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Sage SalesLogix from Softline Accpac enables PPS Investments to get CRM right, from the start

Faced with the opportunity to get CRM right first time, Professional Provident Society Investments (PPSI) hit the nail on the head with Softline Accpac's award-winning CRM solution, Sage SalesLogix, using the expertise of strategic business partner iSquared, to implement this magic wand of customer service delivery.

Liz Knezovich, Enterprise Channel Manager, says Sage SalesLogix's powerful customisation and configuration capability allow it to be easily tailored to meet the needs of a business more rapidly than any other CRM product. For this, it has consistently scored highest and received awards for its ease of use.

With extensive experience and expertise in the financial services industry, the iSquared team was able to gain fast and accurate insight into the specific solution requirements of PPSI, says James Beaumont, CEO, iSquared.

“PPSI was clear and focused in its business objectives, from the start. With this accurate expectation from our client, we could easily translate their needs into the appropriate functional and technical specifications. The team work was text book and the project was delivered to specification, on time and within budget - something which is virtually unheard of today!”

PPSI caters for the investment requirements of 185 000 members of the Professional Provident Society of South Africa by providing a comprehensive range of investment, savings and retirement products. CEO of PPSI Nick Battersby says that what prompted the implementation of Sage SalesLogix was his previous experience with this user-friendly solution. “When I was employed at Coronation Fund Managers, I was tasked with implementing Sage SalesLogix there and was extremely impressed with the product,” Battersby said.

With an entirely new staff, and the need to correctly track the investments of potentially 185 000 investors, PPSI had the opportunity to implement a CRM system that delivered, from the start. Battersby explains that as PPSI's products are largely intermediated, they needed to implement CRM that could cater for the supply chain, starting with the investor and ending with the PPSI servicing point. Due to the nature of this convoluted supply chain, the company also required a daily view of the assets categorised according to the various tiers of the supply chain.

Sage SalesLogix delivered on all PPSI's needs. The implementation was smooth and the integration of the underlying data feeds seamless, Beaumont says. “We were able to deliver a very cost effective, turn-key solution due to our ability to fulfil the functions of project management, business analysis, software development and system engineering and architecture.”

The main beneficiaries of Sage SalesLogix at PPSI have been the sales and client service teams: The sales team can now see what their various regions are producing and also assess engagement with brokers. The client service teams perform many administrative follow-ups and the ability to share communication throughout the team easily is significant.

“As a growing business, every relationship is critical and with Sage SalesLogix we have a single view of all interaction with respective investors and can also easily link from that record to the supply chain associated with the investor,” says Battersby. “Our ability to store all communication, including attachments and notes of verbal meetings, is very useful.”

He concludes that an infrastructure update was conducted to enable PPSI to use Sage SalesLogix remotely.

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Softline Accpac

Softline Accpac is a provider of business management solutions, including financial, distribution, service management, retail, warehouse management, manufacturing and CRM to the mid-range market. Accpac solutions are delivered to 130 countries exclusively through a global network of solution providers, including over 150 throughout Africa. Softline Accpac's product line includes: Accpac ERP, Accpac CRM, Accpac RMS, Service Manager and Accpac Insight. Softline Accpac also distributes Sage SalesLogix, Sage Geode and Sage ERP X3, a full-service enterprise management software system for mid-to-large businesses. With a choice of languages, currencies, enterprises, locations and legislations, Sage ERP X3 offers an efficient, multi-company solution.

Softline

Softline is a leading provider of accounting, payroll, CRM and ERP software solutions to small, medium and large sized companies. Founded in 1988 by Ivan Epstein, Alan Osrin and Steven Cohen, Softline was established during the formative years of the software industry and listed on the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa in February 1997. Softline expanded to establish a strong position within its area of focus in South Africa and Australia. Focused on the development of accounting, payroll, CRM and ERP software solutions, Softline has a 20-year track record as a market leader. The group has a broad range of products offering users a variety of software solutions to run their businesses efficiently. Softline's leading brands include Softline Accpac, Softline Enterprise, Softline Pastel (Accounting and Payroll) and Softline VIP. The combination of the group's product offerings provides Softline customers with comprehensive, well-branded accounting, payroll, CRM and ERP software solutions. In November 2003, Softline was acquired by the Sage Group plc, a FTSE 100 company. The software group includes market-leading businesses throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, South Africa and Australia, supplying business software to the small, medium and large sized business community. Softline has a solid track record of profitability and cash generation. The group delivers quality accounting, payroll, CRM and ERP software solutions that improve the efficiencies of businesses around the world.

The Sage Group

The Sage Group is a leading global supplier of business management software solutions and related products and services, principally for small to medium-sized enterprises. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989. Sage has 5.8 million customers and more than 14 500 employees worldwide. We operate in over 26 countries covering the UK, Europe, North America, South Africa, Australia, India and China. For further information, please visit http://www.sage.com.

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Mia Andric
Watt Communications