CRM or MS 365?
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Currently I’m looking to have an IT overhaul. What’s required is to set up one set of files/data that will be accessible to all members of the team, regardless of where they are working from. So, something like a central server where everyone can gain access to the shared information at any time from any given computer.
I suspect a cloud, online based server would be the most ideal however I’m trying to figure out whether to go for a CRM system or just go with Microsoft 365? Would Microsoft 365 have the ability to create a central server, as mentioned above? I realise a CRM system is the most convenient option in that everything is set up for you but it is expensive.
The most important element of the overhaul is the ability to share and gain access to data/information by any given individual. Website integration etc. is not a priority.
I would like to receive some feedback on what you think might be the best option here.
Thanks -
Neither option really clearly satisfies your goals. Office 365 is a licensing system that offers some features as SaaS like email, Sharepoint, instant messaging, etc. Office 365 has a CRM package as one of its options.
A CRM is a customer management system and is just software. So you can just acquire software alone, like SuiteCRM, or you can get a hosted CRM system like Salesforce. But a CRM is specific software for a very specific purpose.
In neither case do you get a central server. Office 365 is a licensing system that includes a range of SaaS applications. CRM is a type of software.
I think a clearer understanding of your goal is needed.
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Thanks for the response.
As I said essentially what I need is a system where all the company files/information/data can be stored in one central location, so that any member of the team can have access to it.
I know Microsoft Dynamics 365 now do something like this? I really don't understand all these other features though. -
You need something like Nextcloud, DropBox, Google Drive, OneDrive for Business, etc...
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@saltedcaramel said in CRM or MS 365?:
As I said essentially what I need is a system where all the company files/information/data can be stored in one central location, so that any member of the team can have access to it.
That's very general, though. A CRM, including MS Dynamics, does not do this. It stores data about very specific things. In the case of the CRM function, it stores info about customers, not about your company. So neither CRM or Dynamics (which is a CRM plus a few other things) does this.
Not knowing what your company files and info are, we don't have a lot to work with. If you just want to store generic files, something like Nextcloud is going to be the answer, or a service that is similar like Dropbox. If you want generic data, then a wiki is likely the best bet like Dokuwiki or Wiki.js.
If you have non-generic data, then a custom application is best or at least a specific application to your data types. But without knowing what that is, we are talking extremely generically here.
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@saltedcaramel said in CRM or MS 365?:
Thanks for the response.
As I said essentially what I need is a system where all the company files/information/data can be stored in one central location, so that any member of the team can have access to it.
I know Microsoft Dynamics 365 now do something like this? I really don't understand all these other features though.Dynamics is a CRM, offered in MS/O365. The software service portal is central, yes. All the big players are in fact, because why would any company use a CRM that was a cluster f***?
What's misleading is you are comparing a CRM to MS/O365. Microsoft offers a CRM in MS/O365. That's like buying a new vehicle but you're considering a car or a Chevy. Chevy makes cars, Microsoft has a CRM.
Files are very different though, a CRM isn't a file server, and a file server doesn't handle CRM functions (or at least it shouldn't). They're completely different use cases and should never be in the same space.
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@scottalanmiller said in CRM or MS 365?:
@saltedcaramel said in CRM or MS 365?:
As I said essentially what I need is a system where all the company files/information/data can be stored in one central location, so that any member of the team can have access to it.
That's very general, though. A CRM, including MS Dynamics, does not do this. It stores data about very specific things. In the case of the CRM function, it stores info about customers, not about your company. So neither CRM or Dynamics (which is a CRM plus a few other things) does this.
Not knowing what your company files and info are, we don't have a lot to work with. If you just want to store generic files, something like Nextcloud is going to be the answer, or a service that is similar like Dropbox. If you want generic data, then a wiki is likely the best bet like Dokuwiki or Wiki.js.
If you have non-generic data, then a custom application is best or at least a specific application to your data types. But without knowing what that is, we are talking extremely generically here.
Hi Scott,
Ok so specifically I mean excel spreadsheets of members details like contact numbers, email addresses etc. Right now these spreadsheets and information is only present on one computer in the office. All members of the team need access to these files so what's the best way of doing this?
Also only one person has access to the mailbox email address on Outlook. We all need access to it, how do I go about getting this so we all have access to the mailbox?
I reckon maybe a CRM system is not even needed but maybe something as simple as one drive or dropbox? -
@saltedcaramel said in CRM or MS 365?:
@scottalanmiller said in CRM or MS 365?:
@saltedcaramel said in CRM or MS 365?:
As I said essentially what I need is a system where all the company files/information/data can be stored in one central location, so that any member of the team can have access to it.
