I don't know if I'm alone, but about a year ago I decided to adopt Top Producer as my CRM solution. It is indeed a very comprehensive solution, with MANY great features (too many??).
Although I am not technologically challenged, it took me about six months to learn it (it's not that intuitive!). Finally, I was able to USE IT to develop my business and WHAM! they came up with 8i, the next version.
Normally, a new software release shares most of the navigation and user interface with the previous one. Top Producer decided to do a complete OVERHAUL, including changing EVERYTHING AROUND! Why didn't they keep the interface intact and change the back engine? (Likely Answer: Because it was probably re-designed by programmers, not by users...)
I have been struggling with 8i for a few months now. I do not like it! Although it is true that it is much faster than 7i (yeah!) , and IT DOESN'T NEED JAVA (double yeah!), it is confusing and not as user-friendly as 7i.
The contact notes are hard to read, the boolean searches are much more difficult... etc...etc. Do these people expect us to spend an enormous amount of time re-learning their software? I don't know about you guys/gals out there, but I barely have time to use it to generate leads, let alone re-learn their interface...
They say that Top Producer is trying to "phase out" 7i. I say they are going to find out that if they do, they will lose a substantial chunk of their existing clients (myself included). Anyone else shares my feelings?
Alan Donald, MBA, REALTOR, e-PRO
Keller Williams Realty
Charleston, SC
www.BuyHomesInCharleston.com
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