Has anyone moved up from BCM?

[Guest]

Hi all!

Well, I just installed BCM last week, and read the dozens of posts here.

From a business standpoint, I'd say that the half-dozen flaws of BCM are
probably a little deliberate just to get us small biz people thinking about
upgrading. (customizable forms, opportunities, linking tasks automatically,
constant error messages, etc..)

Now, here is my question:

I spent the better half of my weekend setting up Contacts and Accounts, and
now we started adding some opportunities.

If I make the swtich to Act, or the one by Inuit, will I have to start from
scratch?

If I play with BCM for a few weeks, and then swtich to a real contact
management program, do you know if I'll run into some big problems? I'd hate
to have to go back to square one, and re-link contacts with accounts, and
re-do opportunities.

As far as I am concerned, the ONE reason why we (partner & I) are using BCM
is because we can both see the same contacts. THAT is cool. For a
home-based peer-to-peer network, it is so nice to have the same contacts!!

But aside from that... boy, this program has beta written all over it!

Advice is welcome!

Thanks!

 

[Guest]

I don't have any advice, but I did want to say AMEN to the statement: "boy,
this program has beta written all over it!"

 

[Guest]

Pretty funny!

I hope my question is clear... so far, no answers...

I KNOW that in a few weeks/months, I'll have to move up from this program,
because in my huge and complext office of two people, and about 75 sales
leads, we have already found too many deficiencies...

I sure hope that I'll be able to export enough of the data to not start from
scratch...

We shall see!

 

[mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com]

G-Unit,

Dump this turkey (BCM) ASAP and don't look back at all until this app is up
to speed with the rest of the real world. For some alternatives to consider
check these links out below.

www.outlookwise.com/Products/MXContact/index.htm

www.teamscope.com

www.salesoutlook.net

www.avidian.com

-THP

 

[Guest]

G-Unit

I am in the same situation myself, although with 5 users and circa 30k
contacts. I definitely want a smooth data conversion. Like you, I think BCM
is OK but we have outgrown it.

I am going through the technical stuff with a guy next week and will try to
post something helpful here after that.

Ian

 

[Guest]

I said I would try to post something helpful….., well this may or may not be!

It appears that getting data out of BCM is not simple and that when you
convert to a contact management system you should set your expectations that:

1.Your accounts and contacts are likely to convert OK;
2.You should be able to get your emails to re-synch;
3.Your notes and phone logs will probably be lost.

I hope I am wrong on the last one and that someone will correct me, but this
is my experience to date.

Ian

 

[Leonid S. Knyshov]

I said I would try to post something helpful..., well this may or may not be!

It appears that getting data out of BCM is not simple and that when you
convert to a contact management system you should set your expectations that:

1.Your accounts and contacts are likely to convert OK;
2.You should be able to get your emails to re-synch;
3.Your notes and phone logs will probably be lost.

First of all, it's a standard SQL database, so nothing is ever lost.

The challenge is to find a way to import these into your new system.
Microsoft CRM does has a step-up process for BCM data.

The best bet would likely be your future vendor' of choice consulting
services or someone who knows how to do direct data manipulation between two
SQL databases. I know how tricky it can be to re-align data in the new
system sometimes.