Sage ACT! 2012 Contact Management Software

After over 20 years on the market, Sage ACT! continues to deliver a solid product year in and year out. They have demonstrated this more recently since going to an annual release cycle back in 2004. In fact, a few months back they released Sage ACT! 2011 which touts 5 new major features for their loyal user base.

It seems that they are continuing that tradition with the 2012 edition.

NOTE: See our complete Sage ACT! 2012 Review which went live recently.

It's too early to tell for sure what will be included in the software, but based on development trends with the software in recent years here is where it seems to be heading:

• More integration with cloud-based services
• Enhanced database search capabilities
• Simplified and easier data input
• Cleaner an faster installation
• Improved startup wizard

Let's discuss these areas in more detail below.

In the ACT! by Sage 2010 edition of the software, tighter integration with an acquired 3rd party application was unveiled, SwiftPage. And email marketing came to the ACT! database software. This allowed uses to market form the database, building call lists based on user interaction with marketing pieces and generate more sales.

In Sage ACT! 2011, users have the ability to integrate Hoover's Business Information into the ACT! database. INSTANT LEADS! Powerful way to research companies, and even import new companies and leads into the database fast.

Look for Sage ACT! 2012 looks to integrate more cloud based services, perhaps both paid and free services. The cloud is what everyone is talking about, and the cloud is where Sage is moving strategically as well.

Online uses have become accustomed to finding stuff quickly online. Why should it be different for small business owners with the customer and prospect databases on their local PCs? Sage is catching on. Look for Sage to make search much easier and incorporate something that might be similar to Google's Universal search but for ACT! databases.

Search=simple.

SideACT! Returns?

If you are a legacy ACT! user, you might remember a little applet which allowed users to document notes, tasks, etc without having ACT! open, giving users the ability to transfer data in SideACT! into the main database.

As the saying goes, "squeaky wheel gets the grease"...

We are anticipating something similar to SideACT! in the Sage ACT! 2012 release.

In an age of emerging cloud services, helping users get started with PC based software quickly and easily is important. In spite of all the various versions of Microsoft desktop and server operating systems Sage ACT! supports, as well as the hundreds of security patches, you'll see Sage ACT! 2012 make strides in the area of simplified installations.

Installed faster. Up and running faster. Less failures.

Another "Getting started" element other than installation, is getting your database up and running. Fast is the operative word here. Look for an improved startup wizard that will help users creating new databases do it faster.

Again, this is an incomplete review because the software isn't out yet, and freedom to disclose all has not been given. Check back periodically for updates or learn more about Sage ACT! 2012 here.

Feel free to submit questions or comment below!