Options for the Synchronisation of ACT! data with Mobile Devices
Access to customer data ‘on demand’ has become an imperative for the modern CRM user.
Opening and logging onto a laptop or finding an internet café
no longer satisfies this need. Fortunately, the options for
synchronising ACT! data with hand held devices are more plentiful
and present reliable practical solutions to the mobile user.
Here’s a brief on some of the most popular mobile
options for ACT! highlighting the pros and cons of each:
Sage ACT! Connect (£36 per user per year) – Syncs ACT! Data onto your
Blackberry/Windows Mobile phone – directly into PIM apps*
(includes an option to disassociate the device with any other
Calendar if synchronizing ACT! Calendar/Activities. Basic
ability to update Notes in ACT!
Handheld Contact
Basic
Edition
(£40 per user per year) – Supports BlackBerry, iPhone or Windows
Mobile. Syncs ACT! Contacts and Activities into your phone's
existing PIM apps (address book and calendar).
Handheld Contact
Professional Edition
(£115 per user per year) –BlackBerry,
iPhone or Windows Mobile as above but includes a feature-rich
third party application that keeps all your ACT! Data separate
from your PIM applications, avoiding duplication.
CompanionLink
Pro
(£90 plus £78 per user per year) - includes additional
field-mapping options, opportunities sync, sync with multiple
databases or phones, and other advanced settings. Their ‘DejaOffice’
app (currently supports Android, iPhone, and iPad devices offers a
business-friendly suite of Contacts, Calendar, Tasks and Notes
apps for your device. DejaOffice supports ACT! features like
linking contacts to calendar activities, sorting by last name or
company name, assigning ACT! Groups into categories on the device,
etc.
PIM* - Personal Information Manager – the resident Calendar
and Contact applications that come with your device. If you are
also synchronizing your handheld with Outlook, Synchronising ACT!
Data into the PIM applications as well can be problematic and
result in duplications created in ACT!
In summary, it really
is down to personal preference, and each of these applications is
available as a ‘free trial’ to help you decide. If you would like to chat through the options, please contact us and speak to one of our Sage ACT! Certified Product Specialist.