Comparison between CRM 4.0 and Prophet.
With all of the CRM 4.0 and similar products on the market, making the right choice between MS CRM 4.0, Prophet, and a host of other interfaces is difficult. A comparison of the key points of each of the products, including CRM 4.0 can be helpful in making the best decision for you own business. Though it may seem that CRM 4.0 and Prophet are nearly interchangeable with the actions that you can perform and tasks that can be completed, there are some very striking differences in MS CRM 4.0 and other CRM 4.0 similar software. Take a look at what both CRM 4.0 and Prophet have to offer and decide for yourself which product is the best value for your business.

Features of MS CRM 4.0 and Prophet.
Both MS CRM 4.0 and Prophet offer users the capability to track sales, goals, and customer interactions. Salespeople can create quotes for their customers and convert them to sales, within both the MS CRM 4.0 and Prophet interfaces. Managers can monitor salespeople and their goals and quotas in both CRM 4.0 and Prophet. Additionally, managing employee tasks and creating needs specific reports are quite simple within either CRM 4.0 or Prophet. The one feature CRM 4.0 lacks is the complete integration with Outlook, making synchronization necessary, where it is not in Prophet. Both CRM 4.0 and Prophet have many very useful features that will help build a business.

System Requirements and Compatibility of CRM 4.0.
MS CRM 4.0 has the capabilities to integrate directly with Outlook, but is not directly connected with the program itself. Outlook versions that are compatible with CRM 4.0 start with Outlook 2003 and newer. MS CRM 4.0 is supported by Windows XP and Vista versions. In order for MS CRM 4.0 to run properly, users must have a minimum of  1gb Ram and a 1.8 GHz processor. Additionally, the MS CRM 4.0 program uses 400mb of hard disk space to download and install. 

System Requirements and Compatibility of Prophet.
Prophet software works directly in conjunction with Outlook, integrating perfectly with the system you already understand. Unlike MS CRM 4.0, Prophet’s software compatibility begins with Outlook 2000 and goes forward. Compared to CRM 4.0, Prophet supports Windows versions from 2000 through Vista. Users must have 700mb of hard drive space with Prophet, as opposed to CRM 4.0 and at least 512mb of RAM to support the functionality of the programs. It is recommended that users have at least a 800MHz or higher processor.

Customer Support of MS CRM 4.0 vs. Prophet.
One of the biggest differences you will find when comparing the different CRM platforms, MS CRM 4.0 included, is the amount of available customer support for those who have implemented the software within their organization. MS CRM 4.0 customer support is available live during regular business hours, however some services require a purchased plan. There is an extensive online database that MS CRM 4.0 users can access to get their questions answered on their own, however. With Prophet CRM, live email support is available also during business hours, as with MS CRM 4.0, with unlimited access to users. There are searchable databases and tutorials for users to find answers on their own, as there are with MS CRM 4.0. Both companies offer additional product training for organizations at an additional cost, or in the case of MS CRM 4.0, as a part of a service plan.

Overall Cost Effectiveness of MS CRM 4.0 and Prophet.
While many of the features and support systems are alike, the pricing difference in MS CRM 4.0 and Prophet are quite different. Starting at about $500 for a small business program, MS CRM 4.0 may have priced themselves out of comparison. Add to this the need to purchase service plans and upgrades to CRM 4.0 and the actual cost begins to climb even higher. With Prophet, a small personal business plan starts at about $200 and enhanced versions are not much more expensive. Couple this with the affordability of the training programs, against that of MS CRM 4.0 and you will see which of the two is the better value. Though MS CRM 4.0 may have one of the biggest names in the software industry behind it, not every business has the budget of Bill Gates.