In addition to tracking the new rules, regulations, and guidelines being put in place during the Phased re-openings of business, you will want to track any individual preferences that will make it easier for you, and your customer, to do business together. 

Although there are different kinds of preferences in MRSware - email preferences, table column view preferences, data view style preferences, and more - the preferences referred to in "Part 2 of the CRM in the Pandemic Era" series "Tracking Customer Preferences" is all about capturing and tracking your customers' preferences for communicating and doing business with you.

One way to enter the information is in the Contact's Additional tab.

Here's how:

In MRSware -
1. Open a Contact card
2. On the menu bar, click on "Additional -> New"
3. Enter a title in the "Description" field, e.g. "preferred method of contact" or "communication preference"
4. Enter information in the "Value" field, e.g. "no in-person meetings, e-mail, or Zoom only"
5. Click "Ok"

You can set up as many Additional fields as you like.  Additional fields are searchable.

In MRSweb -
The Additional tab feature is in development

On your phone -
1. Tap on Contacts
2. Select a Contact
3. Tap "Edit"
4. Tap "Notes"
​5. Enter the new communication preference in the contact's company
6. Tap "Save"

On your phone, once saved, the information will be Sync'd with MRSware Sync, so you have access to the information wherever you're working. ​

Access the Demo Installation with Sample Data

MRSware Desktop

In order to install MRSware click on the Try It link here or at the top of the MRSware.com menu bar and fill out the form.  The page you are brought to has the 1-2-3 Steps download links to install the Microsoft .Net Framework and the MRSware Desktop software.  At the same time you will be mailed the Demo Installation Keys to use -- be sure to keep an eye on the email address you entered in the form; if you don't see the email, be sure to check your Spam folder as well.

MRSweb (in the browser)

​To access the web browser version, MRSweb, from desktop, phone or tablet, go to https://web.MRSware.net/ and click Login and then Sign-Up Now.  Please use your work email address to sign-up.  You will be sent an email to confirm your accounts, after clicking that you will have access to the Demo Installation and sample data.

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New MRSware Users with Company's Installation

To install the MRSware Desktop software on a new computer, follow the MRSware Desktop instructions above.  In step 3, instead of entering the Demo Installation keys, enter your company-specific keys that were emailed to you and can also be found in the Welcome to MRSware letter.  If you access to a computer with MRSware already installed, and are installing on a new computer, you can find your keys under the "Help" menu's "Installation Settings".

To access your company's data via MRSweb, either follow-up the steps above to create your MRSweb account, or simply login if you have already done so.  Once you are signed-up with your own MRSware installation, and use your work email to login to MRSweb, you will automatically be directed to your company's data.

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If you need technical assistance please contact [email protected].

Lately we have been getting a lot of questions about the passwords in MRSware.  There are three different places where passwords are used in MRSware.

1. MRSware Desktop login – this is the main password that allows you to login and access your MRSware information – companies, contacts, activities, sales history, files, etc.
2. MRSware Mailbox – if you use MRSware as your e-mail provider you will have a separate mailbox password
3. MRSweb login – this is a third and separate password for access to the mobile version of MRSware via a web browser.  You can use your web browser (Chrome, Safari, Foxfire,etc.) to access MRSweb on your desktop, laptop, smartphone, or tablet – companies, contacts, activities.

You can use the same password for all three, but we don’t recommend doing so.  For security reasons we suggest you set separate passwords for all three.  But if you do use the same password, try to use a core password and add a couple of characters to it.

Ever have several windows open in MRSware, click on one to close and actually close MRSware by accident?  

One of our customers sent us an enhancement request asking for a pop-up that asks if you really want to exit MRSware.

Our development team solved the issue with a "Close Application" pop-up.

