Wizard Systems

From Server Woes to Cloud Glow: The Benefits of Hosting Your GoldMine CRM from Wizard Systems

For a GoldMine CRM user with an existing on-premises installation, switching to a hosted server solution offers several key benefits:

Reduced Infrastructure Costs and Maintenance

By moving to a hosted server, you eliminate the need to purchase, maintain, and upgrade your own physical server hardware. This shifts the responsibility for server upkeep, security updates, and infrastructure management to the hosting provider, allowing you to focus on your core business activities rather than IT maintenance.

Enhanced Accessibility and Collaboration

A hosted GoldMine CRM solution enables 24/7 accessibility from any location with an internet connection. This improved accessibility facilitates real-time collaboration among team members, regardless of their physical location, enhancing overall productivity.

Scalability and Flexibility

Hosted solutions typically offer easier scalability, allowing you to adjust your server resources as your business needs change. This flexibility can be particularly beneficial for growing businesses or those with fluctuating demands.

Improved Security and Reliability

Professional hosting providers often offer enterprise-class security measures and robust backup systems, which may be more comprehensive than what many small to medium-sized businesses can implement on their own. This can lead to improved data protection and system reliability.

Cost Predictability

Hosting services usually operate on a subscription model, which can provide more predictable monthly costs compared to the potentially large, irregular expenses associated with maintaining your own server.  Costs start from £50 per User per Month with no setup fees (excludes costs relating to GoldMine move).

Automatic Updates and Support

We handle software updates (GoldMine Upgrades) and provide technical support, ensuring your GoldMine CRM stays current and any issues are promptly addressed. While these benefits can be significant, it's important to carefully evaluate your specific business needs, data security requirements, and long-term cost projections when considering a switch to a hosted server solution for your GoldMine CRM.  We can advise you.

Contact Wizard Systems for more information and pricing!

Empower Your Remote Workforce with GoldMine CRM - Event 24/5

As remote work becomes increasingly prevalent, businesses need to ensure their teams can access critical applications like GoldMine CRM from anywhere, at any time. GoldMine offers several remote access options to keep your remote users connected and productive, no matter where they are located.

1. Remote Synchronisation
Always been in there with the product, Remote Synchronisation is a powerful feature that allows remote users to work offline with a local copy of the GoldMine database. Any changes or updates made locally are synchronised with the central database when the user reconnects. This option is ideal for field sales representatives or other mobile workers who frequently operate in areas with limited or no internet connectivity.

2. Remote Desktop
GoldMine can be accessed remotely via Remote Desktop, a built-in Windows feature that enables users to connect to a remote computer over the internet. This option provides a familiar desktop experience, allowing remote users to run GoldMine as if they were sitting in front of the host computer. However, it requires a stable and high-speed internet connection for optimal performance, which should be okay for most areas.

3. GO-Global by GraphOn and Wizard Systems
GO-Global is an affordable, third-party application publishing solution that delivers GoldMine and other Windows applications to remote users over the internet or a corporate network. This option offers a seamless and secure remote access experience, with support for multiple monitors, clipboard sharing, and other advanced features. GO-Global can be especially useful for organisations with a distributed workforce or remote teams accessing GoldMine from various locations, and wanting a lower cost alternative to Remote Desktop.

4. GoldMine Web
GoldMine Web is a web-based interface included with GoldMine that provides remote access to essential CRM functionality. Users can access contact records, calendars, and other key features through a web browser, making it a convenient option for remote workers who need basic CRM access on the go. However, GoldMine Web may have limited functionality compared to the full desktop application.

By leveraging these remote access options, businesses can empower their remote teams with the tools they need to stay connected, collaborate effectively, and drive success. Whether you choose Remote Synchronisation, Remote Desktop, GO-Global, or GoldMine Web, GoldMine CRM ensures your remote workforce can access critical customer data and CRM capabilities from anywhere, at any time.

