Seasoned Outlook user/New to BCM - Drowning Please Help Terri 2/5/2007 6:21:02 PM I use Outlook extensively. I am in sales and was looking for the easiest and most effecient way to keep up with my contacts and the sales process. BCM was suggested and included in my purchase. I installed it and opened outlook and I still have my normal contacts in tact - yeah. I see the BCM Accounts and Contacts. I understand Accounts are for active customers and contacts are ????? I have looked at tutorials, read info on the internet, exported my data to a spread sheet then reimported it back to BCM accounts and contacts. I noticed something was wrong when I went into the address field and changed a small detail in the BCM account view and then looked into the same outlook contact and there was no change nor was their a change in the BCM contact view. All changes in one view are not seen in each view. Am I not understanding something?? Also, I sinc to my Palm operating system. If I use BCM am I going to have to add customers or prospects in all 3 locationn? I need quick and easy - if this is not for me and I should just use my current outlook only system please tell me now and I will not be wasting my time.... My impression was that I would be using BCM like I use outlook but with more options available that are helpful for sales people. Thanks!!!

RE: Seasoned Outlook user/New to BCM - Drowning Please Help Terri 2/5/2007 8:25:00 PM It's me again, I sounded a little bit confusing. Let me try again. Is BCM going to give me more options that Outlook alone? Is it a different program inside of Outlook? Why can't I make a change in the address in one area and the change not show up in all areas? I feel that everything is not linked together - am I correct? I have read through some of the questions and comments and some said I needed updates - I did as many of those as I could. Some said that I will not be able to sync BCM info. That's fine as long as I can still update outlook and sync. But if I update outlook is the changes and additions going to show in BCM? When I first installed, there was no wizzard as some suggested. Should I reinstall? Please, help me I do not have a lot of time to waste on this type of office work. I need to be out in the field making contacts. Hope I am not confusing. I like the idea and the idea of getting reports. Hoping this will help. "Terri" wrote: [Quoted Text] > I use Outlook extensively. I am in sales and was looking for the easiest and > most effecient way to keep up with my contacts and the sales process. BCM was > suggested and included in my purchase. I installed it and opened outlook and > I still have my normal contacts in tact - yeah. I see the BCM Accounts and > Contacts. I understand Accounts are for active customers and contacts are > ????? I have looked at tutorials, read info on the internet, exported my data > to a spread sheet then reimported it back to BCM accounts and contacts. I > noticed something was wrong when I went into the address field and changed a > small detail in the BCM account view and then looked into the same outlook > contact and there was no change nor was their a change in the BCM contact > view. All changes in one view are not seen in each view. Am I not > understanding something?? Also, I sinc to my Palm operating system. If I use > BCM am I going to have to add customers or prospects in all 3 locationn? I > need quick and easy - if this is not for me and I should just use my current > outlook only system please tell me now and I will not be wasting my time.... > My impression was that I would be using BCM like I use outlook but with more > options available that are helpful for sales people. Thanks!!!

RE: Seasoned Outlook user/New to BCM - Drowning Please Help "mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com" <u8453[ at ]uwe> 2/5/2007 9:45:16 PM Terri, BCM is a SQL dababase add-in to Outlook. Both programs share the same Outlook user interface in order to "appear" that they are the same. However, they use separate data storage. The contacts data in Outlook is an entirely separate store from Business Contacts in BCM. Outlook native data is kept in your .pst file or on an exchange server if you are networked as such. BCM data is separately stored within a SQL db. Is this an optimal configuration? There are too many arguments both pro & con to go into right now. The bottom line is will BCM meet your needs? From my experience, BCM is more of a customer manager for a small business owner to utilize additional object items to track data. If you are involved in a more typical real-world sales position, you may find some of BCM's design limitations to be frustrating. Your ability to link data objects on a many-to-many basis is restricted. The latest version 3 release of BCM has some very nice UI improvements. The use of BCM is not very intuitive at times in my opinion for someone new but once learned, it is easy to navigate around, etc. I can appreciate that you lack the time to be able to hassle with learning to use software. BCM is the type of app that is kind of stealth and it is not readily apparent until you move into it for a whilests before you can fully determine if it will work for you. The downside to that is if you encounter some limitations that you can't live with, you have to "move-out" your data which is not always easy once you have gone down the road for a while. Without intending to confuse you more, you may conider taking a look at this option found at www.avidian.com. Avidian's Prophet add-in does NOT require a separate contacts database because their SQL constantly maintains an automatic re-write from the Outlook pst contact record. This alone eliminates device synching restrictions that sales people often can't live with. There is so much more to share about this topic but time does not allow right now. Best wishes, -THP Terri wrote: [Quoted Text] >It's me again, I sounded a little bit confusing. Let me try again. Is BCM >going to give me more options that Outlook alone? Is it a different program >inside of Outlook? Why can't I make a change in the address in one area and >the change not show up in all areas? I feel that everything is not linked >together - am I correct? I have read through some of the questions and >comments and some said I needed updates - I did as many of those as I could. >Some said that I will not be able to sync BCM info. That's fine as long as I >can still update outlook and sync. But if I update outlook is the changes and >additions going to show in BCM? When I first installed, there was no wizzard >as some suggested. Should I reinstall? Please, help me I do not have a lot of >time to waste on this type of office work. I need to be out in the field >making contacts. Hope I am not confusing. I like the idea and the idea of >getting reports. Hoping this will help. > >> I use Outlook extensively. I am in sales and was looking for the easiest and >> most effecient way to keep up with my contacts and the sales process. BCM was >[quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >> My impression was that I would be using BCM like I use outlook but with more >> options available that are helpful for sales people. Thanks!!! -- Message posted via OfficeKB.com http://www.officekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/outlook-bcm/200702/1

