Re: SugarCRM?

Helge Hess wrote:

>
> Exactly.
>
> So if OGo already contains the same CRM functionality and just lacks a 
> proper interface theme which puts the $$$ value of the contact at the 
> top of the page instead of hiding it in some tab, we would serve two 
> purposes, groupware and CRM, with just one application.

Not quite however a CRM module for OGo is probably the next task once 
1.0 is out. I would rate it as the most requested feature. However there 
are issues here that need to be addressed. Lets assume a module for OGo 
that provides that functionality either as an addon or a new version of 
OGo (not sure on this one yet) The following would be required:

1. new skin
2. new pre-set data types and data relationships
3. possibly new or additional tables for the db backend
4. additonal graphics output capabilities
5. discussion board module
6. user generated forms capability
7. partial list only....probably more...especially if options wrt to 
mysql are considered that are not currently available for postgresql. 
Just speculating however.

Also (and perhaps more important) from a product development 
perspective, a couple of things need to be considered. Is this is 
serparate product, or a module addon, or an enhancement feature? Each 
has its own requirements in terms of design, development, implementation 
and _customer acceptance_ with the latter being the key for both 
commerical and OSS product offerings. Certainly CRM is a very hot market 
with a broad audience that is not 'captured" by the big vendors to the 
same degree as mail systems and clients.

>
> This is actually something I'm looking for, an analysis like:
> - the OGo project viewer actually is the same like the opportunity 
> viewer, just:
>   - put the $$$ extra attribute on the top
>   - rename the label from "project" to "opportunity"
>   - rename the label "associated companies" to "accounts"
>
> On the other side one could just take SugarCRM pages and rewrite them 
> as OGo templates. Seems to be something like 10 or 15 pages showing 
> some tableviews, not more.
>
> *Unless* of course SugarCRM indeed provides much more than what I saw.
>
Yes it provides more. Download the tiger version from sourceforge and 
play with it for a day or two. Also make sure to install the demo data 
to get you started. Please consider posting your observations. They 
would be very helpfull as I dont have the time at present to do a 
detailed review.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/vtigercrm/  (project site)
http://www.vtiger.com/products/crm/index.html  (parent firm)


regards

/ch

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