Use SalesLogix to store contact details, e-mails and history for more than just customers

[#1]

Here is a quiz..... 

1.  Can you have a "Customer" who is also a "Supplier"?  Not according to the "out-of-box" SalesLogix Account Type Field. 

2.  Can you have an "Employee" who is also a "Customer"?  Like if you sell them a PC for their home use.  What?? 

3.  When an "Employee" leaves your company, can the employee still be a "Customer"?  Huh?? 

4.  Can a "Prospective Direct Customer" also be a "Prospective Supplier"? 

5.  How do you classify the IT Services company who support one of your SalesLogix Customers?  Do you need to record correspondence with them?  Th

ey aren't a Customer or a Prospective Customer or a Supplier or a Prospective Supplier....I mean you hate them....they cause you grief.  Are they an "Influencer".  Do you want to have them live in your SalesLogix system anyway? 

6.  Do you have "Partners" and "Prospective Partners"? 

7.  Do you have "Indirect Customers" and "Prospective Indirect Customers"......say if you create add-on products which are sold through a channel.  If SalesLogix is a CRM System.........like "Customer Relationship Management" System, where does "Prospect" fit into the "CRM" acronym. Hmmmm.  Also, if you are the Managing Director of a Import/Export company......your "Suppliers" and "Prospective Suppliers" are probably of more importance to you than your Customers?  That is, your Sales Manager and his/her team look after the "Customers" and "Prospective Customers"......................So, what do you say to the MD - he can't use the CRM system to store his correspondence with "Suppliers" and "Prospective Suppliers" because SalesLogix is a Customer Relationship Management System?..............Could you increase the number of SalesLogix users in a company to expand to everyone......not just the Sales and Customer Services people?  Hmmmmmm.....Interesting......  So, what are the implications of the above for "Account Type"?  Well, out-of-the-box in SalesLogix, the Account Type Field Length should be increased from 64 to 256 and should be set to "Allow Multiple Selections"

by default.

(originally posted in Wishlist newsgroup five years ago).  

Message Edited by scottdurgan on 02-02-2010 01:19 PM

[#2]

Sorry for the formatting.....can i edit?

[#3]

I agree with the problem, yes we need a way to classify Accounts as more than one Account Type, but I can't agree with the solution. For such an important field Allow Multiple Selections would cause it's fair share of problems.

I would suggest that to solve this problem we would need a 1-M relationship (ie a new table) for Account Types, with perhaps some nice searching tools and input tools so that it doesn't feel quite like a 1-M relationship to the end user.

[#4]

Sorry I missed this one. Yes, it seems like much was designed by programmers with no real experience in the business world working for the best possible outcomes with employees and customers. If you're going to design something "broad" make sure it's broad. Kind of like the thinking that went into the "one" contact per activity experience. Weak. Commence was doing this in the early 90's - not that I'm endorsing that product in any way share or form.