Sage ACT! 2012 Premium for Web SP1 Hot Fix 1 Available
Posted: Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 3:25:14 PM EST by Website AdministratorWhat issues does this hot fix address?
- This hot fix resolves an issue in the Web version of Sage ACT! where the Opportunity Limited Access default settings are not retained when you create a new Opportunity from the Opportunities tab in the Contact Detail view.
This hot fix only applies if you are running the following version of Sage ACT!
- Sage ACT! Premium 2012 (access via web) SP1 (web server version 14.1.108.0).
And it is applicable to the following locales:
- AU (Australia).
- CA (Canada).
- EU (Europe).
- FR (French).
- LA (Latin America).
- UK (United Kingdom).
- US (United States).
Should I install this hot fix?
If you are using Sage ACT! Premium for Web 2012 Service Pack 1 you should apply this hot fix.
How do I install this hot fix?
You can visit the Sage ACT! Knowledge Base Article 28810 for detailed instructions.
Where do I download this hot fix from?
The Sage ACT! Knowledge Base article gives the download links, for your convenience I’ve copied the download links here:
Remember, if you would like assistance to do this, please contact us to book a job for one of our technical staff to do apply this hot fix for you, which, of course, we would love to do for you. :)
Sage ACT! 2011 SP1 Hot Fix 6 available
Posted: Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 2:39:24 PM EST by Website AdministratorWhat issues does this hot fix address?
- Synchronisation of remote databases takes a long time to complete and you get time out errors.
- Importing fails when merge option is set to “merge”.
- Reduces the incidence of the “red X” in the toolbar.
This hot fix applies if you are running one of the following versions of Sage ACT!
- Sage ACT! Pro 2011 SP1 (version 13.1.111.0).
- Sage ACT! Premium 2011 SP1 (version 13.1.111.0).
- Sage ACT! Premium 2011 (access via web) SP1 (web server version 13.1.111.0).
And it applicable to the following locales:
- AU (Australia).
- CA (Canada).
- EU (Europe).
- FR (French).
- LA (Latin America).
- UK (United Kingdom).
- US (United States).
Should I install this hot fix?
If you are not using remote databases, not importing data or using terminal services, then you may not need to apply this hot fix. If, however, you are doing any of those activities, you should apply this hot fix.
How do I install this hot fix?
If you are going to install this yourself, keep in mind that you must apply this hot fix to all computers running ACT! at the same time. With that in mind, you can visit the Sage ACT! Knowledge Base Article 27440 for detailed instructions.
Where do I download this hot fix from?
The Sage ACT! Knowledge Base article gives the download links, for your convenience I’ve copied the download links here:
Remember, if you would like assistance to do this, please contact us to book a job for one of our technical staff to do apply this hot fix for you, which, of course, we would love to do for you :)
The future of SageACT! for Cloud is here (soon)
Posted: Friday, November 18, 2011 at 10:59:22 AM EST by Website AdministratorSageACT! in the Cloud. I like the sound of that!
What we have been wanting to see from SageACT! for some time is a version that will work on any mobile device (tablet, iphone, android etc.) and any browser (Chrome, IE, FireFox, Safari etc.).
If it's going to work on mobile device, the user interface needs to be designed so you can drive it with finger swipes and gestures rather than with a mouse and keyboard.
Well, at the recent #SageInsights conference we saw a demo, and it looks good, real good. It's not official, and I'm probably breaking some rule somewhere by posting this, but it's good stuff.
The great thing about SageACT! is that there is so much fleixibility in how you choose to use it. I see this as just an extension of those options in the future. We still expect to have a place for products like Handheld Contact for mobility solutions with SageACT!, but there is no denying the demand for Cloud based applications and this is definately an option that will add value to businesses using SageACT!
How to insert the details of a contact from SageACT! into an email
Posted: Friday, November 18, 2011 at 10:37:11 AM EST by Website AdministratorThere are occasions when you want to send the contact details from someone in your SageACT! database. For example you may be referring a client to another contact for assistance in an area that you don't specialise in.
There is an easy way to do this:
Step 1: Look up the contact in SageACT! that you want to copy into an email.
