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Maximizer improves on its already solid CRM tool by improving reporting, allowing users to work more efficiently and simplifying advanced configuration.
Click here to read the full review of Maximizer 9 eCRM.
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Maximizer improves on its already solid CRM tool by improving reporting, allowing users to work more efficiently and simplifying advanced configuration.
Our tests of Maximizer 9 eCRM running Microsofts SQL Server show the product provides companies with a completely integrated sales and support management solution, with Web-based access to data for employees, partners and customers. The workgroup version of Maximizer Enterprise 9 eCRM runs on an embedded database.
We liked the improvements that Maximizer has made in the area of reporting and dashboards. Managers and sales staff now have an integrated view of performance data that they can then drill down into to see more information. This view to performance data is part of a revamped interface that allows users or administrators to customize the elements of the application they see when they log on based on their role.
A major change in this release is the way performance can be linked directly to workflow so that companies have a better understanding of what sales approaches work and can tune and automate workflow based on prior successes. Companies can augment this with an add-on product, Vineyardsoft Corp.s Workflow Automation Powered by KnowledgeSync, to automate e-mail responses and alerts.
In addition, Maximizer has several prebuilt industry-specific configurations that include custom fields, sales processes and marketing tools. Marketing and campaign management have also been strengthened by some tweaks to the task and project options, and projects can be assigned and tracked.
We also liked the improvements in the way we could interact with data at the data-entry level. User-defined fields are now accessible throughout the application, which allowed us to bring data elements that might reside in a customer profile, such as qualification details, to the sales opportunity form . Companies have the ability to create and streamline some data-entry elements by providing prepopulated forms and the ability to edit user-defined fields using in-line editing.
Some changes in role-based administration made it easy to manage distributing customized elements, such as user-defined fields and dashboards, on a user and group basis. Another plus for administrators is Maximizers support for automatic updates of the client. Administrators have a good deal of control over the pace of updates.
Maximizer has been able to synchronize personal-contact and calendar data though Microsofts Outlook, but new in this release is the ability to synchronize directly with Microsofts Exchange. Adding this ability costs $499 for a 25-user license or $2,999 for a site license.
Support for accounting packages has been rounded out in this release with support for third-party accounting applications through Maximizers accounting link API, in addition to direct integration with Intuit Inc.s QuickBooks. The accounting link API allows companies to perform custom integration with accounting packages that will allow users to create and view invoices, estimates and credit limits directly within Maximizer.
Next page: Evaluation Shortlist: Related Products.
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Evaluation Shortlist
NetSuite Inc.s NetSuite CRM NetSuite CRM is an affordable hosted CRM application that can integrate with NetSuites hosted enterprise resource planning application (www.netsuite.com)
Best Software Inc.s SalesLogix 6.2 Client/server-based SalesLogix is highly customizable and flexible but requires considerable expertise for customization (www.saleslogix.com)
Salesforce.coms Salesforce.com Broad-reaching hosted CRM tool with good customization capabilities (www.salesforce.com)
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