ACT! Hosting: Why Go for ACT! Hosting?

ACT! By Sage CRM can be deployed in various ways such as desktop, web synchronized dual access and lastly via Terminal Server deployments.  

ACT Hosting vs. Desktop Deployment:
In the Desktop version of ACT! by Sage, or ACT! by Sage Premium, each user is required to install the licensed ACT! CRM Software on the local computer. This means that each user has a personal login, email scheduling and tracking. Even if a centralized database server is used - there remain user specific variations.

ACT! Hosting on terminal servers implies installing a copy of ACT! CRM software on a dedicated remote server. The end users do not need to install any software on their systems (although each user must have a licensed copy of the software). User setup and account configuration is done by the service provider and thus customized solutions are possible.

ACT! Web Hosting: In this model of ACT! Deployment the Company is given a static IP address by the service provider and the CRM database is maintained at the providers end. The users access the program just like any other internet web page. A variant of this ACT! Hosting mode is synchronized ACT! For web. In this ACT! Version is hosted on a virtual server as well as the users end. Users are automatically synchronized to the centralized database and they are able to access web version of the database as well.

ACT! Hosting can be considered a viable option if:

• The company wants to move their entire CRM database to a centralized server as they may not be wiling to invest in the local IT infrastructure.
• For accessing the ACT! software through web they do not have a static IP address or corresponding server infrastructure.
• The local backup and IT security infrastructure cannot be monitored in real time as it requires corresponding technical manpower which may be expensive and disproportionate to the overall financial benefit derived by a small or medium business. ACT! Hosting service comes with all these options and does not cost much.
•  The company wants to focus on its core strength and hence want to outsource IT infrastructure support to third party ACT!  Hosting Service providers.
• Mobile access to the CRM database is desired. With ACT! Hosting the CRM Database is accessible from anyplace anywhere and collaboration in real time made possible.
• The company is using other accounting applications such as QuickBooks or Peachtree and wants to integrate either of these two with ACT! CRM. Act! Hosting together with QuickBooks or Peachtree Hosting make their integration easy.

ACT! Hosting Benefits:

• Centralized Installation : On the user /client side, the most explicable benefit of ACT! Hosting is the ease of installation and use of the CRM application. With centralized installation of ACT! On Terminal servers users are spared of the trouble to install, run configure the program as the terminal server ASP does this for them.
• Flexibility across different platforms : With ACT! Hosting the application can be available to users across different platforms besides windows such as Linux, Macintosh and Thin Clients.
• Always on access to the ACT CRM program: ACT! Hosting allows the user(s) to access the program from anywhere anytime though an online connection.     
• Backup solutions : ACT hosting on terminal servers resolves the backup and network security problem for the client. ACT! Hosting comes with automatic backup of all data in multiple locations in secured Tier IV Data centers. 

• Trouble shooting simplified : With ACT! Hosting the client is assured of 24x7x365 troubleshooting help desk. The client thus saves the local IT support costs and get troubleshooting when they need it thereby  boosting the company’s productivity.   

• Improved efficiency : With ACT! Hosting Administrators or designated users can shadow another user on the network which may help users in troubleshooting, training or collaboration. 

• No up front cost : ACT! Hosting service absolves the company from the need to invest in local IT infrastructure 

ACT! Hosting with RTDS:  A Superior Solution

Real Time Data Services, which is a major ACT! Hosting solution provider, is just the right ASP for small and medium business. The company’s qualitative service is matched by affordable pricing and availability of entire range of application Hosting solutions such as QuickBooks and Peachtree that can be integrated with ACT!

ACT! Hosting Solutions are rated on the criteria of IT support, server infrastructure, server configuration and security of the hosted database.

• Data backup: With ACT! Hosting service, you are assured of daily automatic backup of data in multiple locations. The company’s Tier IV datacenter based in California is highly secured, protected by latest firewalls and online security tools. The users are further able to locally backup and print the CRM files        
• Latest server configurations: Data integrity is the highest priority for and the company uses latest and most advanced servers for ACT! Hosting. ACT! Sync and ACT! Premium for web require that the ACT! Database is completely insulated from the web interface as both these services are outside firewall at the users end. RTDS ACT! Hosting ensures that the ACT! Database and the service interface for ACT! Sync and ACT! Web For premium resides on different servers so that the ACT! Database is highly secure.
• Besides using the latest Cisco networking infrastructure solutions, the network is monitored 24x7x365 for security and fortified with latest Firewalls. ACT! Hosting service is further secured by providing the most comprehensive physical security to the premises where servers are located with strictest accessibility guidelines. Only the concerned technical persons can access the premises.
• Always on technical support help desk: RTDS ACT! Hosting service comes with 24x7x365 technical help desk support to troubleshoot your ACT! Hosting related problems in real time, through phone or chat. With an array of most experienced and Microsoft certified professionals to troubleshoot your problems and available round the clock you get the most proactive support and save both time and get help when you need.

RTDS ACT! Hosting solutions:

RTDS offers a complete range of ACT! Hosting solutions suitable to various needs of diverse users so that each users group is able to find the most affordable yet qualitative CRM Hosting service option.
 

ACT! Hosting on Terminal servers: In this hosting option ACT! By Sage and ACT! Premium for web is installed on latest Microsoft Terminal servers. Complete CRM database resides on our terminal servers and the users’ access the ACT! CRM as a local Desktop interface. The ACT! Terminal hosting solution allows access to the application from any place anytime thorough an online connection and supports multiple user access as well. Also users can locally backup and print files.

Each user has individual profile and should have the ACT! License. ACT! Hosting on terminal server comes with  dual  backup of all data and also includes 24x7x365 tech helpdesk support. ACT! Hosting on terminal server frees you to use the software from diverse platforms as well. ACT! Hosting option is most suitable for small and medium business that may have large numbers of users and coordination among them may be necessary.

ACT! For Web: In this Hosting option the ACT! Database is hosted on a commercial Virtual server which acts just like a dedicated server. This ACT! Hosting option also comes with Dual Backup of all data and always on technical support help desk and anywhere anytime accessibility to the database. Local backup and printing option also exists.
 
ACT! Web Sync: In this mode of ACT! Hosting solution, ACT! CRM is installed on the virtual servers as well as the users system or workstation. The synchronization essentially means that the users are automatically able to connect to a centralized dedicated database and simultaneous access to online version of their database as well. Anytime anywhere access, backup as well as 24x7x365 support is also possible with this ACT! Hosting option.

ACT! Software can be integrated with various accounting applications such as QuickBooks and Peachtree. The benefits of Hosting ACT! together with other accounting applications is essentially in enhancing the productivity from the CRM software through providing  end to end solutions. Data generated during the accounting process can be integrated with for customer relationship management and vice versa. Not only time and resource for multiple data entry are saved, it also provides for effective forecasting generated out of interplay between financial and CRM factors.

RTDS ACT! Hosting solution also provides for Hosting QuickBooks or Peachtree together with ACT! on a Workgroup Server.

ACT!   QuickBooks Integration: In this ACT! Hosting option ACT! as well as QuickBooks are hosted on terminal servers. The database located on the ASPs end is accessible from anyplace anytime and the integration between ACT! And QuickBooks ensured. Full features of ACT! and QuickBooks for any version chosen is possible and the service comes with assured backup. These Applications can also be integrated with Outlook, word and other software which is optional.

ACT! and Peachtree integration : In this ACT! Hosting option, both ACT! and Peachtree are Hosted on virtual server and effective integration is ensured by the service provider. Anytime anywhere access, backup and 24x7x365 technical support help desk comes pre-included with the service.