Macworld Forums: CRM for Mac??? - Macworld Forums

Hello,

I'm from WiredContact, a web-based CRM. We've never really marketed our product to Mac users. A huge majority of our customers are Windows users. I'm looking for help from Mac users in a few areas; any response is helpful.

1- What CRM does your company currently use? Is your company fully Mac, fully Windows, or both?

2- What's the best way to reach out to Mac-based companies and let them know about our product? Are there trade shows or showcase opportunities we don't know about?

I appreciate any response, thanks for your time. I'm not trying to advertise here or solicit potential customers. I am merely trying to research the possibilities for entering the market of Mac users in need of a CRM.

Eric Rudofker
WiredContact Worldwide
www.wiredcontact.com

curious..

will your web based CRM stay functional with the Safari web browser.
that would make a world of difference knowing that answer ahead of time.
I don't mean "mostly" and i don't mean "use firefox" or some other browser.

I know "technically" a web based app shouldn't care which.
reality is most do care and either don't work or some functionality is lost.

so get your programing guru's sit down with a Mac and run your web app with Safari and come back with either the same number of bugs you get with a Windows browser or perhaps even fewer.

also, your site manager can give you a list of what browsers are being used on your site. are Mac users currently using your app with no problems?


not being critical here... just askin a couple up front questions that I promise you will be asked by anyone getting ready to shell out some cash to save some cash.

i would be VERY interested in your product. I am desperately searching for the right preferable web based CRM that will work with my almost all mac office. the almost meaning i need it to work with windows as well. my main concerns are syncing with mac address book, ical, and mail as well as outlook. this has been a painful process and i have tried a few with no luck. it seems the CRM is either designed for one or the other and i have had no luck finding one that fits both. my office is almost completely mac but i will have a windows user here and there.

thanks

I would be interested as well. We are very small (5-8 people) but spread throughout the US. I am the only Mac user, the others are Win XP or Vista. And we all travel a lot.

Thanks for the suggestions up top.

I know this isn't the forum to do this, but in response to those last two posts, I encourage you to check out the links below. I use the software with Safari and have not experienced any difficulties. Please feel free to email if you need some more information.

http://www.wiredcont...om/features.htm <-- Brief overview of some of the features
http://wiredcontact....ise/demos2.html <-- Sign up for a free 30-minute demo
http://71.185.44.43/wirede <-- Actually use a functioning demo database.

Eric Rudofker
WiredContact Worldwide
eric@wiredcontact.com

DID you get a response and an answer?

Erick, The fact that there are not many options out there for Mac Users is one of the reasons Macs dont seem to get a foothold in the enterprise. If your solution is completely web based, that would be a great opener for the Mac Market. One other company has seriously entered the Mac CRM Market, but they are unrealistically expensive for small businesses. There are a host of FileMaker Pro developers out there who will make custom CRM solutions and that seems to be the way to go for many Mac companies.
Web based CRM, can be a great tool, and as I am sure you know, ACT was originally for the MAC, then went to Windows exclusively. Because the timing for the mac has never been better for CRM apps as more businesses are getting fed up with Windows, a foothold into the CRM for Mac market is there as an opportunity.
My first goal would be to get the word out through MacWorld and start small. Build it as demand builds. The Mac is being held back by greedy developers, cut us loose.... Now is the time... Give us a CRM worthy of your company's name!

Thanks,
Rick B

Hi Eric,

In the UK office we've had a few calls from the regional Mac User Groups, they've been passing out our details and I have to say the response has been warmly received from the members.

I recall when they had ACT! for MAC until Symantec withdrew it.

Anything we can do to help you only have to ask

regards

Paul
PS How's "Peanuts"

Regarding advertizing,
MacWorld magazine is the top. Also Mac Addict... Business leading magazines like business world, Time, Newsweek, USA today, etc.

WiredContact, on 11 March 2008 - 09:45 AM, said:

Hello, I am a longtime PC guy and have used ACT! for many many years. I am a solo financial planner with two offices, laptop, and an assistant. I have been frustrated over the years not being able to easily and consistently sync my database. I have been migrating to MAC for the ease of use and quick boot time, and was hoping to use the push technology and cloud technology to get what I have craved for.

Unfortunately, I am still left wanting. Daylite so far seems the closest but it uses a server and I'm hearing I may need a VPN so Im not sure that will work for me.

If anyone could create/develop a secure consistent CRM for multiple access with push/cloud technology you would have the world eating from your hand.

Marty

martya001, on 01 October 2009 - 03:57 PM, said:

Can anyone suggest any affordable CRM web apps for a small business that also do project management and billing?

WiredContact, on 11 March 2008 - 09:45 AM, said:

Good approach.

I "use" a standalone Mac CRM app called Relationship. I put "use" in quotes because I own it but I haven't needed to really use it much. It seems to be one of the more popular shareware CRM apps for the Mac, but there are many more, both shareware and commercial:
http://search.macupd...ords=crm&os=mac

You'll probably want to start by looking at "Now" and "Daylite" and the aforementioned "Relationship." Now has been around for many years, Marketcircle's Daylite is kind of the new kid on the block.

As for "trade shows," the big one is MacWorld in San Fran, which is in February this year. This is no longer an officially-endorsed Apple show, but it's the best place to meet dozens of small, medium and large-scale developers and Mac companies. There are similar shows in Paris and Tokyo and London, though I'm not sure they are done every single year.

A web-based app aimed at Mac users could work well, since most Mac companies are not 100% solidly Mac (you need a couple of PCs around for kicking and general abuse, right?) . But Mac users are pretty demanding: for an example of a web-based suite of apps that works well with Mac users, check out the Apple web site's videos about MobileMe, or check out Photoshop.com. Any web app is going to need to be that level of quality to fly with Mac users IMHO.