Exchange or CRM?

Exchange or CRM?

Before I setup an evaluation lab I thought I would post this question and see 
if I am on the right track.
I have looked at the Microsoft and Sage CRM product and I am hoping that I 
can avoid using a full CRM product. I am looking at implementing Exchange 
2007 with Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager. I am also looking at 
implementing a Blackberry server. I understand that OBM uses a separate 
database that I can store on the Exchange server and then point the OBM to 
this shared database.
Here is what I need to do. 1) Centrally link all contact data in a single 
location (info about contact/company, email from all staff in and out, 
documents, notes, telephone calls, meetings, faxes, quotes, status, etc). 
This info should be available to specific groups. 2) Ability for a team to 
quickly, easily and securely share access to the contact data from any 
location worldwide. 3) Ability to organize or sort contacts into various 
groups and organizations (i.e. customers from a single company or across many 
customers that carry certain items but not othersâ¦)
Can this be done cleanly or should I be looking at a CRM?

date: Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:46:02 -0800 author: Jules

Re: Exchange or CRM?

On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:46:02 -0800, Jules
 wrote:

>Before I setup an evaluation lab I thought I would post this question and see 
>if I am on the right track.
>I have looked at the Microsoft and Sage CRM product and I am hoping that I 
>can avoid using a full CRM product. I am looking at implementing Exchange 
>2007 with Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager. I am also looking at 
>implementing a Blackberry server. I understand that OBM uses a separate 
>database that I can store on the Exchange server and then point the OBM to 
>this shared database.
>Here is what I need to do. 1) Centrally link all contact data in a single 
>location (info about contact/company, email from all staff in and out, 
>documents, notes, telephone calls, meetings, faxes, quotes, status, etc). 
>This info should be available to specific groups. 2) Ability for a team to 
>quickly, easily and securely share access to the contact data from any 
>location worldwide. 3) Ability to organize or sort contacts into various 
>groups and organizations (i.e. customers from a single company or across many 
>customers that carry certain items but not others)
>Can this be done cleanly or should I be looking at a CRM?

Exchange is slated as the "Messaging and calendaring" product. From
the couple of business requirements you've quoted I would be looking
at a CRM product. I have no clue which one but what little you've said
so far says No Exchange Yet.

date: Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:59:51 -0500 author: Mark Arnold [MVP]

Re: Exchange or CRM?

I think you are probably correct on this. I was hoping to avoid the whole CRM 
thing.
Thanks.

"Mark Arnold [MVP]" wrote:

> On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:46:02 -0800, Jules
>  wrote:
> 
> >Before I setup an evaluation lab I thought I would post this question and see 
> >if I am on the right track.
> >I have looked at the Microsoft and Sage CRM product and I am hoping that I 
> >can avoid using a full CRM product. I am looking at implementing Exchange 
> >2007 with Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager. I am also looking at 
> >implementing a Blackberry server. I understand that OBM uses a separate 
> >database that I can store on the Exchange server and then point the OBM to 
> >this shared database.
> >Here is what I need to do. 1) Centrally link all contact data in a single 
> >location (info about contact/company, email from all staff in and out, 
> >documents, notes, telephone calls, meetings, faxes, quotes, status, etc). 
> >This info should be available to specific groups. 2) Ability for a team to 
> >quickly, easily and securely share access to the contact data from any 
> >location worldwide. 3) Ability to organize or sort contacts into various 
> >groups and organizations (i.e. customers from a single company or across many 
> >customers that carry certain items but not othersâ¦)
> >Can this be done cleanly or should I be looking at a CRM?
> 
> Exchange is slated as the "Messaging and calendaring" product. From
> the couple of business requirements you've quoted I would be looking
> at a CRM product. I have no clue which one but what little you've said
> so far says No Exchange Yet.
>

date: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:49:01 -0800 author: Jules