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0800 381 1000
+44(0)1628 661810

Preact CRM
Vandervell House
Vanwall Business Park
Maidenhead
Berkshire
SL6 4UB


sales@preact.co.uk

Accredited Sage CRM Software Consultants   Accredited GoldMine Software Consultants
 
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Updated : Mon 8th March 2010, 09:03 AM

ACT! 2010 Service Pack 1 Released
Pub Date : Mon 8th March 2010, 09:03 AM

Sage have announced the availability of a refreshed Service Pack 1 for:

  • ACT! by Sage 2010
  • ACT! by Sage Premium 2010
  • ACT! by Sage Premium for Web 2010

Read about the improvements and fixes in ACT! 2010 SP1



New On-Demand ACT! Training Videos Added
Pub Date : Thu 4th March 2010, 11:03 AM

We've added to our fast growing library of on-demand ACT! tuition videos with a further 8 new ACT! 2010 videos this month:

  • Mailing merging & email merging with ACT!
  • Creating, editing & deleting contacts
  • Setting ACT! database preferences
  • Customising ACT! dashboards
  • Customising the ACT! screen layout
  • Using the documents tab
  • Working with dynamic groups & companies
  • Export ACT! data in CSV format
Access to all our self study ACT! modules is still only £99+VAT for months (£80+VAT for Preact support customers).

Find out more about our on-demand ACT! training, watch free tuition videos and order now.



New GoldMine Corporate Maintenance Offer
Pub Date : Wed 3rd March 2010, 02:03 PM
FrontRange Solutions have announced a new upgrade offer for GoldMine Corporate customers who are without active licence maintenance.

Any GoldMine Corporate Edition customer who has not held licence maintenance for over 6 months can restore annual maintenance for a one time fee of £320 - regardless of the number of GoldMine licenses owned.

GoldMine Corporate licences can be upgrade to GoldMine Premium Edition for £255 per seat

This offer is for a minimum of 5 GoldMine Premium licences with maintenance required on all registered licences.

Additional GoldMine licences can be added at £296 on the same order, annual maintenance applies.

To take advantage of this offer or arrange a formal quote please call us on 0800 381 1000



New ACT! 2010 & ACT! Premium Comparison Video
Pub Date : Mon 8th February 2010, 09:02 AM

Watch our new demonstration video for a tour of the main differences between ACT! 2010 and the ACT! Premium editions.

Our 6 minute guide cover the main enhancements in ACT! Premium including:
  • Web access
  • Team based management
  • Extended user security controls
  • Increased user security
Watch the video demonstration on our CRM Resource Centre


Preact ACT! & GoldMine February Offers
Pub Date : Wed 3rd February 2010, 09:02 AM

Offer #1: 12 months for the price of 10 on ACT! & GoldMine Support

For a limited time you can get 12 months for the price of 10 on our GoldMine & ACT! software support:

> Unlimited usage phone & dial-in help with GoldMine or ACT!

>

Get help with reports, installations, synchronisation, templates, general trouble-shooting & much more

To arrange a quote for annual GoldMine & ACT! support with 2 months' worth of cover free please call us on 0800 381 1000

Offer #2: On-Demand ACT! & GoldMine training from £99+VAT

With our on-demand training for ACT! and GoldMine follow self paced on-demand tuition modules to achieve better results from your CRM to save time, improve customer service, create more business and work more efficiently.

Our ACT! & GoldMine online training is perfect if you don't have time or budget for an on-site course. Online training is ready & waiting whenever you want so you can easily accelerate your ACT! & GoldMine skills at a time to suit you!

TRAINING SALE: Get 12 months access to over 60 on-demand ACT! tuition videos or over 200 GoldMine videos from just £99+VAT! (or from just £80+VAT for PreactCover Support customers)



Preact feature in Maidenhead Advertiser!
Pub Date : Fri 29th January 2010, 10:01 AM

From the Maidenhead Advertiser - 28 January



More local news at www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk


Swiftpage Demonstration Links
Pub Date : Mon 25th January 2010, 10:01 AM

ACT! E-Marketing / Swiftpage integration with ACT! is a hot topic for conversation as many business seek to use email marketing to drive greater results from their contact database.

