Simplesoft Solutions Blog

Retire or Delete SalesLogix Users?

August 20th, 2010 by Kyle

If an employee leaves your company, you should retire that user and not delete the user in SalesLogix. When you delete the user, it will associate the Notes/History records to an “Unknown” user. If you retire the user, the SalesLogix Notes/History records are permanently associated to that Retired User as well as freeing up a SalesLogix license.

Before you change a user to “retired”, be sure to do the following:

  • If the user owns any records, do a territory realignment.
  • If the user is an Account Manager for any Accounts, do a territory realignment to assign a new Account Manager.
  • If the user is a manager, reassign any users who report to him or her to their new manager or to the Administrator.

How to retire SalesLogix users:

  1. Login into the SalesLogix Administrator.
  2. Click the left navigation Users icon.
  3. Highlight a user and right-click and select “Change User Type“.
  4. Select “Retired User” from the DropDown on the popup dialog window.
  5. Click “OK“.

Sage SalesLogix Web CRM Retire Users

Sage SalesLogix Administrator - Change User Type

If you would like to learn more tips or have a CRM topic you would like us to write about please contact Simplesoft Solutions, Inc. in one of our Cincinnati (OH), Charleston (WV), or Charlotte (NC) surrounding area office locations:

Dayton, Ohio Office:
Simplesoft Solutions, Inc.
550 N. Main St. Suite A
Springboro, OH 45066
Phone: (937) 885-1204 x 3204
Fax: (937) 885-3580
sales@simplesoft.net

Ripley, WV Office:
Simplesoft Solutions, Inc.
710 Random Rd.
Ripley, WV 25271
Phone: (304) 521-2387
Fax: (937) 885-3580
sales@simplesoft.net

Charlotte, NC Office:
Simplesoft Solutions, Inc.
3635 Eastover Ridge Drive
Charlotte, NC 28211
Phone: (704) 910-3872
Fax: (937) 885-3580
sales@simplesoft.net

Comment on this Post

Editing Activity and Calendar User Options in SalesLogix Web

June 16th, 2010 by Kyle

Sage SalesLogix provides the tools to allow you to modify some parts of the interface so that you can work in the way that suits your needs. The User Options allow you to set specific preferences for certain features such as General/Search, Group, Activity/Alarm, Calendar, Change Password, and Opportunities that appear when you start the Sage SalesLogix Web Client application. The settings that you select are recorded as being for the user who is logged on and are not visible to other Sage SalesLogix users.

To edit user options:

  1. Login as the proper user of the SalesLogix CRM system.
  2. On the top right status bar, click Options.
  3. Click the tab for the options you want to edit.
    • Click the Activity/Alarm tab to set options for the Activity Main View, follow-up activities, or Activity alarms.
    • Click the Calendar tab to set options for the Calendar view. You can determine the information that displays on your calendar, the default view, or the day start and end times.
  4. Click the Save button icon.

Sage SalesLogix Web CRM Options - Activities

Activity/Alarm Options
Activities, Alarms, and Reminders enable you to keep track of tasks in the Sage SalesLogix Web Client. The Activity/Alarms tab allows you to specify how and when Activities, Alarms, and Reminders will display.

To set Activity and alarm options:

  1. On the top right status bar, click Options.
  2. Click the Activity/Alarms tab.
  3. In the Show Activities for box, select the user whose Activities you want to display in the Activity Main View.
  4. From the Default View drop-down list, select the tab name for the type of Activities you want to display in the Activity Main View (for example, All Open).
  5. In the Time Frame drop-down list, select the time range of Activities you want to display in the Activities Main View.
  6. In the Default Follow-up Activity drop-down list, select the type of Activity to be scheduled as a follow up, after you complete an activity.
  7. In the Carry Over Notes drop-down list, select Yes if you want to carry over any existing notes.
  8. In the Carry Over Attachments drop-down list, select Yes if you want to carry over any existing attachments.
  9. In the Alarm Default Lead boxes, enter a number in the box and select Minute(s), Hour(s), or Day(s) from the drop-down list to determine the length of time the reminder should occur before the Activity Start Time.
  10. Click the Display Activity Reminders drop-down arrow and select Yes to display Activity Reminders or No to prevent Activity Reminders from displaying.
  11. Click the Display Alarms drop-down arrow and select Yes to display Activities with alarms in the Activity Reminders view or No to prevent Activities with alarms from displaying.
  12. Click the Display Confirmations drop-down arrow and select Yes to display Activity confirmations in the Activity Reminders view or No to prevent Activity confirmations from displaying.
  13. Click the Display Past Due drop-down arrow and select Yes to display past due Activities in the Activity Reminders view or No to prevent past due Activities from displaying.
  14. Click the Save button icon.

