February 1997 Issue,
copyright 1997, Canada Computer Paper Inc.
Contact manager muscle
Tracking software becomes more
sophisticated and affordable
By Rod Lamirand
Contact-management software uses the computer to track information about
your customers or clients. A job once performed by mainframe and then mini-computers,
the new PC-centric world of local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks
(WANs) has precipitated the evolution of off-the-shelf contact-management
programs, such as the three reviewed below.
These have developed over the past several years, but only in the last year
have they left the old DOS and Windows 3.x world behind and grown to full
32-bit applications. More powerful hardware, the stability and sophistication
of Windows 95 and NT, and the convergence of communications on the personal
computer (phone, fax, Internet) have come together to allow this category
of software to offer very full-service programs at prices unimaginable a
decade ago.
Unlike the personal information manager (PIM), which tries to organize the
individual by closely tying an address book to a calendar, the contact manager
is a specialized database. Contact managers are based on a customer or client
database containing records in the hundreds or even the tens of thousands.
Since a business or individual must keep track of all contact with each
client, contact managers are adept at initiating, performing and tracking
such bread-and-butter tasks as calling, writing, faxing, quoting, mailing,
meeting and reminding.
The main purpose of these programs has been to organize a company to track
sales, thus the programs are also known as sales force automation (SFA)
software. SFA software has been most successful in large corporate environments,
such as airlines, governments and big businesses. The products below have
on their user list companies such as AT&T, Boeing and IBM. However,
due to the burgeoning SOHO (small office/home office) market and very competitive
product prices, the industry is currently wooing the single user as well.
Encroaching on the PIM market, contact software is hoping to usurp both
the vertical market of the Fortune 500 companies (the top 500 most profitable
companies determined by Fortune magazine) and the broad market of
the everyday SOHO user. For these reasons, the newly updated products here
sport more Internet features, such as broadcast emailing and Web page capture,
while at the same time strengthening group editing, meeting and viewing
features.
But don't lament for the PIM makers-they are not sitting on the sidelines
quietly waiting for their market to be eaten up. As reported in the January
issue of The Computer Paper, today's PIMs are more and more powerful
and still have the edge on contact managers for standalone use.
That this is an important and growing area is easily verified by the entrance
into the market of that 800-pound gorilla from Redmond. Microsoft's new
PIM/Contact Manager, Outlook (a replacement of Microsoft Schedule+), is
slated to arrive at the end of January and, comments to the contrary, the
whole field is nervous.
Stephen Brooks, a spokesman for Maximizer, says: "Outlook helps validate
the entire contact-management market sector and there's no doubt that millions
of PC buyers will use the product." He adds, "However, our experience
is that when people outgrow their PIMs and lesser contact managers, they
switch to Maximizer." He concludes with, "The more people who
use computers to organize their lives the better, the odds are that they'll
eventually switch to Maximizer anyway."
Is this just whistling in the dark? Perhaps, but Microsoft would have to
come out with something pretty spectacular to steal market share from these
companies. With all three programs below having released new 32-bit Windows
95/NT versions in the last year, the competition is fierce and the value
is great. Read on to discover who will be The Computer Paper's contact
manager with the most muscle.
Maximizer 95is
From: Maximizer Technologies Inc.
Suggested retail price: $179
Maximizer 95is stands for Maximizer for Windows, Internet Savvy. It is the
newest release from Maximizer Technologies Inc., now a subsidiary of Vancouver-based
MultiActive technology. The program is a very flexible, list-based contact
manager that uses the well-known Btrieve database engine as its database
manager.
The core program is a very sophisticated manager that allows multiple users
access to an extensive database, each in his or her own way. The customizable
views allow everything from contact history and company information to object
links with OLE 2.0 programs such as a photograph or spreadsheet file.
The usual options to make a call or write a letter, send a fax or book a
meeting are here, as are tracking of the time spent on the phone, reminders
for next sales initiative and multiple-user defined fields. The program
has integrated right-click options into almost every possible location,
such that right clicking invariably brings up useful actions. The toolbar
is almost unnecessary due to the ease of navigation that this feature provides.
Three newer features are the MultiActive Eagle Internet database, the Internet
email merge capability and Xpedite fax re-broadcast. MultiActive Eagle is
a database of searchable, online listings of more than 11 million businesses
in the United States and Canada.
Using the software and any Web browser, Maximizer 95is customers can visit
the Eagle site and download contact information based on various criteria.
There is a limited-time offer for free access to a few dozen contacts a
month, for the purposes of evaluating the service, with the option of registering
for full access to the continually updated database. Internet email merge
is a built-in feature of Maximizer 95is that allows the program to send
mass emailings. There is even a feature to default to a fax number for those
clients who do not have email.
Xpedite Faxing is a fax rebroadcast service. Yes, you can send 2,000 faxes
all over the world from Maximizer itself but that would tie up your computer
and telephone for quite a while and the long-distance charges would be extensive.
As well, some faxes would arrive today, some tomorrow and some later than
that. Xpedite uses a worldwide network of phone servers to send the fax
electronically to the area of the telephone number and then faxes locally,
if possible. They can also send thousands of faxes in a few hours and will
send back confirmation of success or failure.
There are many other features, such as the customized defaults that can
be loaded into Maximizer 95is during setup for various businesses. There
are add-ons, such as the database exchange, Maximizer Enterprise to help
plan complex, long-term business contacts, and Business Map LTF, an included
program (limited version) which will place geographical information in a
visual representation on Canadian and American maps.
