CRM availability for VM 3 (latest version) - or use Joomla or use other 3rd P

[Dog_Guy]

Hi,

Using VM  but looking for a decent CRM plugin to use with it.  Am I missing something and there is a hidden module in VM with ultimate power?

I read somewhere recently that a future Joomla version was looking at making a CRM component native. But that is still hearsay?

I am also reading other third party CRM systems that integrate with Joomla, but don't mention VM.

I read that some 3rd party CRM plugins have integration issues with VM 3.

So my question here is (TO THE EXPERTS).  What is the best (most functional and integrated, non buggy) option to get CRM working with my joomla and VM site ?

I already use a few third party newsletter coupon paid apps for VM and know the more plugins you hang off joomla the slower and more security issues I am likely to invite.  Ideally there is a great VM CRM plugin already made that I am missing ??

Cheers,  B

[Dog_Guy]

Hi,

I know I am late to the party of CRM, but without it any meaningful long term client interaction seems difficult.

I have read about vtiger (but heard there are issues with bugs and slow development and not working with latest joomla etc).   salesforce seemed like a good idea, but is priced for corporates requiting big investment for the bridge crm program AND ongoing payment to have your data in the cloud.

Ideally I would like a CRM to work out of the box with vm ... and have the data on my server.

Are there any plans to actually incorporate a CRM plugin with VM 

[Dog_Guy]

Is it just me or does nobody use virtuemart for  ecommerce?

How can you have an ecommerce shop without any systematic sales analysis and customer report function as part of that shop?

I admit that I held off for a long time, just pretended it didnt matter, but really CRM is vital for any business selling products or services.

OR do you VM people use some other system that I have not heard about.  I have posted this question in the joomla forum, only because its size is bigger, but I thought CRM would have been a major thing from day one that the VM developers would have included.

IF you handle CRM another way, or know of a well developed crm that integrates well with joomla and vm without having to sell the shop to acquire it, please let us know ..

[jenkinhill]

Is it just me or does nobody use virtuemart for  ecommerce?

Now that is a bit of a daft question, is it not?  99.999% of VM or Joomla users will only visit a "support" forum when they have a problem that they can't solve themselves. I guess you can assume that those who use a CRM are happy with it, have no need of support, so have not visited this forum since last Sunday when you first posted.

Must admit that I left the post to see if there are any CRM users passing through who could offer their advice. I have previously had two clients using CRM with Joomla/VM. Both smallish businesses with a dozen or so staff so, and in one case was already using vTiger CRM for their marketing/sales people.  They had asked me to fix a Joomla VM site which their "IT guy" had set up, which I did, and later I let them know that I had found an extension to link Joomla & vTiger. That was 2 or 3 years ago, they have since folded.

The other client was using Salesforce CRM separate from their Joomla VM site, which was running as a catalogue but they wanted to start selling some products there as well. Luckily there is a Joomla/VM-Salesforce connector, http://forum.virtuemart.net/index.php?topic=132847.0 but before I could start setting this up for them the business was bought up by a large American company and their Joomla site shut down.

As a developer I have no experience of using a CRM or a need for one, and although there are plenty of packages out there, if they don't interface or work with VM without writing some sort of interface (which would add considerably to the cost) then they could be a waste of money. I only know that Salesforce and vTiger work, or have worked with Joomla/VM.

[GJC Web Design]

I have built a RSForms Joomla plugin for Infusionsoft and there is a stock one for RSForms for Zoho that I have used but as Jenks says.. you need a plugin to feed data to the CRM's system
They all have api's but that needs to be integrated into the registration and VM order process..

It is doable but fairly complex ...  and of course depends on budget..  I have never been asked for VM CRM integration so I assume it is hardly a saleable proposition to defray time spent.

[Dog_Guy]

Hi GJC,

I was surprised that most e-commerce plugins dont incorporate some form of basic CRM or customer collection/ reporting component.  I thought that VM was one of the major shops for joomla and that was the reason why I started using this 'platform'.

There are a couple of CRM out there (useable for vm) apparently, but I was after some unbiased feedback from users in here. It seems they are either meant for large corporates (high price, high function) or lower end (but buggy and without a lot of function).  I wouldn't have thought that for something as well developed as VM (and ongoing development) that I would be the first to ask the basic CRM question.  But as you seem to suggest even a basic CRM integration seems to involve having to call on a developer for a bespoke project.  Perhaps why spotify and others are gaining ground on open source cms systems.

If anyone eventually reads this and replies with personal experience on what they use for their VM ... that would be great ..    Cheers b

[GJC Web Design]

a quick search in the forum shows very few requests or interest.. 

As I say - it is do-able but doesn't look like a commercially viable project from my point

[Dog_Guy]

PS - its 2017 and still no native or even developed crm system for VM.

No I don't want to give all of my customer information to 'the cloud' not pay hundreds a month for the privilege of giving up their data.

Happy to buy a paid plugin that works and is a reasonable price for small business.  Sill looking for that company or solution -  still find it hard to believe that VM is considered an e-commerce solution without a basic CRM ...  that only makes it sound like its popularity is waning ...  I could be wrong ...   but for something basic like this, you might think there was a demand or supply for it - I will keep looking though .. Perhaps serious businesses have already gone elsewhere?

PS I am expecting the gurus of VM to come down hard on this post, like many time before if you dare doubt the vm is the answer, but that doenst actually provide a solution does it.  Perhaps a visit to freelancer is in order ...

[GJC Web Design]

As you don't seem to want a bridge to a commercial CRM (Tiger, Zoho, Infusionsoft, etc) just what are you expecting from a "VM CRM System"?

What would it do that just exporting user and orders etc in an e.g.  spreadsheet  can't?

[jenkinhill]

And yet another Salesforce connector has been released:  http://forum.virtuemart.net/index.php?topic=137390.0