Client Tracker Software, ACT! Options

[KPS]

I have an old version of ACT! and I am looking to upgrade. Any experience you might have with this type of software I want to hear about it. Is anyone using the ACT!2009?

Carmen Amabile
KPS

[Steve Fountaine]

I have an old version of ACT! and I am looking to upgrade. Any experience you might have with this type of software I want to hear about it. Is anyone using the ACT!2009?

Carmen Amabile
KPS

Carmen,

We just upgraded to 2009. We are very happy so far. We upgraded from Act 2006. A big reason for upgrading was the improved Act email integration with Outlook. All previous versions would not automatically attach incoming emails to the Act contact. This was particularly bothersome to me as we have grown to a point where production is separate from sales and accounting needs to know whats going on as projects complete. The new version attaches all emails incoming and outgoing and kind of keeps it in sync behind the scenes. A production manager can now see corrospondence between estimator and customer. Accounting can see email approval for minor extras etc. We still hold meetings to confirm things but it saves a lot of wasted time.

There are a few other features that we are happy about. For example, we email most of our proposals and take advantage of the use of templates that you can create in Act. Usually these are created in Microsoft Word, converted to a pdf and sent to our prospects. Sometimes a client says they can not open the attachment. The 2009 Act allows you to easily create the proposal in the body of the email. Something that I believe you could do in version 200-2008 but it was a bit cumbersome to get it to do that.

We were a bit hesitant to upgrade as when we last upgrade to 2006 Act "Sage" had not worked out all the kinks. It was a very frustrating experience and we almost left the software all together. The Act consultant we had hired quit the business because she was fighting an uphill battle. This was saying a lot since she was a consultant that trained other Act consultants in the software. She has since rejoined the industry. Through my research and the fact that we are watching every penny these days, we realized that the new Act was much easier to install. I almost tried to do the upgrade ourselves but had my computer network guy do it in a couple hours.

I hope this was helpful.

I would be happy to share how we use it to run our business. We have been big fans of the program for years. Call me anytime.

Have a great Holiday.

Steve Fountaine
Premiere Painting
Washington DC
202-966-0090