Contact management packages reviewed


Contents
Introduction
 ACCPAC
 Act!
 Coordimax
 GoldMine
 Legrand
 Maximizer
 Specifications
 How we tested
 Editor's choice
 About RMIT
GoldMine 6.5

GoldMine from FrontRange is a contact management product with some sales force components -- such as keeping a record of all activities relating to each contact and analysis of sales. The installation process was very easy and included an automatic recovery of contacts from Outlook. Various other wizards are available upon installation, and later as required; one of these customises screens and document templates to suit certain industries -- specifically financial, insurance, legal, and real estate businesses.

The graphic interface is clear and colourful. Basic tasks have their own toolbar buttons and the menu system provides a wealth of other task and configuration options. GoldMine is a little different from similar products such as Act! in that it uses a multi-window interface to lessen the amount of data visible at any one time. This is good and bad -- there is less distraction for the user, but there may be more window hopping going on. On the other hand independent windows allow the user to place data wherever they desire on the screen.

Data can be imported from Excel, text files, SQL, and Act!6; export is to Excel or text file. Import and export procedures are very easy. Reporting is done via Word and Excel; custom templates can be called up from contact details, establishing ready addressed documents for editing. Creating new contacts could not be easier; a button always available at the left side of the window brings up dialog box where basic details can be recorded. Thereafter, the more detailed customer record screen appears and allows for further details to be added such as other contacts for that company.

GoldMine has its own e-mail client, but Outlook is also supported. Third-party support allows for fax and accounting package integration. There is also Palm Pilot and Windows CE handheld support. It works with dBase and SQL database back-ends.

With regards to product support, FrontRange tell us that it differs by reseller and depends on the type of support required. I'm afraid this doesn't really inspire me with confidence -- choose your reseller carefully. Interestingly, the FrontRange Web-site also indicates that there is free e-mail support and a newsgroup. Presumably the phone support listed there is not applicable in Australia.

FrontRange also have a Web based version called iGoldMine which allows for greater user mobility and centralised administration. Looking to the future, by late 2005 FrontRange plans to launch customer and sales relationship components and marketing components.

Product GoldMine 6.5
Price

AU$379.50 (single user)
AU$1534 (5 users)
AU$2964 (10 users)

Vendor FrontRange Solutions
Phone 02 8080 3300
Web www.frontrange.com.au
 
Interoperability ½
Geared towards Microsoft applications. Supports dBase, SQL and accounting packages.
Futureproofing
GoldMine has a good range of features for smaller businesses.
ROI
A neat package with a small price tag.
Service
Mainly reseller support with no prices indicated; free e-mail support available. No warranty.
Rating
GoldMine 6.5
Click to enlarge

< Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next >
Advertisement

Print feature brought to you by Adobe

Talkback 18 comments

    What about SugarCRM? SugarCRM ...Anonymous -- 18/07/05

    What about SugarCRM?

    SugarCRM is one of the fastest growing CRM/Contact Management systems in the world, and competes directly with many of those systems listed.

    SugarCRM's commercial open-source model clearly differentiates it from the competitors by providing full access to all source-code allowing the system to be easily tailored to suit each customers needs, making it a powerful alternative to an otherwise proprietary and inflexible systems included in the review.

    SugarCRM is commercially supported in Australia by Insightful Solutions, and backed internationally by SugarCRM in the US.

    SugarCRM Australia Aris Margaritis -- 31/05/06 (in reply to #120119285)

    CRM Online Australia is a division of Lumis Multimedia and also partner of SugarCRM, a hosted CRM solution with complete website integration makes SugarCRM the most flexible Customer Relations Management tool that we develop with.

