Pipeline and Forecasting Max Effgen, July 18, 2012 In my experience, pipeline/forecast is one area of a CRM system that changes frequently. Way to frequently. Fortunately, these changes require less coding changes today through Windows Workflow Foundation (Dynamics CRM) and Workflow Automation (Salesforce) that in CRM days of old. Not going to comment on whether it is right… Continue Reading
CRM Integration Max Effgen, June 11, 2012 One of the biggest challenges that CRM systems have is integration with back end systems. In the cloud with hosted CRM, this in some ways is actually a bigger challenge than it was in the past. From CRM to ERP Pipeline and Forecast data are the most common and most… Continue Reading
Headsprout Max Effgen, March 20, 2011 I really cannot recall how I came across Headsprout, but I am glad I did. It is an incredible online reading program for K-5. My pre-K son, Shane, took to it right away, and as a parent, I am very impressed with the results. Shane went from being interested in… Continue Reading
Cloud cover Max Effgen, January 29, 2011 Joke: “Why did it take God 7 days to create the Earth?” Answer: “Because He did not have the install base.” This “joke” was all too common in my house growing up. Dad ran an enterprise software company. Amazon, Microsoft and Google are all competing for the cloud. Each is… Continue Reading
So long Bob Feller Max Effgen, December 20, 2010December 2, 2013 Bob Feller passed last week and so did a little of baseball history. Richard Goldstein’s NY Times article is the best write up on the pitching legend. In my youth, my father and I bonded over baseball like so many Americans. We had a different twist in that we also… Continue Reading
Online eyeglasses Max Effgen, October 22, 2010 It seems like I am always talking to people about buying eyeglasses online. This is an update of a previous post. Almost 2 years ago, I realized that I needed glasses. The 20/10’s of my youth were done. I got a very nice pair at one of the cool places… Continue Reading
Great investments in advertising Max Effgen, October 18, 2010 Remember when Bill Gates openly mocked IBM for sponsoring the “OS/2 Bowl”? Engadget: Microsoft to spend one billion dollars Continue Reading
8 Summer Reads Max Effgen, August 27, 2010 Some of the books I have tackled this summer. Continue Reading
The Value of Stories Max Effgen, July 8, 2010 Came across this and found it interesting. Happy Summer. The Double Think:The Value of Stories Continue Reading
Quote Generation Max Effgen, May 5, 2010 The 4 P’s (Product, Price, Place and Promotion) are the standard Marketing Mix. This is not just “marketing fluff” the P’s are where the rubber meets the road in CRM, namely quote generation. The 5th P (Problems) still exist with quote generation today. Product and pricing data are integrated with… Continue Reading