Sage, Sandler to provide customize service for local business

Burnside - An international partnership will bring the top customer relationship management (CRM) software and the top business development trainers together to benefit Nova Scotia businesses.

The new ACT! by Sage Platinum Care subscription service includes Sandler sales training content and access to a new online business development portal with moderated discussion forums.

Sandler Training and Sage Software are both big, international organizations, but the RED Group and our office understand the local need, says Eldon MacKeigan, local franchisee of Sandler Training in Halifax. The consistent development of business people in sales is the result of productive systematic processes in selling and the effective management of the customer data.

Its essential to have the CRM product partnered with business development methodology, says Bruce Seidman, president of Sandler Training International. Its not just putting data into blank fields. The combination of the sales team incorporating this technology into their strong daily sales behaviours unleashes a powerful one-two punch to drive sales.

Sandler Training, a world leader in innovative sales and sales management training for more than 40 years, provides content and services to ACT! Platinum Care subscribers. Subscribers receive a full year of access to the Sandler Broadcast Centre, which includes weekly members-only podcasts, a DISC® individual strengths assessment, Sandler email newsletter and one complimentary sales consultation at a Sandler training centre.

Its essential to have this CRM product partnered with methodology. Great initiatives can come from large corporations. But without local energy, these big initiatives are worthless, Seidman says.

Rhonda Burke, president of the Really Effective Data (RED) Group, a locally-based CRM consultancy, is the only certified ACT! consultant in Atlantic Canada.

The focus of the RED Group has always been to customize ACT! to suit the individual business environment. This partnership with Sandler will allow the customers to take this customization into the sales process, she says.

Sandler Training and the RED Group will host a two-hour executive briefing on September 25 from 8:30 am to 10:30 am at the Sandler Training Centre in Dartmouth for presidents, owners and managers on this new initiative.

ACT! Platinum Care is available now by contacting Burke at info@theREDgroup.ca, or by visiting www.theREDgroup.ca for more information. The new ACT! business development resource portal is available exclusively to ACT! Platinum Care subscribers at http://care.act.com. The portal features moderated discussion groups for topics including leadership development, business strategy, customer strategy, sales processes, marketing and effective sales presentations.

-30-