<5 users pro edition modules

[lanx]

After spending several hours here on the website watching all of the tutorials and features, I got sugarCRM opensource installed. As I started to import leads to play around with, I noticed that many of the features I was most interested in was not on my dashboard. I looked around and looked around and finally found that the features I was most interested in were with the Pro edition.

I went to check the pricing for the Pro edition, which was acceptable, but then noticed I had to purchase a minimum of 5 users. What do organizations, such as mine, do when you need less than 5 users? Technically we only need two users and would love those additional features found in the pro edition. However, I am not willing to purchase the 5 minimum to only be used by 2 of us.

So my question to the board is what are we suppose to do with this situation? The features/modules i want for us are the automatic workflow management and campaign reporting. Are there 3rd party modules for these two modules that is available for purchase that I can use with the opensource version of sugarCRM? Can I work with someone at sugarCRM to only license us for 2 users?

I would hate to have to move to another alternative because it seems like sugarCRM is very powerful and does what we need it to do (well, in the pro version). Thanks!

[longreach]

Many people have asked to bypass the 5 user minimum, unsuccessfully. SugarCRM has to establish a minimum client size that they can service profitably, I'm sure you'll agree. As to your alternatives - for many modules there are free or low cost alternatives - but I am not aware of options for workflow. As for Campaign reporting - you may have the advantage of me - but I can't think of any Campaign features not in Open Source.

[chrisky]

After spending several hours here on the website watching all of the tutorials and features, I got sugarCRM opensource installed. As I started to import leads to play around with, I noticed that many of the features I was most interested in was not on my dashboard. I looked around and looked around and finally found that the features I was most interested in were with the Pro edition.

I went to check the pricing for the Pro edition, which was acceptable, but then noticed I had to purchase a minimum of 5 users. What do organizations, such as mine, do when you need less than 5 users? Technically we only need two users and would love those additional features found in the pro edition. However, I am not willing to purchase the 5 minimum to only be used by 2 of us.

So my question to the board is what are we suppose to do with this situation? The features/modules i want for us are the automatic workflow management and campaign reporting. Are there 3rd party modules for these two modules that is available for purchase that I can use with the opensource version of sugarCRM? Can I work with someone at sugarCRM to only license us for 2 users?

I would hate to have to move to another alternative because it seems like sugarCRM is very powerful and does what we need it to do (well, in the pro version). Thanks!

I wish that the 'board' could help you my friend..
There are many of us whom share your confusion. Confusion as to why Sugar chooses to make the business decision(s) they've made, such as choosing not to SELL Sugar to single users.

I've run guestimated numbers in regards to some business ideas of mine relating to selling Sugar to single users. I've come up with between $500,000 and $2 Million dollars per month in revenue being brought in almost immediately after neccessary implementation of the plans I'd thought of in my mind in which would take 2-4 weeks to implement.

Anyways, Sugar has chosen not to sell [sugar] to single users, why?
I really don't know.. Though I can both understand such business decission, explain it, and agree with it as well as see and understand both sides of that decision, there is just one detail in which has me confused.

That detail just doesn't fit into the puzzle [for me], and has no logic, rhyme, or reason behind it, in which I can come up with... That detail is the SugarCRM's having gone to great expense and trouble to develope and distribute a single user edition of SugarCRM *seenote*..

*Note: SugarCRM is built on the foundation of requiring a server environment; that said, the WAMP package edition of Sugar, is a Windows installable {by anyone} edition of Sugar.
Any network admin knows how to install any server dependant application.
Any server (whether Linux or WinSlows) is already going to have Apache, MySQl, and PHP setup and running.

I don't know of any admin in the world whom would require the ApacheMysqlPhp, all-in-one, easyily installable by anyone, install package being included with any server application.

So, though I can recognize, understand, and even agree with, everything relating to this business decision of Sugar's, as well as all sides and perspectives. The WAMP packaging of Sugar is the 'monkey wrench' thrown into the mix in which has me personally bedaffled.
*End of Note

You're best to direct your questions or comments to the SugarTeam in regards to your desire to pay for Sugar, and such is the only advice or help the board can offer you, my friend.

[lanx]

Thanks for the words.

You are correct about the marketing campaign, I see that opensource does have that. Although I guess now the workflow module is really all I need. Can this be purchased separately through sugarCRM or partner?

[jkliza]

I'd be interested in the workflow capabilites for a single user, or even 3 users, as well.

[kpit]

This is not likely to happen From SugarCRM's perspective. There are several reason this is not a single user system.

The primary reason this is a client server web application. This was not designed for a single user system. It requires two server Applications running to make it work (webserver configured to run php, Database Server (MySQL, MS SQL or Oracle). It also requires a user to access the system by a web browser. Typically you will need or be an expert to install configure and manage. On top of this if a paticullar dificulty you may need support to resolve the issues beyond what the community can answer.

Support has a definate cost associated with it to provide support. Consider a 5 user license has one point of contact for Support. Now consider you provied single license to 5 people. you now have 5 points of contacts for 5 licenses. Now instead of having to support 1 person for 5 licenses you now are supporting 5 people for 5 licenses. They determined a minimum number of licenses that it makes it cost effective to cover support costs. This is also why OnDemand also has this minimum of 5 users. Unless you would rather pay $1,375 per user for single licenses.

The Key factor is cost of having additional personal to support the support contacts. Having more support contacts requires more support personnel to handle the requests. Think in terms of SugarCRM is a business and need to make money to stay open and improve the product as well.

[lanx]

This is not likely to happen From SugarCRM's perspective. There are several reason this is not a single user system.

The primary reason this is a client server web application. This was not designed for a single user system. It requires two server Applications running to make it work (webserver configured to run php, Database Server (MySQL, MS SQL or Oracle). It also requires a user to access the system by a web browser. Typically you will need or be an expert to install configure and manage. On top of this if a paticullar dificulty you may need support to resolve the issues beyond what the community can answer.

Support has a definate cost associated with it to provide support. Consider a 5 user license has one point of contact for Support. Now consider you provied single license to 5 people. you now have 5 points of contacts for 5 licenses. Now instead of having to support 1 person for 5 licenses you now are supporting 5 people for 5 licenses. They determined a minimum number of licenses that it makes it cost effective to cover support costs. This is also why OnDemand also has this minimum of 5 users. Unless you would rather pay $1,375 per user for single licenses.

The Key factor is cost of having additional personal to support the support contacts. Having more support contacts requires more support personnel to handle the requests. Think in terms of SugarCRM is a business and need to make money to stay open and improve the product as well.

That totally makes, thus I am looking more for a module rather than trying to get sugarcrm people to sell me only a two/three person license. Again, mainly interested in the workflow module. No one has gone out and developed something near identical to it for open source?

[longreach]

No - no one has. Not sure I'd call it a module either - as it has to reach its tentacles all over the place.

[music]

Hi there,
did you find any solution to your search for a separate workflow module?