To learn more about these remote access options and how they can benefit your organisation, join our upcoming webinar on "Maximising Remote Productivity with GoldMine CRM" this Friday 24th May at 2pm UK time. Our experts will dive deeper into each option, share best practices, and answer your questions live. Register today to secure your spot!

Register here

Working Remotely Made Easy with GO-Global

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to rapidly shift to remote work. While working from home offers greater flexibility, accessing important office and Windows applications securely can be challenging. GO-Global supplied by Wizard Systems is an innovative solution that makes accessing on-premises apps as easy as opening a webpage.

What is GO-Global?

GO-Global is remote access software that allows users to access internal business applications from any device with an HTML5 browser. It works by hosting Windows or Linux sessions on central servers which users can then log into through their web browser. This allows them to run applications with the same functionality and speed as if they were sitting at their office desktop.

Key Benefits of GO-Global

Simple and Fast Deployment

One of the major advantages of GO-Global is how fast and easy it is to implement. Since it is software-based rather than hardware-based, it can be set up much faster than traditional VPN infrastructure. This allows organizations to have their workforce accessing resources remotely in just hours or days.

Browser-Based Access

Users can access their important office applications easily through Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari or any other HTML5 browser. There is no need for installation of plugins, controls or client software. This is perfect for organizations wishing to provide contractors, seasonal workers and partners secure application access.

Cost-Effective Solution

With no client software to install or update and inexpensive server licensing, GO-Global is a highly affordable solution compared to alternatives like Citrix. It can provide substantial cost savings especially for small businesses or companies with tight IT budgets. The savings continue with reduced infrastructure needs due to centralized management.

Enhanced Security Features

GO-Global utilizes end-to-end TLS 1.2 encryption protecting all communication between end-user devices and servers. Granular access permissions also allow IT administrators to strictly control what resources each individual user may access. These security capabilities prevent data loss while facilitating productivity.

Get Started Quickly and Easily

With fast deployment, browser-based access and enhanced security capabilities, GO-Global is perfect for organizations that suddenly find themselves needing to support a remote workforce. It allows a seamless transition so users can access what they need from wherever they may be. To learn more about deploying GO-Global for your business, visit our site for more info and an instant demo!

Is GoldMine CRM in the Cloud?

A question we are often asked at Wizard Systems!  Well here is the low-down:

GoldMine does NOT have a true cloud option – i.e. You subscribe to a CRM system and it’s a 100% cloud version and nothing to install.

 

GoldMine will ALWAYS need to be installed somewhere.  In the US there is confusingly being sold a ‘GoldMine Cloud’.  Again, this is not true cloud.  It is GoldMine installed on a server of a US hosting company.  This is not sold outside of the US and our UK and European GoldMine customers would be reluctant to put their data on a US server (re security, GDPR etc..).

 

So the options are:

1) Setup Remote Desktop access to your server or purchase 'GO-Global' from Wizard Systems.  GO-Global allows you to access your applications installed on the server from anywhere via your browser or tablet device.

2) If you want to get rid of your server entirely, there are many hosting companies in the UK (your IT people may know of some or provide the service themselves) who offer a rented server where you can have your office applications on their server and they will give you various access methods to get at them.  So GoldMine could be installed there and other apps like your accounting system, office etc.  Wizard Systems would assist in the move of GoldMine from your existing server to the new hosted server.  You still own GoldMine, but you pay the hosting company a setup fee and normally a monthly/annual payment to use their server and associated apps.  If your local IT Support organisation does not offer this, we can recommend our hosting partner to you.  Just let us know.

 

3) GoldMine has a component called ‘GoldMine Web’.  Wherever GoldMine is (your server or someone else’s server) you can access all the basic features via your browser, tablet or smartphone.  Wizard Systems will install GoldMine Web for you.

 

4) If you still want a true, 100% cloud CRM system, we can supply this to you.  Wizard Systems supply a couple of cloud CRM solutions.  These aren’t GoldMine and would mean a move away from GoldMine. We of course can fully set this up for you and transfer your GoldMine data!  Demonstrations can be provided.

