Navigation:  3 Getting started > 3.3 Setting up Total Enterprise CRM for first-time use

 

Configuring Total Enterprise CRM is an essential first step in preparing it for your users or employees.

 

The configuration capability in Total Enterprise CRM allows you to tailor the system to your needs and design it exactly for your business. You can customise and configure it using the Administration tab and 'options' link located under the CRM button.

 

Running Total Enterprise CRM for the first time also requires the database connection to be set up as shown in previous steps.

 

Step 1: Launch Total Enterprise CRM

 

 

Click Start | All Programs | Tall Emu | Total Enterprise CRM.

 

When you have clicked on the CRM icon, the login screen will be displayed, as shown in next step.

 

Step 2: Authorisation

 

 

The is 'Authentication' form. Clicking the ellipsis (…) button invokes the 'Connection configuration' form, shown in next step.

 

Note:

If your CRM has been already customised, the login screen may show a different colour and have your company logo on it.

 

Step 3: Connection properties

 

 

This is 'Connection configuration' form. It shows a possible connection configuration as an example.

 

Note:

For further instructions on database connections, visit the following links:

 

SQL Server configuration for remote computers

SQL Server configuration for a non-domain environment

 

Step 4: Test the connection

 

 

Ensure that you check the database connection with the test button. When connection is successful, the dialog box will diplay this message.

 

Step 5: Log into the CRM

 

 

Once you have successfully configured the database connection, you may log into the CRM. The default user is 'admin' with no password. Provide your login name and password, choose the database with which you want to connect, and press 'OK'.

 

 

When your login is successful, you will see the above screen display for a few seconds.

 

Step 6: Load licence

 

When you are logging in for the first time you will be prompted to enter your licence file.

 

 

The CRM initially automatically displays the 'Configuration' form for the licence to be entered.

 

Click the load licence button and navigate to the licence file (.lic).

 

Click 'Ok' when you have finished.

 

Step 7: If licence loaded successfully

 

 

If you have loaded the licence successfully, you will see a form such as that above. This is an example of the 'Licence configuration' form after a licence file has been installed.

 

Step 8: Configure Total Enterprise CRM

 

 

Now that Total Enterprise CRM is ready, you can further configure it according to your business needs.

 

For example, the email service facilitates sending emails from Total Enterprise CRM. The SMTP settings will be the same as in Outlook.

 

The user name and password fields relate to the Total Enterprise CRM user. This will be the user name and password used to connect to the system. Until any new users are set up, this can only be 'admin' with no password.

 

Note:

To learn more about configuration, visit the following links:

 

 

Step 9: Start working with CRM

Once you are logged in (after loading the licence and configuring the CRM), you will see the main menu. This is a large ribbon-style menu that orders the various functions within the CRM into logical groups.  

 

You can switch from tab to tab to see the different functions of the CRM, and inside each tab on the menu you will see the options broken down into groups. Once you start, you can enter data into Total Enterprise CRM by using the 'import' feature.

 

To learn more about user interface, and to get started quickly, visit the following links:

 

 

 

As you switch tabs, the display under the menu bar changes, and different functions and options will be displayed. For example, if you choose 'Contacts', a list of contacts will appear, with relevant contact functions and options.

 

The system reduces the number of clicks necessary to perform common tasks, and it doesn’t lock you into one way of doing things. For example, when you have a 'contact' open, you can easily send an email, add a note, record a call or schedule a meeting with that contact; the system recognises that your activity relates to this contact and links them automatically.