90 Minds Community

Nothing better than waking up to an email like this out of the clear blue...
"Could help us get CRM set up in SAGE? I am tasking Tracey & Katie with the setup of this project. Tracey will be the lead on this. Let me know if you need my assistance and if there are some resources for best practices using this product."


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Beth Bowers
Mom to Peanut, ChiChi, Canton, Cagney and Daisy (I miss you, Sammy)
Tennessee Software Solutions
(269) 358-0989
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Gotta had it to Sage for their super effective marketing programs.....  Let's give all users a free user license for this great software program that requires just a tad bit of set up and training from a knowledgeable reseller....

From one of my clients recently.  Jeff - Could you call my buddy/customer Bob.  They have Sage 100 and would like to talk to you about some reporting.  They can't believe my stories about how powerful Sage 100 can be.....  Hi Bob, Ron asked me to give you a call.  What version of Sage are you using?  Sage 100........ Contractor...  Thank you Sage for the marketing clarity........

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Jeff Schwenk
Bottomline Software, Inc.
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Shout out to all the office managers, operations managers and designated ( but untrained ) internal IT administrators who make wholesale changes to their security or Office 365 options and then: 

1. No, absolutely nothing changed
2. Sage is awful
3. Oh, yeah. Now I remember
   
   
   

I've seen this with IT making changes to security on printers, O365 authentication to allow/disallow SMTP, requiring MFA ( which then may require an app specific password). The list goes on and on.

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Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT
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"If it looks like software, then our IT people should be able to handle it" is the attitude, conscious or subconscious, of way too many executives. I really don't think that is going to change. This a corollary to another one held by too many CEOs, "I just need a great salesperson/manager and my sales will be ok." Both of these completely ignore the importance of processes to support the effort. 

I came from the CRM world. It is a completely different beast than ERP/accounting systems for many reasons. It is inescapably different. I'm quite sure that @Beth Bowers did what all of us should do when we get a note like this: call the sender for a 20-minute discussion of what they want CRM to accomplish, and why they've chosen to do this NOW. Then explain that nobody succeeds with any CRM unless the people interacting with it, directly or indirectly, have been properly involved, trained, and motivated. If this is just because executives want reports, IT WILL NOT SUCCEED.

Then call @Dan Cousins and explain the situation and see if he can help.

Frustrating as it is, a note like this really is an opportunity to help a customer get more from their Sage 100 system ... and from you!​  Just be sure you get paid for your advice and due diligence. ​

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Jerry Norman
At-Large BOD Member, 90 Minds
Smartbridge Partners
(512) 653-7498
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-13-2022 09:01
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: Clients - can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em

Shout out to all the office managers, operations managers and designated ( but untrained ) internal IT administrators who make wholesale changes to their security or Office 365 options and then:

1. No, absolutely nothing changed
2. Sage is awful
3. Oh, yeah. Now I remember
   
   
   

I've seen this with IT making changes to security on printers, O365 authentication to allow/disallow SMTP, requiring MFA ( which then may require an app specific password). The list goes on and on.

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT
------------------------------

Jerry,


You "buried the lead"

Just be sure you get paid for your advice and due diligence. ​

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-13-2022 09:27
From: Jerry Norman
Subject: Clients - can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em

"If it looks like software, then our IT people should be able to handle it" is the attitude, conscious or subconscious, of way too many executives. I really don't think that is going to change. This a corollary to another one held by too many CEOs, "I just need a great salesperson/manager and my sales will be ok." Both of these completely ignore the importance of processes to support the effort.

I came from the CRM world. It is a completely different beast than ERP/accounting systems for many reasons. It is inescapably different. I'm quite sure that @Beth Bowers did what all of us should do when we get a note like this: call the sender for a 20-minute discussion of what they want CRM to accomplish, and why they've chosen to do this NOW. Then explain that nobody succeeds with any CRM unless the people interacting with it, directly or indirectly, have been properly involved, trained, and motivated. If this is just because executives want reports, IT WILL NOT SUCCEED.

Then call @Dan Cousins and explain the situation and see if he can help.

Frustrating as it is, a note like this really is an opportunity to help a customer get more from their Sage 100 system ... and from you!​  Just be sure you get paid for your advice and due diligence. ​

------------------------------
Jerry Norman
At-Large BOD Member, 90 Minds
Smartbridge Partners
(512) 653-7498
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 07-13-2022 09:01
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: Clients - can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em

Shout out to all the office managers, operations managers and designated ( but untrained ) internal IT administrators who make wholesale changes to their security or Office 365 options and then:

1. No, absolutely nothing changed
2. Sage is awful
3. Oh, yeah. Now I remember
   
   
   

I've seen this with IT making changes to security on printers, O365 authentication to allow/disallow SMTP, requiring MFA ( which then may require an app specific password). The list goes on and on.

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT

Thanks for the shout-out Jerry, and I agree with you that defining the objectives is a critical first step. 

My response (short version) to 'what are best practices' includes:

1. Ensure the system is set up to do something that can't be done elsewhere. This eliminates adoption issues.
   Example A = All customer service issues (complaints) are strictly managed in Sage CRM.
   Example B = Department B will only respond to requests from Department A if such requests are made through Sage CRM.
   
   *If the strategy relies on discipline, the system will suck and the customer will invariably receive limited return on their investment.
   
   
2. Use the Outlook integration (Accelerator). It makes using Sage CRM much easier.
3. Have some form of initial basic training period before getting into some of the more advanced features that Sage CRM offers. NOTE - since introducing our Quick Start Implementation Package last August, we have had 12-companies start this way - and NONE of them have failed. It also shortens your sales cycle and makes it easier for people to do business with you. It is crazy that it took me so long (17+ years) before operating this way. Don't be crazy!
   
   

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Dan Cousins (416) 233-9049
My CRM Manager
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-13-2022 09:27
From: Jerry Norman
Subject: Clients - can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em

"If it looks like software, then our IT people should be able to handle it" is the attitude, conscious or subconscious, of way too many executives. I really don't think that is going to change. This a corollary to another one held by too many CEOs, "I just need a great salesperson/manager and my sales will be ok." Both of these completely ignore the importance of processes to support the effort.

I came from the CRM world. It is a completely different beast than ERP/accounting systems for many reasons. It is inescapably different. I'm quite sure that @Beth Bowers did what all of us should do when we get a note like this: call the sender for a 20-minute discussion of what they want CRM to accomplish, and why they've chosen to do this NOW. Then explain that nobody succeeds with any CRM unless the people interacting with it, directly or indirectly, have been properly involved, trained, and motivated. If this is just because executives want reports, IT WILL NOT SUCCEED.

Then call @Dan Cousins and explain the situation and see if he can help.

Frustrating as it is, a note like this really is an opportunity to help a customer get more from their Sage 100 system ... and from you!​  Just be sure you get paid for your advice and due diligence. ​

------------------------------
Jerry Norman
At-Large BOD Member, 90 Minds
Smartbridge Partners
(512) 653-7498
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 07-13-2022 09:01
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: Clients - can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em

Shout out to all the office managers, operations managers and designated ( but untrained ) internal IT administrators who make wholesale changes to their security or Office 365 options and then:

1. No, absolutely nothing changed
2. Sage is awful
3. Oh, yeah. Now I remember
   
   
   

I've seen this with IT making changes to security on printers, O365 authentication to allow/disallow SMTP, requiring MFA ( which then may require an app specific password). The list goes on and on.

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT