CRM Software offers remote access capabilities.

Press Release Summary:



IMPACT CRM v3.5 enables businesses to manage internal resources; customer, supplier and prospect relationships; marketing campaigns; sales opportunities as well as service contracts and incidents within single, CRM/SRM program. It provides business processes automation; related accounts, tasks, appointments; interactive scripting capabilities; and customer service. Optional IMPACT eCRM enables online collaboration via browser-based interface into main CRM database.



Original Press Release:



Syspro Announces Major, New Release of IMPACT CRM Featuring System Enhancements and Remote Access Capabilities



CHICAGO - National Manufacturing Week - March 18, 2002 - The Syspro Group has announced a major new release of IMPACT CRM. IMPACT CRM 3.5 features numerous system enhancements as well as IMPACT eCRM, an option that enables remote on-line access.

IMPACT CRM is an enterprise-class software system that enables a business to manage internal resources, customer, supplier and prospect relationships, marketing campaigns, sales opportunities as well as service contracts and incidents within a single,
CRM/SRM program. IMPACT CRM is part of Syspro's IMPACT Encore(TM), a comprehensive, enterprise-wide software solution.

In addition to the IMPACT eCRM option, significant new features in IMPACT CRM 3.5 include: Advanced business processes automation; Related accounts, tasks, appointments; Interactive scripting capabilities, Improved Microsoft(TM) Outlook(TM),
Customer service capabilities; Rights-based security, and a variety of innovative system administration tools.

Advanced Business Process Automation

IMPACT CRM 3.5 features a built-in Process Definition Language (PDL), a powerful new table-based tool for modeling complex business processes. PDL expands the use of IMPACT CRM beyond traditional customer relationship management to true "computer aided management." Using PDL, businesses can, among other functions: Automatically trigger processes; Automatically generate alerts to employees and customers; Automate marketing campaigns; Schedule proactive service calls; Automatically respond to Web-based leads; Run telemarketing scripts; and Automatically follow up on important activities.

Related Accounts, Activities, Tasks

A new facility allows the tracking of vertical account relationships (e.g., parent company that owns a subsidiary) and horizontal relationships (e.g., accounts which are referred to/from other accounts.) Activities and tasks can be linked to individual accounts and to "related accounts" on whose behalf the action was, or is to be performed. In addition, users can roll up details of "child" accounts from the record of the "parent" account.

Interactive Scripting Capabilities

IMPACT CRM 3.5 permits the easy creation of on-screen, interactive "scripts" for users involved in telemarketing campaigns. These scripts serve as guides and can contain instructional text and user-defined input fields, which can be captured during outgoing or incoming calls. The scripts are available at the push of a button directly from the activity
screen.

Added Microsoft(TM) Outlook(TM) Integration Features

IMPACT CRM 3.5 extends Outlook email integration capabilities, while adding task and appointment synchronization. For users of Microsoft Outlook, IMPACT CRM 3.5 will optionally use the MS Outlook email editor for composing emails, making available
the full editing, spell check, formatting and other facilities that Outlook provides. The contents of sent email messages are automatically copied as activities in IMPACT CRM. In addition, incoming MS Outlook email messages along with any document attachments can be automatically copied into matching account records.

Furthermore, when tasks and appointments are created in IMPACT CRM, an option "Write to Microsoft Outlook," is offered. When this option is engaged, IMPACT CRM will automatically create a copy of the same task or appointment in Microsoft Outlook.

Extended Customer Service System

IMPACT CRM 3.5 offers an improved customer service management system that enables organizations to track and proactively support customers through an unlimited number of user-defined service contracts. Among the newly configured features are:
Service Queue Management; Enhanced routing system; Simplified escalation system;Automatic triggering of service processes; Inclusion of a roles table; Tracking of user-defined milestones; Embedded RMA tracking; Improved item tracking; Item and serial
number searching; Support for multiple service contracts per customer; and User-defined billing parameters.

Improved Security and System Administration Tools

IMPACT CRM 3.5 features a new, rights-based security system that enables system administrators to restrict access to any high-level function, specific feature, as well as access to any IMPACT Encore records, down to the field-level.

For system administration, a new "merge" tool allows users to merge multiple account records into a single record. Duplicate records are automatically deleted, and all history and transactions associated with the deleted records are moved automatically to the main record.