Throughout MRSware you have the ability to type a company or contact name into a variety of Contact fields: Company cards, Contact cards, Contact selectors in Journals, Projects, Appointments, Tasks, Opportunities, Campaigns, Invoices, E-mail To fields, as well as the Contact Selector fields you use to link companies and contacts to Journals, Appointments, Projects, etc., and Search fields  All these fields not only offer Auto Complete options, but also offer a text control with context sensitive hints. 
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What this means is that if you type in part of a name and click on the Tab or Enter key, the system will finish filling out the name for you (Auto Complete).  However, when there is more than one match or if there is no match in the system for the name you typed in, then you will see a squiggly colored line under the name (Text control with context sensitive hints).
Below are examples of text control with context sensitive hints and how to use these hints.

​These are the step-by-step instructions for setting up an IMAP account to get your MRSware email on your iPhone.

All Plus Package Users have always had the ability to access their MRSware Mailboxes via POP3 or IMAP from any mobile device, mail client software, or webmail website.  In each of those case, the User needs to do a one-time setup of their specific email settings for their mailbox.  While this is not a big deal, it does require the User to take some action to setup access to their mailbox ahead of time.

With the introduction of our own webmail website, we have done the setup for each User's company already.  What this means is that each User only need to know their Email Address and Email Password in order to login and access their mailbox.  Now, if your computer is lost, if you get a new computer, or if you have the need to access email from someone else's computer, the setup is done for you and all you need do is login.

​A brief on what each of those Shortcuts leads to and what each of those screens are used for...

​When getting started in MRSware you will want everyone in your company to be consistent in how they use MRSware so it will be easier to find specific groups or segments of your companies, contacts, journals, appointments, tasks etc.  You do this by creating attributes, such as System types, various other types, categories, close reasons, sales phases, labels, etc and assigning these attributes to your Companies, Contacts, Appointments, Journals, Tasks, Expense Reports, Files in File Share and Opportunities in Opportunity Tracking.  Once these attributes are created and assigned, everyone needs to know how to make the appropriate selections.  This brings consistency and order to your system.  

Relationship Management is essential to a successful enterprise in normal business times, however in a downturn, the established relationships that are flourishing and new ones just beginning become critical to the continued growth of your company. All of the information you need is in your Relationship Database.

Once you realize what the power of a Relationship Database can do for your company, and how and where to build one, (see “The Power of the “R” in CRM”) you need to harness the force of the information you’ve gathered. Using Report Explorer and Data Analysis along with the Search, sort and filter tools built into MRSware provides you, the user, with many avenues to travel for the information you need to succeed.
​

​Invoice Import is the process of bringing sales and commission data into MRSware.  Sales and Commission data is represented as an Invoice in MRSware, but doesn't necessarily have to have the full number of fields that would typically be found in an invoice -- it can be as simple as the Customers' Name and Sales amount.  However, the Invoice Importer and a MRSware Invoice has the full features of an invoice and can track customer PO's, shipment tracking numbers, and sales and commissions data down to the line item level.

To get started with Invoice Import, go to the Invoice Import Users Manual.  This handy reference takes the user step-by-step through working with manufacturers spreadsheets and importing the data into MRSware.

When first logging into MRSware, you will see that there are a lot of Shortcuts and options in the system.  What we recommend is that new Users pick a subject or two that they are interested in and work with those first.  After becoming comfortable with these first parts, pick something else and start using that...  There is always time to take on a new challenge as you become more familiar with the last.

Under the Support tab you will find Training Lessons with instructions on how to use a specific area within MRSware, Documentation with step-by-step instructions on how to use MRSware, blogs discussing best practices, marketing, and useful tools for your computer and your business.  

Because MRSware is not a static entity, there will be many updates to the instructions found in Documentation.  Please check the dates to see if there are updated instructions.

​

The Mailbox Options dialog allows users to set how their outgoing e-mail From address appears, and control the incoming spam filtering options.

Right-click on your mailbox and choose "Options" to see the following Mailbox Options dialog.
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The "mailbox" is where your name/e-mail address is listed next to an icon that looks like a postal mail box. This is what should be right-clicked on, as apposed to right-click on one of the folders like the "Inbox".

