Over the last few years the idea of an on premise, Windows
based CRM program has been overshadowed by, on-line, web based, or hosted CRM
programs, like SalesForce.com, SugarCRM, and hundreds, if not thousands more. Certainly
there are benefits to hosted CRM solutions; ease of access, cross platform compatibility,
and reduced maintenance from the IT department. Cost is frequently seen as an
advantage because the hosted products have a “monthly” price per user. Compared
to a one-time purchase of the software, it may seem a savings. Actually the
premise-based product usually becomes the cost winner within 12 to 24 months.
The Experiment
A few months ago we switched from GoldMine to a popular
hosted solution.
While we loved the convenience of our new CRM, we began to
find more and more features that the new program didn’t have that we had grown
to expect from our old friend GoldMine.
Many of these were kind of “under the hood” items that have been part of
GoldMine for 15-20 years, like the ability to intelligently merge duplicates,
built in email client, spell checker, a preview window that eliminates hundreds
of needless clicks a week.
At any rate the list got longer and longer and finally we
decided to write it down and share it with the world. (Ok anybody who would listen or was
thinking about switching either to a new CRM solution or from GoldMine.) If you fit in either category, check out our 80 favorite things about GoldMine, compare it to other CRM systems. If you'd like to discuss any of this, give us a call at 847-382-4500 or visit our website where you can see pictures of many of these cool features.
80 Reasons to Love GoldMine
By Tech.Sell Corporation
1.
Concurrent
licensing – based on number of users logged in at one time. A big savings over
“named user” licensing models
2.
Microsoft SQL
Server licenses included with purchase or upgrade
3.
Includes Office
integration with Word, Excel and Outlook
4.
Includes GoldSync
for remote off line users
User Interface
5.
Very flexible drag and drop screen arrangement
provides more Real Estate on the Top Half of the Contact Record
6.
Search, sort, group and filter by double
clicking on any field
7.
Excel-type “Auto Filters” in most list views to
make searching through a contact’s info so much easier!
8.
Preview Windows in most list views – eliminates
the need to open each history, pending, detail record, linked document, etc.,
because you can see the details, including Notes in the preview pane.
9.
The Contact Search Center – so much more than a
search tool. Has the auto filters,
described above, in addition to a “Grouping” feature. You can slice and dice to your heart’s content, creating
on-the-fly filters. Results of
your search/filter can be output to Excel, tagged for an instant filter – the
possibilities go on and on.
10. The
Activity List – open activities and closed/completed activities, drill down by
user, date range, type of activity, export to Excel with a click for an instant
activity report.
11.
Quick Action Buttons on the Contact Record,
Search Center, and Activity list to Schedule, Complete, create email or mail
merge
12. Open
windows create tabs for easy navigation between them
13. Recently
Viewed Lists for quick navigation back to recent screens
14. The
Relationship Tree – track related records in a single org tree
15. Rollup
of Info for Multiple Contacts in an Organization
16. Secondary
contacts reside on the same record as primary contact
17. Referrals
– connect related contacts with a quick listing and link
18. Spell
checker in Email editor and all notes areas.
19. View
delegated activities still open in the activity center
20. Ability
to link files or folders to the contact record
21. Automatic
linking of email attachments to a contact record
22. Universal
Search searches all of database, even info in linked documents
23. Social
Media Links for LinkedIn Connections, Facebook, Google
Scheduling
24. Drag
and drop activities on the calendar to other days/times
25. Schedule
for one or many people
26. Auto
schedule for groups of users
27. View
the calendar of multiple users at one time
28. Send
meeting requests and notifications
29. Click
RSVP to delegate activities and receive notifications when the activity is
completed or deleted
30. Sync
calendar with Outlook
31. Auto
Rollover activities – move uncompleted activities to next day
32. Auto
update activities – reassign to another user, delete displayed activities,
reassign to another user
Sales Stuff
33. Forecasted
sales – can be scheduled like appointments. Fast and easy way to track
opportunities when all the details aren't needed.
34. Opportunity
manager allows capture of all details relating to the opportunity including
multiple sales, linked documents/quotes, influencers, team members, etc. All
linked to the related contacts.
