Integration with SalesLogix

[here2learn]

Does anyone have any experience in integrating Project with SalesLogix? Any
lessons-learned would be very helpful. We use SalesLogix as a sales
management tool and need to start using Project. I've heard conflicting
information on whether this can/should be done. I'd appreciate any
information you all have...

Thanks!

 

[Rob Schneider]

Does anyone have any experience in integrating Project with SalesLogix? Any
lessons-learned would be very helpful. We use SalesLogix as a sales
management tool and need to start using Project. I've heard conflicting
information on whether this can/should be done. I'd appreciate any
information you all have...

Thanks!

Sorry, I'm not familiar with this CRM tool from Sage that purports to
automate sales, marking, service, and support services.

However, the "lesson learned" I would offer is that the first thing you
should establish is the purpose to which you intend to put Project. What
problem are you trying to fix? Seems like SalesLogix already is trying
to manage work process. What is the gap you are trying to fix by adding
yet more software to the work process management process? If these gaps
are not "projects", then Project may not be of help.

 

[here2learn]

Thanks for the response. You're right in saying I need to be sure of the
purpose and what need I'm looking to fill.

SalesLogix does a great job of managing the sales process but it is greatly
lacking in functionality I need to manage my projects. There is no way to
forecast anything; resource needs, project milestones, costs, etc. There are
no logic ties between any of the activities. If one activity slips, you have
to manually move every other activity. Right now, we have a big hole in
terms of project management and I'm looking to fill it. But we have a
business requirement that information gets back to SalesLogix (for billing
and history purposes). So, I need to decide if it's worth going down the
path of integrating MSProject with SalesLogix.

 

[Rob Schneider]

I guess I would be careful about using the desktop version as a
time-reporting (billing) system. It's terrific at helping you build a
project plan and track progress, including forecasting. I'd be dubious
about expecting it to be a time sheeting system for billing.

That being said, if the data which is in Project is "good enough" for
you then, I guess why not use it. Save the Project data as a *.mdb
file, and query from that database into SalesLogix.

Perhaps Project Enterprise might be a better fit for time reporting?

 

[here2learn]

sorry, I should have clarified earlier that I meant the Enterprise version
with Project Server 2003. If I use the timesheet view going to Outlook or
Web Access, does it allow the users(engineers) to add their own tasks if it's
not on their timesheet? Also, do they have access to update their work
calendar to mark out time they're unavailable?

 

[Rob Schneider]

While there are folks who hang out here knowing/using Enterprise
version, this is not the right newsgroup. Might want to re-ask in the
other fourm.