In some cases it is possible to make the panels in the Sidebar area of MRSware larger than the viewable area of the screen.  This is typically seen on a screen resolution change as might happen when the computer is used with an external monitor, when the computer's desktop resolution is reduced, or when an application changes the screen resolution.  The effect of this would make it look like the panels in the Sidebar had disappeared or become blank.

​
Two options have been added to reset the size of the panels in the Sidebar:

1. "View" → "Side Bar" → "Resize Panels"

The Resize Panels option adjusts your panels in the side bar area down to equal sizes within the viewable area of the Side Bar.

2. "View" → "Side Bar" → "Collapse Panels"

The Collapse Panels option minimizes all of the panels in the side bar area to their collapsed state.

Once either of these options are used, the user can then resize the panels to any desirable size.  Panels are resized by clicking on the upper edge of the blue panel header and dragging it up or down to make the panel large or smaller.
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​To set up a signature, click on the "Tools" → "Preferences" menu option. In the Preferences window, click on E-mail. On the right, down towards the bottom, you will see the "Add" button; click Add to add one or more signatures.

Imagine this scenario -

A Principal faxes you a sales sheet letting you know they have too many widgets in stock and are having an inventory sale. The price is $0.50/each and the inventory is 20,000. Commissions will be at 10% to get rid of them. Minimum order is 1,000 each.

What do you do when you get it?

​Options:
1. Fax the sheet the manufacturer sent you to key customers.
2. Use MRSware's Search tool to select the customers you want to see this promotional price and then e-mail them.
3. Mail the manufacturer's promotion sheet to key customers.

Which would you like to do?
If you selected #2, then here is how to do it.

1. Go to "Search" on the Menu bar.
2. Select Contacts from the drop down list.
3. On the right side of the Advanced Contact Search, select "All" and then check each of the categories that apply. (I may choose, Purchasing agents and Customers and the name of the manufacturer.)
4. Your list will show the names of the Customers to whom you want to send the special price on widgets.
5. Click on "Contacts" on the Menu bar and select "Mail all contacts in the List who have an Email address".
6. The list of email addresses will appear in the Bcc field. If there are names without email addresses a box will pop up showing these names.
7. Once the new email window opens, you can enter the details of the manufacturers promotion in the body of the window.
8. When done, click "Send".
9. All of your customers will receive the message and have the opportunity to purchase the widgets at the special price, earning you 10% commission on the sales.

Option 2 gets the promotion to your customers faster, giving you a competitive advantage and an increase in commissions while reducing your costs (faxing and postage costs are eliminated).

Hint: While the list is on your screen, select all and set up a category for the promotion and check all of them as having received the promotion. Then set up a second category for those that buy the widgets on promotion. Check this category when you receive orders for widgets. For future promotions you'll know who is the most likely to purchase on promotion.
​

​Contact Selector Enhancements

The contact selector now uses a new text control with context sensitive hints. These hints visually indicate the status of the contact auto completion with a red, green or blue squiggly underline.

If a name cannot be matched, it will be underlined in red. If a name is matched to multiple contacts in the system, it will be underlined in green. Right clicking on a selection with multiple matches will either show you the possible matches, or present you with the Open Contact Selector option, if there are too many to fit in the context menu. If the contact selector allows in-line adding of contacts, it will underline a contact name in blue, if that contact will be added to the system.

If there is no underline, the contact was found in the system. Right clicking on this name will give you the Edit option. Selecting Edit will open the Add/Edit screen for that contact.

Email Address Field Enhancements

The To, Cc and Bcc fields of the Mail Editor screen now use a new text control with context sensitive hints. These hints visually indicate the status of the address auto completion with either a red or green squiggly underline.

If an email address is invalid, or cannot be matched, it will be underlined in red. If an address has multiple matches, it will be underlined in green. Right clicking on a selection with multiple matches will either show you the possible matches, or present you with the Open Address Selector option, if there are too many to fit in the context menu.

​If there is no underline, the address appears valid or matched an address in the system.