CRM Integration with SQL contacts

[EddieVan]

We are looking at different CRM packages... one of the key requirements is that the CRM package is able to integrate with out existing support call logging software. This package contains all our company and client contacts and is reasonably accurate, as we ensure that all support personel check contact information. We only have two sales/marketing people that need a CRM, so SugarCRM is likely to be an overkill, but as mentioned, we need a package that connects to the existing company/contacts database. The company/contacts are stored in MSSQL, each in a single table of their own. Contacts are linked to the company through a company ID.

Is SugarCRM able to do this? Are there other CRMs that can do this? If this can not be done out of the box, is it easy enough to create a script to handle this?

Thanks,
Ed

[eggsurplus]

There are a few options. You could use an ETL tool and basically have two copies of the data that you update on a nightly basis. Or you could overwrite the Contacts bean to pull data and save to your contacts database. I briefly mention this in this post http://www.sugarcrm.com/forums/showp...00&postcount=2. You'd rename the Contacts bean to Contacts_sugar.php (along with the class name in the file) and create your own Contacts bean that overrides Contacts_sugar along with the functions that you want to override. Same thing from Company/Accounts.

[hubcrm]

Ed,

This is quite east to do with something like Jitterbit. You could probably get something up and running quickly watching some of their web casts. I've done contact syncing with it many times. I wouldn't say SugarCRM is overkill for any sales scenario. All businesses benefit from a well defined process and Sugar can help to enforce that. CRM done right can have a dramatic impact on a Sales function.

Cheers

Vince

[SergeiLo]

Hi Ed,

Try to use Apatar Data Integration ETL tool. Apatar is open source product and free to download and use. We completed a number of integration projects for our customers who use SugarCRM. Apatar will help you to migrate all your contacts and accounts (link them/associate them with each other) for a couple of minutes/ hours (depends on PC and internet performance).

Regards,
Sergei
sergei.l (at) apatar.com
www.apatar.com
www.apatarforge.org