Book Image

Implementing SugarCRM 5.x

Book Image

Implementing SugarCRM 5.x

Overview of this book

SugarCRM is a popular customer relationship management system. It is an ideal way for small-medium business to try out a CRM system without committing large sums of money. Although SugarCRM is carefully designed for ease of use, attaining measurable business gains requires careful planning and research. This book will give you all the information you need to start using this powerful CRM system. It is the definitive guide to implementing SugarCRM. Whether you are wondering exactly what benefits CRM can bring or you have already learned about CRM systems but have yet to implement one or you're working with SugarCRM already, this book will show you how to get maximum benefit from this exciting product. It demonstrates how to install SugarCRM and also how to get the most out of it by customizing it and integrating CRM into your organization as per your needs. Focused on the needs of the enterprise, this book provides a solution-driven approach for both business and IT specialists to get the most from this powerful and popular Open Source application. It begins with a general discussion about CRM. You will then learn the benefits of such systems, and then explore SugarCRM and its unique value. You will then go through the guidelines for installing and making deployment selections that are set out alongside information for identifying, planning, and applying customizations. Training guidelines and ongoing administrative tasks will be discussed as you progress further into the book. A brief overview of SugarCRM 6.0 is provided at the end of the book.
Table of Contents (19 chapters)
Implementing SugarCRM 5.x
Credits
About the Authors
About the Reviewer
Preface

Some common pitfalls


To underscore the points made in the preceding section, and to highlight the importance of planning and communication to the CRM implementation process, the following is a list of some of the classic mistakes typically encountered:

  • Failing to get someone to take ownership of the process from start to finish.

  • Failing to involve your stakeholders, especially the end users, right from the requirements gathering stage.

  • Not having a focus on the current business process, the intended business process improvements, or the specifications for a system that will effect that change.

  • The inability to communicate or clearly document current business processes or goals. Do not leave goals open to interpretation as the chances of someone else's interpretation matching your desired goal is rather slim.

  • Thinking that implementing a CRM means buying CRM software, installing it on a server, and then telling the intended users about it.

  • Not making a particular and continuing effort throughout...