Step 2: Use the CTRL+C to copy the details to the clipboard. Please note: you can't right click and hit copy, you need to hold down the CTRL button on your keyboard and the hit the 'C' key on you keyboard.
Step 3: Go to the email you are writing and right click, then choose 'paste'. Or you can use the CTRL+V keyboard combination if you prefer.
See the YouTube video below for a demo.
See ACT! and MYOB in Action
Posted: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 3:03:55 PM EST by Website Administrator|
Explore a typical day in the life of a sales person using Sage ACT! Contact Manager, and Xact Software's MYOB accounting link and Time & Billing addon.
The dates/times for Australia are as follows:
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3 Options for Getting ACT! Onto Your Phone
Posted: Monday, August 22, 2011 at 3:46:39 PM EST by Website Administrator
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Today’s smart phone and mobile devices are pretty impressive and are widely used by business people and their staff. For some users, these devices are being used more than their laptop or desktop computers. So, if you use ACT! in your business then it’s pretty likely that your going to want to have ACT! on your phone too. Depending on what sort of phone you have and how many users you need to mobilise with ACT!, you have a number of options. These include: |
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Option 1: Contact Sync with SageACT! 2011
• Free with SageACT! 2011
• Syncs Contacts and Calendar between ACT! and Outlook
• Requires your phone or mobile device to sync with Outlook
Option 2: Handheld Contact
• Syncs wirelessly and automatically.
• Runs from your server and has a free app for your mobile device
• $200 per annum annual subscription per device.
• Available for iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Windows Mobile
• Not available for Android devices yet. (coming soon)
Option 3: 123 Syncronizer
• Ideal for organisations using Microsoft Exchange as their email server
• Syncs Contacts, Calendars and Tasks with Exchange
• Allows phones and mobile devices wirelessly connected with Exchange to interact with ACT!
• Also very good for organisations that have some staff working from Outlook and not ACT!. Allows the whole organisation to see what is happening via Outlook but still allow ACT! users the added functionality of managing their contacts and calendars from ACT!.
Mobilising your business with your Contacts, History, Calendars and Tasks from ACT! can benefit your business in many ways.
For a Free Consultation to discuss which option is best for your business call Today on 1300 799 064
Does your business have trouble managing its contacts?
Posted: Monday, August 15, 2011 at 12:23:37 PM EST by Website AdministratorManaging contact information is hard for many businesses. If it is ten times easier to get business from existing clients - why do businesses find it so hard to manage their valuable client and contact information?
- Multiple data sources: customer and contact details are located ‘all over the place’. This usually includes:
- Individual email address books
- Multiple spread sheets, and
- The accounting system
- No program that does it all: of all the software in your company, including Outlook, Excel and your Accounting system, none of them seem to be able to do the job of storing and managing all your customer and contact information.
- Double entry of data: even if it only takes a minute to add or update a new contact, this is always tedious and relies on all staff completing the double entry.
- Lost prospects: whilst every business has a list of all of its customers in its accounting system, it doesn’t always have a list of all its prospects. Every new lead or contact is of value to your business and often people who contact you for the first time don’t get their details recorded.
- No single version of the truth: when Johnny updated Billy’s new email address in his Outlook address book he didn’t update it in the various company spreadsheets or in the accounting system. When you go to do that email broadcast you’ve been working hard on, Billy wasn’t on that list.
- Missing the most important contacts: the accounts receivable contact for your client might be recorded in your accounting system, but the key decision makers may not.
- Marketing is time consuming and difficult: sending a mail merge or an email broadcast is actually pretty easy to do. It’s the finding of all your contacts in their various locations, merging them together and then removing the duplicates that takes the time. What’s worse is that this process happens every time you need to do a mail out.
- Eliminate double entry of data: one place for adding and updating contacts for all staff.
- Find information quickly: search for a contact using the company name; first name; last name or any other piece of information to find them.
- Record all your contacts: all key contacts from your clients should be recorded, including the key decision makers and influencers. All your prospective clients should also be recorded. It’s even a good idea to add your suppliers and other business contacts too.