35. Project
manager – can continue form a closed opportunity. Track all the details of a
project as well as scheduled activities for each user.
36. Dashboards
for quick look at forecasts, scheduled and completed activities, forecasted
sales, customer service issues
Marketing Stuff
37. Email
templates for easy “one-offs” or email blasts
38. Email
marketing tools
39. Create
Personalized HTML Email templates
40. Store
in library of email templates
41. Built
in searchable Info Center Library to capture and share literature, web
clippings, policies and more. Centrally updated.
42. Integration
with Word for mail merges
43. Integration
with Excel for importing lists into GoldMine.
44. Create
groups from the search center and group schedule or send email blast with less
than 5 clicks.
45. Document
library for Word, Excel, and Email templates including literature attachments
46. Output
lists to Excel, Word, Windows Clipboard
47. Lead
Management allows easy update of fields
Data management - Hidden
geeky stuff that makes life so much easier
48. Easily
create filters, groups or SQL Queries with built in wizards
49. Over
75 built in reports for contacts, analysis, calendar, and labels and envelopes.
50. Automated
Processes / Workflow Wizard driven trigger events, emails, updates
automatically
51. Global
replace of fields, switch data in filtered fields, automatically set proper
case in all records or a filtered group
52. Ability
to have multiple databases
53. Ability
to Archive records
54. Ability
to move document attachments and links to an alternate server or dive location
55. Territory
Realignment Wizard
56. “Record typing” allow different record
views for different user groups or contact types
57. Customizable
Tab Names
58. Built
in Merge/Purge system to easily manage duplicates
59. Auto
Update Fields based on info in other Fields
60. Record
Ownership by user or group provides security
61. Record
curtaining choices Full/invisible, basic info or read only
62. Easy
to Customize screen layout with screen designer
63. Ability
to create calculated Fields
64. Relational
Lookup Windows
65. Details
for “many to one” data items like passwords, card numbers birthdays, family
names etc.
66. Many
security control options from fields to contact records to databases
67. Import/Export
tools
68. Integration
with Outlook Auto file emails in History, sync contacts
and calendar
Customer
Service And Issue management
69. Included
Customer Service module to track, escalate and capture issues. Creates issues
and case numbers.
70. All
issues automatically become part of history on customer record.
71. Full
reporting and dashboards with automated tracking.
Mobility and Mobile
Access
72. GoldSync
– for off line remote use. Can be filtered to limit records belonging to sales
rep or manager. Remote licenses and synching included with system
73. iGoldMine
for full remote access to GoldMine and other server based applications (Like
Citrix) Optional
74. GoldMine Mobile product created by
GoldMine is app for iPhone and iPad. Optional
75. WMobile
– Provides access to 2 distinct interfaces. W Mobile Phone (for all browser
equipped SmartPhones) and WMobile Desktop for any desktop browser or tablets.
Provides almost all the features of GoldMine to remote users with no
installation required. Optional
More
recommended GoldMine add-ons. (Optional)
76. QuoteWerks – Great quoting program that
stores all quotes, links to GoldMine creates opportunity and forecasted sale,
emails to client and creates follow up and linked quote in GoldMine.
77. MasterMine – Amazing reporting and data
management tool, creates reports and live data links in Excel. Must see!
78. DialPad – By W-Systems, custom interface
let’s telesales team handle calls and data, drawing data from GoldMine and
linking to a variety of VOIP phone systems.
79. CompanionLink
– The granddaddy of syncing software – Links contacts and calendar to and from
most anything including Google, Outlook, IPhone, and more.
80. Riva – Amazing behind the scenes program
that works with Exchange server to sync contacts, email and calendar to any exchange-connected
device. No hassles and central set up.
81.GoldBook
– Oft requested link between GoldMine and QuickBooks. Can move or link,
contacts, invoices, sales, etc. back and forth.
So there you have it. Amazingly, these things really make a big difference in usability and results for any business team. A little professional guidance also goes a long way. Tech.Sell has 18 years of CRM and GoldMIne experience to offer. 847-382-4500
