OK, here's my NEW favorite resource for CRM On Demand info -- podcasts! Specifically, the CRM On Demand Podcast site -- signed, sealed, and delivered with humor and know-how.
Yes, I admit, I know the cast of characters.
But let's face it, sometimes dealing with software is just soooo dry! Not so when discussed by the two main commentators, Louis Peters and Robert Davidson, whom someone once referred to as CRM On Demand's "Click and Clack." (Thought that was too good not to pass along!)
Anyhow, another huge plus about the site is the option to listen OR to read. Out walking my dog or doing the dishes? Just turn up the podcast. Listening to music or watching TV? I'll read Louis's entertaining write-ups to glean great info about CRM On Demand in a very short period of time.
So that you get a better understanding of why I like this site so much, here's a sampling of what's discussed:
Five Things about Books of Business
As Louis Peters put it in his entry, when you see "Five Things" in the title, "you'll know you're going to get some concrete advice that you can put to work right away." Well, Louis and Robert do just that, pointing you in the right direction when using Books of Business to segment data.
Moving to Indexed Fields - A Rough Guide
(only an article, not a podcast)
I've read all about performance and even helped develop material around it. But nowhere have I heard indexed custom fields referred to as "super heroes." Louis and Robert use imaginative language to describe the process for moving your data to indexed fields for optimal performance.
Data Access QA from the Forums
I think that everyone would admit that data access and visibility is the most difficult topic to understand in CRM On Demand. Following up on their previous podcast on the same topic, Louis and Robert answer a few key questions from the many postings on the Oracle CRM On Demand forums. And I bet that the scenarios match many companies' business requirements...maybe even yours!
We Need to Talk About Adoption
Another expert, Tim Koehler, joins Louis to talk about how to drive user adoption: aligning product usage with business results, communicating why and how to use the product, getting feedback on usability, and so on.
Hope I've made my point -- turn to these podcasts to hear knowledgeable folks discuss CRM On Demand tips and tricks in entertaining ways. One podcast is even called "SaaS Talk"!