Developing a series of integrated systems is the simplest way to realise the hidden value in your IT investment. Sage has developed links between its leading products using a new solution based on a leading edge integration technology called the Sage Application Integration Server (AIS). Integrated systems mean eliminating the double entry of customer details. It provides key financial information to those that need it allowing customer-facing staff to check immediately on credit status, to generate orders and quotes or to complete a transaction on the phone all through a single CRM system.

Using this technology, certified Business Partners can integrate SalesLogix with a variety of ERP, accounting and web applications. Additionally, as part of the solution, standardised integration adapters are provided for both Sage Line 500 and Sage MMS.

Business Advantages
This exciting new technology bridges boundaries between disparate information systems providing users with a single view of their customers. Advantages of our approach include:

• Salespeople have greater flexibility in managing their accounts and can respond more quickly to customer requests, whether they are workgroup or remote users.
• While not connected to the network, remote salespeople can change account information and enter sales quotes and orders. The next time they synchronise, the information is transferred to the SalesLogix database, and from there into the back-office accounting system.
• Sales professionals can easily determine what has been sold. Accounting information, such as open sales orders, invoice history and credit status can be viewed directly in SalesLogix. While connected to the network, this information is always displayed in real time. Whereas, remotes users see a snapshot of the information based upon their
  SalesLogix subscription rules.
• While customised integration solutions for SalesLogix have been on the market for some time, they are generally not scalable for high transaction volumes and multiple applications. Furthermore, customised solutions often prove to be expensive, difficult to support, and laborious to maintain.

Solution Features
SalesLogix Integration has been designed to work with both the Sales Manager and Enterprise versions of SalesLogix. This provides out-of-the-box functionality for basic integration to mid-market Sage and other accounting systems. Catering to the strengths of SalesLogix, the solutions are highly customisable and work in both online and offline scenarios.

Link Accounts
Rather than performance degrading replication of data, the SalesLogix Integration module deploys a "smart link" strategy to establish a relationship between data entities in two separate systems (e.g. Account/Supplier Account details in SalesLogix and Sage Line 500). When linked data is changed in either application, the change is flagged for submission during the next synchronisation cycle.

Create/Edit Account
New customer and supplier account details created in SalesLogix automatically sync to the back-office application.

View Accounting Information
Accounting information can be viewed directly in SalesLogix through the InfoPortal providing access and drill down capabilities to open sales orders, order/invoice history, and customer/credit details. However, no accounting module has to be deployed on the SalesLogix client!

Remote Synchronisation
A remote user can view accounting data via the InfoPortal while offline and can submit a sales order for processing in the back-office accounting system during the next synchronisation cycle.

Product Uploads
Product information and price lists are uploaded from the accounting application to SalesLogix.

Customisation
The SalesLogix Integration module can be customised to accommodate specific end user integration requirements and to work with existing Business Partner add-ons.

SalesLogix Advanced Integration
In addition to the base functionality described above, SalesLogix Advanced Integration supports sales order submission.

Sales Quotes/Orders
Sales orders can be created in SalesLogix and flagged for submission to your accounting system. The accounting application then validates the order, and recalculates with current shipping and tax information. If the sales order meets submission criteria, it sends an approval notification back to SalesLogix. Otherwise, a rejected message with additional error information is provided, once approved, the final sales order can be viewed immediately through the InfoPortal.