Using Sugar CRM within an advisory charity

[OldGent]

This is my first posting on this forum, so please be gentle with me.

I have searched the forum to see if this possible application has been discussed before, but not turned-up anything really relevant recently.

I am currently looking to update the virtually non-existent "contacts/case" database system for a charity that I carry out part-time work for. The object of the charity is to provide its Clients with counselling, advice and other help when they find themselves in a particular domestic situation.

This is, obviously, not a commercial organisation, but the concept of a commercial structure can be applied in general.

The Clients are its "customers", and the Volunteers are its "staff". Some of the volunteers deal with the initial contact with the clients and these could be related to the marketing aspects. Other volunteers have a more detailed, and personal, contact with the clients and are I suppose the equivalent of Sales staff. Each interaction with a client at whatever level is part of a Client-case. Within any case there will be meetings with the client, discussions between various volunteers and outside agencies etc. So a full range of reports, schedules, agendas, records of Minutes etc will be needed.

Clent confidentiallity is crucial, Currently client's identity details are only available to the volunteer dealing with the initial contact and the specific volunteer carrying out the counselling etc. To all other volunteers each client, and their case details, are identified only by a code number. So certain records etc should only be accessible by a limited number of users, whereas other details should be more accessiible. Obviously the whole of the system should be fully secure.

So: As I have exactly zero experience of Sugar CRM, except what I have read online, my question is "Is it possible that the software could be used in this situation?"

I have already created an experimental SQL based database, not in My SQL, but I should be able to port it across. My experience of PHP is low, but I have plenty of other programming experience. I have no problem in following and understanding various examples of various PHP scripts.

Any advice would be greatfully accepted. Many thanks in anticipation.

[item]

Hi,
We are a non profit organisation and have a need like yours. We use Sugar CE since 6 month, i am too new, and sugar respond at 85 to 90% what we needs.
What i can say, Sugar is simply to adapt, create module, make relation...StudioBuilder is great for that. LogicHook event fired is too utils.

Other ehancement need a little understand of SugarBean FrameWork...and read some SugarHero advice (forum/developper blog/sugarforge...)

What i can see with your requirement :
- you need Team (not avaible in CE, but maybe use SecuritySuite module in sugarforge.org)
- you need FieldAccess control ... i do not know if exist in sugarforge.org or in other version of Sugar.
- reports module can be found in sugarforge too. (not in CE version)

The big ehancement that ours users waiting is for Calendar module. Some Calendar on sugarforge.org or sugarechange.com exists with many facility.
The two big ehancement i am waiting is for "calculated field' and a WorkfllowManager(not avaible on CE version).
Another module not avaible in CE, invoice-devis, workflowManager ...

We do not use many module (Lead, Campaing, Mail, ) in Sugar...and i can not speak about.
Maybe other more experiment users can give more advice on CE or ENT or PRO version.

Cheers

[OldGent]

Thanks for the Item.

I have started to investigate some of the points you referred to. The"teams" module looks useful in that it seems to provide the sort of restricted access to the clients details that we need. I must look in to it further, as with your other suggestions.

One major problem I have at the moment, though, is trying to get the SugarCRM system to work on my machine. I have installed it but cannot access the database yet. I think that I must have entered something wrong somewhere. I will uninstall and try a fresh install, paying more attention to the detail, and the instructions, when I try.

Thanks Again