BCM feedback

[JoeM]

After converting my CRM data from another popular product into BCM -- I feel
obligated to share my experiences. We chose BCM hoping for better
integration with our mail client, Outlook.

In short, Microsoft should be ashamed of themselves for releasing this
product to its customers. Even though its free, its too problematic and
daily I have concern for my data.

The longer story is that it is extremely slow and combersome to use. We
encounter at least one bug every week in using the product (to be fair, some
of those are recurring). Outlook itself has been sluggish and problematic
ever since installing BCM. There are too many screens to enter
account/contact data - so much so that each of us have given up on entering
the info until having to enter a whole batch of data at the end of the week
(not something we like to have to do, but its just too cumbersome during the
work day). Same goes for enter customer notes and other such logs - it
takes too long to drill to and then load the account/contact info so we end
up not using it as readily as we should.

I think the idea of BCM has promise - its just too bad it was released (for
such a long time too) without having a truly functional and usable design.
It doesn't fully integrate well with Outlook either, which was a huge
surprise and setback. The contact search and add functions, built into
Outlook, aren't capable of functioning directly with BCM.

We're stuck with using it now, sadly, because we don't have it in us to
transfer all that data again. For folks like us, and for new customers, I
hope Microsoft has plans to enhance this product; at least listening to user
feedback - will they? History doesn't give us much hope at this end
however.

Though, back of my mind, I do realize that we get what we pay for. and it
cost us nothing. Lesson learned.

I wish I could give a more positive feedback - and, in fairness, please
realize that this is only one installation -others may have found better
results. And I would be interested in hearing those as well.

 

[Clinton Ford [MSFT]]

Thanks for the candid feedback. We are working hard to make BCM more efficient and easier to configure and use. I completely agree
with you about there being too many screens for entering/viewing information. We are considering alternatives to eliminate this
inefficiency. I'll send you a separate e-mail to gather additional feedback in this area. Performance is another area to which we
are devoting tremendous amounts of effort in order to understand typical usage scenarios, optimize our code, and deliverable
measurable improvements.

We realize that there are many people like yourself who are looking for a contact management solution that integrates simply and
tightly with Outlook. Please know that we read every word you post and that your concerns only increase our motivation to solve
challenging technical problems. Some issues require a lot of investigation and effort to resolve. But we are definitely committed
to satisfying your needs and building a solution that simplifies your work.

At Microsoft, we "eat our own dog food". I have been dog-fooding BCM to experience first-hand what you go through each day. Please
keep posting your thoughts, because that helps me understand the degree to which certain problems and issues prevail. It's your
feedback that helps our team to prioritize work in order to deliver the most robust, performant, and integrated business contact
management solution in the world!
--
Visit team blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/bcm
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights
After converting my CRM data from another popular product into BCM -- I feel
obligated to share my experiences. We chose BCM hoping for better
integration with our mail client, Outlook.

In short, Microsoft should be ashamed of themselves for releasing this
product to its customers. Even though its free, its too problematic and
daily I have concern for my data.

The longer story is that it is extremely slow and combersome to use. We
encounter at least one bug every week in using the product (to be fair, some
of those are recurring). Outlook itself has been sluggish and problematic
ever since installing BCM. There are too many screens to enter
account/contact data - so much so that each of us have given up on entering
the info until having to enter a whole batch of data at the end of the week
(not something we like to have to do, but its just too cumbersome during the
work day). Same goes for enter customer notes and other such logs - it
takes too long to drill to and then load the account/contact info so we end
up not using it as readily as we should.

I think the idea of BCM has promise - its just too bad it was released (for
such a long time too) without having a truly functional and usable design.
It doesn't fully integrate well with Outlook either, which was a huge
surprise and setback. The contact search and add functions, built into
Outlook, aren't capable of functioning directly with BCM.

We're stuck with using it now, sadly, because we don't have it in us to
transfer all that data again. For folks like us, and for new customers, I
hope Microsoft has plans to enhance this product; at least listening to user
feedback - will they? History doesn't give us much hope at this end
however.

Though, back of my mind, I do realize that we get what we pay for. and it
cost us nothing. Lesson learned.

I wish I could give a more positive feedback - and, in fairness, please
realize that this is only one installation -others may have found better
results. And I would be interested in hearing those as well.

 

[mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com]

Joe,

If you are at all inclined to explore this, here is a link to a BCM
alternative that might work for your CRM needs for now until BCM further
evolves. www.avidian.com

Best wishes,

-THP

 

[Guest]

I certainly echo the sentiments of the original posterof this thread. I have
made the same comments myself, however not as sucinctly or eloquently, in the
past. I have two current reactions:

1. The interface is running better after using it for about a month. It is
still too slow but it is fast enough to use. And it only shuts down once a
day now.

2. Clinton, you have been very helpful and responsive to the posts I have
made. I make a post every time there is an issue becasue I know that MS can't
fix a problem I have without knowing about it. I'm sure it is annoying but so
are the glitches I face each day. I am sure that the "bugs" will be worked
out and I know that you have been very attentive to the issues.

I'll be bach..... Jim

 

[JoeM]

That is an excellent and appreciated response. Thank you for taking the
time to respond honestly, and to fill us in on your progresses. Much
appreciated!

 

[JoeM]

Clinton,
What you might have emailed me was bounced, I'm sure. I don't use my name /
email on the news groups.

If you will send again, please try:

m j b o s k o
@
jmt systems (dot com)

Thanks!