 Considering the move to cloud from GoldMine?  CONTACT WIZARD SYSTEMS!

sagecrm.com being discontinued (NOT on premise Sage CRM!!)

Attention all sagecrm.com users out there, Sage plc have given notice of the imminent retirement of sagecrm.com.  THIS IS THE CLOUD VERSION OF SAGE CRM SOLD DIRECTLY BY SAGE AND NOT SAGE CRM THAT IS INSTALLED ON YOUR OWN SERVER !!!!!

Here is the announcement in full sent to Sage Partners like us, but a similar one has just gone out to subscribers of sagecrm.com:

"We've recently undertaken a full review of our CRM portfolio. As a result of this review, we have made the difficult decision to retire the CRM.com product as of 31 August, 2019. After this date, you will no longer be able to access Sage CRM.com. This decision will enable us to focus our time and resource differently to ensure we can deliver market leading solutions for our customers.

Effective immediately, no further sales or upgrades can be purchased. Technical support will be available until 31 August, 2019.

For customers that you have using this solution, we'd ask that you work closely with them to ensure that they do not permanently lose access to their data. Before August 31, 2019, data must be backed up to a separate location, details on how to do this are available here.

Customers will be directed to contact their support provider, in some cases this may be Sage. For direct customers, if they choose to migrate to an alternative solution like Sage CRM then we'll provide them with names of 3 alternative partners, please let your account manager know as soon as possible.

Migration of data from Sage CRM.com to Sage CRM is possible, as the data is in a different structure, work is required to match the necessary import structure. Sage are unable to provide a migration tool, instructions or support if this is the option the customer opts for.

If you have any questions, please contact your account manager.

Regards

Sage Product and Services Team"

So.....We at Wizard Systems would love to speak to you about a move to Sage CRM on premise.  We can help you with the transition and you might end up saving money!!  Please contact us if you are on sagecrm.com and you use this cloud version of Sage.

 

Mapping option for Workbooks CRM - See it in action this Friday 2nd November 2pm

Our next regular Workbooks presentation is Friday 2nd November at 2.00pm UK time.  This time we're going to cover the Mapping option with Workbooks.  The Mapping Module gives Users the ability to view the locations of People and Organisations on a Map.  This is a useful tool for Field Sales Teams or anyone who is off-site visiting customers, as it makes it possible to compare the location of one customer to other nearby customers, and to see which customers are within a certain distance of a point – meaning that they could plan their day around a particular location.

 

 

....And you can ask us plenty of questions on the call!

It will be about a 15 minute session and there's no charge by the way!

You have to register first at (please do this as soon as you can and not just before the presentation is due to start) 

 

 

Sage CRM 2018 R1 now available - Enhancements to Calendar, Mailchimp link and the interface

Sage CRM 2018 R1 is here!

We’re happy to announce the release of the latest version of Sage CRM – 2018 R1 for customers who do not use Sage CRM in conjunction with Sage 200c.

Incorporating multiple enhancements and bug fixes, from the Calendar to Mailchimp integration, we’re confident it’s going to make life even easier for Sage CRM Users.

What’s new?

Full details of the fixes and enhancements can be found in the release notes available from the Help Centre (http://help.sagecrm.com), but they include:

• Calendar - Speed improvements, increased use of Drag and Drop, additional columns in task lists, a simplified process for creating custom action types.
• Tabs & Menus - Simplify a user’s screens by moving rarely used tabs into a ‘More’ dropdown, rather than having to hide them completely.
• Mailchimp - Will now put an alert on-screen if you try to send a duplicated or invalid email address to Mailchimp in a group email.
• SQL Express - Subject to certain limitations, SQL Express 2014 64-bit edition is now supported for small production environments, not just testing – see the release notes for more details.

While we expect the current version of the Sales, Marketing and Service Connector to Sage 200 (4.1) to be compatible with this new version of Sage CRM, Sage are currently arranging specific testing and expect to be able to advise more fully soon.

For the time being though, please don’t try to implement the connector with CRM 2018 R1 just yet.

