Every year since 2005, ACT! has released a new network version each September with the web version about a month later. If history is any indication of the future, ACT! 2010 should be released within the next 60 days. So what does this mean to you? Well, if you’re like me you’ll ask yourself the same old questions: What’s all the hype about? Why should I upgrade? Do I really need to do this and if so why?
Before continuing, allow me explain my philosophy about software upgrades. I generally don’t like installing initial releases. I prefer to wait until the ‘early adopters’ test it out, report the bugs and ACT! released the first patch or update, UNLESS:
(a) I want or need the features in the new version (this is something that happens to me more often than not)
(b) My existing installation is unstable (ACT! 2009, 11.1 is working well for us)
The following are the key benefits of ACT! 2010 for existing ACT! users. If any of the below features look valuable to you, then you’re an upgrade candidate. Otherwise, if it’s not broken don’t’ fix it until you have to. What I mean by “you have to” is ACT! 2007 and early versions are no longer available and ACT! 2008 will likely be discontinued in October, 2009. Maybe you’ll need more licenses for an obsolete version. Perhaps you are replacing PC’s, a server or upgrading to Microsoft Office 2007 and there are compatibility issues. When this happens, it’ll be upgrade time regardless!
- ACT! E-marketing
What is currently known as Swiftpage E-Marketing will be a part of the ACT! 2010, albeit a limited use account (aka free for some period of time with a daily send limit before having to pay a monthly usage fee). For those of you who are not familiar with Swiftpage, it’s an e-mail and drip marketing solution. It generates actionable demand with end-to-end e-marketing that intelligently and automatically reaches out to your ACT! contacts and delivers results right to the ACT! Contact Record, saving you money by helping you focus on the right customers and making more money with your existing clients. I know this because we’ve used Swiftpage for years and it has worked VERY WELL for my company. - New Opportunities and Detail view
The opportunities are now separate entities like Contacts, Company and Group records, making them more flexible than in the past. ACT! 2010 provides the ability to add fields, customize products and services, personalize layouts, and track activities and history. Tailor opportunities to fit your selling model with redesigned sales tracking functionality that allows you to enhance the way you manage leads. - New Dashboards and Reports
There are 9 new dashboards, 13 new reports, and a streamlined Reports view and for anyone who creates custom reports, there is a new connector for third-party report writers. - Calendar Invitations
Finally ACT! 2010 works seamlessly with non-ACT! users! Send calendar invitations and contacts from ACT! to leading e-mail solutions, like Gmail™, Apple® iCal®, Windows Live™, and Microsoft® Outlook®. - Web 2.0
And finally, you can take advantage of leading-edge Web 2.0 technology that automatically integrates profiles and data from LinkedIn®, Facebook, Google Maps™, and more with ACT! for instant knowledge about your customers. - Updated Look and Feel
There’s the newly designed look of ACT! with proven easier to learn and use navigation, instant access to search, related tasks, big “easy” buttons, and the new Welcome page.
If you think ACT 2010 may be right for you and would like to see a demo, you can sign up for free sessions in August and September at http://www.thecrmconnection.com/ACTRoadShow2009.htm
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
John – your description of what to consider when evaluating whether to upgrade at a particular point or not is spot on.
Too often small business leaders make a jump – or for that matter – decide to stay put for too long, thereby risking their invaluable internal sales intelligence – for the wrong reasons.
Your comments really help to cut to the chase.
M Scott Schaffernoth
Act! Certified Consultant
Saleslogix Certified Developer
Winnovative Technology Consulting, LLC
InsideSmallBizCRM.Winnovative.com
We aquired ACT 11 a few months back and the biggest let down was not being able to mail non ACT licence holders ia our OUTLOOK email client – I have over 4 people I need to communicate activites to – who will never interact or interogate ou ACT database – i.e. ‘needs to know’ only – 2010 will faclitate this????
Also, will it allow us to export data to EXCEL? – Another frustration with the current version – limitiations on exporting MY data. Please answer if you’re able ….
Hi Maxine,
With ACT! 2010, version 12, you can easily send Outlook Calendar invitations when scheduling an activity. All you have to do is click a box to initiate the creation of the calendar invitation. You then review it and click send. ACT! 2010 can also be set to schedule activities from Outlook Calendar invitations you receive.
You can also export field level data including user records and your My Record data.
John Kaufman
The CRM Connection
http://www.thecrmconnection.com