And thanks all for your replies.

 

[Guest]

When will MS produce a users guide for BCM 07? I think it would help answer
some of the easier questions & help get people past the beginner stage so we
could get a bit further into the program's features before we had some other
road block. The list of questions we see on this site would be much shorter.
On the positive side, Microsoft has done a much better job on their version
of a CRM than Intuit has. Their CRM isn't on the same level, full of bugs,
help is imposible to get to, features are much more basic & they don't seem
too interested in improving it much.
Back to my original question; when will a users guide be available?

 

[Guest]

I've tried every version since it initial release. Every time my use of BCM
stopped after a few weels.

Main reason is that I can not Exchange Active Sync the contacts folder to my
smartphone.

Where is the add-in?

Been asking every version, never happens.

Too bad.

 

[mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com]

Don,

There will be a version of BCM 2007 for Dummies released within the next few
weeks. It is authored by Lon Orenstein who regularly participates in this
newsgroup.

-THP

When will MS produce a users guide for BCM 07? I think it would help answer
some of the easier questions & help get people past the beginner stage so we
could get a bit further into the program's features before we had some other
road block. The list of questions we see on this site would be much shorter.
On the positive side, Microsoft has done a much better job on their version
of a CRM than Intuit has. Their CRM isn't on the same level, full of bugs,
help is imposible to get to, features are much more basic & they don't seem
too interested in improving it much.
Back to my original question; when will a users guide be available?

After converting my CRM data from another popular product into BCM -- I feel
obligated to share my experiences. We chose BCM hoping for better

[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]

realize that this is only one installation -others may have found better
results. And I would be interested in hearing those as well.

 

[Guest]

Yes, I must unfortunately agree with JoeM on this one. While we get a lot of
help and serious guidence by savy MS people here, the product leaves a lot to
be desired. And I consider myself a lyal MS Office supporter so it is hard to
say this....

I also did the big mistake of converting thousands of contacts to BCM, but I
actually will encourage JoeM to reconsider staying with BCM. I deeply regret
I did not realize the mistake at once and took the job to get my data into
someting else and more useful at once.

BCM lacks even the most fundamental capabilities for a CRM.
Who can use a CRM where you can not even distibute email newsletters to
groups of customers through outlook without revealling every single email
address in the "to" field? With no possibility to send blind copies to the
business groups you make up in BCM....what use do you then have for the
program?

The only reason to stay with BCM is that I hope someone at MS must realize
that this feature is the most important one missing in BCM+outlook....and do
something about it. Still waiting in 3 years but......

 

[Guest]

Thank you for your candor. We are working very hard to identify and fix the
issues you are encountering. I am personally contacting and meeting with
existing and potential customers in order to focus the development team on
solving blocking issues and enabling new capabilities.

If you would be willing to assist with this effort, please send mail to
bcmteam at microsoft.com so I can get in touch with you. This invitation is
open to everyone on the newsgroup.

 

[mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com]

Clinton,

In the hopes of contributing to a more rapid release of an updated BCM
version (3.1, 3.2, 3.5?) in the near future, this is a great invitation!

-THP

Thank you for your candor. We are working very hard to identify and fix the
issues you are encountering. I am personally contacting and meeting with
existing and potential customers in order to focus the development team on
solving blocking issues and enabling new capabilities.

If you would be willing to assist with this effort, please send mail to
bcmteam at microsoft.com so I can get in touch with you. This invitation is
open to everyone on the newsgroup.

Yes, I must unfortunately agree with JoeM on this one. While we get a lot of
help and serious guidence by savy MS people here, the product leaves a lot to

[quoted text clipped - 54 lines]

 

[JoeM]

Mr. Ford contacted me directly via phone following my initial creation of
this thread - he is not talking, he's walking the talk. In speaking with
him you will find, as I have, that he is very committed to improving this
product. He wants to talk to actual customers about their actual
experiences, that is HUGE. He is not afraid to listen to frustration - that
is MAGNIFICENT!

This is a step in the right direction!

 

[mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com]

Hopefully Mr. Ford will have enough political clout within the vast reaches
of the Redmond bureacracy to make a positive difference in a timely manner.

-THP

Mr. Ford contacted me directly via phone following my initial creation of
this thread - he is not talking, he's walking the talk. In speaking with
him you will find, as I have, that he is very committed to improving this
product. He wants to talk to actual customers about their actual
experiences, that is HUGE. He is not afraid to listen to frustration - that
is MAGNIFICENT!

This is a step in the right direction!

Thank you for your candor. We are working very hard to identify and fix
the

[quoted text clipped - 89 lines]

 

[JoeM]

Hey, I didn't say he'd be able to push water up hill!

Hopefully Mr. Ford will have enough political clout within the vast
reaches
of the Redmond bureacracy to make a positive difference in a timely
manner.

-THP

Mr. Ford contacted me directly via phone following my initial creation of
this thread - he is not talking, he's walking the talk. In speaking with
him you will find, as I have, that he is very committed to improving this
product. He wants to talk to actual customers about their actual
experiences, that is HUGE. He is not afraid to listen to frustration -
that
is MAGNIFICENT!

This is a step in the right direction!

Thank you for your candor. We are working very hard to identify and fix
the

[quoted text clipped - 89 lines]

better
results. And I would be interested in hearing those as well.

 

[Remove ABCD from Email address to reply]

I tried email to Clinton Ford [MSFT]"
<[email protected]> but the email was returned.
How do I contact him?