's jet ?

Salesforce.com: $22 Billion Market Cap, No Profits, Nice Place to Work, Especially for CEO Benioff

I would not.  Here is the article in Forbes.


ACT! Celebrates 25th Birthday

ACT! turned 25 years old this week, and that's an epic achievement in the world of software. When ACT! came out in 1987, think of all the I.T. tools businesses did not have such as:

  • E-Mail
  • Internet (Al Gore was still inventing it)
  • Mircosoft Windows
  • Social Media
  • Tablets
  • Laptops
  • Local Area and Wireless Networks

Personal Computers had the Intel 80386 chip running at 33mhz (megahertz). Today, personal computers running the Intel Core2 Duo Processor E7600 can run at 3.06ghz (gigahertz).

Why did ACT! survive as a brand despite all these changes in computing ?

  • ACT! remains easy to adapt
  • ACT! can be customized
  • ACT! has adapted to the latest changes in technology
  • ACT! is an easy start for a small business owner to make order out of chaos when it comes to managing relationships.

For you to get the most out of ACT! (or any CRM), you need to know which business processes you wish to improve. ACT! streamlines your sales, marketing or customer service processes so you can acquire a competitive edge.

Think about what you wish to improve, and then we will make it easier with ACT! and other CRM tools.