ACT! 2O11 is now available and, as always, includes a series of new features to improve your experience of using the software.
Sage has improved the initial start up procedure by simplifying the database creation and making it easier than ever to export data from Excel directly into ACT!. There is also now the option to customise the layout of ACT!, meaning it can be adapted to fit your individual preference.
ACT! 2O11 can now synchronise seamlessly with Outlook which allows your calendar and contacts to be exchanged directly between the two programmes. It also now incorporates the function to automate and customise processes, which includes the option to set prompts to contact a customer, schedule calls for other staff members and automate targeted e-marketing campaigns.
In most cases, the information stored in an ACT! database is confidential and you may not want everything to be seen by all staff within your organisation. With this in mind Sage has enhanced ACT!’s security settings, which allows the system’s administrator to define restricted areas and specific user security settings, ensuring that only specified users can see certain information.
Although we love the new features, our favourite addition has to be the mobile integration function, something which is new to ACT! 2011. Available for use with a range of phone handsets, you can now have access to your ACT! database wherever you are. This includes the function to see contacts, calendars, notes and history - perfect for those times when you’re out of the office.
ACT! 2011 still includes our favourite functionality from ACT! 2010, including e-marketing and social networking.
E-marketing provides a cost-effective way to communicate with customers, suppliers and potential leads, and ACT! includes an inbuilt e-marketing tool which allows you to communicate with your customers at the click of a button.
The communications can be pulled together in a short space of time and link to anywhere on your website.
They allow you to promote your business, including any special offers, news or events, to an unlimited amount of people easily and conveniently. The e-marketing tool will translate your results and evaluate your campaign for you, giving a detailed insight into what your customers are interested in, which links they opened and how many times they have viewed the email.
The e-marketing function also allows you to send out surveys to your contacts, with all of the returned data coming straight back into ACT! in an easy-to-view format.
Each marketing campaign will be tailored to your needs and all are basic and simple to set up. You can take a drip marketing approach and even set your emails to send on specific dates and times.
The social networking function was initially launched in ACT! 2010 and provides an innovative way for you to communicate with your customers on a range of different levels and platforms.
ACT! 2O11 links to popular methods of social networking, making it easier to communicate with your customers and encourage a two-way communication, thus helping you understand what your customer wants and how you can deliver this.
When viewing your contact, there is a new tab that shows links to their social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace, helping you discover more about your contacts and what they are up to.
If you would like further information about ACT! 2O11 and its new features, you can contact our sales team at sales@bond-solutions.com or call 0191 516 6882 to speak to an advisor.
