We've been entered into the Database  Marketing awards 2011. Spurred on by our smart technologies for tracking client interactions and the hard work put in by the team to deliver iSAM on Mobile phones and Tablets through the iSAM Mobi application, we have entered the Database Marketing Awards.

The questions are pertinent in explaining why our clients choose iSAM as a broader brush approach to Sales and Marketing than simply focusing on a CRM strategy.

What is the name of the software package / solution?

iSAM 7 (Versions inc Lite, Pro and Pro 7) - iSAM = intelligent Sales and Marketing

Give brief details of the functionality of the main software package / solution and any modules. Feel free to attach supplementary documents to this entry if preferable:

iSAM provides a complete set of tools that enable tertiary businesses to manage their entire front of house operations. From organising managing and processes cold data through to the ongoing invoicing of clients. iSAM has tools and connectors for Administration, Sales, Marketing, Website management, Communications, Social Media, Document Management. Every part of the system is connected and integrated to capture information on every action of your clients and prospects, this provides highly accurate and detailed intelligence about customer behaviours. Whilst iSAM uses modern technologies to deliver these benefits it takes its design paradigm from information management strategies applied to business in the late 1950's prior to the era of computing and digital systems. This ensures that ALL client information is maintained together in a highly structured and organised way, and that every member of the organisation has access to exactly the information they need to make the most appropriate decision. 

Is it a conventional installed package, hosted by you or provided as Software-as-a-Service: 

iSAM is provided Software as a Service, the goal of Abazander Ltd is to ensure that our customers have nothing more to consider than ensuring that they can be as affective as possible with their Sales and Marketing activities. By providing our clients with a fully managed service we take care of all the IT requirements, leaving the client with a system they can use across multiple offices, for home workers and of course have full real time access when out on the road. 

What does the software / solution aim to do? For example, provide a customer database plus tools/modules for campaign management, data selection, data integration, predictive modelling, reporting and social media monitoring:

In true comedy style "YES"

iSAM's objective is very clear we provide all the tools that are required to turn your "Contacts into Contracts". iSAM enables you to work with cold data and new enquries / prospects and to develop your relationship with those individuals and companies using the different channels, including Social Media. The iSAM system will enable you to manage the whole process from First Contact to Final Invoice, affectively the whole life cycle and beyond if you wish.

How does the package demonstrate innovation? In what way does this improve on competing packages or tools? For example, use of the latest technology platform or very cost-effective purchase price. Give as much solid information here as you can.

There are 3 key area's that make iSAM stand out from the crowd in this CRM / Sales & Marketing space

1. It is iSAM as a technology that integrates all the pieces together creating one seamless system. With this level of data available it becomes easy through simple analysis to get a whole picture of interaction between individuals, companies and organisations.This cascades across communications technologies from Phone, Email, Letter, through to Web, Social Media and SMS.
   
2. Using the integration described above iSAM is then able to track the response of clients to your sales and marketing activities. An example is with the Foot Print tracking, which shows page for page and link for link exactly how a prospects has moved around your website, what they have looked at and for how long. Giving you prior knowledge about what their interests are. This enables our clients to follow up with highly targeted responses.
   
3. iSAM technology gives us really light weight access to the data in your system and enables us to mobilise the system, enabling our clients to work from Mobile phones, Tablets and Laptops from anywhere. For many of our clients this has enabled them to do away with costly office infrastructure and empowers them to enable a great level of working from home, which creates better working environments for staff and additionally has a big impact on environmental responsibilities. 

Provide at least one example of the successful deployment and use of your software /solution by a client:

We have clients in several different lines of business, from micro businesses selling specific products, through recruitment, financial services and also charities and membership organisations. Our client testimonials probably speak loudest about how our clients utilise iSAM and these are available for review HERE

Further Comments:

We believe that CRM has already demonstrated that it is only viable as a strategy. The failed implementations and lack of permanent uptake within companies demonstrates a reluctance of staff to utilise CRM. We believe this is because the technology has not either existed or been utilised correctly to integrate the communications systems within an organisation. CRM is simply an acronym for saying you have a vision to take care of your customers, and as we have seen on its own it is not enough to simply gather data on your clients in a CRM system.

Businesses are really trying to achieve the same levels of discipline and exactness that existed for years in corporate business in that post war pre digital era of the 1940's - 1970's. We have been able to take those notions of organisational discipline and information management and apply them via the use of proper, true integration. It is iSAM that enables this to happen. Think for a moment how long it would take your organisation today to pull together every communication with your number 1 client. Every phone call, every SMS message, Email., Tweet, LinkedIn post and present that as one single view ? In the 1940's business systems this would arrive on the executives desk as a folder, in 21st century businesses using iSAM it appears as a Web Application page. The data is just as concise in both cases it is only the medium that has changed, it is this that separates iSAM from its competitors.