Tap into the power of the free and open source software package, vtiger CRM — the popular alternative to commercial CRM tools. This powerful tool has enjoyed worldwide success and is being utilized by small and large organizations alike. You, too, can add real, modern CRM (customer relationship management) to your business model, and enjoy the growth that comes with it.
Chapter 1, Hello Kitty — What is vtiger CRM? introduces you to vtiger CRM and you'll learn a bit about its origin and history. The major technologies that make up vtiger CRM are outlined and the core feature set is explained.
Chapter 2, Unleashing the Beast — Installing vtiger shows you how to install vtiger CRM on a Windows or Linux system whether in the cloud or on a traditional server or computer.
Chapter 3, And the Claws Come Out — Getting Started With vtiger helps you to put vtiger CRM right to work. You'll import leads and/or customer accounts and create user accounts for your team. You'll also configure e-mail notifications and backup.
Chapter 4, Leashing the Beast — Using vtiger takes you on a tour of the vtiger user interface and show you how to effectively manage lists of CRM data. You'll also see how easy it is to track important customer data by cross-linking, storing documents and managing customer related e-mails.
Chapter 5, House Training your Secret Weapon — vtiger CRM and your Business shows you how to use vtiger CRM for your specific business model. You'll learn how to install custom modules, create custom fields and change the layout of the screen to suit your unique business model.
Chapter 6, Business Processes―They're G-r-r-r-reat! shows you how to implement your business processes with vtiger CRM. It will cover mapping custom fields and using workflows to support your sales and business processes.
Chapter 7, Super Tiger―Using vtiger Extensions helps you to see the power of vtiger extensions and how to use them. You'll be introduced to some of the most useful vtiger CRM extensions in the vtiger community.
Chapter 8, Facing the Tiger — vtiger Theming shows you how to customize the look and feel of the vtiger interface by creating your own custom vtiger theme.
Chapter 9, Kitty, Play Nice! — Integrating vtiger takes your external systems, such as your website, and integrates them with vtiger CRM using vtiger's API and vtiger's Web Lead Form.
Chapter 10, From Cub to King — Growing with vtiger shows you how to create your own custom module with the help of vtiger's vtlib module generation tool. You'll see how to also integrate your custom module with the other critical CRM data in vtiger CRM.
Appendix A: King of the Jungle — The Key to CRM Success is a bonus chapter that briefly outlines some important principles that will help you to make your CRM project a success.
To install and use vtiger CRM you will need access to a computer, server or cloud server running either Windows or Linux
Internet access
Some working knowledge of PHP and MySQL will be helpful, but not necessary
IT professionals
CRM project managers
Small business owners/operators
Sales consultants
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