We've updated now our main Swiftpage page with links to the best Swiftpage demonstration videos, tips and presentations that showcase the effectiveness of a dedicated email marketing application fully integrated with ACT!

Visit www.preact.co.uk/swiftpage.html for more information and sign-up for our on-demand ACT! training for a expert tuition on using Swiftpage.



Get 12 months for the price of 10 on ACT! support
Pub Date : Tue 19th January 2010, 04:01 PM



For a limited time you can get 12 months for the price of 10 on our ACT! software support

> Unlimited usage phone & dial-in help with ACT!

>

Expert help from the ACT! Business Partner of the Year 2009

>

Get help with ACT! reports, installations, synchronisation, templates, layout changes, maintenance processes & much more

With at least 60 days cover free annual support starts from as little as £45+VAT per user* - our best ever value on ACT! help!

u To arrange a quote for annual ACT! support with 2 months' worth of cover free please call us on 0800 381 1000


Our technicians have the answers so don't waste time searching for ACT! solutions. Get expert help whenever you need it and achieve better results with ACT! in 2010.

As the UK's most experienced ACT! consultancy we help hundreds of satisfied users but don't take our word for it, read some of our customer comments.


* Per user cost for annual PreactCover ACT! phone and remote dial in help. Quoted unit price is based on 20 ACT! licences.



Avoiding CRM Pitfalls - Tip #7 - Don't do it all yourself
Pub Date : Tue 12th January 2010, 01:01 PM
As CRM consultants you'd expect us to promote the benefits of getting help with a CRM project but even independent research highlights the benefits of getting expert help.

Recent Gartner findings reveal that well over half of CRM projects fail to meet expectations because of inadequate planning and implementation. By working with an independent CRM architect like Preact you'll benefit from expert advice to navigate the CRM market, implement a scalable solution and drive early results.

The demands of a CRM project can soak up internal resources. We recognise that CRM project leaders have a day job to do and by working with a specialist projects can stay on track without losing focus from core business activities.

With around 20 years expertise we carry out well over 100 CRM implementations every year. With a focus on database personalisation to help teams achieve a fast payback we help businesses achieve a greater return compared with organisations that source CRM software directly from software manufacturers.

CRM can be complex. If you expect to achieve significant gains in terms of processing efficiency and customer retention it should be more than just a basic installation. The simple truth is that the results you gain from CRM will always depend on what you put into the project.

12 January 2010
Warren Butler
Marketing Director
wbutler@preact.co.uk



Avoiding CRM Pitfalls - Tip #6 - Don't just install CRM
Pub Date : Fri 8th January 2010, 11:01 AM

In the penultimate tip in our series here's the 6th CRM project pitfall to avoid:

For CRM to be relevant to its users the database must be customised. Whatever the budget, an 'out-of-the-box' installation will deliver little more than basic address book functionality.

The degree of customisation will of course depend on your business processes and the capabilities of the software you are implementing. However, even the most basic of contact management packages should be adapted to reflect your unique data and terminology. With even simple field and layout customisations CRM databases can quickly be customised to reflect the way that you work and help you drive real value.

Sophisticated solutions like Sage CRM and Microsoft Dynamics CRM offer far greater capacity to wrap CRM around process through workflow automation and managing every entity beyond just people and businesses.

At the outset you should establish exactly what you want CRM to achieve and how you will evaluate its results.

Benefits can always be gained by automating existing processes but CRM provides an opportunity to achieve more by taking a more structured and process driven approach. As well as saving time this flushes out custom practices. By applying a more systematic approach rules are enforced and data quality is improved to achieve better business reporting.

Determining which processes and strategies you pursue can be a challenging part of a CRM project which is why many businesses seek assistance from a CRM expert to project plan their implementation.

Although you may have fully consulted individuals and teams don't expect them to immediately use the system effectively. The goodwill that you may have created through consultation will quickly evaporate if people don't understand how to use the software properly.

CRM systems are highly flexible but many functions can be widely open to interpretation. You may enjoy good initial user adoption but without agreed rules and consistent processes data can quickly become a mess.

User training should always built into any CRM project. As well as covering tuition on software functionality and its benefits, group training is the perfect forum to formulate processes and get collective user commitment.

