First CRM system

[Byzantium]

We need something to manage our client data and information which has the ability to do more than our EPOS but which can (ideally) take data from our EPOS and from any websites we have (including any such as Shopify) and I think that something is a CRM system !

I don't know everything that I want it to do but right now, we have no easy means of sending emails to our clients except through a disjointed EPOS bolt on or via individual emails.

I want it to do more than email of course but I'm not sure what exactly.

Any suggestions ?

 

[fisicx]

Really need to know a bit more about the business to be able to properly advise.

There are loads of CRM systems all with different functions and levels of complexity.

Maybe just sign up for a free trial of those you find on Google to discover what they can do for you. But note, like your websites they need properly setting up and configuring and you may need help importing existing data.

 

[antropy]

We need something to manage our client data and information which has the ability to do more than our EPOS but which can (ideally) take data from our EPOS and from any websites we have (including any such as Shopify) and I think that something is a CRM system !

There are a few open source ones like:

• SugarCRM
• Vtiger
• Zurmo
• etc.

Is that what you have in mind?

Paul.

 

[Byzantium]

There are a few open source ones like:

• SugarCRM
• Vtiger
• Zurmo
• etc.

Is that what you have in mind?

Paul.

I don't think I necessarily meant open source but I wouldn't necessarily exclude it except wouldn't it have endless and very frequent iterations and we'd be open to issues at every upgrade ?

Free also worries me a bit, as in why ? (if free ?).

I just want something under my control that can interact with the various systems I have and may have so that system A which cannot talk to system B can both have information in the CRM which can see both sides.

I guess ideally it would ascribe email to an order or client and perhaps act as a conduit from website to EPOS if website cannot talk directly to EPOS via API etc.

I have a little knowledge, which I accept can be dangerous !

 

[iamDuncan]

You should have a look at Zoho CRM, it starts from free and can integrate with other software. If you need anything more complex they have Zoho flow which can automate moving and modifying data between software.

 

[fisicx]

I just want something under my control that can interact with the various systems I have and may have so that system A which cannot talk to system B can both have information in the CRM which can see both sides.

Which means signing up for a number of CRM services and doing some testing.

You won’t know which one is best for you until you try.

 

[antropy]

I just want something under my control that can interact with the various systems I have and may have so that system A which cannot talk to system B can both have information in the CRM which can see both sides.

If you want it to be under your control then it will have be open source, and that will ensure a good developer could connect it to anything in any way you want.
I don't think I necessarily meant open source but I wouldn't necessarily exclude it except wouldn't it have endless and very frequent iterations and we'd be open to issues at every upgrade ?



Free also worries me a bit, as in why ? (if free ?).



Paul.

 

[Byzantium]

If you want it to be under your control then it will have be open source, and that will ensure a good developer could connect it to anything in any way you want.
I don't think I necessarily meant open source but I wouldn't necessarily exclude it except wouldn't it have endless and very frequent iterations and we'd be open to issues at every upgrade ?



Free also worries me a bit, as in why ? (if free ?).



Paul.

By under my control I mean that it isn't beholding to some developer. This is fundamentally my issue.

OK, take a product everyone known, Excel. Now I don't need a developer to get what I need from Excel but I appreciate there are people out there who know way more than me about Excel and I will never know that much or poignantly, I will never need to know that much about Excel to get all I need out of it.

Take Xero accounting software. Now I think it is fundamentally a piece of siht but it does one or two jobs moderately well. However, I don't need a developer to run it or to integrate with it.

Do you see where I'm going with this ?

The problem is the need for someone aka Mr Developer to sit in on the action where I don't want them there period.

Old 747s needed about 3 pilots and a separate flight engineer but bigger planes and more complicated planes now only need 2 pilots. Technology has done away with the need for added bloatware.

So is there something out there than works, near enough off the shelf because I am not getting back into bed with a developer on another piece of software.

 

[fisicx]

You don’t need a developer with a CRM. You might need some help with configuration but that’s nothing to do with development.

All you need to do is test a number of CRMs to find one that does what you want. They are all slightly different so only you will know which one meets your needs.

 

[antropy]

By under my control I mean that it isn't beholding to some developer. This is fundamentally my issue.

Well you can always use a different developer, you're not locked in to one developer. Whereas with a hosting platform you are locked in to them.

Take Xero accounting software. Now I think it is fundamentally a piece of siht but it does one or two jobs moderately well. However, I don't need a developer to run it or to integrate with it.

That's true, but if it doesn't do what you want then tough. For example when I last looked at it it didn't send invoice chasing emails unless you paid for an expensive extra extension subscription. However I use open source accounting software and I just wrote the functionality myself. That was many years ago and it's worked flawlessly since.

So is there something out there than works, near enough off the shelf because I am not getting back into bed with a developer on another piece of software.

Instead of getting into bed with a developer (who you could kick out and get another one) you're getting into bed with a big company that won't care about your individual needs.

Paul.

 

[Byzantium]

Well you can always use a different developer, you're not locked in to one developer. Whereas with a hosting platform you are locked in to them.

I have no time to constantly interview developers. That is why I want a solution with zero developers.

That's true, but if it doesn't do what you want then tough. For example when I last looked at it it didn't send invoice chasing emails unless you paid for an expensive extra extension subscription. However I use open source accounting software and I just wrote the functionality myself. That was many years ago and it's worked flawlessly since.

I don't use Xero either as I think it is shit but you can write your own coding so you can choose options I cannot.

Instead of getting into bed with a developer (who you could kick out and get another one) you're getting into bed with a big company that won't care about your individual needs.

Paul.

Again, endless interviewing developers.

The flipside of not having or needing a developer isn't a lack of care about my needs. If the big company solution does what I want, then the additional customisation from a developer is meaningless.

Not every argument has to come back to developers good, big companies bad

 

[fisicx]

You don’t need a developer with a CRM. You might need help configuring the system but that’s no different than getting a mechanic to service your car.

Sign up for some free trials and have a play. You won’t know what you like until you do.

 

[antropy]

If the big company solution does what I want

... then great indeed.

But consider your needs now and in the future.

Paul.