RE: Seasoned Outlook user/New to BCM - Drowning Please Help Terri 2/5/2007 10:12:00 PM Thank you I have looked into prophet and liked the idea. I may look into it more. I have been playing around with this, and have a better understanding. Taking more tutorials and such. I do not like that I can add a new contact in BCM and not see it in outlook which I sync into my Palm. I realize that I can copy and paste to the other data base which is an option. I will look into that other program further. I feel like BCM may be more that I need. I like the opportunity tracking though I can do some of that by hand or in excel. I just would like it simple and in one place. Thanks!! "mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com" wrote: [Quoted Text] > Terri, > > BCM is a SQL dababase add-in to Outlook. Both programs share the same > Outlook user interface in order to "appear" that they are the same. However, > they use separate data storage. The contacts data in Outlook is an entirely > separate store from Business Contacts in BCM. Outlook native data is kept in > your .pst file or on an exchange server if you are networked as such. BCM > data is separately stored within a SQL db. Is this an optimal configuration? > There are too many arguments both pro & con to go into right now. The bottom > line is will BCM meet your needs? From my experience, BCM is more of a > customer manager for a small business owner to utilize additional object > items to track data. If you are involved in a more typical real-world sales > position, you may find some of BCM's design limitations to be frustrating. > Your ability to link data objects on a many-to-many basis is restricted. The > latest version 3 release of BCM has some very nice UI improvements. The use > of BCM is not very intuitive at times in my opinion for someone new but once > learned, it is easy to navigate around, etc. > > I can appreciate that you lack the time to be able to hassle with learning to > use software. BCM is the type of app that is kind of stealth and it is not > readily apparent until you move into it for a whilests before you can fully > determine if it will work for you. The downside to that is if you encounter > some limitations that you can't live with, you have to "move-out" your data > which is not always easy once you have gone down the road for a while. > Without intending to confuse you more, you may conider taking a look at this > option found at www.avidian.com. Avidian's Prophet add-in does NOT require a > separate contacts database because their SQL constantly maintains an > automatic re-write from the Outlook pst contact record. This alone > eliminates device synching restrictions that sales people often can't live > with. There is so much more to share about this topic but time does not > allow right now. > > Best wishes, > > -THP > > > > > Terri wrote: > >It's me again, I sounded a little bit confusing. Let me try again. Is BCM > >going to give me more options that Outlook alone? Is it a different program > >inside of Outlook? Why can't I make a change in the address in one area and > >the change not show up in all areas? I feel that everything is not linked > >together - am I correct? I have read through some of the questions and > >comments and some said I needed updates - I did as many of those as I could. > >Some said that I will not be able to sync BCM info. That's fine as long as I > >can still update outlook and sync. But if I update outlook is the changes and > >additions going to show in BCM? When I first installed, there was no wizzard > >as some suggested. Should I reinstall? Please, help me I do not have a lot of > >time to waste on this type of office work. I need to be out in the field > >making contacts. Hope I am not confusing. I like the idea and the idea of > >getting reports. Hoping this will help. > > > >> I use Outlook extensively. I am in sales and was looking for the easiest and > >> most effecient way to keep up with my contacts and the sales process. BCM was > >[quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > >> My impression was that I would be using BCM like I use outlook but with more > >> options available that are helpful for sales people. Thanks!!! > > -- > Message posted via OfficeKB.com > http://www.officekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/outlook-bcm/200702/1 > >

