When I first started shopping for CRM software, I thought choosing ACT! 2006 from Sage Software would be a no brainer. Even though I had never used ACT! in the past, I had always heard that it was the best CRM system for small businesses. Yet, when I started poking around, I found hundreds of horrible reviews complaining about buggy, slow, and ineffective software that was giving users fits. Check out the product review page on Amazon to see how ACT! 2006 is driving people nuts.
I looked at other CRM systems such as Goldmine, Maximizer, and Salesforce. These systems were all more expensive than my budget allowed, and they all suffered the wrath of many users and media critics. Thanks to Google, I discovered Prophet 3.0, a CRM alternative from Avidian in Bellevue Washington. The positive user testimonials that I discovered on the Prophet website were intriguing, and I couldn't find any negative review through the major search engines. Instead, I discovered a lot of positive press that convinced me to buy the product.
Prophet is simple add-in for Microsoft Outlook which allows me to leverage my existing contact database with cool features such as enhanced contact management; a sales assistant that lets me send pre-set, timed e-mails to my contacts; a workflow engine that helps me automate sales-cycle actions and create consistent sales processes; advanced reporting options; and an opportunity-management console. I was particularly impressed with how easy it was to set up, and I nearly fell out of my Aeron chair when I called the company for assistance and a live service person answered the call on three rings and was able to solve my problem on the spot. Figuring out how to use Prophet has been no harder than learning how to utilize Outlook.
While Avidian might be newer to the CRM game than some vaunted competitors, there is no doubt that it will dethrone some of its competitors. Avidian is a quality product that is so easy to install and use that positve word of mouth is inevitable.
Patrick-
Your assessment of the small business CRM market is fair. I have seen a few small businesses go to Prophet following a research pattern similar to the one you've outlined.
My concern for Prophet and other Outlook addon product companies, is what happens when Microsoft releases an addon themselves...included in Outlook? Well, this is now upon us. Outlook 2007 with Business Contact Manager is something you might want to check out.
http://www.microsoft.com/office/demo/outlookbcm/
That said, I'm finding many still want to move forward with the latest version of ACT!. You can gain access to a teleseminar no-fluff review at http://www.WhatsNewWithACT.com
All the best,
Travis
Posted by: Travis | November 12, 2006 at 07:02 AM
The upcoming Outlook 2007 with the Business Contact Manager add-in does not compare at all to the Prophet add-in. Microsoft's BCM is still very limited in many ways with only a "one-to-many" items linking capability. Also, you are forced to use 2 separate contact databases and worse yet, to create the second data base manually.
Posted by: Tim | November 24, 2006 at 08:48 PM
Prophet 4.0's new search feature, which allows for lightning speed searches of your emails, contacts, appointments, tasks and any other document is defintely worth taking a look at. You can now put in Data-time-name stamp notes right into the notes field in your contact. http://www.avidian.com is worth taking a look.
Posted by: James Wong | December 05, 2006 at 06:39 PM
It looks to me like at least the one response by "Tim" is from Prophet themselves. This mirrors exactly the sales verbiage on the Prophet web site. For anyone who has used Outlook at all, having "2 databases" and certainly creating a database "manually" are not the paralyzing catastrophes Tim/Prophet make it seem (in fact, pretty easy to work with). Just marketing hyperbole.
Posted by: Jane | December 14, 2006 at 07:05 AM
I'd have to disagree with Jane's comment that having 2 databases is "easy to work with". I've been using BCM (2003) for the last year and I find the "manual syncing of the two databases to be a pain". I'd like to rely totally on BCM because of the added features but everytime I save an attached v-card or right-click a new contact and pick "Add to Outlook Contacts" the data goes directly to the Contacts database and I then need to copy/paste it into the BCM database. On the other hand if I add a new contact to BCM I need to copy it over to the Contacts database so that outlook mail will be able to see the email address.
Also, I sync my PC with my Windows mobile handheld I end up having to sync both databases.
I'm not saying that Prophet is any better or worse, I've never used it, but the BCM/Contact sync is something that has me looking for alternatives.
Posted by: Brent | January 22, 2007 at 08:42 AM
I have to agree with Patrick (though I have not used Prophet) that ACT has been a tremendous let down. I have used it for 4 years and each upgrade has been worse than before. More importantly, their customer support is non-existant! I have upgraded from v6 to 2005. System was much slower and could not use ACT Email and Outlook together and I could only sync periodically.
