Method Community

I'm a heavy user of the Gmail gadget to track all my correspondence in Method CRM, and find it works really well.  One feature I use regularly is the ability to schedule a follow-up activity in the future when I am adding an activity.  I have struggled though in being able to track the Gmail correspondence, as I have not found a way to associate an email with an existing uncompleted activity.

Here is my usage model . . . I send correspondence to a lead via Gmail, and add the activity, and also set a follow-up, say in one week.  A week later, I see the pending activity, and send a follow-up correspondence to the lead via Gmail.  (I must use Gmail vs. Method CRM to send the follow-up email because of other Gmail gadgets and capabilities I need to use.)   What I would like to do is track the follow-up email, associating it with the existing pending activity.  However, I have not found a way to do that.  What I end up doing is adding a new activity on the follow-up correspondence from the Gmail gadget, and then I go back into Method CRM and delete the other uncompleted activity.

Is there a better way to do this?  Ideally the Gmail gadget could allow an update of an existing activity, adding the Gmail correspondence to that activity and allowing the activity to be marked as completed.  Even better would be if you could concurrently set a follow-up activity when you update the existing activity.

Thanks!  Look forward to any suggestions or other ways people are managing activities via the Gmail gadget.

Hi Drew,

The Gadget is intended to extend the capabilities of Method, but not fully replace the CRM. Typically users would get the follow-up notification in their email, navigate to the activity in Method and send the follow-up email from there. I can see from your post that this isn't feasible for you, however since it isn't possible to modify an existing activity directly through the Google Gadget, my best recommendation is to continue with your current process.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

- Justin

Justin,

Thank you for the prompt reply.  

The Method email capability is very rudimentary.  Seems a sound product strategy is to provide greater integration of the CRM with more robust email clients.  I assume that is exactly why you have the Gmail Gadget and Outlook Plugin.

You indicated it isn’t possible to update an existing activity.  Do you mean that it is infeasible to implement that capability in the gadget, or is it simply not a current capability of the gadget?  If the later, can you please advise how I can request an addition of an activity update capability in the gadget?

Thanks!

Drew, 

The Google Gadget is awesome, it is so powerful and does allow you to do alot and I know it can be frustrating when what seems like like a logical process can't be done. 

How about this ----  When you send out your proposal,get into the gadget and add the activity. This reords your reply. Then with the Gadget....  Hit Activities (this opens up Method to current client) and search for the incomplete Activity look at "recent history" Then "Relate' your current activity with you incomplete one.   Update the status on your incomplete activity to "Completed"....   

Be interested if this solves your problem.

Fran

Hi Drew,

I meant that it isn't a current capability of the Gadget. As far as the feasibility of implementing it as a feature, I cannot say for sure whether it is or isn't possible.

What I can do is put in a feature request on your behalf, requesting that this functionality be added. I can't guarantee anything, but I'll keep you updated on the status of that request through this forum thread.

- Justin

Thank you Justin!

Regards,
Drew 

Thanks Fran.  I had not used the Relate capability.  It is a little clunky, but seems to work for my usage model.

THanks!  Drew