    CD rom Anonymous -- 08/08/05

    hello,
    I have recently purchased an Epson Stylus C65. Since then my computer has crashed, resulting in the loss of all programs and information stored.
    I have not been able to find the original set up CD-Rom which came with the printer. Without this, the printer is worthless. Is there anyway of downloading the necessary software from the net.
    I would appreciate your help.
    thank you

    what about epson australia's website? ZDNet Editor -- 08/08/05 (in reply to #120119956)

    hi there, have you tried epson australia's website?

    http://tech.epson.com.au/downloads/product.asp?id=C65

    ACT 7 Anonymous -- 30/09/05

    Do you work for Sage. This version of a long established product is an abomination. This software completely kills your PC. I run a P4 2.6GB machine and it grinds to a halt when ACT 7 is running. The software is slow, cumbersome and the support service is backing it up is useless. All in all a poor product with poor service. My advice is to shop around for something else.

    I agree bootskef -- 13/10/05 (in reply to #120121551)

    ACT 7 is not much chop so to speak. Act 8 is better

    ACT 2006 is BAD. Anonymous -- 04/11/05

    1. When I upgraded to the new ACT, all 3,500 of my salutations were converted from what I had to the first name--e.g., Susan Smith, salutation, Sue, was changed to Susan--I have spent hours on the phone with them--and they haven't been able to fix it yet. To do mail merges, I will have to go through every record.
    2. the box says it requires 512 mgs ram--but ACT support said it needs 1.5 gigs..I bought more memory.
    3. On top of that, they refuse to escalate in order to solve my problem..
    there are other problems but these are the most important.

    Eats the machine Joel Goldstein -- 14/01/06

    large ringing alarm list will make the entire machine un-usable.
    Puts my 3Ghz 1Gb ram server at constant 52-55% busy, and 50% of this ACT

    AMEN !!! Anonymous -- 14/01/06

    Spent 3 hrs on the phone withj Tech support today... no help. Product working as designed. Admits it has problems.

    BrowserCRM too Matthew Ross -- 06/07/06

    BrowserCRM is an option with much more sophisitced integrated email than Sugar. BrowserCRM is a commercial product priced for small business and supported from Wellington, New Zealand.

    CRM Comparision Anonymous -- 05/02/07

    It would be great to see a more detailed comparison of contact management software solutions. I found a good site which explores the features of the LegrandCRM (GOTO: www.legrandcrm.net.au ) pacakge however a comparision and anlysis of other would be really good.

    Support for SMS and email Michael Joseph -- 15/02/08

    Most of these packages do not provide native messaging support, or are not geared for sending out large message broadcasts. ArcSend (www.arcsend.com) is great for messaging. Also, it has extremely powerful capabilities for selecting contacts based on category and field values.

    Not True Atal Hakikat -- 16/10/08 (in reply to #320095593)

    Infact Sugar CRM has the SKYPE and other similar plugins that allow you to use sms and email messaging.

    Tracker Anonymous -- 03/02/09

    Well... most won't remember Tracker software, but the internet wasn't even born at that point!
    It was a great piece of software.
    I've tried out ACT7... What a piece of BLOATWARE! Brought my computer to a screaming halt!

    Tracker Memorial Hall Anonymous -- 06/02/09 (in reply to #320122212)

    Well, I remember irt ant it was awesome. It has done a great service to me, never matched again. I may still resurect an old PC that has been buried in my garage and find an old 5 1/4 floppy to install it for the sole purpose of contact management. But the problem is the broadband. It worked with my modem and phone fine 20 years ago, now there are ???

    Tracker John Withall -- 15/04/09 (in reply to #320122479)

    Tracker is available & right to the minute with technology. It is written by the same programmers. Check out www.vitalsoftware.net/ for more information.

    Coordimax History? Anonymous -- 25/03/09

    Heard a rumour that the company has gone bust, can anyone confirm?

    Re Coordimax (MaestroSuite Pty Ltd) Anonymous -- 27/03/09 (in reply to #320126702)

    Check out the ASIC website using the about company name. www.asic.gov.au and you will find you're answer

Add your opinion

Back to top

Featured