- Get rid of spread sheets for managing contact lists!
- Record history: record of history of phone calls, meetings and emails.
- Links with existing systems: you’ll still need Outlook for email and your accounting system, so your contacts database should link with these systems.
- Protect your data: your companies contact information is valuable so it’s important to have it in the one secure location.
- Enable your marketing: having all your contacts centrally located with some in-built email broadcast and mail merge features you’ll be able to increase your direct marketing to those who are most likely to want to do business with you – your existing clients and contacts!
- Select a database. The ‘ideal solution’ that addresses the issue above is called Contact Management or Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software. Not only will it give you the one database to store all your contacts, it will give you all the features and functions you need to better manage and market to them.
- Import your data: once you have contact management software in place you will need to import all your contacts that are stored in your companies various Excel spread sheets and Outlook address books. You might even want to add all the contacts from those piles of business cards that your sales people have been collecting!
- Link to your existing systems: connect your new database to Outlook, Excel, Word and your accounting system. This way you can continue to use these important programs for what they specialise in and manage your entire contacts database in your new database without having to double enter data between them.
The reasons for using this software ourselves and recommending it to clients include:
- Very easy to use
- Links with Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel.
- Records history from calls, meetings and emails against contacts records.
- Links with MYOB and QuickBooks.
- Built-in Email Marketing
If you would like to know more about how SageACT! can help your business, please contact us for a Free Consultation and Demonstration.
Basic Accounting Integration with ACT!
Posted: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 6:14:09 PM EST by Website AdministratorLinking your ACT! database to your accounting system will allow you to see the financial information you need for a full view of your relationship with a client.
Your ACT! database will give you a lot of information about your clients, including file notes and histories, open sales opportunities, open follow up tasks and all email correspondence. BUT, it doesn't tell you how much they have spent with you this month or this year. OR, it doesn't tell you whether or not that client's account has been paid or put on hold!
This sort of information is valuable to sales people and other users in a business that are mostly working from ACT!.
If you use a common small business accounting package there are solutions available with the ACT! to MYOB link, the ACT! to QuickBooks link and the ACT! to Xero link. However, for businesses that are using a more specialised accounting package, 'off the shelf' links aren't available.
In these situations, it is often still possible to link an accounting system to ACT!.
Firstly, when linking your accounting system to your ACT! database you need to identify what information you want to come into your ACT! database. For many businesses, some general summary information is all that's required..
This information usually includes:
- Account Status
- YTD Sales
- MTD Sales
Partner Profile Series 2011 - Mike Lazarus, GL Computing
Posted: Friday, March 18, 2011 at 3:28:47 PM EST by Website AdministratorA key ingredient for any successful business is surrounding yourself with great people. For businesses that implement Sales and Marketing Automation technologies this is especially the case. This interview is one of a series with the people behind the companies and products that support our clients.
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Name: Mike Lazarus |
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How did you get started with ACT!?
I was working in the mid-80s for the distributor of an Australian contact manager before ACT! was developed. PC Extras picked up the distribution on ACT! for Australia NZ and head-hunted me. Over the first 12 months, we went from 4 units a month to nearly 1000. When I left PC Extras, I got so many calls from resellers and users looking for help, I set up GL Computing to look after them while I looked for something else... 20 years later; I'm still enjoying making users as happy with ACT! as I have been.
What excites you about ACT!?
ACT! has always had an advantage over other similar products due to its ease-of-use - even though it has got more complex since Sage took it over, it's still ahead of its competitors in this area. With most of the sales and marketing user base that it's aimed at being fairly non-technical, this is been a critical differentiator over other products that are much more challenging for users to unlock their potential.
Additionally, ACT! has always understood the need to have a powerful SDK so that more demanding solutions can be built on ACT! by add-on developers to satisfy users needing critical functions.
What are you working on now?
GL Computing's role is to help ACT! consultants, resellers and add-on vendors to provide more complete solutions to their user base. To this aim I have been advising J2X in their development of Handheld Contact to provide a better mobile solution (http://www.glcomputing.com.au/HHC ) as well as developing our own accounting integration for ACT! - http://www.glcomputing.com.au/main/75/1
What do you see happening in the next 2 years?
