Moving from ACT 7.0 to Outlook 2007 w/ BCM

[Darin]

I've been unhappy for years with ACT due to instability within the program,
poor customer service, etc. However, I use it every day in my insurance
office to keep the following:

1. contact info for my clients
2. notes & history of past meetings (and notes re: those meetings)
3. calendar (meetings, calls and to-dos, including calls and to-dos that
just roll over every day until I can get around to them.

I'm buying a new computer and am finally thinking of replacing ACT w/
Outlook. I didn't even know of BCM until earlier today but this forum has
been very useful. I apologize for the simplicity of the questions but I have
the following questions:

1. Does Outlook (or Outlook w/ BCM) have all the features I mentioned above?
2. Do they work similarly or are their significant differences?
3. For those that have used both, do you advocate switching?
4. Is BCM a separate program or a part of Outlook? If separate, do the two
integrate together?
5. Is the conversion process relatively easy w/ Outlook 2007?
6. Can I do it with the office software or should I spend the $195 and buy
the Act-to-Outlook software?
7. Where do you recommend I go to learn how to use the features of Outlook
and BCM? I've used Outlook for years for email but never really used the
contact management software.

Any and all help is appreciated. My sincere thanks to all posters on this
forum. It hs been very enlightening.

 

[Lon Orenstein]

Welcome to BCM, Darin!

Check out my eBook on Moving from ACT! to BCM -- that'll answer some of the
"daily doing" questions you have.

Yes, BCM will do all three of the items you mentioned. Some of the
functions you'll like better than ACT! and some you won't. The dreaded "C"
word, Change, is the biggest problem but you'll adapt and if you're like me,
you'll like BCM a lot.

Here are some answers to your questions:

1. Does Outlook (or Outlook w/ BCM) have all the features I mentioned
above? Yes


2. Do they work similarly or are their significant differences?

For the most part, they're similar. My eBook explains the differences...

3. For those that have used both, do you advocate switching?

Yes! Office 2007 is the future of desktop computing and BCM is right in the
middle of it.

4. Is BCM a separate program or a part of Outlook? If separate, do the
two
integrate together?

Well, you'll get conflicting answers on this one. The functions are
integrated with Outlook but some of the data is stored separately. You have
to backup your Outlook PST file AND your BCM SQL database in two separate
operations. From the user's standpoint, it seems like it's the same
program.

5. Is the conversion process relatively easy w/ Outlook 2007?

No, there are some problems with the conversion. This is a difficult part
of the transition but you can always leave ACT! on your PC and refer back to
it, if needed. There are fixes in the works now that will help.

6. Can I do it with the office software or should I spend the $195 and
buy
the Act-to-Outlook software?

We're just now testing this out and I'll report back to you on its
results...

7. Where do you recommend I go to learn how to use the features of
Outlook
and BCM? I've used Outlook for years for email but never really used the
contact management software.

Shameless plug: My BCM For Dummies book is the only one out there now...

Hope that helps,
Lon

___________________________________________________________
Lon Orenstein
pinpointtools, llc
(e-mail address removed)
Author of Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager For Dummies
Author of the eBook: Moving from ACT! to Business Contact Manager
800.238.0560 x6104 Toll Free (U.S. only) +1 214.905.0401 x6104
www.pinpointtools.com

 

[Darin]

Lon,

Thanks for all of the answers. I learned about your book in another post
last night and I've bookmarked it in my "favorites" to purchase later today
when I get a chance. It was highly recommended in the posts I was reading.
I have a few more questions although they may be answered in the book, also.

1. What are the primary differences from keeping your contacts in Outlook
(w/o BCM) vs. using BCM. Might Outlook be sufficient to my needs or do you
really recommend BCM. I anticipate that I'll need BCM but I"m just checking.
I've bought a new laptop that is due to be delivered within a couple of days
and I'll purchase Office at that time.

2. Do both sync w/ a palm pilot? It looks like they do if you get a
program called Companionlink so I'm just confirming.

3. Do I convert my files from ACT into Outlook and then convert them into
BCM or do I convert them directly from ACT to BCM?

I'm dropping my kids off at a museum camp and intend to purchase your book
when I get to the office. Much thanks to you for writing it. I think it is
exactly what I'll need and I'm much more comfortable making the switch
knowing that I'll have it as a resource.

Darin

 

[Lon Orenstein]

Thanks Darin!

I'll answer your questions by number:

1. You may be able to use Outlook instead of BCM. BCM adds accounts (that
contacts can belong to), sales opportunities, business projects and project
tasks, marketing campaigns, and integration with Office Accounting. You can
add fields to BCM also.

2. Yes, Companionlink is the answer for handheld synchs... Or, Pocket
Mirror.

3. You can convert directly from ACT! to BCM without going through Outlook.

HTH,
Lon

___________________________________________________________
Lon Orenstein
pinpointtools, llc
(e-mail address removed)
Author of Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager For Dummies
Author of the eBook: Moving from ACT! to Business Contact Manager
800.238.0560 x6104 Toll Free (U.S. only) +1 214.905.0401 x6104
www.pinpointtools.com

 

[Peter]

Lon, I am new here, and also am contemplating moving from ACT 8.0 to BCM
2007. ACT's horrible email integration is driving me over the edge.

I have signed up to receive your eBook and will peruse it. I have signed up
and started using the trial version of BCM2007. The one thing that I cannot
do is manage the stream of my work.

For example, I need to schedule calls to people, and calls to follow up.
Sometimes these calls are later the same day, some times they are days or
weeks later. I cannot figure out how to easily manage calls, tasks and my
contacts. I would like to just click on a follow up button and have it pop a
mini-calendar scheduler window. Then I would like to see how my day/week is
doing - including time for calls (which take time and need to be scheduled).

It is a show stopper to me if I cannot do this - any help is greatly
appreciated.

Thanks,
Peter