The upgrade from 2005 to 2007 has been absolutely terrible. Their SQL Server configuration takes too much memory (I am way above their minimum required specs), Outlook and ACT still does not work, still cannot sync and customer support for technical issues is a joke. They do a great job of "selling their product and services" ... real easy to get in touch with their sales team. Along those lines, I hired one of their recommeded consultants (PowerTime - Houston) and they quit on the upgrade! I only have four computers and only two needed the upgrade ... this should tell you something about their product. Travis, I know you are a consultant on ACT, though you will have your work cut out for you. ACT is not a a stable or fully functioning product and I do not recommed it to the small business owner.
For mt credibilty: For six years, I worked with companies that provided OEM software/hardware; I know issues arise and there are bugs no matter what you plan for, but two weeks and not a functioning upgrade ... shame on ACT.
Posted by: TN | January 30, 2007 at 09:05 AM
I would like to have information about compatability of your program and Act running in XP and Outlook running in Vista.
Thanks,
A Tanner
Posted by: Andrew Tanner | March 03, 2007 at 02:18 PM
Superior? If your company had 30 employees using it, how easily could you all collaborate? how are you going to control your inventory from Outlook? Also all CRM vendors off better Outlook blugins.
Posted by: CRM Software | July 19, 2007 at 12:56 PM
ACT JUST PLAIN SUCKS. IT IS A RIP OFF. USED TO BE GREAT. IT IS JUST WORTHLESS NOW
Posted by: louis | October 09, 2007 at 07:48 AM
ACT is a let down! It seems many have experienced what I did too... ACT! was good in the 1990's for what it was... but failed to cross the chasm in the 2000's with the internet evolution. Take a look at Rave CRM -- www.RaveCRM.com -- simple to set up, easy to use, plus free 24 hour chat support. This is what CRM software is supposed to do... help you make more sales, not become an IT programmer!
Posted by: Bob Newkirk | November 02, 2007 at 04:41 PM
Prophet is great - when it works. The installation our our systems has been a nightmare. After installation, *if* installation is successful, it works fine. Log out, log back in - and it's gone from Outlook - you have to repair the installation.
And why does it require a database server on every single client? If there is any important data, it belongs on a central database on the server. If not, then it doesn't need a database.
Not ready for prime time.
Posted by: brad | November 21, 2007 at 05:52 AM
Haven´t used Act, coping with BCM. Multiple databases are cumbersome, re-synchronizing mail after connecting with a different database is time consuming. Anyone see a light out there? How is MS medium range CRM?
Posted by: William | November 30, 2007 at 09:48 AM
I've been using Prophet 4.0 (single user) for about a year now, and am *very* impressed with the functionality of the software and the tech support. It's simple, elegant and very useable and has really helped me focus on what's important for my business.
Have previously used ACT!, Maximizer,and Outlook BCM. Also evaluated Goldmine.
"One stop shopping" of Prophet within Outlook is unbeatable, IHMO. Worked great with Outlook 2003, works like a charm with 2007 (XP).
Posted by: JR | December 23, 2007 at 05:34 PM
I've been using Prophet 4.0 (single user) for about a year now, and am *very* impressed with the functionality of the software and the tech support. It's simple, elegant and very useable and has really helped me focus on what's important for my business.
Have previously used ACT!, Maximizer,and Outlook BCM. Also evaluated Goldmine.
"One stop shopping" of Prophet within Outlook is unbeatable, IHMO. Worked great with Outlook 2003, works like a charm with 2007 (XP).
Posted by: JR | December 23, 2007 at 05:44 PM
ACT has been ruined by Sage. Maximizer is not easy to use. Prophet is a nightmare to install. I am still waiting for tech support to figure out how it can work on a simple lap top, they spent one hour working on it and could not understand the issues. I have used all three and all three are not where the companies say they are.
Posted by: PW | January 18, 2008 at 01:21 PM
I have recently had a nightmare with trying to get Goldmine 6.5 to run under Vista. Duh! Silly me. I bought a new computer. Goldmine is an amazing product, but it doesn't integrate well with anything (my GISMO installation never worked propoerly, and with IE7 there is no way that it will work propoerly). Frontrage has also decided that providing CRM software for the peasant market (i.e. me) doesn't pay, so they are discontinuing their basic product line. Just as well. Their documentation is dreadful and their support is non-existent. So I have been casting around looking for a new small business CRM system. I was about to purchase ACT, but it seems that Prophet is worth trying. If it doesn't meet expectations I will be BACK!
