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It is no secret that CRM solutions are making a splash in the mobile industry. Business solutions are rapidly populating the iPad and iPhone application store. Following suit, Medi-Soft is launching their Pharma CRM solution for the iPad and iPhone. iPad CRM and iPhone CRM have been hot trends in recent software news, so it’s no surprise that everyone wants a piece of the (Apple) pie.

Medi-Soft is a pharmaceutical CRM solutions provider. Medi-Soft’s flagship product is Pharma CRM.  Pharma CRM for the iPad and iPhone is designed with advanced features to increase the sales force effectiveness in pharma organizations.

The benefits of iPad CRM and iPhone CRM are quite simple; anywhere, anytime CRM solution access. Sales reps can interact with customers offline with their respective mobile devices. Pharma CRM on the iPad and iPhone will help companies optimize their customer support processes and yield higher customer satisfaction points.

“It’s so simple,” commented Damir Safaric, Medi-Soft’s CEO, said about the iPhone and iPad CRM applications, “It is called Sales Vision iTouch, the best way for Pharma CRM to revolutionize the pharma processes and increase the sales rep efficiency.”

Pharma CRM’s iPad and iPhone applications are easy to use and have intuitive user interfaces with all the functionality of the original Sales Vision with added mobility and access to the database online and offline. Pharma CRM also gives users the ability to move actions to the PC version through touch screen navigation. The Sales Vision iTouch gives users parallel use of platforms so that information is always up-to-date in the office or on-the-go.

“There are many reasons why Sales Vision CRM goes goes to the iPhone. Sales Vision and iPhone are similar because they both have remained true to their roots. Both operate in niches and seek to satisfy customers. Sales Vision looks better than ever on the iPhone. Also if you look back ten years ago, the main add value and motivation factor for a sales rep was to gain a laptop. Times have changed and the add value is to have the best Smartphone,” said Safaric.

To view more iPad business apps.

Customer relationship management (CRM) is a business software system used to manage and interact with clients and sales prospects. CRM involves using technology to automate business processes to increase efficiency and optimize customer service. Basically, CRM is like the host at a restaurant that greets clients warmly, directs traffic flow and runs the show without breaking a sweat or showing the hint of a frown. Social CRM is the business strategy of engaging customers through social media in hopes of building trust and brand loyalty. There are a few subtle differences between Social and Conventional CRM, but where CRM fails, Social CRM can blossom.

Social CRM is a Strategy

The main difference between CRM and Social CRM is that CRM has evolved into an application moreover than a strategy. CRM as an application has limitations, whereas Social CRM as a business strategy does not. So one lesson Social CRM can learn from its predecessor is the difference between ‘strategy’ and ‘technology’. Strategy is the plan of action designed to yield a specific goal; Social CRM’s strategy is to build trust and loyalty. Although Social CRM will use technology tools to implement their plans, it is important to remember the difference between ‘strategy’ and ‘technology’. By clearly identifying Social CRM goals before selecting the tools, companies can avoid allowing the limitations of tools to become the limitations of their strategy.

Optimize Business Processes

One reason CRM implementation has failed in recent years is because CRM related processes have not been optimized for the CRM technology. CRM solutions are meant to simplify business processes to facilitate high quality customer service. Social CRM can learn from CRM implementation failure, by focusing on selecting a CRM solution that will optimize business processes.

Data Quality

CRM applications must ensure data quality. Some CRM applications have failed because the accumulated transactional and non-transactional data were not high quality. Social media and networks yield a large volume of information. It is important to have some data control and framework in place before implementing a Social CRM solution for your business. Figuring out what information is useful and what isn’t will allow companies to enhance their Social CRM strategy and implement useful tools only.

Analytics

Another lesson Social CRM can learn from CRM is to leverage analytics. Analytics give companies the ability to have a 360-view on their customers. Social CRM can take analytics one step further than CRM by applying predictive analytics. Before implementing a Social CRM solution, companies should figure out how they plan on using the information they gather and how they can use the information to analyze the past and make predictions about the future customer behavior.