Sage SalesLogix Web CRM Options - Calendar

Calendar Options
The User Options view displays the settings for the logged on user. These options are only applicable for that specific user in the Web Client.

Calendar Options allow you to adjust the content and appearance of your calendar to accommodate the way you work. You can set the type of information that displays in Activities, the start and end of the work day, the default calendar view, default interval on the calendar, and whether or not completed Activities (history) items display. History items only display on the day and week calendars by default. You can also set the user whose calendar is displayed by default. The logged-on user is the default.

To set calendar options:

  1. On the top right status bar, click Options.
  2. Click the Calendar tab.
  3. In the Default Calendar View box, click the drop-down arrow and select the default calendar view you want to display when you open the Calendar view.
  4. In the Show History on Calendar box, click the drop-down arrow and select Yes to display history items or No to not display history items on the day view.
  5. In the View Calendar For box, click the Find button, select a user from the list, and then click OK.
  6. In the Show on Activities box, click the drop-down arrow and select the Activity information you want to display on the Calendar.
  7. In the Day Start box, click the drop-down arrow and select the time you want the Calendar to display as your start time.
  8. In the Day End box, click the drop-down arrow and select the time you want the Calendar to display as your end time.
  9. In the Default Interval box, click the drop-down arrow and select whether the calendar displays information in 15, 30 or 60 minute intervals.
  10. In the Default Activity Type box, click the drop-down arrow and select a default Activity type. This is the type of Activity that will be created when you double-click on any of the Calendar views.
  11. Click Save.

The above two tabs have been covered but there are other User Options as well such as General/Search, Group, Change Password, and Opportunities tabs that appear when you start the Sage SalesLogix Web Client application. Below is a brief description of those categories:

  • General/Search Options
    Use the General/Search tab to specify such settings as which view opens by default when you first log into Sage SalesLogix Web Client, and who to use as the default owner for any new records you create. You can also set options for using Mail Merge, although these will not be visible unless you selected the “Use ActiveMail” check box when you logged in.
  • Group Options
    The Group Options view display your personal preference settings for Main Views, Default Groups, and Grid Options such as auto resizing columns to prevent horizontal scrolling. These options only apply when the user is logged on to the Web Client.
  • Changing a Password
    You have the ability to change your password through the User Options in the Web Client. Once you have made the changes you want, you must log off and then log on again for the changes to take effect.
  • Opportunity Options
    Use the Opportunities tab to specify default attributes for any new opportunities that you enter into the Sage SalesLogix Web Client. The Opportunity Options view displays the settings for the user who is logged on. These options are only applicable for that specific user in the Web Client.

Editing User Options in Sage SalesLogix Web allows you to modify personal preferences so you can work in an environment that better suits your needs and allow each user to work as effectively as possible in the Sage SalesLogix customer relationship management (CRM) environment.

If you would like to learn more about Editing Activity and Calendar User Options or have another CRM article that you would like us to write about please contact Simplesoft Solutions, Inc. in one of our Cincinnati, OH or Chicago, IL surrounding area office locations:

Dayton, Ohio Office:
Simplesoft Solutions, Inc.
550 N. Main St. Suite A
Springboro, OH 45066
Phone: (937) 885-1204 x 3204
Fax: (937) 885-3580
sales@simplesoft.net

Chicago, Illinois Office:
Simplesoft Solutions, Inc.
950 N. Rand Rd. #123
Wauconda, IL 60084

Comment on this Post

Easy as 1-2-3: E-mailing Notes and History from SalesLogix

June 2nd, 2010 by Arminta

On many occasions I have found the need to e-mail the details of a SalesLogix History item to a client, or other non-SalesLogix user. This is something that can be done quickly and easily, if you know how! Just follow the three easy yet simple steps below.

image
Step 1: Browse to the correct Account/Contact/Opportunity.

Step 2: Select the History record to e-mail.

