With what and why?
The combination of MS Accounting Professional and Outlook 2007 with BCM will
provide a business with a solid accounting and CRM package using 1 single common
database using the Sql server engine.
 
How?
There are a number of ways of achieving the single database for both office
applications and which should be followed will depend on what applications the user
already installed on their PC.
1. Neither application installed.
    a. Install Outlook 2007 with BCM.
    b. Install MS Accounting Professional. Create a new database in a shared
    directory.
    c. Link MS Accounting Prof and Outlook 2007 BCM using the recommended
    approach in MS Accounting.
2. Outlook 2007 with BCM installed but MS Accounting not installed.
    a. Start from point (b) above.
3. Both applications installed.
    a. Start from point (c) above.
More details on the above installation and configuration processes available from FPC.
 
What should be used?
Throughout this document we refer to Outlook 2007 with BCM and MS Accounting
as the best solution for an accounting package with a CRM solution.
It is possible to use Outlook 2003 with BCM but FPC would highly recommend Outlook
2007 with BCM – purely on the basis of a simple installation and configuration process.
More details of Outlook 2003 with BCM and MS Accounting Professional are
available from FPC.
Both 2003 and 2007 versions of Outlook will operate on XP and Vista.
 
How to use
To create an opportunity in Business Contact Manager:
Open Accounting Professional and Outlook. On the menu bar at the top of Outlook
click on ‘Business Contact manager’ then select ‘Opportunities’ in the drop down menu.
Click ‘New’ in the top left hand corner, this opens a new opportunity.  Fill out the spaces
known then select ‘Link To’ and click on ‘New’ to create a new customer account.
Fill in as many details as known then click ‘Save and Close’ and when back to the
opportunity screen click ‘Save and Close’. You have now created a new opportunity!
Back up your data.                                            
 
To manage an opportunity in BCM:
Select ‘Opportunities’ under ‘Business Contact Manager’. Double click on the opportunity
 you wish to develop. On the menu bar click on ‘Convert to’ and select either ‘Quote’,
‘Sales Order’ or ‘Invoice’. For this example we will follow creating an invoice.
When you click on ‘Invoice’ one will automatically be opened in Accounting Professional.
Fill out any spaces left that are known and when you are happy with the invoice select
‘File’ then ‘Print’ and then ‘Save & Close’. You have created an invoice from and opportunity!
This is just an example of one process. More details are available from FPC.                                                                                
 
Pros
+ Good Microsoft accounting package, particularly if used with Outlook and BCM to
optimize customer management.
+ Good customer / supplier database.
+ Good template editor.
+ Front end is in a flow chart style which is very user friendly.
+ Easy to send customers invoices, receipts and letters, using Word and Outlook.
+ Flawless data importing with templates using Word and Excel.

Cons
- There are a limited number of business types you can select when setting up a company,
if your type of company isn’t listed you have to go through a few more menu’s to define
your business type.
- Template editing only works with Office 2003 and 2007.
- It is aimed at small businesses and is therefore not suitable for larger businesses so
when your business grows you may need to look at other packages that cover your new
needs.
           
How can FPC help?
Fraser Price Consulting can install, configure and purchase. We are a registered Microsoft partner
with plenty of experience of installing, configuring and using Outlook 2007 with
Business Contact Manager and MS Accounting.