Ideal Features SugarCRM OS I wish to have...

**test** · 2005-02-11, 05:03 PM

- Integration with Sendstudio(an email marketing software) - that allows us to send email out to specific profiles(whether by age, interest, or what they've purchased)
- Reports (I thought this module should be in OS version because it's the basics of what everyone needs... it's just like getting a free car but no odometer... yeah you can drive the car but it's damn annoying)
- Products (Through one of the request threads.. this seems to be a very high demand - why can't this be part of the OS?)
- Integration with Accounting Software (Quickbooks, money, etc) a must need for any company that operates legitimiately...

With all these request I see over and over... It might make sense for some to go w/ SalesForce.com and pay upfront, because they're experienced in integration with practically any type of system... but then it's all about opensource... and SugarCMS team needs to be paid for what they've put their time into... just $240 per user per year - i cannot afford because i operate in such a small company.. here's where the big guys win because they can afford such systems...

JamieinNH · 2005-02-11, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by test

- Integration with Sendstudio(an email marketing software) - that allows us to send email out to specific profiles(whether by age, interest, or what they've purchased)

I also run SendStudio, and I intergrated the two. I set it up one of several ways, one is when someone goes to my contact page on my website, and enter their information they are entered into SugarCRM as a new lead. They are also entered into SendStudio. You can also enter people in manually through SugarCRM, and that also entered them into SendStudio.

I have to be honest, I really like SugarCRM, but it does seem that they focus more on the commerical branding then the OpenSource. I know they need to make money, but true opensource generally has people coming out of the wood works, working together and adding to the main program. Here, you don't see much of that..

That is only my opinion, but it is also why I have stopped looking to the hacks everyone is asking about and started to put them together myself with some help of a friend.

Jamie

**test** · 2005-02-12, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by JamieinNH

I also run SendStudio, and I intergrated the two. I set it up one of several ways, one is when someone goes to my contact page on my website, and enter their information they are entered into SugarCRM as a new lead. They are also entered into SendStudio. You can also enter people in manually through SugarCRM, and that also entered them into SendStudio.

I have to be honest, I really like SugarCRM, but it does seem that they focus more on the commerical branding then the OpenSource. I know they need to make money, but true opensource generally has people coming out of the wood works, working together and adding to the main program. Here, you don't see much of that..

That is only my opinion, but it is also why I have stopped looking to the hacks everyone is asking about and started to put them together myself with some help of a friend.

Jamie

Yeah I hear ya... I really like Sugar CRM myself.. unfortunately... it appears that they do spend significant time on the commercial branding and trying to change the direction of the package for commercial use... a products/reports module is essential for such a system and it's only available in the commercial... I think this makes the system not qualified for Open Source...

btw Jamie, would you mind giving me tips on how to integrate sendstudio with SugarCRM in the manner you did? I would really appreciate it, my email is MAJESTICFX at YAHOO dot COM ... thanks!... Perhaps there can be a site where there are addon modules for SugarCRM in the future...

**gremln007** · 2005-02-16, 03:57 AM

Originally Posted by test

Yeah I hear ya... I really like Sugar CRM myself.. unfortunately... it appears that they do spend significant time on the commercial branding and trying to change the direction of the package for commercial use... a products/reports module is essential for such a system and it's only available in the commercial... I think this makes the system not qualified for Open Source...

btw Jamie, would you mind giving me tips on how to integrate sendstudio with SugarCRM in the manner you did? I would really appreciate it, my email is MAJESTICFX at YAHOO dot COM ... thanks!... Perhaps there can be a site where there are addon modules for SugarCRM in the future...

You can write any report you want using Crystal Reports with MyODBC as your ODBC driver. This assumes you have Crystal Reports. If you use SQL Server for any other business aspect, you may have CR. If not, it is not that expensive for limited licensing.

**smueller72** · 2005-02-17, 02:50 AM

Originally Posted by JamieinNH

I have to be honest, I really like SugarCRM, but it does seem that they focus more on the commerical branding then the OpenSource. I know they need to make money, but true opensource generally has people coming out of the wood works, working together and adding to the main program. Here, you don't see much of that..

That is only my opinion, but it is also why I have stopped looking to the hacks everyone is asking about and started to put them together myself with some help of a friend.

Jamie

I couldn't agree more that there is an unusual lack of collaboration for an Open Source product that, based upon download numbers and the publicity it has received in various Open Source outlets, seems to be widely used in production environments. Even more unusual is how some of those that appear to have offered/are working on modules for the OS product have quickly dropped off the proverbial face of the Earth. That is extremely unusual for a true OS community. In response I'm thinking of setting up a site that will try to serve the following purposes:

1. Providing forums for user to user support, product discussion, ideas - all the standard user support/collab tools
2. Providing a single source hosting for all OS product enhancements/modules
3. Provide tools where OS developers could collaborate/communicate - possibly housing a CVS, bug tracker
4 Provide user to developer communication/collaboration to align user needs with developer resources to prioritize and test enhancements to the OS product. A 'Fill-In the Gap Roadmap' for the open source product would be a nice goal.
4. Foster a more 'traditional' OS community focused on the use/support/development of SugarCRM OS

This site would be intended to compliment and not compete with what the Sugar team currently offers. Nor would it be intended to somehow foster any type of 'fork' of SugarCRM but rather provide the communication/collaboration/support tools for those who want to build the best possible 'mousetrap'

Maybe someone is already doing this but I haven't found such a site. If someone could point me in the right direction if there is I would appreciate it. Any input on whether or not this might be a good idea or other ideas for such a site would also be greatly appreciated. If the feedback is positive I could have a site up by this weekend.

**clint** · 2005-02-17, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by smueller72

I
1. Providing forums for user to user support, product discussion, ideas - all the standard user support/collab tools
2. Providing a single source hosting for all OS product enhancements/modules
3. Provide tools where OS developers could collaborate/communicate - possibly housing a CVS, bug tracker
4 Provide user to developer communication/collaboration to align user needs with developer resources to prioritize and test enhancements to the OS product. A 'Fill-In the Gap Roadmap' for the open source product would be a nice goal.
4. Foster a more 'traditional' OS community focused on the use/support/development of SugarCRM OS

I couldn't agree more! In fact, I am working on this right now and will be launching SugarForge and SugarWiki next week where we will be providing these exact tools for the Sugar open source community to host their projects. Please bear with us as we finish setting up the servers.

Cheers!

**smueller72** · 2005-02-17, 01:13 PM

Great to hear. I look forward to the new sites. I'm sure you have everything covered but, if not, let me know I can assist in any way.

**test** · 2005-02-22, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by clint

I couldn't agree more! In fact, I am working on this right now and will be launching SugarForge and SugarWiki next week where we will be providing these exact tools for the Sugar open source community to host their projects. Please bear with us as we finish setting up the servers.

Cheers!

Thanks much Clint.. I can't wait for this to happen... when are you planning to release this site?