Goldmine from FrontRange

[Quinn06]

Has anyone here had any experience from this program?


I have a client that wants to switch out of it and move all the data into Outlook and sync it with his Google Apps.

Is that possible?

 

[wimwauters]

You will need to find out how much of the CRM functionality they need/use: if they only use the phone bit, then yes, outlook/exchange can mostly replace it, provided their handset or VOIP service/server doesn't mind talking to windows desktops/outlook.

There's also plenty of open & free services and server-apps-with-client out there to replace any commercial CRM or groupware service/server.

I'm sure Google apps is no exception, so help them get started/playing with it: you will get to know each other better and they will think of you as being a more valuable IT service guy.

 

[Quinn06]

funny thing is they don't use the program like that, all they use it for is a contact database? would that still transfer ok?

 

[iptech]

Has anyone here had any experience from this program?


I have a client that wants to switch out of it and move all the data into Outlook and sync it with his Google Apps.

Is that possible?

I managed a Goldmine database in 1999/2000. IIRC correctly it used a dbase file structure, so depending upon the version of Outlook you are using you may be able to import directly. Failing that I would try and export the data to a delimited file, csv probably being your best option. If it's just the contact details he needs this shouldn't be too tricky to do, just be careful with the mappings and make sure you make a backup of his existing Outlook profile in case anything goes awry.

Edit: I've just added this to another post. If you can't export directly from Goldmine, have a look at Exportizer.

 

[wimwauters]

funny thing is they don't use the program like that, all they use it for is a contact database?

Well, there you go, knowing the customer's needs is half the battle

would that still transfer ok?

Depends on size, although I suspect the answer is 'small' and 'outlook/exchange won't break a sweat'.

You could probably wow their socks off by selling them USB phone handsets, and have 'outlook' do the dialling

They might be happy to stick to an ordinary headset with mike, and use something like ekiga or an IM client to make calls and make/do sales funnel notes/tracking.