Looking for replacement business software: CRM

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JaseNZ

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#156018 16-Nov-2014 17:48

Currently our company runs a very very outdated software which manages all our sales and customers as well as all production and stock.
We have one people (an eldely lady) that has customized it all over many years , problem is that if she dropped dead tomorrow then there is nobody to administer the system.
I have bought in an outside firm who have quoted us around the $130k mark to provide us with a solution , At this stage though this a not in my budget to justify paying this.
I have been having a look around and Microsoft Dynamics seems to keep coming up time and time again with modules for sales and and stock and for planning and production as well.
I am unable to find any trials for any of this however to have a poke around in it.

Are there consultants that would come out and look at our business and give me an idea if this would be suitable for our business.

We are a production company that produces blown film and converts this into plastic bags.

Not really sure what else to mention , any questions please fire away and I will answer as best I can.

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#1176929 16-Nov-2014 18:27

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Free Trial.

I recommend looking at Intergen for Microsoft Dynamics implementations. Intergen is a Microsoft Partner, the only Australasia partner to be inducted to the Microsoft Dynamics Inner Circle at the Microsoft Partners Conference this year - and they have just finished running Dynamics Day 2014, an event with more than 300 attendees, the largest of its kind in Australia/New Zealand.

Full disclosure: I work at Intergen, although not in their delivery team.

mdf

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#1176937 16-Nov-2014 18:49

I've just been through almost exact same thing for a small business I'm involved with. It was a really interesting exercise and I'm looking at getting into the systems, processes and solutions space more professionally. Drop me a PM and I'm happy to share thoughts and experiences.

I'ved used Dynamics CRM before, and it's an awesome system... if you're of the size and scale to justify it. For smaller outfits, it can be overkill. Last I checked, it was also a pure CRM suite. If you need other ERP functionality (e.g. stock tracking, manufacturing status, order delivery status etc.) you will need to look for an additional or alternative solution.

Jimwalker

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#1176938 16-Nov-2014 18:50

Hi
I would look at Accredo Business software. http://www.accredo.co.nz/
Sale, Inventory, manufacturing(Simple and complex.) Can be very customisable. However you could just use it straight out of box.
Has a very large network of support people in NZ and Aus.
If the elderly lady wanted to, she could continue to customise this. And in the event of an issue you would have the support people to relay on.
Will pm you some more details.

freitasm

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#1176940 16-Nov-2014 18:54

mdf: I've just been through almost exact same thing for a small business I'm involved with. It was a really interesting exercise and I'm looking at getting into the systems, processes and solutions space more professionally. Drop me a PM and I'm happy to share thoughts and experiences.

I'ved used Dynamics CRM before, and it's an awesome system... if you're of the size and scale to justify it. For smaller outfits, it can be overkill. Last I checked, it was also a pure CRM suite. If you need other ERP functionality (e.g. stock tracking, manufacturing status, order delivery status etc.) you will need to look for an additional or alternative solution.

Dynamics is a whole family of suites that include CRM, ERP, Finances in their different versions (Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Dynamics NAV, Dynamics AX). Now that Dynamics has an online version, the whole "scale" is not a roadblock anyore, because you don't have to deploy inside your company - you just use it like Office 365 or any other cloud-based service.

I recommend you get someone to look at your business requirements to tell you what you can/could/should do.

mdf

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#1176941 16-Nov-2014 18:54

Like one of the other Dynamics ERP modules. Duh. Should have thought before I typed.

Yabanize

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#1176948 16-Nov-2014 19:01

Any good open source solutions?

JaseNZ

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#1176954 16-Nov-2014 19:19

Thanks guys , We already have Accredo and use it for all our purchasing and creditors.

Looking from something that can take over our sales / stock control / production planning based on sales and inventory control.

Way over my head on what is out there and available. I did use SAP in my previous company however this is designed for larger business's and i found to be pretty clunky really.

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mdf

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#1176959 16-Nov-2014 19:25

I'm not an Accredo expert (Xero is my usual choice), but doesn't it have it's own modules for purchasing and inventory? You might want to start off there.

JaseNZ

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#1176971 16-Nov-2014 19:46

mdf: I'm not an Accredo expert (Xero is my usual choice), but doesn't it have it's own modules for purchasing and inventory? You might want to start off there.

Yes it does however it does not have a planning module. We are a manufacturing business so planning all tied in is a must

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Delphinus

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#1176990 16-Nov-2014 20:15

We have built a couple of these type CRM's for local businesses. From scheduling/tracking/invoicing bin pickups/deliveries through to tender management/timesheets/stock/inwards goods/workload forecasting for a suspended ceiling company in Christchurch (work in progress). We aim to systematise things so that if someone does drop dead business goes on. For less than $130k as well.

Happy to discuss your specific requirements and look at arranging an onsite visit. Can provide references and referee's. Flick me a PM or email.

