Tag Archives: plugin

CRM – What next?

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We currently have several ideas of where to take this next:

  1. A contact form that auto adds details to the crm.
  2. User level and content viewing. Basically we allocate a user a level when they get an account. WordPress has 4 user levels – subscriber, editor, contributor and administrator. What I would like to do is add an option to the plugin to allocated additional user levels such as Bronze, Silver, Gold. These levels then get access to certain content that nobody else gets access to. Allowing a membership site to be set up.
  3. Open up data so when a client logs in they see their own data. Useful for reviewing history, passing documents, etc.
  4. A small shop or ecommerce system including room management or a booking system

Any other ideas please?

Cregy CRM

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Looks like we might be through the beta and shortly will be releasing the new version. It is substantially different to the first and will take getting used to. Some people will like it and some people won’t! But first a quick user guide. I’ll create a screenshot shortly to show it in action.

1. Install the plugin and activate as usual. When activated it creates a new category called CRM and also several new tags such as telephone, email, visit, etc.

Activate Plugin

Activate Plugin

2. Once installed head over to Users and create a new user.

Add new user

Add new user

3. Now edit the user and you will see several new options in the user menu. Address, telephone, company etc. Complete these fields and then press save.

Extra Fields

Extra Fields

4. When you do this a couple of things will happen.
4a. A new category will be created under the category CRM.

Categories

Categories


4b. A new tag will be created using the name of the firm and the name of the individual.
Tags

Tags

5. The next stage is to create a post. Head over and create a post and allocate the post to the new user category created when you created a new user. Add the tag created as well and you can also tags such as telephone, email, etc.

Create a Post

Create a Post

6. Now when you click on the users menu you will notice an additional menu called CRM. Under this will be some new features.

Client List

Client List


What you now see is your clients broken down into companies and staff relating to that company.

Best thing is to explore the plugin. The plugin is still only available to beta testers.

The plugin will now allow you to attach files and images, videos of course to the posts. The posts added to the crm category will not be viewable unless you are logged in.

Limitations

The post/category/tag will not be hidden if they are coming from widgets. If some other widgets are used other than default ones they should be treated accordingly.

Starting the Rebuild of the CRM

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I am ready to start the rebuild of the CRM. It will take a new course of action. The first thing we will be doing is to change the way the user element of WordPress works. That’s to say we will be adding features.

When the plugin is activated it will create new fields:
Company Name
Address Field 1
Address Field 2
Town
County
Post Code
Country (Could be a drop down select)
Telephone Number
Mobile Number

It will also create a new category called CRM. And new tags Telephone, Email, Visit. And finally a link in the sidebar called CRM.

When creating a new user the plugin will add certain fields when the new user is created. For example if the new user is Richard Brown whose firm is Cregy, a new sub-category under the main category of CRM will be created. This sub-cat will be called Cregy. The plugin will also create a new tag called cregy_richardbrown.

The plugin will now work like this. I make a new post and add it to the category Cregy and tag it richardbrown. I also add the tag Telephone. In the content box, I write something like, Phoned Rich and spoke about the new website. When I press publish certain things need to happen.

1. The post is not visible from the front end if not logged in.
2. When clicking the CRM link in the sidebar we now get a client list. The first name in the list will simply be Cregy. Sub links under Cregy will be: Edit, Posts, Tags. If I click on Edit, it takes me to the edit user information. If I click on Posts it will lists all the posts I have made under Cregy. And if I click on tags it will list all the tags beginning cregy.

This means I can quickly view any contacts I have made with the firm Cregy or with Richard Brown.

So if I now add a second contact called Claire Stoner who also works at Cregy. I end up with the tag cregy_clairestoner. So if I look under the crm link and click on Cregy I now have all posts created for everyone who works at Cregy. If I click tags, I can quickly see the posts sorted by the tag lists. So I can view the contacts made with Claire or Rich.

Under the Edit link I will now find 2 options…. edit Richard Brown or edit Claire Stoner.

I am not sure how long it will take but I will update this post to let all know. If you have any comments please add them in the usual place. If you would like to contribute towards the plugin please use the contribute link I have added.

In the course of the building the plugin I am going to add various elements. The first will be whether you require a contact to be visible in the front-end as a business card. The second will be whether you want to allow the clients to access their information. This could take the form of a new tag that allows certain user levels to view. i.e. The client logs in and doesn’t see the dashboard but sees all the posts with this tag listed. In this way you could pass on information. They could also be allowed to edit their contact information.

Additionally I will add an invoice feature.

And finally, I think the Church directory is a brilliant idea and I will be turning this into a membership CRM as well. All the features will be available to everyone but just how you use it will be different. For instance, adding a list of users feature will enable it to become a membership plugin. Any user logging in will be able to see all users and search for a user.

Unfortunately, I do have a limited budget and also limited time, so if you want to add elements then contributing will speed up the development. Thanks.

IntenseDebate

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IntenseDebate has this as it’s strapline…

Imagine better comments

Intrigued I duly signed up. But for the minute that is as far as I got. I contacted tech support because I couldn’t get the plugin to work – I received an email the same day offering some solutions to try. (I wish I could get tech support like that from all the other companies I use). Anyway, none of the solutions seem to be correct so I am posting some screenshots to see whether it is possible to fix the problem. I’m loading it up here in case someone else runs into a similar problem.

The problem is that when installed the plugin takes you offer to the settings page to configure the plugin. First step is to login which I do with no problems, the second step is to import your comments and this is where things go belly up. It starts to import and then logs me out and asks me to log back in again. A never ending loop!

Here are the screenshots:

WordPress CRM

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On installation navigate to settings – crm. You will then be asked whether you require the plugin to be at top level or not. If you choose top level a link will be placed below settings.

This first image shows the initial image page you will be shown.

Initial View

From the image you can see the link to add a contact, with a search function below that, a complete list of all your contacts and finally at the bottom the ability to add a contact. Alongside the ‘Add a Contact’ link is the link to the reminder list and at the end of each contact line is a further link to add notes relating to each contact. See below for further screenshots.

Select/edit a Contact:
editacontact

editcontact2

Notes View:
notes

Showing the calendar function in notes:
notecal

Showing the keyword selection in notes:
notekeyword

Reminders:
reminders

Reminders with date function showing:
remindersdate

If you want to test run the plugin I have set a site up but you will need to email me for the login details. I can be contacted on lists at cregy dot com.

Download the CRM

The plugin has been upgraded and additional elements are now available:
1. Additional Contact Information
You can now add additional client info for companies.

Additional contact info

Additional contact info display

2. Sort by Client, Supplier, Opportunity

3. When using opportunity, additional field created called sales ranking.

4. When sorting by opportunity sales ranking is now displayed.

salesrankingcontactaddopportunity

salesrankingopportunity

CRM

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Customer relationship management (CRM) consists of the processes a company uses to track and organize its contacts with its current and prospective customers. CRM software is used to support these processes; information about customers and customer interactions can be entered, stored and accessed by employees in different company departments. Typical CRM goals are to improve services provided to customers, and to use customer contact information for targeted marketing.

While the term CRM generally refers to a software-based approach to handling customer relationships, most CRM software vendors stress that a successful CRM effort requires a holistic approach.[1] CRM initiatives often fail because implementation was limited to software installation, without providing the context, support and understanding for employees to learn, and take full advantage of the information systems.[2] CRM tools should be implemented “only after a well-devised strategy and operational plan are put in place”.[3] CRM can be implemented without major investments in software, but software is often necessary to explore the full benefits of a CRM strategy.

To read the full article visit Customer relationship management at Wikipedia