Business management software has come a long way. ACT!, Goldmine and other older technologies are frantically trying to migrate to the more efficient online hosted or ASP model. The problem is the underlying architecture does not support this transition. These products are fast being replaced with modern architected, secure, hosted business management services.



Here are a few reasons that sales organizations are making this transition as fast as possible. The hosted model has made tremendous strides in the last several years:

Open source, shared server environment for a 80% cut in fees

This delivers the knock out punch. Smart ASPs run the database and application server on low cost Linux boxes. There is no huge payment to technology providers enabling service delivery for a reasonable the service for an affordable price. This is much less than buying and running conventional software. There is no administration, version updates, fixes at all for the end user.

Easy to use with Powerful Sales Features

Browser-based user interfaces give the user a rich, intuitive experience. The service loads fast and looks and feels like a windows application. ASPs makes use of sophisticated java script and DHTML that caches locally and offers leading edge one click, drag and drop, drop-down capabilities.

What really counts is how ASPs use technology to make the users life easier. ACT! And other conventional software vendors are still trying to figure out the compromises they must make to fit the user experience into the browser. ASPs are light years ahead in innovative ways to exploit the browser environment.

Some On-line tools have users edit records in a report without having to open up a separate editing window. There are pull down windows that give you one click access to new activities such as entering an Event or New Opportunity or drafting an email. The user is empowered to rearrange report views and to create a personal dashboard of key features and functionality. Everything is engineered to make the user experience more valuable.

Your Users Work the Way they Want to Work

Forget about struggling with cookie cutter solutions. Even smaller business wants configurable, custom solutions. DataForceOne has engineered it's product to deliver the business functionality needed in the method the customer wants. All views are readily customizable to how users work and view information. Most on-line sales tool users can set up multiple data to make work easier, views of the data they need to work with, including flexible queries, configurable tables, and custom forms. All this is performed using familiar tabbed screens, forms, pull-down menus and drag and drop layouts. There is no technical know-how needed. User training is fast and user adaptation immediate. You just need to know how your business works and the on-line sales software doest the rest.

Businesses will Gain Real-Time Sales Results with Real-Time Sales Data

Since all this is happening on state of the art Linux servers there is no reason to compromise on timeliness of the information. There is no synchronization. There are no out-of-date reports based on stale information: everything you see is what is happening now in your organization. Conventional software vendors can not do this and will make you pay more for a portal server if at all available. This real-time environment and wireless access is standard.

Business moves fast and your competitors may move even faster. You need sales information and the only business information worth having is information delivered to you as it happens; real-time, and this is built into the product at the start.

Open data access and security.

The only possible reason you might have for passing up on all this flexibility and power is the fear that your service provider may go bust one day and where would that leave your business. On-lines sales tools vendors have been listening to that objection long enough to have all the answers lined up. A thief walking off with your computer is more likely than losing data in a well architected, on-line sales service. It is your data, and the really good on-line sales service veterans can sooth your data concerns with facts. Import and export of data in standard CV formats is fast and easy. Punchouts, or XML interfaces to other systems, are simple to do with moder n technology. With these types of interfaces, old systems, past their prime, can be rejuvenated, and the on-line sales software mix, adding value for years to come.

Data access is easy; just click on EXPORT.

You can't help wondering, ?What's the catch?? The answer is online sales management is pretty new and you are concerned about going out on a limb. If you are looking for a more powerful business management solution with no head aches take a look at what is available. Cast off preconceived notions and take a serious look at what is offered. Online sales management is a low-cost business service that will benefit your business for a very long time.