Sage Software (News - Alert) has announced the new ACT! by Sage Online Community available at http://community.act.com for registered ACT! users.

 

The ACT! Online Community lets ACT! and ACT! by Sage Premium users, product developers, and Sage Software personnel "interact with each other through a variety of themed discussion forums and blogs covering best practices, product usage tips, and feature requests, among other topics," according to Sage officials.

 

David van Toor, senior vice president and general manager for Sage CRM Solutions North America, said by using the community "we can encourage and more actively participate in ongoing dialogue with our customers."

 

Denis Pombriant, Beagle Research managing principal, said a community of interest "or, just 'community,' is an effective tool that enables marketers and others to gather information about what a large group of people think."

 

In addition to subject matter blogs, the community includes a discussion board for individual and small business users to post ideas and questions, and share information about their experiences, and other forums.

 

Last week CRM vendor Sage Software said MIS Group, based in Dallas, was named its overall Business Partner of the Year for 2007 for North America.

 

The Sage Software Business Partner of the Year overall award is presented annually to the company's business partner who achieves the highest total sales revenue in products and services across Sage Software in North America during the previous fiscal year.

 

With main offices in Dallas, MIS Group also has offices in Houston, Denver and Phoenix. They resell several Sage Software products from the company's Business Management and Industry & Specialized Solutions Divisions.

 

In related news, Sage announced its Chairman’s Club members, representing what company officials characterize as "the elite of the Sage Software Business Partner community."

 

Members were determined based on their performance during the company’s 2007 fiscal year, which ran from October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2007.

 

Chairman’s Club membership is given to "Sage Software Business Partners that develop an exceptional level of new business with Sage Software through defined sales and marketing programs," according to Sage officials. MIS Group was named to the club.

 

Nina Smith, Sage Software president, Business Management Division, said MIS Group "achieved top sales revenue for fiscal 2007."