Another new utility enables the transfer of any data to or from any IMPACT CRM database - not just account records. This tool facilitates the transfer of data from other contact managers or customer databases into IMPACT CRM without losing any history
or detail. It also eases the copying of specific accounts between IMPACT CRM databases.

In addition, IMPACT CRM now includes the newer North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for classifying business types. Users have the option of loading the entire six-digit set of NAICS codes into the ADAPT business types table.

Powerful Remote User Support

IMPACT CRM 3.5 introduces a powerful new replication tool to support remotely located employees, including field salespeople and service technicians. For users who do not have Internet access and need to run IMPACT CRM "unplugged" from any network,
IMPACT eCRM includes bi-directional database synchronization with the main office. Bi-directional, entity-level synchronization is achieved using Microsoft SQL 2000's database replication feature. The synchronization process can occur via any type of network connection, including LAN, WAN or VPN (over the Internet).

IMPACT eCRM

IMPACT CRM 3.5 introduces IMPACT eCRM, which enables online collaboration via a browser-based interface into the main CRM database. The Web-based solution is divided into three key "portals," each intended for a specific type of user. Syspro is releasing the portals in two phases. A Mobile Employee Portal and Web Marketing Portal are included in the initial IMPACT eCRM offering, while a Customer Service Portal will be offered in a subsequent release.

The Mobile Employee Portal empowers employees in the field to interface with the IMPACT CRM system in real-time via web-enabled PalmOS, Windows CE equipped mobile devices or standard Web browsers. This technology allows users to instantly access and modify calendars, appointments, tasks, sale opportunities, marketing campaigns and ultimately service tickets.

The Web Marketing Portal automates the web-based lead capture process and provides facilities for linking to existing web forms or creating new ones without the need to write a single line of HTML or Java Script code. When a prospect enters details
on a web site, the information is automatically "pulled" into IMPACT eCRM, eliminating duplicate data entry and the need to manually export/import data from a Web server into the CRM database. In addition, the Marketing Portal utilizes IMPACT CRM's built-in Process Definition Language (PDL) to automatically reply to prospective or customers or consumers who submit data via the Web.

A Customer Service Portal, which completes the IMPACT eCRM offering by enabling customer self-service from the Web, is scheduled for release in Q2, 2002 and will be offered free of charge to existing IMPACT CRM customers.

Syspro's IMPACT Encore is a fully integrated, modular enterprise-wide system. IMPACT Encore optimizes the abilities of single and multi-site manufacturers (repetitive, custom, quick-turn and mixed mode) and distributors. It offers outstanding price/performance and balance of functionality. More than 40 application modules cover financial controls, sales, purchasing,
inventory control, MRP/production control, forecasting, distribution, Advanced Planning, Scheduling & Execution and CRM, enabling manufacturers to tailor solutions specific to their
requirements. IMPACT Encore supports Microsoft SQL and runs on Windows® 2000, XP, NT and 98, as well as Unix, Linux and Novell.

The Syspro Group, established in 1978, is a world leader in providing manufacturing, distribution and financial accounting software solutions with thousands of installations in more than 50 countries. Syspro is one of the world's most honored software companies. Recent milestones include: START Magazine's First Annual Vision Award (2001); Number One Ranking in 2002 Middle Market ERP Software conducted by Accounting Research, Inc.; Named Finalist for Developer of the Year (2001) by the Software Council of Southern California; Ranked Among World's Top Software Companies by MSI Magazine, Managing Automation Magazine, Software Magazine, VAR Business; Consistently High Ratings in both the Accounting and Manufacturing Software Reviews
by CPA Software News for ten consecutive years; "Hottest Company" designation by START Magazine for Three Years; Placed in Top Ten Mid-Market Accounting and Beginning ERP Markets by K2 Enterprises; and Certification by the Accounting Library for the past three years.

Syspro Group software is marketed worldwide through regional territory distribution centers in the U.S., Canada, Africa, Asia Pacific, Australia and the U.K.

Syspro headquarters for the Americas are located in Costa Mesa, Calif., from which the company markets its IMPACT Encore supply chain software to emerging companies in the U.S., Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
http://www.sysprousa.com or email info@sysprousa.com.

For additional information, please contact Stan Goodrich at 714/437-1000.

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