Top Contenders:

1. Microsoft Dynamics 365: A comprehensive CRM solution that integrates seamlessly with Outlook 2013.
2. Salesforce Sales Cloud: A popular CRM platform with robust contact management features and Outlook integration.
3. Act! CRM: A contact management and sales automation tool specifically designed for small businesses.
4. HubSpot Sales: A sales and contact management tool that integrates with Outlook 2013.

Key Features to Consider:

• Contact management
• Integration with Outlook 2013
• Sales pipeline management
• Marketing automation
• Reporting and analytics

Reviews:

Part 9: Troubleshooting Common BCM for Outlook 2013 Errors

Even in its heyday, BCM was finicky. Here are fixes for frequent issues:

Error: "The Business Contact Manager database is not available."

• Fix: Restart the SQL Server service. Open Services.msc, find SQL Server (MSSMLBIZ), and restart it.

Error: "Cannot display the folder. The operation failed."

• Fix: Run the scanpst.exe (Inbox Repair Tool) on your Outlook PST file, then run the BCM database repair tool.

Error: "You do not have permission to access the database."

• Fix: In multi-user mode, log into the host computer, open BCM, go to Database Tools > Manage Permissions, and add the network user.

1) Overview — what BCM provides

• Adds CRM features to Outlook: Business Contacts, Accounts/Companies, Opportunities (deals), Projects/Activities, Phone Logs, Business Notes, Sales Pipelines, dashboards and reports.
• BCM stores data in a local SQL Server Express database (single-user) or a shared SQL Server database (multi-user).

13) Common problems & fixes

• BCM tab not visible:
  • Outlook Add-ins → enable BCM COM Add-in; re-enable disabled items; restart Outlook.
• “BCM could not complete your last action” after certain Outlook updates:
  • Install BCM hotfixes/updates; check registry fixes (see Slipstick/Microsoft support notes).
• BCM crashes after updating OS (e.g., Windows 10):
  • Reinstall Microsoft Chart Controls for .NET 3.5; reinstall BCM components if needed.
• Installer tries to install different program or fails:
  • Ensure correct installer for Outlook 2013; run as admin; disable antivirus during install.
• Sharing/SQL connectivity issues:
  • Verify SQL Server service is running, network ports (default 1433) open, SQL instance name correct, and users have required permissions.
• Performance issues:
  • For large DBs, use full SQL Server instead of Express; index tuning and hardware improvements recommended.
• Duplicate contacts:
  • Use deduplication tools or manual merging via BCM related records; export, dedupe in Excel, and re-import if needed.

4. Creating and managing records

• Add a Business Contact:
  1. BCM tab → New Business Contact.
  2. Enter company/individual name, contact details, classification (customer, vendor).
  3. Use custom fields for industry-specific data.
  4. Save — appears in BCM Contact List.
• Add a Lead:
  1. New Lead → fill source, status, estimated value.
  2. Use Follow-up activities to schedule qualification tasks.
• Convert Lead to Business Contact/Opportunity:
  • Open lead → Convert Lead → choose whether to create a Business Contact, Opportunity, or both. Links and history are preserved.
• Create Opportunity:
  • New Opportunity → link to Business Contact → fill Estimated Close Date, Value, Stage, Probability.
  • Use Sales Process stages to track pipeline.
• Create Project:
  • New Project or use Business Project template → link to Opportunity.
  • Add Milestones and Tasks; assign resources and due dates.
• Activities & History:
  • Link emails, phone calls, appointments to records by saving to BCM or manually linking.
  • Use tracking options to record correspondence automatically.

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