8 January 2010
Warren Butler
Marketing Director
wbutler@preact.co.uk



ACT! & GoldMine training sale! Prices start from just £99+VAT!
Pub Date : Tue 5th January 2010, 09:01 AM

The start of a new year is always an opportune time to review how well your CRM software is working for you.

Maybe you'd like to achieve more with ACT! or GoldMine software in 2010. For example, to add some new reports, develop filters or groups, adapt your database layout and use CRM more effectively as a sales and marketing resource.


Our training services are the perfect way to quickly develop skills and make better use of the software to retain customers, improve processes and win new business. Throughout January we're cutting our training prices to as little as £99+VAT!

We recently launched our on-demand ACT! and GoldMine training and already many people are benefiting from instant access to expert training and tips online.

To kick off the new year we've made online training even more affordable by reducing our subscriptions to as little as £99+VAT with even bigger savings for multiple users!

From just £99+VAT this includes:

  • Access over 60 on-demand ACT! tuition modules for 12 months or over 200 GoldMine training videos
  • Bulk discounts available for multiple users
  • All training levels covered from beginner to expert - new training modules added each month!
  • Easy to follow tuition packed with practical worked examples & helpful tips
  • On-demand training that you can follow in the office or at home whenever you want - pause, play again & immediately use what you learn!

Sign up this month & get 12 months access to all our on-demand ACT! videos or GoldMine videos for just £99! Call us on 0800 381 1000 for multiple user discounts.

5 January 2010
Warren Butler
Marketing Director
wbutler@preact.co.uk



Avoiding CRM Pitfalls - Tip #5 - Always involve IT teams
Pub Date : Mon 4th January 2010, 11:01 AM

Continuing our guide on the top CRM mistakes to avoid:

We've lost count of the number of CRM projects that reach an advanced stage only to see plans delayed or shelved because of an IT problem - in many cases because of incompatibility between the proposed CRM system and internal systems.

Almost as much as budget, IT circumstances have a large bearing on which CRM solution will be effective. Specifically, but by no means exclusively, the following should be considered:

  • Do you have a powerful enough server and workstations?

  • Are you prepared to let users carry a local copy of your customer database?

  • Is it cost effective to pay monthly for a hosted CRM system if you have a perfectly effective server?

  • What type of network will CRM be deployed across?

  • Will mobile staff be able to access CRM on their mobile devices?

  • Will the IT team support the CRM system including taking back-ups and managing user accounts?

  • Are IT aware of the system requirements for the chosen CRM system?

As we've already covered in an earlier point, IT staff should never be solely responsible for driving a CRM project but their involvement is essential to make sure that the planned implementation proceeds smoothly.

4 January 2010
Warren Butler
Marketing Director
wbutler@preact.co.uk



Avoiding CRM Pitfalls - Tip #4 - Research CRM Thoroughly
Pub Date : Wed 23rd December 2009, 11:12 AM

Its always tempting to 'go with what you know' and implement a CRM system that you've previously worked with. However, what previously worked successfully may not be so effective in a different environment and with different demands. For example you may need to consider:

  • How many teams can CRM be deployed to now & in the future?

  • Do you need to track more than just contacts, businesses, activities & sales?

  • Is there a requirement to automate your processes and enforce rules?

  • How will remote and mobile users share CRM data?

  • What systems does CRM need to integrate with?

  • What are your reporting expectations?

With online test drives and demonstration videos available for most solutions the research process needn't swallow up a lot of time.

It's also worth mentioning that CRM systems shouldn't be necessarily be ruled out based on previous experiences. A system that may not have been effectively implemented or suited for an earlier requirement could still prove ideal for your current needs.

As independent CRM architects, at Preact we help businesses through this process to shortlist and identify packages that address immediate and long-term requirements. A free comparison of all our CRM packages is available at www.preact.co.uk.



Avoiding CRM Pitfalls - Tip #3 - Don't leave CRM solely to IT teams
Pub Date : Mon 21st December 2009, 12:12 PM

As we'll cover in a later point IT teams should be fully involved during a CRM implementation. However, if the CRM project is being solely led and driven by IT it's very likely that responsibility hasn't been placed with the right people.

