Considering an ACT Software Upgrade?…2 Must Ask Questions
People say they learn a lot from me, truth is I learn from customers and subscribers all the time. Yesterday I talked with a customer who articulated something I think might benefit others. It was pertaining to the idea of upgrading his ACT software after receiving an upgrade notice from Sage Software, he said, “I got some critical enhancement products as a part of my ACT install, I know how it all works and interconnects with my business process, as a result I’m cautious about installing a soon to be released upgrade.”
The truth is, he has quite unique combination of ACT Addon installed on his computer…each with a critical business purpose, allowing him to focus on what brings in revenue, selling. However, it does bring up a very fair question.
Should I upgrade?
For 2008 and beyond, with any software, the question people are asking…Should I upgrade?
Here are some questions ACT users must ask before answering the upgrade question. Take time to write out the answers to these questions, and be as specific as possible.
1.) What new features in the software will…
a.) Make me or my organization more productive.
b.) Make me or my organization smarter about the data in my database.
c.) Give me or my organization a competitive edge
d.) Help me or my organization make customers and prospects lives better.
2.) How will the existing configuration carry over to this new version?
a.) Will it support the operating system I’m running?
b.) If using templates, and mail merges, will it support the version of my word processor.
c.) Am I using any addon or enhancement products, and if so, are they supported on the new version. If not, when will an update be available, and what will it cost (many are free)?
d.) The Database itself, have others experienced problems upgrading their database for this new software, can I perform a test migration of my database to see if there are any problems before putting it ‘in production’? (this is CRITICAL, and I always recommend a professional to evaluate at least this part…it is your customer/prospect database, the lifeblood of any business…partner with someone you trust)
3.) Handheld integration, Palm Treo, Motorola Q Phone, Apple iPhone, Blackberry, phones running Windows Mobile, Pocket PCs, etc.
a.) If synchronizing with a handheld, will the synchronization software I use work with this new upgrade?
b.) If upgrades are necessary, what is the process to obtain and install the upgrade?
4.) If your database is shared
a.) What will it take to install the upgrade to all computers.
b.) Consider items outlined in #2 and #3 above for each computer.
c.) Do I need help to get it done right, or am I willing to learn and do it myself?
Based on feedback from my subscribers in recent months, there has been general frustration when learning that their new computer was incompatible with ACT 2007. The new system had the Microsoft Vista operating system, or Office 2007…or both (to be fair, there is a patch to make ACT 2007 function under Vista, but there are significant limitations, and while others have reported it working 80% of the time, the patch is not supported for those using the Premium version of ACT, more info here http://www.act.com/vista2007/). My advice to them and to you is the following…Anytime you are thinking of getting a new computer or new software, two questions should pop in your head,
“What are the productivity gains?”…and
“How will this effect my existing applications?”
As my customer has learned, much like business itself, computer systems are becoming more complicated, not simpler. They need to work for you, not the other way around. If you sufficiently answer those questions, and test it before diving in. It just may save you some grief.
Travis
PS: These questions are a good outline when considering an IT vendor to help you with software or system integrations. If they don’t ask you these questions in some form during the process, determine what process they follow to deliver successfully for their customers.
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