Project Ownership and Leadership

It is important for companies to have a clearly identified “owner” and “leader” responsible for the success of CRM initiatives. Before implementing a Social CRM solution, there must be a leader because Social CRM affects several departments including Marketing, PR, IT and Legal. To optimize Social CRM implementation, the roles and responsibilities for each involved department must be clearly highlighted.

There are several benefits to implementing a Social CRM strategy for your business. Hopefully this article will shed some light on how Social CRM can learn from CRM applications. For help selecting a Social CRM solution that is right for you, visit: http://www.business-software.com/crm-reports/social-crm.php for a free Top 10 Social CRM Vendor List.

Sage North America, the business management software and services provider, is offering Sage SalesLogix CRM Suite on the Amazon Elastic Computer Cloud (Amazon EC2). The company has a customer base of more than 3 million small and midsized businesses in North America. The cloud-based version of SalesLogix will be available for North America for the first half of 2010, it will then be offered in other regions worldwide.

Through Amazon EC2, the cloud CRM Company can offer their customers flexible deployment options, easy access, customer data ownership, customer control over upgrades, and reduced IT management and hardware costs.

SalesLogix CRM Suite helps reduce IT costs and optimize CRM processes, making it a low risk business implementation. VP and Global GM for Sage explains: “Amazon Web Services allows us to ensure our customers’ data is secure and enables integration with on-premise applications as well as the cloud-based services we are beginning to offer.”

SalesLogix on Amazon Web Services is an exciting step for cloud CRM. Businesses will be able to scale their solutions with their operation with Amazon’s resizable pay-as-you-go platform. Leveraging Amazon EC2, Sage can provide its users with a highly flexible solution that is based on the exact needs of the user community.

Sage SalesLogix gives users a complete view of customer interactions across sales, marketing, and customer service and support departments to promote collaboration between teams. The cloud-based CRM solution also reduces response time and optimizes sales opportunities by providing users with an automated log of customer information. SalesLogix’s automation process helps users eliminate manual operations as well as the possibility of human error. Sage SalesLogix is now available on-premise and on-demand with desktop, web and mobile interfaces.

Things seem to be moving fast in the iPad world. Following in the footsteps of the iPhone, the iPad is the newest new frontier for CRM software.

Mobile Intelligence, Cegedim Dendrite’s flagship customer relationship management (CRM) product, is now available for iPad and iPhone users. Cegedim Dendrite is a French pharmaceutical CRM vendor that offers tools to optimize efficiency and productivity. Cegedim Dendrite has access to 200,000 healthcare users and provides data optimization and CRM solutions in more than 80 countries.

The goal of Mobile Intelligence is to increase the CRM productivity for sales teams that travel across multiple locations. By making CRM mobile, sales teams can access real time data, update customer information and remain continuously connected with all team members.

Mobile Intelligence on the iPad and iPhone will maximize interactions with stakeholders as well, by leveraging real time customer information. CEO of Cegedim Dendrite Laurent Labrune explains that: “The convenience of carrying a super lightweight device, while having off-line or on-line access to the robust functionality of Mobile Intelligence, enables our customers to do what they do best – build relationships with their stakeholders.”

Not even a month after the iPad’s release, iPad CRM applications are already in the works. It’s truly amazing how quickly technology is advancing. Mobile Intelligence is available for iPad and iPhone devices as a multi-tenant SaaS delivery or priced as a perpetual license.

SugarCRM, the popular cloud CRM vendor, launched a new UI for Sugar 6. Sugar 6 is one of SugarCRM’s open source applications. The UI redesign is focused on improving Sugar 6’s speed, search and reach with third party applications and mobile device integrations.

SugarCRM wanted their SaaS application to work fast and operate as if it worked on a desktop.

The new UI is formatted to optimize speed and create an experience similar to a social network. Here is a screenshot of Sugar’s homepage interface:

Sugar’s CRM platform also includes a new, global search feature. Search tools are crucial to optimize user experience and help sift through information regarding third party applications. SugarCRM is using an open-source engine, like Lucene, to strengthen its search tools.

