The article is a little misleading in that it mentions the upgrade to the open source product but includes features that are only available in the Professional and Enterprise editions. There has been a long-running thread on the SugarCRM forum where customers have been complaining about the the key Sugar 6 features not being available in the Community edition.
At SplendidCRM, we have created a similar UI to Sugar 6 but we are including it for free in our Community edition.
SugarCRM today launched a major upgrade of its open source customer relationship management platform that emphasizes ease of use, information access and setup.
Sugar 6, which was officially launched Tuesday, offers a simplified, Web 2.0 interface with big icons, simplified default views, a ShortCut bar and one-click access to a multitude of application data.
Users can, for instance, access menus and any previously viewed page for any module from anywhere in the application, a capability that prevents one from getting lost in the multi-module application, the company said.
The ShortCut Bar, SugarCRM also points out, allows a sales pro to log an incoming call or assign a task without leaving the screen in front of them.
Additionally, the upgrade enables users to easily view and integrate information from social networks and data services sich as Twitter, LinkedIn and Hoover’s inside of the SugarCRM user interface.
SugarCRM supports multiple operating systems and cloud platforms and a variety of mobile devices, including Apple’s iPad, and applications, such as Microsoft Office.
Sugar 6 also features an enhanced Global Search, setup wizard and improved customization utility known as Sugar Studio. The enhanced Studio allows admins to alter default fields and customize more views.
The company is offering a free week trial of the upgrade here.