Overall, this is a program that combines the best of versatility and simplicity.
It is powerful enough to maintain an unlimited number of contacts and intuitive
enough that a little clicking and exploration is all it takes to be up and
running. Maximizer 95is is an excellent contact manager that could easily
be the most expensive here. Fortunately, the price is the best part. Maximizer
is a top-notch application that can go head-to-head with anything on the
market. A must-have program.
Act! Version 3.0
From: Symantec Canada Ltd.
Suggested retail price: $249 ($129 upgrade)
Act! Version 3.0 for Windows 3.x, 95 or NT is the most recently updated
program here. The program is one of the most popular contact managers in
the United States and has a large number of users here in Canada. Until
this new release, Act was falling behind the pack as the other contenders
added new or improved features.
It looks like Symantec has done its homework though, as Act! now has the
best of features, including Internet support and improved calendar integration.
A native 32-bit application, ACT! 3.0 has an intuitive, completely customizable
interface. ACT! 3.0 also provides users with many types of contact exchange
built in: from one contact to a whole database, and from LAN to Internet.
Act! is a form-based contact manager that utilizes a clean, minimalist look.
The elegant looking forms are customizable but also come with a number of
pre-defined looks.
The expected abilities such as monitoring of telephone calls and placing
a contact's name and address automatically at the top of a letter are present,
as well as the more advanced features, such as support for caller ID and
the option to use your Microsoft Word or WordPerfect word processor for
letters. Act! 3.0 supports Novell Netware version 3.12 and later, Microsoft
Windows Network, and NT version 3.51 and later. Like its peers, this program
supports a goodly number of import and export formats and a number of different
paper-based organizer print-out formats.
Act! supports most popular Web browsers and will incorporate your email
program, allowing you to directly email groups or individuals without leaving
the program. There are three levels of security that can be set and it is
possible to assign contacts to groups and even assign files to those groups.
The selection of standard reports has been improved by the addition of a
graphical report designer and the dialer now supports Microsoft TAPI interface.
Lastly, Act! has a button on the toolbar that will take you to its Web page
(assuming you have Web access, of course) and automatically download any
new patches or upgrades to the software.
There is a 400-page manual outlining all the different functions of the
program including dozens of features not mentioned here. Suffice to say
that Act! 3.0 is a good upgrade to a good program. For a solid contact manager
with a large installed base of users, Act! Version 3.0 is a good choice.
GoldMine 3.2 for Windows 95/NT 4.0
From: GoldMine Software Corporation
Suggested retail price: $349
GoldMine for Windows 95 is a 32-bit program refitted for the Windows' environment
from the formidable DOS version. The new program takes the best of the old
and adds a great interface and excellent Internet features.
GoldMine 3.2 began shipping in the fall of '96 and has already won a number
of awards-and it is easy to see why. The tab style presentation of the forms
is simple and effective. Rather than simply print "calls" or "appointments,"
the tabs also have a small intuitive icon beside each name. Like Maximizer,
GoldMine makes good use of the right-click function with pop-up menus and
Go To... actions.
The calendar in GoldMine offers all the important features: multiple views,
alarms, drag and drop, recurring events, and above all, tight integration
with workgroup scheduling. GoldMine has email support and telemarketing
scripts, as well as sales analysis and graph tools. Of course, reports can
be generated in a number of ways including GoldMine's Automated Process,
which will help you develop a sophisticated sales force. There are To-Do
lists and call monitoring as well as the expected linking of OLE files to
contacts. GoldMine can also use the Internet for remote synchronization
through the use of GoldSync, a server program that works with the product.
Another area where GoldMine is strong is add-ons. In a booklet included
with the product, there are dozens of add-on products that will save you
the trouble of customizing your program: software for realtors, consultants
and telemarketers, even software to integrate GoldMine with a business card
reader.
GoldMine is forging ahead in the palmtop area as well with support for Microsoft
Windows CE, the operating system for hand-held devices. GoldMine will seamlessly
import Act! files and has a slew of other features that we don't have the
space to report here. Overall GoldMine is a great program that works very
well.
Decision time
Selecting one program above the others
seems a shame-they each have strengths. However, our readers deserve the
best that we can offer and to that end we select Maximizer 95is as
our contact manager with the most muscle. In this case, the race was almost
too close to call. If any little things tipped the balance it would be Maximizer's
excellent navigation, with right-click options everywhere, the excellent
MaxPort for Windows import engine and the great price for the program.
But to be honest, all three programs are equally proficient and well-written.
The three contact-management offerings above are all powerful and mature
programs that bring sophisticated information tracking to practically anyone.
There is no longer an excuse for even the smallest business to let information
and opportunities slip through the cracks.
Contact:
Maximizer Technologies, 1090 W. Pender St., 9th Floor, Vancouver,
BC, V6E 2N7. Tel: 604-601-8000.
Web site:http://www.maximizer.com
Symantec Canada, 895 Don Mills Rd., Toronto, ON M3C 1W3. Tel: 800-441-7234.
Web site: http://www.symantec.com
GoldMine Software, 301-17383 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades, CA,
90272. Tel: 310-454-6800.
Web site: http://www.goldminesw.com
Back to Table of
Contents...
Return to
TCP Home Page
TCP Online February 1997 Issue