That's very general, though. A CRM, including MS Dynamics, does not do this. It stores data about very specific things. In the case of the CRM function, it stores info about customers, not about your company. So neither CRM or Dynamics (which is a CRM plus a few other things) does this.
Not knowing what your company files and info are, we don't have a lot to work with. If you just want to store generic files, something like Nextcloud is going to be the answer, or a service that is similar like Dropbox. If you want generic data, then a wiki is likely the best bet like Dokuwiki or Wiki.js.
If you have non-generic data, then a custom application is best or at least a specific application to your data types. But without knowing what that is, we are talking extremely generically here.
Hi Scott,
Ok so specifically I mean excel spreadsheets of members details like contact numbers, email addresses etc. Right now these spreadsheets and information is only present on one computer in the office. All members of the team need access to these files so what's the best way of doing this?
Like a few others have mentioned, Nextcloud or something like Google Drive/Dropbox/OneDrive is your answer here.
From what you have described, you are looking for a file share in the cloud. That is what the aforementioned products are built for.
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@saltedcaramel said in CRM or MS 365?:
@scottalanmiller said in CRM or MS 365?:
@saltedcaramel said in CRM or MS 365?:
As I said essentially what I need is a system where all the company files/information/data can be stored in one central location, so that any member of the team can have access to it.
That's very general, though. A CRM, including MS Dynamics, does not do this. It stores data about very specific things. In the case of the CRM function, it stores info about customers, not about your company. So neither CRM or Dynamics (which is a CRM plus a few other things) does this.
Not knowing what your company files and info are, we don't have a lot to work with. If you just want to store generic files, something like Nextcloud is going to be the answer, or a service that is similar like Dropbox. If you want generic data, then a wiki is likely the best bet like Dokuwiki or Wiki.js.
If you have non-generic data, then a custom application is best or at least a specific application to your data types. But without knowing what that is, we are talking extremely generically here.
Hi Scott,
Ok so specifically I mean excel spreadsheets of members details like contact numbers, email addresses etc. Right now these spreadsheets and information is only present on one computer in the office. All members of the team need access to these files so what's the best way of doing this?
Also only one person has access to the mailbox email address on Outlook. We all need access to it, how do I go about getting this so we all have access to the mailbox?
I reckon maybe a CRM system is not even needed but maybe something as simple as one drive or dropbox?If ALL that info is about customers, then a CRM like SuiteCRM might make sense. But if anything is something else, then a CRM won't do it. CRM is unique to that one data set.
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@scottalanmiller
Thanks.
I've started using Google drive, One Drive, Drop box for saving files and spreadsheets. However I'm having issues with both excel spreadsheet files and MS Access files. Firstly when I open and edit Excel files, Google, one drive, drop box, they all seem to save additional copies every time. Why is this? How can I get it to simply over-write the file I'm working on so there's only one document each time?
Also once I upload an MS Access file, each time I click on it, it saves a copy on my hard drive. Why is this and how can I get around it? -
@saltedcaramel said in CRM or MS 365?:
@scottalanmiller
Thanks.
I've started using Google drive, One Drive, Drop box for saving files and spreadsheets. However I'm having issues with both excel spreadsheet files and MS Access files. Firstly when I open and edit Excel files, Google, one drive, drop box, they all seem to save additional copies every time. Why is this? How can I get it to simply over-write the file I'm working on so there's only one document each time?
Also once I upload an MS Access file, each time I click on it, it saves a copy on my hard drive. Why is this and how can I get around it?If you want to share Access database, you should think about using SQL Server instead.
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@saltedcaramel said in CRM or MS 365?:
@scottalanmiller
Thanks.
I've started using Google drive, One Drive, Drop box for saving files and spreadsheets. However I'm having issues with both excel spreadsheet files and MS Access files. Firstly when I open and edit Excel files, Google, one drive, drop box, they all seem to save additional copies every time. Why is this? How can I get it to simply over-write the file I'm working on so there's only one document each time?
Also once I upload an MS Access file, each time I click on it, it saves a copy on my hard drive. Why is this and how can I get around it?Access is not meant to be used like that. And generally, it is a product to absolutely avoid. If you really want to use Access, you need some serious infrastructure to make it actually work properly and the cost is ridiculous.
Like every user that needs to use it needs Access licenses bought for them. And you need to run a SQL Server instance... there is no proper way to use Access over the internet without connecting it to a Sharepoint server to host the web interface.
Without a Sharepoint and SQL Server infrastructure, you have to rule out Access.
