Open Source CRM Software

[JohnW]

Hello all,

Wanted to post a good application for use with our businesses. I posted this in the Computer Section because it requires a decent understanding of your computer to understand how the software works. However, it can be installed with only a couple clicks of the mouse. It may or may not work for your company, but I found it to be very useful for a friend of mine. I still am however learning it myself. Whereas most traditional programs are an 'application', this is more of a local web application. The .exe installs WAMP, or Windows Apache MySQL and PHP. It appears to run a local webserver, using Apache and then uses MySQL as the database backend and PHP for the interfacing. The very cool thing about this, is that you can port it so that if you have to work from somewhere else on the web, you can get to it from anywhere that there's web access.
Here's the link for the software: http://sugarforge.org/projects/spikewamp

It's open source, so it's a free program, the company makes money if you buy the pro version or if you buy support. Give it a try and see what you think.

The main link for the company and it's products are www.sugarcrm.com

John W.

[tropical wave]

John, I read this twice and I still dont know what it "does"..... ??

[PLD]

Michael: CRM = customer relationship management. Think highly sophisticated contact manager that tracks history with a customer.

John: Does it run on LAMP also? I love A.M.P, but it's the WinDoze part that I cannot stand....

[tropical wave]

Originally Posted by pldoolittle

Michael: CRM = customer relationship management. Think highly sophisticated contact manager that tracks history with a customer.
...

ahhhhhhh, 10-4......thanks for the ed-u-ma-cation....

[JohnW]

Hey guys,


Sorry for the over the top techie explanation, I didn't know how to really break it down any better. It's basically sorta like ACT Software from Symantec. It's really almost like keeping your stuff on a website, except the website is local and not somewhere else. The database stays on your own computer, not someone else's.
Philip, I think there's a linux version, but I'm not sure. I'm guessing youi are running only linux on your desktop? If so, that's great! There's so much free, open source software out there for linux, that's really spectacular! I'll check into it further tomorrow for you, I'll have more time at my full time job to look it up. I'll let you know. I'm sorry we still haven't hooked up to meet each other. Maybe you'd be up for lunch one day up in Fayetteville on the weekend? We might even could get Ryan up there as well.

John W.

[PLD]

Lunch: I'm game. It would be excellent if we can make it a round table!

Linux: I wish. I'm still chained to MS office at home for my wife (work req'd) and kids (school req'd). But, I do not run WinDoze in the backend so Apache, MySQL and perl are linux. Even my router (WRT54G) is linux. My website (www.OdorDestroyer.com) is 100% LAMP with Mive Merchant tossed in to slow things down a bit

Philip

[PLD]

Update: There is a new player in town. FreeCRM.com And it truly is free, unless you want to some of the more specialized functions. Then it is $14.95/mo.

I'm testing now and will offer a mini-review later.

Philip

[JohnW]

Very cool Philip, let us know how that goes!