Step 3: Click the E-mail button!

The resulting e-mail is populated automatically and is pulled up as an MS Outlook draft. Just add your recipients and select send!

image

This is a quick way to share Sage SalesLogix Notes and history with other people!

Comment on this Post

Comtemplating the Sage Insights 2010 Conference and Sneak Peak the Future of Sage SalesLogix

May 28th, 2010 by Mike Pothast

Last week in Denver, Sage hosted its annual Insights partner conference. As always, Simplesoft Solutions was in attendance and this year was represented by President, Don Menrisky and I.   Traditionally, Insights provides many of the third party software solution vendors a way to showcase what’s new and exciting, and this year’s conference was no different. We saw some valuable tools and add-ons to help drive value for our customers and serve their customer’s better. However we felt the true excitement came from Sage and the company’s plans for the future of SalesLogix.  We are pleased with their roadmap and vision. 

Insights Conference 2010

Insights Conference 2010

 

I thought I would provide a “preview” of what’s coming over the next year in part.  Sage has several releases planned with the release of  Sage SalesLogix v7.5.3, due in the next 60 days, and version 8.0 in the first quarter of 2011.  And I’m sure you have heard about the new “cloud” offering as they partner with Amazon EC2 to offer a SaaS version of SalesLogix. What does this mean for you? It means  lot of really valuable functionality, which will continue to set SalesLogix apart as the leading innovative CRM tool in the marketplace and extend the capabilities of the tools.  Here’s a preview of what you can expect: 

Sage SalesLogix v7.5.3

  • Includes new web analytics and dashboard reporting tools designed to be easily created at the user level. Charts, graphs, and group lists are a few of the user-created options for user driven productivity.
  • Browser agnostic Desktop Integrations (Think SendSLX and Drag and Drop using FireFox etc.)  
  • Web administration – previously handled in the Application Administrator, a LAN based tool. Web administration will simplify the process of managing users, roles, teams & security and other vital features for SLX web users.  (Think remote administration without RDP access.)
  • v7.5.3 due to be released in the cloud in the June/July timeframe, and available to on-premise deployments in late July or August.

 Sage SalesLogix v8.0

  • New user interface for both the LAN and Web clients, more closely matched to each other.
  • Increased focus on easing critical usability functions, including:
    • Contextual menus
    • Activity and calendar management
    • Note recording and viewing (split form to match LAN client)
    • Inserting contacts and accounts
  • Quick editing of forms to add and edit forms, with no need to build and redeploy to users
  • v8.0 expected in Q1 2011

In addition to these client enhancements, a completely re-designed Mobile Client is expected by Q1 2011 as well. This new version has been designed to roll seamlessly across any mobile platform using an HTML 5 browser, including the iPhone, Android and most new Windows and BlackBerry devices. Sage provided a link during the conference to preview the new environment, and we are very excited about what we have tested. 

Finally, we are excited about the strategic direction Sage has taken to include more Connected Services, which we believe to be critical to the ongoing success of SalesLogix. The first release of this effort of this strategic plan has come in the form of Sage SalesLogix E-Marketing, released this month. In the near future, we can expect to see integrations to Hoovers, as well as other commonly used and valuable business resources extended through web services. 

As our relationship with Sage SalesLogix grows, so does our continued commitment to our customers.   I wanted to send the entire Sage team a big thanks for hosting another successful Insights conference.  We have so much to share with our customers back in Ohio.  The next Sage conference will be Sage Summit 2011 in Washington DC. 

If you’d like to preview Sage SalesLogix v7.5.3 in the cloud you can start a 30 day free trial. E-mail us at sales@simplesoft.net or call us today at 937-885-1204 x 3210.

Comment on this Post

Simplesoft meets Dayton Business Spotlight and says “Thanks”

May 13th, 2010 by Janetta

We recently had the opportunity to meet Phil Herzing and the folks at Dayton Business Spotlight  in our office at Simplesoft Solutions.  They chose Simplesoft Solutions as the latest business they wanted to interview and highlight in their Spotlight series and we would like to tell others what a great service they are providing the Dayton business community. They spend their time and resources visiting businesses in the greater Dayton area to learn more about why those businesses have chosen Dayton as their home. They know that Dayton has a long history of innovation and promotes an entrepreneurial culture and, as a result, are doing their part to communicate their belief in the strength of the area and its strong heritage and future.

