Why Act! Reports Don't Work - Solve It without an Upgrade
After being involved in CRM since 1997, here is my opinion on why Act! reporting fails and how to fix it. It may not always involve upgrading Act! or converting to another system.
In my opinion, here is why Act! reports don't work:
- Data entry is too tedious
- The reps have no incentive to update the system
- Act! Report Writer isn't flexible
I recommend three things before completely switching systems. It’s a little different from an article from Forbes but we have similar opinions.
- Change your current screens so it’s even easier to enter data (Hint: Use Tools -> Design Layout to move fields)
- Change your default history (v 17.1+)
- Make it mobile with Act! Premium Mobile (v 2013+) or Handheld Contact for Android, Blackberry
or iOS. - Show them something self-serving once the data is entered such as the rep no longer needs to create an extra report since the Act! History list or other reporting apps do the work for you
- Integrate our app for speech recognition ! Act! with Dragon Naturally Speaking
Once data entry is easier; then, we can use Act! features like the history list view (v16+), opportunity list view (v 2005+) or power tools like TopLine Dash and Alerts, Excel via OLEDB and Microsoft Power BI to make informed decisions.
How to Use The Act! History Queue for Managing Outlook E-Mail
The Act! History Queue is a service that manages and logs the e-mails recorded to Act!. This video explains how to access the log. From the queue, you can see what didn't attach and why. Then, you have option to try to attach the message again.
Adding WiredContact Mobile Site to iPhone Home Screen
This article shows you how to add a website (aka bookmark) to an iPhone’s home screen.
First, go to your WiredContact mobile site on the iPhone. For instance, http://mobiledemo.wiredcontact.com. Then follow the instructions below on how to add any website to your iPhone home screen.
Act! and Surface Pros
If Act! v16-v18.0 looks real weird on a Surface Pro (or ultra hi resolution) screen, you need to download this after closing Act!.
If you are not able to do this, please note we offer fee-based support for Act! technical support. v18.1 has this built in, but we haven’t tested it. Earlier versions of Act! are not tested for this fix.
Free Stock Photos
Rather than resorting to logos or clip art, it’s easy to find free stock photos for your website or next e-mail campaign. These sites were referenced during my Constant Contact Partner Certification course.