According to a recent Intuit user study (March 2003 QuickBooks Concept Study), less than 13 percent of QuickBooks financial software customers use any specialized customer relationship management (CRM) software, despite the fact that 89 percent regularly track customer information and 35 percent have investigated traditional CRM applications. The survey also revealed that existing CRM solutions were considered either too complex to use or they focused too heavily sales force management versus better serving customers, which is the top priority for small businesses and accountants.

"The market for customer management software is crowded with solutions that are too complex and expensive for most small businesses or accountants. These organizations rely heavily on referrals and word of mouth, and look to customer data in order to grow relationships rather than for 'sales-pipeline' focused tasks," said Sheryl Kingstone, program manager at Yankee Group. "Without a dedicated sales force or multi-layered marketing structure, small businesses and accountants simply need an easy way to track critical customer information in order to better understand and strengthen the bond with their customer or client."

Unique Dashboard Ties Customer Data Together
QuickBooks Customer Manager and QuickBooks Client Manager capture all the information tied to serving customers and clients on a single screen. Contact information, QuickBooks invoices and sales orders, projects, appointments, notes and much more can be immediately accessed from a single, dashboard-like screen. This provides users one-click access the information and documents they need to better serve and "wow" their customers or clients.

Both products link and synch with other software programs, such as QuickBooks financial software, Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel (refer to www.customermanager.com), which helps eliminate redundant data entry. And through integration, data is automatically synched to help ensure that customer information is always up-to-date. Additionally, QuickBooks Client Manager for accountants integrates with Intuit's ProSeries® and Lacerate® tax preparation software products (refer to www.accountant.intuit.com).

The products also allow users to manage projects more effectively. Similar to customer information, all relevant project information including project notes, documents, and related project contacts can be accessed from a single dashboard screen. This helps users more efficiently manage projects so that project tasks and to-dos don't fall through the cracks.

Designed for Simplicity and Ease-of-Use
Following Intuit's tradition of making products intuitive and easy to set up, learn and use, QuickBooks Customer Manager and QuickBooks Client Manager are designed to be the easiest to use customer management products available today.

QuickBooks Customer Manager and QuickBooks Client manager can be self-installed and set-up in about 30 minutes (results may vary). A set-up wizard guides users through a simple set-up process, as well as helps them automatically import their existing customer data from other applications.

Pricing and Availability
The QuickBooks Customer Manager is priced at $79.95 (SRP). QuickBooks Client Manager, which offers additional accountant-specific features, is priced at $249. Customers can place and advanced order for free trials versions of QuickBooks Customer Manager by visiting www.customermanager.com. The product is also expected to be more broadly available for purchase in select stores in mid September. Accountants can also place advanced orders of QuickBooks Client Manager by visiting www.accountant.intuit.com or by calling 1-800-934-1040.

QuickBooks users needing QuickBooks advice can find a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor^sm by visiting www.quickbooks.com/findadvisor.