CRM is about managing customers, improving processes and driving business growth. However, rather than IT teams, it's actually service, sales and marketing leaders that should be accountable for these areas as they will gain the most from the improvements that can be achieved with CRM. As part of the pre-implementation process, CRM project leaders have responsibility for ensuring readiness of processes and users which will again typically fall outside the remit of IT teams.

Ownership and accountability for CRM projects should always be with its main beneficiaries. CRM is a business wide initiative to create a single view of each customer and improve organisation efficiency. To achieve this it's essential for individuals throughout the business to fully participate in the planning process. When individual groups don't get involved and leave it all to IT teams CRM will fail.



Avoiding CRM Pitfalls - Tip #2: Gain Buy-in From Users & Management
Pub Date : Thu 17th December 2009, 09:12 AM

CRM shouldn't be the pet project of one individual. For success a CRM system needs to be adopted throughout the business so it's vital that key people from each team are involved and buy in to the project from the outset - that includes senior management.

As we've already highlighted the chosen CRM system might not be deployed to everyone at the outset but to effectively plan and ensure scalability the input of influential team members must be sought.

Marketing teams will often drive the demand for CRM but ultimate success will often depend on how well sales people adopt this so it's crucial that their requirements are taken on board from an early stage.

CRM user adoption will always hinge on the perception of value that end users have. When there is a top heavy imbalance between effort and benefits users will soon fall back on tried and tested systems and abandon CRM.

Almost as important as understanding what end users want is the need to secure senior management accountability.

Consulting a broad user base will frequently place some needs in conflict causing a streamlined implementation to develop into a bloated project with the result of delays and increased cost. Difficult decisions have to be made and must be taken with accountability from senior managers. Without losing sight of fundamental user needs some requirements will need to be prioritised, delayed or dropped.

Senior managers have the most to gain from CRM success through better reporting, process efficiencies, increased customer retention and business growth. As a result they should be visibly on-board and accountable from the outset.

17 December 2009
Warren Butler
Marketing Director
wbutler@preact.co.uk



Avoiding CRM Pitfalls - Tip #1 Don't be too ambitious with CRM
Pub Date : Wed 16th December 2009, 02:12 PM

Although customer relationship management software is well established as a vital component in a CRM strategy many businesses are still disappointed with the return they see. In many cases failure is caused by inadequate planning and poor implementation.

As independent CRM architects we have around 20 years experience of helping organisations achieve results from CRM. In a new guide we summarize the top 7 CRM mistakes to avoid beginning with:

Tip #1 - Don't be too ambitious

Large CRM projects can struggle to get off the ground. All embracing projects that strive to meet 100% of everyone's needs may take a long time to deploy and will limit the return on investment. CRM projects that aim to achieve a utopian result rarely leave the planning stage.

Often, it is better to start small by prioritising requirements. Sometime this may be an initial pilot within 1-2 departments before a wider rollout.

Businesses that don't currently have a CRM solution may find an entry level CRM solution like ACT! will prove more cost effective over 1-2 years rather than embarking on a costly deployment of a more advanced system.

Other requirements may dictate an immediate need for a more sophisticated solution like Sage CRM but even so there is usually more to gain by starting small.

Through careful prioritizing, savvy CRM project leaders focus on those teams where CRM can have the greatest impact - and where it will have the highest adoption. Often, the best candidates are service teams. Because their roles are process led they are constantly striving to improve operational efficiency and follow best practices. We consistently find that CRM is well received by service teams as they recognise the payback that can be achieved with CRM by way of slicker processes and increased customer satisfaction.

Even with a small scale initial phase, CRM projects can quickly gain traction as this payback extends to other teams through better data quality. As a result, marketing and sales staff can get a clearer insight into each customer relationship and see people as unique individuals to better understand their interests and send compelling communications that will resonate.

With a manageable initial phase, streamlined CRM projects can be more easily budgeted and get underway quickly to generate early results that give businesses a solid foundation on which to build on.

The sooner a CRM budget can be identified the better. Like most purchases, CRM results are heavily determined by the investment made so it's important to make sure that expectations for CRM are consistent with the available budget. To use the analogy of holiday planning, it is pointless making arrangements for a luxury world cruise when your budget will only stretch to a coach trip. There are many world class CRM software solutions available but to avoid wasted time you must determine if their price tag and functionality are consistent with your budget and requirements.