It is difficult to know what is going to happen in the future as Sage seem reluctant to let us in on their road-map. Some of the items I'd like to see from Sage include:
- Better Social Media integration, like - http://blog.glcomputing.com.au/2010/04/social-media-and-crm-thoughts-on-how.html
- Email integration with GMail, Hotmail and Yahoo Mail. It's about time the Internet Mail function was updated
- Better report writing - maybe OEMing Crystal Reports?
- Performance improvements
- More granular security options ... many of these are available in the SDK and a couple of add-ons use them, but these should be in the application UI
- Better understanding and handling of international users - time zones, date formats, multiple currencies, phone dialling
What value do you see ACT! add-on developers bringing to businesses using ACT!?
I have always felt that Sage should concentrate on making and improving the core application and it's SDK and leaving the integration functions and other items to third-parties that are dedicated to specific functions. Sage could pour their R&D into making ACT! into a very powerful platform for low-end CRM. They should then work much more closely with third-parties who could produce more targeted functions at lower prices with the additional volumes Sage could help them achieve.
Prime examples of this are Accounting Integration, Mobility and Social Media:
- ACT! has never had an adequate integration with accounting - rarely working with the current versions of ACT! or the accounting software for years. But add-on developers find it difficult to justify the R&D costs when Sage sells cheap solutions (even if the third-party solutions are much better)
- The only worth-while PDA solution from ACT! has been the ACT! for PalmOS (now dead). Sage's attempts, over the past three years, to release ACT! Mobile Live (now Sage Mobile for ACT!) have produced very poor solutions. Sage would have saved much time, money and user satisfaction if they had of OEM'd one of the solutions (like Handheld Contact) that has been tried and tested over 10+ years
- Sage announced early that they were going to do Social Media, which had several add-on developers stop projects that had been underway. The included integration is still behind where those third-parties where a couple of years ago.
While there are some functions I think Sage should improve in the core application (like Importing, Reporting, Building Custom Tables, etc) ... and yes, these would cause some add-ons to disappear. Others, like I've mention are better handled by third-parties who are much more nimble at updating their products when the products they integrate with get updated. Sage's attempts in these areas mean the third-parties find it difficult to compete because users have the false belief that a product from the vendor will be better. Users who get these products from Sage feel less satisfied with ACT! in general than those who's ACT! Consultant has steered them to the better solutions.
Mike was recently recognised as the first Sage ACT! Community Development Partner. This co-incided with Mike's 10,000th update on the forum.
You can find Mike actively and passionately supporting ACT! at these places.
www.GLComputing.com.au
Twitter www.twitter.com/GLComputing
Blog http://blog.glcomputing.com.au
Facebook www.facebook.com/GLComputing
Linked IN ACT! Fanatics Group - http://www.linkedin.com/groups/ACT-Fanatics-49896
Triple Treat - Getting your Quoting, Sales Follow-up and Invoicing Systems Integrated
Posted: Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 9:56:41 AM EST by Website AdministratorThe Problems
- Your process for generating a quote or proposal is S-L-O-W. You have a ramshackle system of Word documents and Excel Spreadsheets that takes too long to put together.
- Your Sales people aren't adding or updating Sales Opportunities in your CRM system because it makes an already slow process even slower.
- Every Sales person in your team has a different system for generating quotes and proposals, some are probably better than others, but all of them could be better.
- As a Business Owner or Manager you can't ensure all your Opportunities are being managed because you don't have accurate and up to date information.
- When you do win business, your Accounts Person creates a sales order or invoice and basically has to double enter all the information from the quote or proposal. You probably don't mind so much because at least you won the order, but it does nag at you that you have already paid your sales staff to add that information to the quote or proposal and as a Sales Opportunity in the CRM system.
All this double handling of information and slow process is costing your business money. And, you still probably don't have the information you need to properly manage what's happening with your valuable Sales Opportunities.
The Solution
- Get Quote & Proposal Automation software like Quosal. It will make quotes faster to generate, give all your staff a consistent, optimised presentation of their quote or proposal documents AND it will add or update the Sales Opportunity in your CRM system.