SugarCRM has focused on improving the user experience, with their new SaaS updates.

In order to make Sugar 6 more user-friendly and accessible, SugarCRM is including a native application for the iPhone, Android, Blackberry and iPad. Here’s an iPad screenshot:

Application integration is a key focus of many social CRM platforms. SugarCRM is now integrated with LinkedIn, Hoovers and Jigsaw through cloud computing technology that connects third party applications. SugarCRM can also plug into Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel with Sugar Plug-Ins.

The features, plugins and integrations might seem overwhelming at the momemnt, but platforms like SugarCRM are working towards adding an analytics component to the search function. Soon custmers will be able to get all the relevant information they need anytime, anywhere, in one place. The future looks bright for SugarCRM users.

Krawler Inc. announced some exciting news today for the Mobile CRM Industry. The company’s web-based application Deskera is now available for the Apple iPhone. Deskera’s slogan is: “better, faster, easier”, and with the new Mobile iDeskera CRM, they can now add ‘anytime’ and ‘anywhere’ to that list.

Taking Deskera mobile, extends usability and allows users anywhere access to and management of information. iDeskera’s CRM interface features tap, drag-and-drop functionality, and lets users customize reports and manage information; on the fly.

The mobile app also boasts the ability to manage multiple email accounts, and allows decision makers to implement customer-centric strategies for effective sales management.

CEO of Krawler, Shashank Dixit announced that by creating Deskera, the company was trying to correct the failure rates associated with CRM platforms. He explains that: “Deskera CRM redefines the user experience by providing spreadsheet simplicity for viewing, entering and updating information quickly and easily. Now iDeskera CRM for the iPhone extends that usability to one of the industry’s most popular mobile platforms.”

What sets iDeskera apart? Unlike other CRM platforms, iDeskera has an intuitive spreadsheet-style interface, which gives sales reps click-and-type simplicity for managing information.

iDeskera CRM’s launch is being announced in conjunction with the iteration of Deskera Spring 2010. The products kick-off the expansion of Krawler and their software as a SaaS suite in the US market. In addition to integrating into the US market, the company also plans on educating and supporting US-based resellers.

For more information on availability and pricing, please visit: http://www.deskera.com/

Microsoft announced that the Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift Europe BV (MCFE) Company was awarded with the Gartner CRM Excellence Award for Efficiency for its customer relationship management (CRM) project.

MCFE, a Netherlands based company that manufactures, sells and distributes forklifts and corresponding parts, was able to streamline their order entry and processing, IT support requests, and vendor communications. By using xRM by Microsoft Dynamics CRM, the forklift distributor was able to develop a CRM framework that would result in a decrease in time for it to customize business applications from 35 to 10 days, and a reduction in development costs by 60%.

“Businesses need to deliver essential line-of-business applications more quickly and at a lower cost,” said Brad Wilson, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics CRM. “We are honored that MCFE is recognized by Gartner and to 1to1 Media for its project. This implementation is just one example of how our customers are unlocking new value from their existing Microsoft investments and delivering business solutions that are easy to design, easy to manage, and, for their users, easy to use.”

MCFE isn’t the only business to turn to Microsoft’s xRM program to solve their development framework and customer success needs.

A few xRM customer successes:

CAPTRUST Financial Advisors

Comag Marketing Group

Melbourne Business School

The North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety

ValMark Securities Inc.

Microsoft’s Dynamic Business Program is helping companies optimize their business development process and reach their full potential through flexible but relevant applications.

It isn’t just individuals that make New Year’s resolutions—companies make them as well. Forrester Research recently released a report about CRM applications, as a guide to companies looking to tighten up application development without breaking the bank this year. This week, Lauren McKay at CRM Magazine took to the publication’s website and outlined five routes CRM software vendors should take in order to pursue “lean and mean” application development.