Don Menrisky, the President and Managing Partner of Simplesoft Solutions, had the opportunity to speak with Phil about why he believes the Dayton region is an ideal place for his Customer Relationship Management (CRM) consulting firm. They discussed Simplesoft Solutions’ relationship with Sage as a valued added reseller of their Sage CRM applications, and how our strongest marketing source for new clients is through our relationship with current clients and their referrals.

Thanks so much Phil, Jeff, and Aaron. Come back and visit us anytime!

1 Comment - Click here to join the Discussion!

The Flexibility of Sage SalesLogix

April 23rd, 2010 by Paul

Here are a few of my favorite flexible Sage SalesLogix ideas

The flexibility of Sage SalesLogix means you have liberty and freedom.  What types of choices and liberty do you mean?  I am glad you asked.

  • Customizations

 Sage SalesLogix offers powerful options for customizing the applications.  You can use the scripting engine to customize.  You can use built-in configureable options like contact processes, sales processes, and pick lists as easy as clicking a button without being a programmer.  If you have the skills or resources available you can even use custom coding and .NET Extensions.  Overall the limitations are few and mostly centered around imagination and practical budget.  One of the common approaches is the incremental development approach or sometimes called phased approach to deploying customizations over time and measuring the return and the impact to both the end users and the customer results.  These customizations offer customers choice and helps deflect the round hole and square peg approach of some CRM tools.  Smart customers today demand flexible tools.  Most companies want their software to work the way their business operates, not changing the business to fit the software.  Sage SalesLogix allows you to be creative and build customizations affordably your way.

  • Territory Realignments

 One of the “smart idea” tools built in to SalesLogix is the ability to slice and dice the data.  The built in administrative tool allows for easy changes in Account Management and territory changes.   I am sure that sales representatives never switch companies or territories almost never change.  But when they do get altered, it is great to be able to accommodate those adjustments in business software.

  • Bundles

Sage SalesLogix has the ability to pull customizations, also known as plugins, out of the database and be saved into a portable format called a SalesLogix bundle (*.sxb) file.  Why is this smart?  Well on two fronts.  It helps the customer to make changes in SalesLogix and test the outcome without impacting production.  You might call this a “sand box” or development/test environment.  Once these changes are fit for production (QA) then they can be bundled up and moved to production without having to recreate them from scratch.  This saves time, energy, and money.  On the second front, bundles allow for smart people to create clever modifications to SalesLogix and share them either for free or for a fee with multiple SalesLogix systems.  This is another example of choice that the right Sage foundation has provided.  Don’t you just love open systems with flexibility.  You can keep bundles private as your competitive edge or share them with the world, but this is your choice.

  • Deployment

 The next three items go hand-in-hand, but are separated out because of some unique value that Sage SalesLogix provides.   You can deploy the way your users want to work with SalesLogix.  You can deploy on-premise or off premise (SaaS) for starters.  Sage SalesLogix has always had the option of being hosted in a data center.  That is not anything new, but few have done so in the past.  With the on premise, the options run the gamut.  You can choose to be LAN (Local Area Network) only.  Note:  This is the primary “live or real-time” directly connected to the database option.    You can also use Terminal Services or Citrix or hosted LAN deployments.  Nothing new here, but it is great to have options, eh?  In addition, you can opt for browser-based users using a portal.  (This is a rapidly growing choice by companies) This can be deployed inside your firewall locally or outside (Internet).  Your option and your freedom.   (I feel like I am getting warmed up on deployment!) 

Now another alternative is concerning those users who are outside your company roaming accross the planet.  There are “disconnected” systems for those remote users.  You can use remote clients with a slice of the main host, using MS SQL Express, or you can use remote office for a group of LAN users who work off of one big remote client as direct connected users.  There is also the option of “disconnected” browser based clients.    The options don’t end with these choices.  All the options above are OR options.  You don’t have to pick one deployment option and if you wish you can work with them all.