RE: Seasoned Outlook user/New to BCM - Drowning Please Help Terri 2/5/2007 10:20:00 PM Let me ask one more thing - Do I under stand this correctly? BCM is like outlook but separate. So If I use BCM only then copy my Business Contacts over into Outlook contacts then I can sync and come back to the office and use my BCM in office and outlook contacts out of office? "mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com" wrote: [Quoted Text] > Terri, > > BCM is a SQL dababase add-in to Outlook. Both programs share the same > Outlook user interface in order to "appear" that they are the same. However, > they use separate data storage. The contacts data in Outlook is an entirely > separate store from Business Contacts in BCM. Outlook native data is kept in > your .pst file or on an exchange server if you are networked as such. BCM > data is separately stored within a SQL db. Is this an optimal configuration? > There are too many arguments both pro & con to go into right now. The bottom > line is will BCM meet your needs? From my experience, BCM is more of a > customer manager for a small business owner to utilize additional object > items to track data. If you are involved in a more typical real-world sales > position, you may find some of BCM's design limitations to be frustrating. > Your ability to link data objects on a many-to-many basis is restricted. The > latest version 3 release of BCM has some very nice UI improvements. The use > of BCM is not very intuitive at times in my opinion for someone new but once > learned, it is easy to navigate around, etc. > > I can appreciate that you lack the time to be able to hassle with learning to > use software. BCM is the type of app that is kind of stealth and it is not > readily apparent until you move into it for a whilests before you can fully > determine if it will work for you. The downside to that is if you encounter > some limitations that you can't live with, you have to "move-out" your data > which is not always easy once you have gone down the road for a while. > Without intending to confuse you more, you may conider taking a look at this > option found at www.avidian.com. Avidian's Prophet add-in does NOT require a > separate contacts database because their SQL constantly maintains an > automatic re-write from the Outlook pst contact record. This alone > eliminates device synching restrictions that sales people often can't live > with. There is so much more to share about this topic but time does not > allow right now. > > Best wishes, > > -THP > > > > > Terri wrote: > >It's me again, I sounded a little bit confusing. Let me try again. Is BCM > >going to give me more options that Outlook alone? Is it a different program > >inside of Outlook? Why can't I make a change in the address in one area and > >the change not show up in all areas? I feel that everything is not linked > >together - am I correct? I have read through some of the questions and > >comments and some said I needed updates - I did as many of those as I could. > >Some said that I will not be able to sync BCM info. That's fine as long as I > >can still update outlook and sync. But if I update outlook is the changes and > >additions going to show in BCM? When I first installed, there was no wizzard > >as some suggested. Should I reinstall? Please, help me I do not have a lot of > >time to waste on this type of office work. I need to be out in the field > >making contacts. Hope I am not confusing. I like the idea and the idea of > >getting reports. Hoping this will help. > > > >> I use Outlook extensively. I am in sales and was looking for the easiest and > >> most effecient way to keep up with my contacts and the sales process. BCM was > >[quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > >> My impression was that I would be using BCM like I use outlook but with more > >> options available that are helpful for sales people. Thanks!!! > > -- > Message posted via OfficeKB.com > http://www.officekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/outlook-bcm/200702/1 > >

