Act CRM: 'Do I Really Need to Upgrade?'

If you are reading this blog, it’s likely you are currently using Act as your CRM software, it’s also likely you are not on the latest release. In this blog we help you identify if upgrading you Act Software is the right move for your business, weighing up functionality Vs. costs.

Act is now owned by Swiftpage (if you think it is still owned by Sage you have some catching up to do). Since acquiring Act, Swiftpage have launched three new releases, modernising the world’s best-selling contact management solution. And, with new releases some of the older releases have now reached the end of their lifecycle – so if you are on Act v17 or earlier you will no longer benefit from patches and/or upgrade discounts (which means upgrading will be more costly, you’ll want a bigger bang for your buck if you upgrade).

Here’s what you are missing…

Sage Act 2013

If you are using Act 2013, not only are there functionality gaps (which you can see from the chart above), but the product is now End of Life (EOL), which means it is no longer supported by Swiftpage.

Act v16

If you are on Act v16 you will benefit from Act marketing integration, calculated field capabilities and mobile enhancements (if you are on Act Premium) which is a fantastic tool. However, you will be missing out on some of the latest features and after 30/09/2016 you will no longer benefit from a loyalty discount when you upgrade. So, if you are thinking of upgrading, it’s worthwhile thinking about making the transition now!

Act v17

Act v17 is no longer supported by Swiftpage. Although having some of the more recent functionality including Outlook integration for calendar, contacts and emails, as well as access to the more advanced emarketing capabilities, such as lead capture, call lists and SmartTask automation, you will be missing out on Windows 10 compatibility and Act subscription benefits.

Still can’t decide?

Making the decision to replace your software can be a difficult one. You need to balance the costs, the benefits and the all-important ROI. Here are some important considerations…

• Have you upgraded your operating system to Windows 10? – only the latest version of Act is supported for Windows 10
• Do you live in your Inbox? – you could benefit from Outlook integration
• Do you use other business applications? – by integrating Act you could makes some considerable time savings
• Do you get involved in email marketing? Or, would you like to? – the email marketing functionality is now really powerful
• Has your version of Act reached EOL? – if it has you can no longer get support from Swiftpage and they will no longer provide bug fixes and patches

How much Act CRM cost?

Act Premium subscription prices start at £240 per user per year and include Act E-marketing and Act Connect, a connector that allows easy integration with your favourite apps, such as PayPal, Eventbrite and Survey Monkey. With technical support included at no extra charge throughout your subscription period you can get the help you need to quickly resolve technical issues.

Still can’t justify the cost to upgrade?

Quite often justifying the upfront costs of updating your business software is tough, particularly if cash flow is a problem. If that is the case, but you feel you could benefit from the functionality available in the Act v18 there is an option, Act Cloud.

Act Cloud

With Act Cloud you get the latest version of Act, hosted on your behalf (so no additional workloads on your servers), support is rolled in and payment is on a subscription basis!

Sound too good to be true? See for yourself – Find out more about Act Cloud, here.