How do you use Daylite in your industry?

We use it to manage our contacts – recording all opportunities and monitoring communication relating to them. Once we've won the opportunity, we turn it into a project and create tasks for the project that we delegate to team members. We also record FTP details for web projects and other related info in forms. For instance, we'll use forms to record the outline for a project and design specifications.

Without Daylite we couldn't function as we do – it keeps us on track. Daylite allows me to monitor new sales leads and their follow ups, setup reminders for important due dates, and easily track client communication. When I'm out of the office, all new calls are added to Daylite as appointments, and delegated to me so they appear in my notifications list.

What's your favourite thing about Daylite Touch?

Seeing the day's appointments and tasks at a glance and being able to access projects while out and about.

How has Daylite Touch improved your workflow?

It's enabled us to access information quickly and easily, while we're away from the office. I used to have to get a report of calls made and work done at the end of every day, but now with Daylite Touch, I'm kept in the loop all day long.

Which features do you find most useful to you and your business?

Being able to see progress on projects and clients while I'm out. Sending project notes to my co-workers who are filming on location has been very valuable.

How do you use Daylite in your industry?

We use Daylite as our main shared calendar and contact management system in the office. As part of the contact management we use it to organize our various mailing and emailing lists. We find the ability to link items really useful for tracking people to jobs – it tells us who introduced us to who and basically remember stuff we forgot. This is particularly useful in a multi user environment.

We also use opportunities to track the progress of prospective jobs. We then use projects to track confirmed jobs through to completion. It's of great value to be able to link contacts, phone calls, notes and everything else to these key profit generating areas.

We use Daylite Mail Integration to track all pertinent emails for projects and opportunities which is very useful in our multi-user environment.

What's your favourite thing about Daylite Touch?

Having all of the above in my pocket.

How has Daylite Touch improved your workflow?

Daylite Touch enables me to be far more interactive with my database. If a client calls on my cell I can immediately update the notes on a project or reference any other aspect of an active opportunity or project. I can assign tasks to my assistant from thousands of miles away and I have the history of this for anyone else in the office to view if need be. Everything is in one place and not scattered between phone conversations, emails and sticky notes.

Which features do you find most useful to you and your business?

The home screen that gives me such a great overview of my day including my appointments and tasks.

How do you use Daylite in your industry?

I use opportunities to keep track of potential new clients. I use predefined activity sets that remind me to send information on our various packages, and to follow-up with them after a set period of time. Once business has been won, I create a project for each wedding, family portrait, or commercial shoot I'm involved in. Since Daylite works like a pyramid, I can keep track of everything related to that client under one project and access it easily.

What's your favourite thing about Daylite Touch?

Being able to view, edit, and create everything I need to run my business from one device that fits in my pocket – and knowing that this information is seamlessly syncing back to the machines in my home and office.

How has Daylite Touch improved your workflow?

Before Daylite, I would write this information down on my notepad and forget about them after a couple days. Daylite automatically pops up and reminds me to contact the bride to see if I can answer any other questions, making my customer service that more personal. This is a HUGE deal for any photographer and can be the difference between you sealing the deal instead of Joe-Photo down the street. People like personal attention and Daylite reminds us, at predetermined times, to give that attention.

Which features do you find most useful to you and your business?

Having projects and tasks on my iPhone is huge – but having the home screen to sum it all up for me on a "today" and "tomorrow" basis is priceless.

How do you use Daylite in your industry?

As an attorney, calendaring is everything. One missed deadline or hearing can cause us to lose a case worth millions of dollars. We live by Daylite – the Mail integration feature is one of our favourites. Every case is set up as a project and we are able to link all parties, witnesses, experts, etc. We email ourselves important case documents that then linked to the project via the Apple Mail integration. 

What's your favourite thing about Daylite Touch?

I HATE to wear a suit unless I am going to be in court. With Touch I can check my calendar before going to bed to see if I can wear jeans and ride my motorcycle to work the next day.