1.    Move to the Cloud
This first morsel of advice from Forrester isn’t surprising in the least. Companies creating business applications have heard for years now that they should move toward cloud development, and many have. Forrester specifically recommends public cloud environments like Amazon Web Services and Salesforce.com, and reminds us that cloud benefits include scalability and cost-efficiency, and that it offers a number of entry points. In addition, cloud computing is undoubtedly the future of application development, so it would be unwise to at least begin experimenting in cloud environments.

2.    Operate like a startup
The economy seems to be on the up and up so far, but it’s early in the year still and so Forrester is advising companies to adopt the no-nonsense attitude of a fledgling business. Startups don’t have the resources larger companies enjoy, and so there is little room for error. Therefore established companies looking to tighten up should put a little more pressure on themselves and be more goal-oriented.

3.    Put cost and flexibility above platform loyalty
In terms of language frameworks, Forrester found that even though Java EE and .NET remain the most popular for CRM application development, there are a number of popular alternatives, like Adobe Flex, Drupal, and Google Web Toolkit, to name a few. There are a number of open source, rich Internet applications and dynamic language frameworks that are emerging, so companies should reevaluate what their needs are and then choose a path, rather than sticking with the more popular and convenient choice.

4.    Make the customer experience your *top* priority
The customer experience has always been, in theory, every business’s number one priority. However, Forrester concluded that things get a bit muddled in practice, mainly because even the most talented developers can be unversed in designing applications that will truly impress customers. Naturally, companies that succeed in pleasing their customers are more likely to see repeat purchases and recommendations, so really digging deep into market research to wow them is paramount.

5.    Hire multitalented developers
This last step is definitely one of the hardest to fulfill, because truly gifted developers don’t grow on trees. But what Forrester is trying to indicate here is that companies should consider a programmer’s business knowledge when making a decision. Multitalented developers may be difficult to find now, but luckily, there is an increasing number of developers who’ve studied business management and have a solid grasp on enterprise processes.

This week, SugarCRM announced its CRM products would be the latest applications to join the Microsoft’s Windows Azure cloud, thereby offering customers and resellers the benefit of real-time scalability, accessibility, and on-demand foundation.

SugarCRM’s recently ppointed CEO Larry Augustin is quoted in the press release saying that Windows Azure goes “well beyond the simple hosted infrastructure that most service providers offer today,” and noted that the new service is key to the Sugar Open Cloud, facilitating the deployment of Sugar products to any location.

The process behind making SugarCRM applications available on the cloud only took a few weeks—this speedy turnaround time is attributed to the strong native support Windows Azure delivers for PHP, which is the programming language in which Sugar is written.

There have recently been warnings from Azure competitors and others that releasing Windows Azure developments could result in that customer being locked into the system. Still, the executives at SugarCRM seem not to be worried about this. One potential hazard that could arise, however, is that channel partners hosting SugarCRM on their own may see competition from the Azure cloud, but only time will tell.

Meritide, a Minnesota-based IT consulting firm, announced last week that they expanded their full-service Microsoft Dynamics CRM solutions practice. Meritide provides strategy, integration, design, and implementation services to upper mid-market companies, and with their expanded Microsoft Dynamics CRM products, will provide clients with insight into sales, marketing, and service activities.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM is highly flexible and customizable, and is distributed entirely through a partner system (which allows for even greater personalization). It offers tight integration with Microsoft Office applications—which helps reduce training time—and one Meritide customer, Emprimus, was especially taken with the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online tool.

Emprimus offers solutions protecting against intentional electromagnetic interference (IEMI), and does most of their marketing through trade shows, large presentations, and industry associations. Emprimus’s President and CEO, Gale Nording, said the Dynamics CRM Online application was extremely helpful for streamlining the sales cycle, but declined to give specific details.

Meritide also implements BMC solutions, but the company’s president, Patrick Irestone, noted that Microsoft Dynamics deployments have increased with customers’ demand for cost-effective solutions. Microsoft recently reduced the base prices of their CRM solutions (and are offering 6 months free to Salesforce.com and Oracle users), and given the satisfaction of Meritide’s customers, business will only get better for Dyanamics.