DravidDavid

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#1177161 17-Nov-2014 09:40

Yabanize: Any good open source solutions?

There are open source options, but they arn't half as pretty and you sacrafice the likes of mobile features and various other thing to do with "the cloud". Typically needs to be hosted in house or on a web server you have control over.

If you're not doing a super huge deployment and just need something to keep track of people, then I would definitely recommend an open source option.

- SugarCRM/SugarForge
- VTiger
- Zurmo
- SuiteCRM (More sales focused I think, but take a look)

There are probably many more over and above the ones I listed off the top of my head. I looked in to this 6 or so months ago, so they may have gotten prettier to match the fancy paid GUIs you see on the cloud based solutions.

If you are also looking for an IT oriented job tracking system, MyITCRM is freeware and quite good.

Good luck!

ckc

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#1177237 17-Nov-2014 10:37

Presso:
mdf: I'm not an Accredo expert (Xero is my usual choice), but doesn't it have it's own modules for purchasing and inventory? You might want to start off there.

Yes it does however it does not have a planning module. We are a manufacturing business so planning all tied in is a must

Naturally, depends on what your business requirements are, but if your CRM requires integration with the rest of your ERP - so if it's a dynamic arrangement based on the financials, etc - an integrated solution like Dynamics NAV is the best option. NAV has had its own CRM for a long time. I've seen it successfully used in recruitment, government, leisure (although the leisure industry often uses GP) and manufacturing. However, if your CRM is relatively independent of the financials, and it's all about maintaining ongoing relationships and managing sales tasks, then a separate solution with a link using the API will be better.

You may want to look at the Sage line of products, Sage CRM in particular. Sage products are designed with manufacturing in mind. Their custom solutions, however, will be 3-5 times more expensive than the Dynamics solution. The API is good, and the documentation is good, but it still requires a significant amount of work and experience with the product to set up. Your support partners for Sage will be limited too, but fortunately the resellers in NZ are excellent.

Dynamics is cheaper but it's a mixed bag. You'll have a range of support partners, but they have varying levels of skill and service. It's easier to bodge Dynamics systems than it is Sage or a cloud based system (seen some horrendous systems), but it's also easier to write bespoke connectors for your existing systems (there's probably already an Accredo-Dynamics CRM connector out there) and it's easier to dump a support partner if things go wrong.

SAP do Business One, but it's likely to be just as expensive as Sage, and Sage have better support in the NZ market. It's also a full fledged ERP as opposed to just a CRM. Like most big vendors, SAP want to sell you a whole solution rather than just a product. The advantage of Microsoft is that they're accustomed to being one of many vendors in use, so they work on their integration. They also work well with Windows - jumplists and smooth integration with Office being one of many things that they use to help with productivity.

Most vendors will tell you to stay away from cloud based solutions for a business of any size. They're simply not scalable. As soon as you get above a certain amount of revenue or a certain number of employees, it's better to own your own systems. Practically, technically and legally it's the best solution.

DravidDavid

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#1177276 17-Nov-2014 11:25

ckc:
Most vendors will tell you to stay away from cloud based solutions for a business of any size. They're simply not scalable. As soon as you get above a certain amount of revenue or a certain number of employees, it's better to own your own systems. Practically, technically and legally it's the best solution.

Agreed. It's only handy for the little guys so they have someone else to blame when something goes wrong.

Zeon

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#1178198 19-Nov-2014 01:12

DravidDavid:
ckc:
Most vendors will tell you to stay away from cloud based solutions for a business of any size. They're simply not scalable. As soon as you get above a certain amount of revenue or a certain number of employees, it's better to own your own systems. Practically, technically and legally it's the best solution.

Agreed. It's only handy for the little guys so they have someone else to blame when something goes wrong.

Probably because they can make more consulting fees :p. SaaS is starting to scale out for many users e.g. look at Netsuite.

Speedtest 2019-10-14

ckc

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#1179607 19-Nov-2014 14:56

I think in the case of many, they'd be designing systems to work with cloud implementations, so they wouldn't be losing out. But despite them usually selling solutions that also sell cloud services, most are still shying away from that kind of stuff.

My perspective (been out of it a couple of years but like to stay up to date) is that cloud services are best when the organisation is deploying it themselves using their own infrastructure, which sidesteps the legal and practical issues (for example, a university moving to Office 365). For SMEs cloud services running core business functions lock you into a solution that may not be adequate or stable in all environments, that may be difficult to get out of (technically and legally), and which may not even be hosted in the country you're in. CRMs, FMIS, ERP, all on your WAN, hosted right there, with bags of redundancy, means that you don't have to worry if any of the many things to go wrong, go wrong.

Also, you're giving a vendor the gift of having fun with systems. And isn't that the most important thing?

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