We've Moved!
Pub Date : Wed 9th December 2009, 10:12 AM
Following several years of continued growth we've outgrown our premises in Taplow!

By using the same systems we implement for our customers, we have more than doubled our turnover in little over 3 years and we've simply run out of space. We're therefore delighted to move into our new modern offices which will provide us with a stronger platform on which to build on this success.

Our new address is:

Vandervell House
Vanwall Business Park
Maidenhead
Berkshire
SL6 4UB

Find us on Google maps or download our new map.

Our phone numbers remain:

Switchboard: 0800 381 1000
International: +44(0)1628 661 810



Preact win Sage ACT! Business Partner of the Year 2009!
Pub Date : Thu 26th November 2009, 10:11 AM
Preact celebrated victory last night at the annual Sage Circle of Excellence award ceremony by being crowned ACT! Business Partner of the Year 2009.

We'd like to pass on our thanks from everyone at Preact to our customers for choosing us as their trusted business partner and helping us to win this accolade.

Receiving this award is a great honour and recognition at the investment that we've made to deliver an unrivalled service that has seen us become the overwhelming CRM business partner of choice.


This latest award marks another high in a successful year for Preact that has seen us expand our coverage and develop innovative new solutions including our CRM resource centre and new on-demand training. As a result of our continued growth we're eagerly anticipating moving into our new prestigious offices at Vanwall Business Park, Maidenhead that will give us an even stronger platform to build on this success and deliver on our brand promise of exceeding customer expectations.


Preact Managing Director, Selom Bulla & Technical Manager, Ian Mennie collect the award from Sage UK CEO, Paul Stobart


26 November 2009
Warren Butler
Marketing Director
wbutler@preact.co.uk

Preact is an independent Customer Relationship Management (CRM) consultancy supplying high quality solutions to businesses in the private sector as well as charities and educational organisations. Since 1993, Preact has helped numerous organisations select, implement and achieve tangible results with CRM. As an accredited supplier of four distinct solutions, ACT!, GoldMine, Sage CRM and Microsoft Dynamics CRM we offer customers the benefit of a broad view of the CRM market.

At Preact we believe in providing impartial pre-sales advice combined with proven implementation skills to help businesses gain rapid and long term benefits from their investment in CRM. We understand the competitive advantage that CRM can leverage by sharpening sales, service and marketing efficiency so our experienced consultants work closely with clients to design and deploy systems precisely in line with individual businesses needs.

We complete over 150 CRM projects each year for customers in numerous industries with varying sized deployments from 1 to 200+ users. Our Microsoft Gold Partner certification and our status as a top 10 Sage and FrontRange Solutions business partner reflect our ability to deliver complex and innovative solutions. Our recent CRM projects have included implementations for John Lewis Plc, ThomsonLocal.com, Scottish & Southern Energy, Cranfield University, DPAS Dental Plans, Europa Worldwide Logistics, Constructionline and Marie Curie Cancer Care.



Tips for building a CRM business case
Pub Date : Wed 25th November 2009, 02:11 PM

It can often prove a challenge to sell a new or updated investment in CRM into your business. Even though you may be clear on the need for a new CRM solution senior decision makers and other team members may need to be convinced.

We're frequently contacted by managers who have enjoyed the benefits of CRM in previous employment but now find themselves in a business that have an inadequate CRM solution, or worse still, with no CRM strategy.

Often, they've already tried and failed to gain buy-in from their bosses and colleagues to implement CRM and are attempting to build a more compelling business case. What compounds their frustration is the knowledge that without an effective CRM solution the ability to perform and achieve results is restricted, both for them personally and the entire business.

It may be challenging to reverse this situation but we've found there are several steps that can be followed to clinch that buy-in more quickly. Of course, getting top management to buy-in to a CRM project is only one part of the challenge. Making sure that end users actually adopt the system is every bit as important.

To navigate the often thorny issue of getting sanction for a CRM project we've compiled some tips to help you get support for your CRM initiative from the top. We've also included some steps to make sure that everyone actually uses the system that you've battled so hard to get implemented!

Download our free guide for some useful tips on how to build a solid business and sell a CRM strategy to decision makers and colleagues.





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