- Get a CRM System like Sage ACT! 2011. Not only is this a central location for storing and analysing your Sales Opportunities but it will give your Sales people the system they need for scheduling their follow ups and manage the relationship with the prospect during the sales process.
- Integrate your CRM system to your Accounting system with products like the ACT! to MYOB or ACT! to QuickBooks links. This will mean no double entry of data for anyone in your team. What was quoted and what was accepted is what will be created as a Sales order or Invoice, at the click of a button.
The bottom linke for businesses is that if they can make their systems for generating quotes and proposals better and faster, there will be more time for following up quotes and closing business. With the increased business you generate, you won't need to increase your staffing levels in accounts because you've simplified and sped up that process as well.
The Proof
7 Things ACT! can do for Your Business
Posted: Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 5:07:46 PM EST by Website Administrator- Centralise all contact information in the one database.
- Enable you to target market to the right customers and prospects from your database with e-marketing.
- Build a history of your customers. Track and easily access all communication your staff have previously had with customers and prospects, such as file notes of past meetings, telephone calls, past orders, equipment serial numbers, service call details and more
- Integrate your customer relationship management system with existing software such as attach emails from Outlook and link to Microsoft WORD and EXCEL
- Increase sales through better management of sales opportunities. Track your sales success, develop target lists and priorities, and ensure sales leads are followed up.
- Increase your quote success rate by establishing a central quoting system, linked to your accounting software, that will help you to standardise quotes and ensure quotes are followed up
- Capture and better manage other critical business information. For example anything you might currently keep in an EXCEL spreadsheet! Other critical areas that should be managed include:
- Build a job and task management system to manage staff time and reduce duplication of tasks
- Track individual staff sales commissions
- Collaborate your sales efforts by sharing appointments and calendars
- Track current customers expenditure and profitability to help you understand more about what you can do for them
What Next? If you feel that one or more of the above items would benefit your business and you are are interested in an easy-to-use and effective business system that’s right for you. Please contact us on 1300 799 064.
Integrating Your Website and ACT! using Swiftpage
Posted: Monday, March 7, 2011 at 11:57:29 AM EST by Website Administrator
Integrating Your Website and ACT! using Swiftpage
Webinar with Darren Flood | Evolution Marketing
Darren is a true expert in building sales and marketing automation strategies that bring revenue to your business. His extensive knowledge is something you won't want to miss.
When:
Australia time: Friday, March 18th from 8:00-9:00 AM AEST (9:00-10:00 AM AEDST)
What You'll Learn:
- Why integrating your web forms with ACT! is essential
- The types of web forms that benefit most businesses
- The crucial elements to consider when designing web forms
- What you need to tell your web designer after you've built your forms
- How to download inquiries from web forms into ACT! and much more...
Brisbane Floods
Posted: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at 4:40:30 PM EST by Website AdministratorBrisbane City Newsroom - http://newsroom.brisbane.qld.gov.au/home/default.asp
Sage Insights 2010 Awards
Posted: Monday, December 6, 2010 at 2:29:48 PM EST by Website Administrator
Evolution Marketing was the proud recipient of the Highest Customer Satisfaction award for Sage ACT! at the recent Australian Sage Insights Conference held at the Twin Waters Resort on
We would like to thank all our clients, staff and suppliers for their support over the past 12 months. We consider this award to be the most important award that we could receive and are committed to improving the levels of service to our valued clients in the the next 12 months.
Ben Hamilton accepting the 'Highest Customer Satisfaction Sage ACT!' award from Mike Lorge, Managing Director of Sage Business Solutions for Australia and New Zealand
Hello World
Posted: Monday, November 1, 2010 at 3:10:56 PM EST by Website AdministratorHello world... our friends at SiteZero have added a nice new blogging feature to Launchpad, their Content Management System (CMS).
So rather than re-directing you to a blog hosted offsite, you can stay right here with us;)
Both Ben and I both look forward to blogging more regularly on the Systems that grow small businesses.
Cheers,
Darren.
P.S. You can get access to our old blog at www.selectcrm.blogspot.com