RE: Seasoned Outlook user/New to BCM - Drowning Please Help Ed Marmon <unlisted[ at ].com.com> 2/5/2007 11:46:22 PM I read your posts. You seem to be hung up on syncing with outlook contacts, but want to use the added power of the BCM business contacts. Why don't you stop syncing with outlook contacts and not even use the outlook contacts part of the program? http://www.companionlink.com/products/companionlink.html You still use the outlook calendar with BCM, etc., just keep your info only in BCM and sync just the BCM contacts. I think that would solve your bottleneck. =?Utf-8?B?VGVycmk=?= <Terri[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in news:F3DA3640-90BE-4336-88AA-546EBA7D2638[ at ]microsoft.com: [Quoted Text] > Let me ask one more thing - Do I under stand this correctly? BCM is > like outlook but separate. So If I use BCM only then copy my Business > Contacts over into Outlook contacts then I can sync and come back to > the office and use my BCM in office and outlook contacts out of > office? > > "mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com" wrote: > >> Terri, >> >> BCM is a SQL dababase add-in to Outlook. Both programs share the >> same Outlook user interface in order to "appear" that they are the >> same. However, they use separate data storage. The contacts data in >> Outlook is an entirely separate store from Business Contacts in BCM. >> Outlook native data is kept in your .pst file or on an exchange >> server if you are networked as such. BCM data is separately stored >> within a SQL db. Is this an optimal configuration? There are too >> many arguments both pro & con to go into right now. The bottom line >> is will BCM meet your needs? From my experience, BCM is more of a >> customer manager for a small business owner to utilize additional >> object items to track data. If you are involved in a more typical >> real-world sales position, you may find some of BCM's design >> limitations to be frustrating. Your ability to link data objects on a >> many-to-many basis is restricted. The latest version 3 release of >> BCM has some very nice UI improvements. The use of BCM is not very >> intuitive at times in my opinion for someone new but once learned, it >> is easy to navigate around, etc. >> >> I can appreciate that you lack the time to be able to hassle with >> learning to use software. BCM is the type of app that is kind of >> stealth and it is not readily apparent until you move into it for a >> whilests before you can fully determine if it will work for you. The >> downside to that is if you encounter some limitations that you can't >> live with, you have to "move-out" your data which is not always easy >> once you have gone down the road for a while. Without intending to >> confuse you more, you may conider taking a look at this option found >> at www.avidian.com. Avidian's Prophet add-in does NOT require a >> separate contacts database because their SQL constantly maintains an >> automatic re-write from the Outlook pst contact record. This alone >> eliminates device synching restrictions that sales people often can't >> live with. There is so much more to share about this topic but time >> does not allow right now. >> >> Best wishes, >> >> -THP >> >> >> >> >> Terri wrote: >> >It's me again, I sounded a little bit confusing. Let me try again. >> >Is BCM going to give me more options that Outlook alone? Is it a >> >different program inside of Outlook? Why can't I make a change in >> >the address in one area and the change not show up in all areas? I >> >feel that everything is not linked together - am I correct? I have >> >read through some of the questions and comments and some said I >> >needed updates - I did as many of those as I could. Some said that I >> >will not be able to sync BCM info. That's fine as long as I can >> >still update outlook and sync. But if I update outlook is the >> >changes and additions going to show in BCM? When I first installed, >> >there was no wizzard as some suggested. Should I reinstall? Please, >> >help me I do not have a lot of time to waste on this type of office >> >work. I need to be out in the field making contacts. Hope I am not >> >confusing. I like the idea and the idea of getting reports. Hoping >> >this will help. >> > >> >> I use Outlook extensively. I am in sales and was looking for the >> >> easiest and most effecient way to keep up with my contacts and the >> >> sales process. BCM was >> >[quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >> >> My impression was that I would be using BCM like I use outlook but >> >> with more options available that are helpful for sales people. >> >> Thanks!!! >> >> -- >> Message posted via OfficeKB.com >> http://www.officekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/outlook-bcm/200702/1 >> >>

RE: Seasoned Outlook user/New to BCM - Drowning Please Help "mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com" <u8453[ at ]uwe> 2/6/2007 12:54:04 AM Terri, BCM v.3 has been made much more customizable than in the past but the opportunity record remains limited by an ONLY 1 other linked object option. Prophet's opportunity record is the heart of their CRM approach and this feature is extremely customizable and flexible to adapt to many different types of user requirements vs. the more "one-size-fits-all" feature of BCM. -THP Ed Marmon wrote: [Quoted Text] >I read your posts. You seem to be hung up on syncing with outlook >contacts, but want to use the added power of the BCM business contacts. > >Why don't you stop syncing with outlook contacts and not even use the >outlook contacts part of the program? > >http://www.companionlink.com/products/companionlink.html > >You still use the outlook calendar with BCM, etc., just keep your info >only in BCM and sync just the BCM contacts. > >I think that would solve your bottleneck. > >> Let me ask one more thing - Do I under stand this correctly? BCM is >> like outlook but separate. So If I use BCM only then copy my Business >[quoted text clipped - 64 lines] >>> >> with more options available that are helpful for sales people. >>> >> Thanks!!! -- Message posted via OfficeKB.com http://www.officekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/outlook-bcm/200702/1

Re: Seasoned Outlook user/New to BCM - Drowning Please Help "Chris Heydemann [MSFT]" <chrishey[ at ]online.microsoft.com> 2/12/2007 5:29:04 PM Terri, I'm sorry your experience with BCM has been, er, confusing. Forgive me if you've already worked this out, but let me try to clarify... Business Contact Manager is a feature of Outlook. Because so many people use outlook for their mail, integrating your contact management with outlook is natural. BCM is intended to give those involved in sales a single place with which to track and manage their activities. By collecting communication history against Accounts (organizations you do business with) and Business Contacts (people at those organizations), you can track all activity you or otheres in your office have with companies and contacts. BCM allows you to add additional fields (drop downs, check boxes, calendars picker, etc) that matter for your business. BCM also lets you easily send email communications to larger numbers of contacts. As others have pointed out, BCM stores its information in a separate database, and the information appears in a separate folder in Outlook. Frankly, I've heard both great things ("I love to separate my personal and business contacts between Outlook and BCM.") and complaints ("Why do I have two places to store contacts?"). Please let us know whether or not you decide to go with BCM, and why. Thank you, Chris -- This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.