Sage SalesLogix Deployment Options

Next, what if I don’t want the infrastructure in my IT data center at all?  Another popular option is hosted, which comes in three flavors.  SalesLogix Cloud, a data center hosting SalesLogix only, and a data center hosting your whole infrastructure remotely (we call this the Green Office Option).    The SalesLogix Cloud is mainly for the web client only deployment option using Amazon Web Services.  Very slick!  The data center hosting SalesLogix can be for any client type but mostly remote or hosted via Terminal Services.  And the last option is for the whole integrated infrastructure for your CRM tool set (think Exchange and Sharepoint, and SalesLogix etc more of a IaaS option).  You get to decide.  You have the freedom. You are the customer.   Unlike some Customer Relationship Management tools that box in your decisions to only browser based decisions and are only SaaS deployments.  Today, you may desire to have more options than that if you need them.

Oops, I didn’t even talk about SalesLogix Mobile Client or SalesLogix Disconnected Web Client options which have existed for years.  Maybe another time.

Client Types

Network, remote, web, and mobile users

Freedom To Work Anywhere

The deployment option selected usually impacts the client types that are available.  If you are choosing to move SalesLogix out of your data center, then maybe you are a low customization needs shop and want to use  browser based access.  (Although, the browser based option can be heavily customized)  You have only one basic option then, the Web client.  Then your decision is where to deploy inside your campus or published to the internet or hosted in the Amazon infrastructure as SalesLogix Cloud.    If you wanted an application on your desktop, then you can virtualize the application, using (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure)VDI technology, or have it installed local, or even use thin multi-user technologies like Terminal Services across the web.  Most desktop deployments use either remote or network installed software.  The trending movement has been toward the Internet based toolset for many years.  The point is that you can work from anywhere now!   I like the idea of working from the deck with my feet kicked up with a broadband internet connection or even in a field enjoying the great outdoors.  Feel the untethered freedom of the wind whipping through your hair?

These are just a few of the areas that I believe makes SalesLogix a vastly superior tool for the flexibility that it brings to the CRM marketplace and the many features that are designed with the user at heart.  As a Sage SalesLogix business partner, we would love to share the options that will work for your company and your situation on your terms.

“We want to get it done as quickly and inexpensively with as much creativity and flexibility as we can have.”
Andrew Johnson (American President)

Comment on this Post

Recent Sage SalesLogix 7.5 Web Implementation Success

February 19th, 2010 by Janetta

Press releases are usually written to let the business community know about important news information.  I tend to write them only when our customers are extremely complementary and/or we are bursting with pride.   In our development work with Sage SalesLogix, we have created many new main views (you developers will know what I mean) but this customization work for Best Upon Request is quite distinctive.  We really bordered on developing a mini accounting application inside of Sage SalesLogix this time.

  • Kyle, our lead web developer for Sage SalesLogix, really excelled on this custom project! He combined Best Upon Request’s Docket business logic and calculations and made the initiative become reality.
  • Arminta, our data guru and business analyst, brought countless variations in transactions/calculations into one central main view that frankly made my head spin when I started discussing this project with them nearly 2 years ago.
  • Paul worked his deployment and training magic for this client by working closely with their IT infrastructure consultant and SalesLogix Administrator.
  • While overseeing the whole project, Patti kept the internal staff focused on deadlines and Best Upon Request was complementary of the communication and updates during the project.

Anyway, enough about what we did to serve our Sage SalesLogix customer.  Please read about this great client and their concierge services business.

 

BURlogo

Read more about the Sage SalesLogix decision at Best Upon Request Corporate, Inc.  

Comment on this Post

Simplesoft Hits the CRM Blog World

February 19th, 2010 by Janetta

The executive, technical, sales and marketing gang at Simplesoft in both Dayton, Ohio and Chicago, Illinois would like to welcome you to our latest endeavor of publishing good content via our Blog.  We would like this platform to be a place where you can find useful information that can be acted upon easily.

The Simplesoft blog will be centered around Sage CRM solutions, Sales, Customer Service, and Marketing processes, and general CRM topics. We would love for you to get to know our employees and their special areas of interest and knowledge.  We want to share our knowledge and help your company grow your Sage CRM solution whether that be ACT! by Sage, SageCRM, SageCRM.com, or Sage SalesLogix.

Let us know when we have written something that helps you, add your own insights into the topics, and sign up to receive notification of new postings. The sincere intention is to keep our articles designed with our customers and prospects at heart with engaging content and some of it will be purely for sharing an experience.

Thanks for joining us and we look forward to connecting with you real soon.

Comment on this Post

Simplesoft Solutions Bottom
Register | Log in