ACT! 6.0 is the latest version of the venerable contact and sales manager. Imagine Outlook on steroids and you're halfway to understanding what you can do with
ACT! Installation can take a little planning as you can't start using
ACT! until you have registered it via the Internet or by printing out your details. If your PC has neither a printer nor an Internet connection, beware. It is also essential to check through the "read me" file before you start using
ACT! to ensure you understand how it integrates with other applications. On the plus side, it does include a printed manual so you can find out what it does without having to wade through the online help. Once installed, you can either start entering your data manually or use the Import Wizard to import data from an existing source.
ACT! allows you to store a vast array of information about your contacts. You can store the usual name and address information but the real power comes from the additional information ACT! can hold for each contact. You can even attach letters and documents that relate to a given contact. Key to ACT! are the Sales/Opportunities features that allow you to keep track of where you are with each contact. You can also add tasks that may or may not relate directly to contacts.
ACT! can either be used as a standalone tool or you can have a team of staff share a single database, each with their own username and password. Where ACT! really excels is its ability to integrate with existing applications. From within ACT! you can send e-mails using its own e-mail functionality or by calling up Outlook/Outlook Express. You can also send faxes with particular support for WinFax Pro. Documents can be created using ACT! or your usual word processor. With suitable hardware you can even have your phone dial your contacts with a single mouse click.
Finally, ACT! includes a tool to allow you to synchronise data between different databases. This allows laptop users to update their local records then have the changes copied to the office master file.
ACT! is just the thing for any individual or business that has sophisticated contact and task tracking needs. The integration with your existing applications plus the sales orientated features make for a powerful combination. --Iain Laskey
Good... and bad, 19 Dec 2003
You really have to consider two distinct groups or users when rating ACT!.
As a single user/small business on one PC...
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This product has a lot to offer when the database is not shared. It is easy and extremely intuitive to use and has all the typical features that one would expect from CRM software.
Recording and tracking client interactions is easy and the interface between ACT and your mail software (especially outlook) is relatively simple.
The phone settings can be a pain always defaulting to a standard format... but you can disable/change this is preferences.
As multiple-user enterprise CRM software...
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This is where the product is really difficult to use. Invariably after only a few weeks of use you arrive at the common question... "Do we do things in Act! or Outlook?".
All the regular features like new contacts, grouping, searching writing single letters are fine, but the problem comes when you want to share a Act database which may have 5 users with a company of 15 people. Exporting the database so that you can import it into Outlook is tricky and laborious at the best of times even when you work in the IT profession.
The enterprise options within Act! are where it really falls over.
We also use Act! with the rather expensive third party web interface in order to make the product mobile and versatile. this certainly adds a degree of usability, but does not sufficiently address the lack of transferrability of the information.
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The ultimate verdict... great for single user, disappointing as an enterprise solution.
It is an address book., 04 Mar 2003
This is a program loaded with features. One good feature is its interface with Winfax Pro. This is a very big Plus, especially for those who send faxes. The big disappointment is its seemingly limited interaction with outlook and more limited interaction with Lotus Notes. There are add on products available that address this issue.
If you have these addons - great
If you don't you may have to consider using this program solely in place of the others although they all have features that are useful.
As with everything there is a lot of give and take in balance if you do alot of mail merging or can afford the addons a good program, especially the web orientated add-ons. If not think carefully before reaching into your pocket as it could prove to be an expensive address book.
Easily the best CRM programme for the masses!, 11 Feb 2003
ACT! is and always has been my programme of choice for tracking my contacts, customers, suppliers etc.
It has steadily improved since ACT! 4.0 and in my opinion is now easily the best value for money when compared to Goldmine or Maximiser or others.
Unless you are trying to run a multinational salesforce of thousands, this should more than cover what you want to do.
I'm a fan for life!
Good value buy, 23 Nov 2002
Act is a move on from Goldmine - the alternative software I have used in the past.
Act is an easy to grasp database tool for pratically everything you need to do with contacts. I have now linked my Palm and can access all e-mail addresses, telephone numbers and addresses for everyone wherever I am. The great thing is we used to put all the family address in the book and now I can access all our family friends when I am on the road. Superb for emergencies as I used to carry one or two numbers about now I have everyone.
Links to mail and you can now attach pictures which is neat. The product is well worth the investment to organise everyone in one place and back up all those details I never used to get roound to putting on to the PC.