For sites using the Sage 200 CRM integrated version, this is still in development and is on course to be included in the Sage 200c Spring 2018 Enhancements release.

Web Insights for Workbooks CRM now available

The new Web Insights module is now generally available to all Workbooks Users as an add on option (this is an extra subscription). 

Web Insights is primarily a lead generation module which allows you to not only track the digital footprint of prospects in your sales funnel, but also of your existing customers. You can easily see who is visiting your website, which pages they’re reviewing and how often.

This page-view information is brought into Workbooks and populated in a new Online Activity record type, and can be viewed on a Landing Page or reported on like other records in Workbooks.

The records are created via an integration with GatorLeads (from CommuniGator) and then linked to existing Workbooks records or even used to create new records (i.e. Sales Leads).

Using the Workbooks reporting functionality, you can build efficient reports that will help you make the most of your website traffic data, which in return, can help you prioritise your resources where they will have the biggest impact and drive revenue growth.

For more information and pricing on Web Insights, please contact Wizard Systems.

 

 

Workbooks and Zapier - new Template Zaps available

Zapier lets you easily connect the web apps you use, making it simple to automate tasks and get more out of your data. It works by using 'Triggers' and 'Actions' i.e. if X happens then do Y. You can find further information in our Knowledge Base.

Setting up Zaps between Workbooks and other applications is simple, and this month we have been busy adding 'Template Zaps' to give you more ideas of how you can streamline your processes. These are:

• Create tasks in Workbooks CRM when payments have been received in Xero
• Create new Cases in Workbooks CRM when new JIRA issues are raised
• Create a new JIRA ticket when a Case is created in Workbooks
• Create tasks in Workbooks CRM when new credit notes are posted in Workbooks
• Add tasks for new or existing leads in Workbooks CRM when new attendees register for an event on Eventbrite

We will continue adding to the list of available Template Zaps, so feel free to email [email protected] with suggestions.

Did you know ... A Template Zap doesn't need to be available in order to use the Zapier integration. You simply need to check that the application you want to integrate with is available on Zapier and start building your Zap. Further information about how you can do this is available in our Knowledge Base.

 

Workbooks Users no longer have to wait for a developer to build an integration....

There is no need to keep waiting for developers to build the integrations you wish for.

Workbooks can communicate with Zapier (www.zapier.com), a tool that makes it possible to connect the apps you use and get more out of your data, thus allowing you to automate tasks between online apps. This will allow you to be able to use complementary apps side by side in the way you want.

How does it work?

Zapier is a web automation tool where you can build Zaps that can automate specific parts of your business. A Zap is a blueprint of a predefined task that you want to run over and over again. Zaps work by using 'Triggers' and 'Actions', allowing you to tell Zapier 'When this happens in this app, do that in another app'.

•The Zapier Triggers are controlled by Triggers and Webhooks within Workbooks. The 'Workbooks Trigger' listens for any change in Workbooks that meets a specific criteria, and uses a Webhook to send the relevant information to the 'Zapier Trigger'.
•The Zapier Actions collect the information sent from another app and use the Workbooks API to carry out the necessary steps within Workbooks.

Supported by over 500 applications, it is possible to mix and match Triggers and Actions to automate tasks that previously had to be carried out manually. This can aid in speeding up workflows and increasing efficiency and productivity.

Requirements

Zaps are very lightweight and easy to set up, so there are only two things needed to start creating your very own;

1. An active Workbooks account

2. A Zapier account

What Zap Templates are available?

We currently have the following Zap Templates available. We recommend that you read our Settings up Zaps page to find documentation for each of these, and to learn how to set up Zaps with Workbooks. Alternatively clicking 'Use this Zap' below will take you to Zapier's website to start creating the Zap.

• Add new Facebook Lead Ad leads as new people in Workbooks CRM
• Create Google Drive folders for new cases on Workbooks CRM
• Copy new posted invoices from Workbooks CRM to Xero
• Create new Sales Leads in Workbooks CRM from Wufoo Form Entries
• Create new Basecamp Projects when new cases are raised in Workbooks CRM