Salesforce

[[)roi(]]

Why again? Is it the software's fault? Automation still requires manual input, maintenance and reporting. Yes, I used SAP (ERP) prior 2006, Accpac and OpenERP (today).

Btw, how do you know about my experience?

You most certainly have a chip on your shoulder.

Then you should know that if you can't avoid multiple systems, that it then becomes vital to nominate a single master repository for each shared dataset (i.e. When in doubt who to trust)

...and it is from this source that all integration originates

...and you should also be able to acknowledge that without integration you are at a minimum doubling the workload for master-data maintenance (not accounting for the time to regularly verify the consistency)

The complexity alone is the reason I strongly advise my clients to spend more time assessing business problem vs process vs reward.

 

[DJ...]

I typed out a really long reply but Tapatalk lost it.

Bottom line: I appreciate what you're saying and we're fast approaching a need for integration. We made a business decision not to adopt a modular, gradual investment in erp for various reasons and they proved the right decisions at that time. Our processes were no nowhere near complex enough to warrant such an investment then, even though we knew the ultimate goal would eventually involve going the erp route. All the best...

 

[[)roi(]]

I typed out a really long reply but Tapatalk lost it.

Bottom line: I appreciate what you're saying and we're fast approaching a need for integration. We made a business decision not to adopt a modular, gradual investment in erp for various reasons and they proved the right decisions at that time. Our processes were no nowhere near complex enough to warrant such an investment then, even though we knew the ultimate goal would eventually involve going the erp route. All the best...

Same here.

My call is always to not over complicate things too soon (with something like a complex ERP or CRM solution)

More so you'd be surprised by how many companies have teetered on the edge of financial ruin during the implementation these complex solutions.

As a closing point; there should never be a substitute for good business practices that are steered by informed decisions (KPIs and scorecards).

Principle of parsimony (or Occam's razor): the hypothesis with the fewest assumptions should be selected.

 

[Dolby]

I guess creating a CRM is more difficult than I thought ...

I don't have all the experience but I've used a few over the past few years and each has something lacking. Everyone says the same thing and I thought create a simple CRM accessed via web browser for a decent subscription price

 

[sp4ceman]

so did 37signals.
so they did.
so go there and use it

 

[InvisibleJim]

I guess creating a CRM is more difficult than I thought ...

I don't have all the experience but I've used a few over the past few years and each has something lacking. Everyone says the same thing and I thought create a simple CRM accessed via web browser for a decent subscription price

Have a look at Zurmo. I like their philosophy that they aim to do the basics well rather than equating more features with more value.

The nice thing about FOSS of course is it costs you practically nothing to try it and you can use it how you want.