[clug-talk] blue tooth and customer relation management

[TekBudda]

> 
>>  #2.  you guys were so helpful on my previous question regarding a 
>> customer relation management system. I looked at afew of the options 
>> and even downloaded Sugar but these were way too much.  Would it be 
>> possible to get a program like “Kontact”  to be accessed at the same 
>> time from about 5-6 different users here in the office?? We want all 
>> users here inside to be running off of the same calendar and also have 
>> the same contact/supplier base to work from. Also through the email we 
>> could all use the same e-mail to send globally and receive globally. 
>> Are there any options or avenues that im not seeing??
> 
> First, while a CRM may be overkill, they can provide these types of 
> services.  I'll assume you are not interested in a CRM though, for now....
> 
> You are discussing shared address books and shared calendars.  Gustin 
> has some extensive experience with shared calendars.  (I'm betting he 
> will post a response to this thread... )  I have been recently searching 
> for a shared/common address book solution for myself and have only been 
> partially successful.
> 
> The moment you start thinking of a central repository for contact 
> information, you find yourself looking at an LDAP server.  In theory 
> this is what it is meant for.  In practice it CAN do this, and more. But 
> the problem comes in terms of what client you are intending on using to 
> talk to the LDAP server.  ThunderBird can read from an LDAP server but 
> cannot write - so no changing your contacts via ThunderBird. Kontact 
> should be able to read/write from LDAP.  And the inconsistencies extend 
> to the various clients.  If you get to select the client tool, this may 
> not be an issue.  LDAP is a somewhat difficult thing to get set up, as 
> it is based on terminology and technology that was designed before the 
> massive proliferation of the Internet.  (X.500 is the base concept).  
> There is lots of documentation out there on getting LDAP up and running, 
> and really it isn't that difficult.  But understanding the terms and the 
> problem area is not for a novice.  Still, a little effort goes a long 
> ways here.  (I might be willing to plan an LDAP workshop if there were 
> enough interest.)
> 
> I believe the easiest alternative at the moment is to make use of Google 
> Calendar and Google Contacts.  There are plugins to make use of these 
> for most mail clients.  The negative side of this is that you are giving 
> Google your calendar and contact information and it is known they'll 
> make use of this to personalize ads for you.  I personally don't believe 
> Google has a need for this info, and have so far resisted using these 
> services.  But I can't deny the convenience they bring to the table.

The only other thing I can really add to this is that I was test driving 
Sugar at my last job for use in a call centre to share information, 
calendars, etc.  It never did get off the ground and likely won't under 
the current dill-hole management.  One good thing is that is runs on any 
platform.

I have not looked into this very deeply at this point, but perhaps you 
could look at Zimbra.  It has many of the features you are looking at & 
if you are worried about client access, they offer clients as well.

This is a reach but may suit your needs...who knows.  You want also want 
to look at a product like sharepoint (ECM I believe).  I am not 
suggesting you use SP, but there may be something out there for you.  I 
have come across a few out there.  O3Spaces is the only one coming to 
mind right now, but try a google for open source sharepoint and they 
should come up.