Posted by: Christie | January 22, 2008 at 12:32 PM
I have recently had a nightmare with trying to get Goldmine 6.5 to run under Vista. Duh! Silly me. I bought a new computer. Goldmine is an amazing product, but it doesn't integrate well with anything (my GISMO installation never worked propoerly, and with IE7 there is no way that it will work propoerly). Frontrage has also decided that providing CRM software for the peasant market (i.e. me) doesn't pay, so they are discontinuing their basic product line. Just as well. Their documentation is dreadful and their support is non-existent. So I have been casting around looking for a new small business CRM system. I was about to purchase ACT, but it seems that Prophet is worth trying. If it doesn't meet expectations I will be BACK!
Posted by: Christie | January 22, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Has anyone been having any more good or bad experience with Prophet installation? I'm interested it sounds good but am a bit worried about the installation problems mentioned.
Thanks
Posted by: AndyRed | April 30, 2008 at 12:35 PM
I have been a user of Avidian Prophet 5.0 for the past few months. There were a lot of road blocks during the installation phase. Once it was finally up and running, the product met our needs, but it was a long and painful process. I must warn you that their technical support department is VERY SLOW to respond. I have been waiting for two days for someone to respond to my contact requests. Unfortunately, this has been my experience with Avidian since we started working with them.
Posted by: Andrea Santaniello | May 08, 2008 at 11:16 AM
We purchased Prophet in early January 2008, after an impressive demo.
I'm writing this on the 5th June and I still don't have a working CRM system. As mentioned above the technical support department are incredibly slow and to date have not been able to resolve our operational issues. The sales team are absolutely unresponsive once the sale has gone through and despite coping the senior staff members into emails, I've been unable to get an answer to my questions.
This has simple been the worse customer support I have ever experienced. CRM systems are the life blood of a sales team and to be without one for such a long time has cost our company untold amounts of money. I would urge everyone to think very careful before purchasing any product from Avidian Technologies Inc.
Posted by: Robert Drake | June 05, 2008 at 07:16 AM
To be fair to Prophet, I like to share my experience. We have 9 sales people and have been using Prophet for more than 2 years now. I've used Act and Goldminein the past and it was a nightmare to install and get going. However, it was fairly easy and painless for us to setup Prophet and the delay was mostly due to our IT folks. Prophet's IT guys were on the ball and helped us out a bunch. I like the company and wanted to let everyone know that I'm a happy Prophet Customer.
Posted by: Sean | June 11, 2008 at 04:19 PM
To Robert Drake: I'm curious as to whether you purchased Prohpet as a replacement to your current CRM product, or whether this was your first foray into CRM. I ask because when we "upgraded" in 2006 from ACT 5.0 to ACT 8.0, we had at least 6 months worth of painful adjustments, reconfigurations, etc. simply because the upgraded ACT was written in SQL. It was like trying to translate English to Russian without a translator. It was a painful, frustrating and trying process - and we still have glitches to contend with.
I am actually considering Prophet, but I'm concerned about the "conversion" of our data.
Posted by: CLK | August 15, 2008 at 06:04 AM
Bought 4.0 January 2008 worked fine, then our admin. upgraded to 5.0 in May to add fucntionality....have not gotten it to run since...despite 2 consults from avidian...helpful, useful....but, still not up...it dissapears, is not running...need a consultant to do the install, setup since we lack the IT skills in house... not available through avidian. did act and hated it. tried not to use it...got salesforce.com in 2nd year and was not impressed, took lot of time with full time staff administrating it but the dashboard was all that and then some....made meetings, board meetings fly....about $10 + $4,000 in training, consulting...about 12X cost of prophet...my suggestion - 1 single user with outlook 2007 and v4.0 not 5.0
Posted by: Gary | September 12, 2008 at 06:29 PM
Currently using ACT. It does the job ok, however we only use a very small part of the functionality. I was wondering if anyone has use Prophet in a Citrix thin client environment? Also does Prophet automatically log email history?
Posted by: Ethan Nyhlm | September 18, 2008 at 08:08 PM
We recently purchased Prophet 5.0, and it is a nightmare to install. We had to use outside IT support, and it still keeps shutting down and not responding properly. We are on Outlook 2003, and it freezes constantly. We had to return the product and are searching for something more user friendly.
Posted by: Jill | November 11, 2008 at 12:55 PM