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Providing Customer-centric Service
Customer
NexLAN
www.nexlan.com
Corporate Profile
Headquarters
Danville, IL
Type of Business
AccountMate Business Partner and Vertical Solution Provider
"Since INFOtrac for AccountMate centralizes access to all actions, documents, emails and user calendars through an XP-inspired interface, every staff member becomes an instant expert on communications with the client."
- Kevin Stroud,
CEO,
NexLAN
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Every business is in the service industry. Whether you manufacture pens or provide health care,
the relationships you build with vendors and customers are what drive your success.
The Challenge
When AccountMate announced their partnership with INFOtrac, they presented their
Business Partners with an opportunity to provide a CRM solution for their clients. As a
Business Partner, NexLAN was encouraged to learn about INFOtrac's seamless
integration with AccountMate and decided to test the waters before making an official
recommendation to their clients.
The Solution
NexLAN installed the INFOtrac for AccountMate module in-house and began utilizing it as they
conducted their day-to-day business.
Two months after implementing INFOtrac for AccountMate internally, NexLAN is
enthusiastically recommending it to their clients and to other AccountMate Business
Partners. NexLAN has gained efficiencies with their internal processes as a result of using
INFOtrac for AccountMate. They describe their processes as "dramatically improved".
Action tracking
INFOtrac for AccountMate's action tracking has boosted personal productivity as well as
communication between staff members. Instead of managing the day with a long, unsortable list
of Tasks in Microsoft OutlookT or a rainbow of sticky notes, actions entered in INFOtrac for
AccountMate are linked to a company and specific contact.
Once an action is completed, it is logged to History (still tied to the company) and the user is
automatically prompted to create a follow-up action. No longer must an entirely new entry be
created as a reminder to keep tabs on progress. The entire process is built-in.
Integrating email through Outlook has maximized the tracking of client communications. Tedious
searching through "Sent Items" has been replaced by a glance at History.
Supporting current AccountMate customers
NexLAN uses INFOtrac for AccountMate to keep tabs on client data, from support IDs to support
plan renewal dates. From a single screen, the staff can identify the client's current build, the
modules in place, source code modules, integrated third party applications, the states ordered
with their last Payroll subscription and more.
When viewing specific client records, only necessary fields are displayed. For example, NexLAN
don't have their screens cluttered with blank fields for networking or ISP services.
While many CRM packages claim to link to the accounting system, INFOtrac's tight integration
with AccountMate has palpable functionality and value. The two are linked seamlessly. An
address update or contact change made in one system is instantaneously reflected in the other.
INFOtrac also links to AccountMate's real-time accounting data to provide the current account
balance, terms and even produces a full customer statement - without ever logging into
AccountMate. It's enough snapshot information to answer common client questions without
having to navigate the extensive accounting data.
In cases where employees aren't required to enter or view actual accounting data from
AccountMate, they can still have access to INFOtrac for AccountMate's contact management
functionality. Additional seats are available for purchase.
Managing new leads
INFOtrac for AccountMate allows NexLAN to track progress when cultivating leads in the same
place that activities are tracked for existing clients but without muddying up the accounting data.
Once a prospect becomes a client, it's a matter of seconds to activate them in AccountMate.
Best of all, INFOtrac for AccountMate provides a powerful finder and extensive, customizable
reporting functions. In a flash, any staff member can run a report of leads including "next action"
details or provide a listing of all clients with past-due accounts.
Internal Resources
The INFOcenter has quickly replaced NexLAN's menagerie of network folders. It provides a
central location for corporate policies as well as AccountMate resources and vertical solution
documentation. As a supplement, the Question/Answer knowledge base provides a searchable
database of common troubleshooting questions and their resolutions.
The learning curve
INFOtrac for AccountMate draws upon the functionality and processes of the Microsoft programs
users already know including Outlook, Word, and Excel. INFOtrac for AccountMate features an
intuitive layout and supported by extensive help documentation that makes it simple to operate
and customize -- even before formal training. Questions that arise have been resolved in a timely
manner with comprehensive answers.
The Results
At first glance, INFOtrac for AccountMate appeared to be a competent CRM solution with good
integration with AccountMate accounting data. It took only a few minutes of hands-on experience
for the power of INFOtrac for AccountMate to become apparent.
INFOtrac for AccountMate complements the AccountMate financial software application
beautifully; not only for its power but for its customization. Out of the box, the fields can be
displayed "in your own language". The screen designer collects needed data, but keeps detailed
information off of the main screen. Thanks to the powerful scripting tool, there are endless
business process automation possibilities.
NexLAN has found that maintaining contact with their most valuable clients has improved
significantly. Calls and contacts never "fall between the cracks" as sometimes happened with the
assortment of manual and automated record keeping processes. In addition, with all
communication being stored for each client in a single place, it's easy to answer clients' inquiries
about prior quotations and contacts while they are on the phone. The net result is superior
customer-centric service from everyone who is in contact with clients and prospective clients.
About NexLAN
Now in their 8th year of business, NexLAN is recognized as a leading technology partner in the
Midwest, with a client list spanning Fortune 500 clients to locally owned small businesses.
NexLAN is honored to have been recently selected as one of eleven Killer VARs selected by
Accounting Technology for 2005 and has been recognized as the top AccountMate business
partner in the Central U.S. Region for the past two years. NexLAN is a Microsoft Certified Partner
and AccountMate value-added-reseller specializing in network support, mid-tier manufacturing/
accounting solutions and custom software development.
For more information contact www.nexlan.com.
About AccountMate
Since 1984, AccountMate Software Corporation has provided customers with powerful and
flexible accounting and business management software. The availability of source code makes
this software highly modifiable so that it can be adapted to any changing business
environment. AccountMate accounting modules are available for Microsoft SQL, Microsoft MSDE
and LAN.
AccountMate products are sold worldwide through authorized resellers.
For more information visit AccountMate Software Corporation at www.accountmate.com.
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