How has Daylite Touch improved your workflow?

Daylite Touch allows me to plan my day before I arrive at my desk. I can browse upcoming deadlines, appointments and project events. When I am out of the office, I have access to all of my cases and contacts. Time spent in lines and airports can now be spent on projects. My paralegal always has immediate, real time access to delegated tasks and appointment notes.

Which features do you find most useful to you and your business?

The ability to check my own and my partners' calendars from home or the courtroom is indispensable. "Reschedule the hearing to when, your Honor?" No problem, I have all of our calendars right here in my pocket.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Daylite's stability is amazing. Our former windows based case management system crashed at least once or twice a week. We've been using Daylite for over four years without a hitch.

How do you use Daylite in your industry?

I use Daylite to track my interactions with my clients. I have pipelines that are designed for the different types of work that I do. I like that Daylite has the ability to link different people and companies to an event. The interface with Apple Mail helps me to be able to track email details and link them to projects. I have an iPhone and I'm always able to access the Daylite database directly from the iPhone and it is always up to date.

What's your favourite thing about Daylite Touch?

My favorite thing about Daylite Touch is having the ability to access the database directly. It is always up to date and it is incredibly powerful.

How has Daylite Touch improved your workflow?

My schedule is very complex and I have multiple different types of projects pending at any one time. Daylite helps me keep it all straight. Being able to clearly document the relationships between people involved in the projects is key. It is much better than I am at remembering how people are connected. Networking is exceedingly important and opens the door to new opportunities.

Which features do you find most useful to you and your business?

There are three features that I find the most helpful:

• Integration with Apple Mail
• The ability to have custom pipelines with templates for different types of projects
• The ability to keep track of key players, decision makers and other folks involved in projects.

Atimi Software Inc. was a Daylite customer many years ago, while we did leave; let us explain why we are back (in a big way) so you don't suffer the same mistake.

For a short time we switched to an established well-known web-based CRM. What we found after using it for some time, was they had not only stalled progression of their own product, but they had very limited support for users. The ability to manage fields that pertain to our business model was non-existent and as Macintosh software developers we found the interface design counter-intuitive and an awkward space to work within. We had several issues with adding and removing fields and generating error free reports – forums for the CRM were flawed and supports assistance stopped after referring us back to forums and FAQ pages.

The important point is that the benefits purported by the SaaS based CRM provider were either clunky in real daily use, and the downside of the lack of integration with Mac simply was too much to bear – costing our business productivity and time, which as a custom engineering house, means money.

In coming back to Daylite, Marketcircle's support teams were involved even before we downloaded the applications. They provide best practice information for migration of information submitted to previous CRM's. Online information is abundant and never involves guesswork.

So back to Daylite we came, for its ease of use and uncluttered UI, its ability to be part of our all Mac workflow is unparalleled. The easy to use interface lets us connect to our customer base in a more efficient and timely manner. Reports can be generated within minutes with a very minimal learning curve. The features included within the Productivity Suite for desktop and mobile keep our team on track, on time and concentrate on our business – not messing around with configuring our CRM.

“I found myself using Daylite to capture details and define tasks for opportunities and projects, even though we were already using an on-line CRM solution. Daylite's integration with Mail, Address Book and iCal combined with its Mac-friendly user interface and customizable workflow allows me to be far more organized and productive than is possible using a web-based service.”

Tim Stringer, Director of Desktop Sales
Atimi Software

For our executive team - the need to create and track client and product workflow information needed to be mobile. Daylite Mobile gives us the opportunity to respond to clients needs in moments with information never getting lost in the shuffle. With the sync functionality between mobile and desktop we can go from casual networking to generating new business before the prospective client leaves the room.

“Being away from the office and team members is a regular occurrence. I need to reacquire information while being able to monitor, capture and report on milestones quickly and accurately. Daylite allows my team to keep me apprised of target achievements and I can gather and distribute this information from my iPhone.” Said Scott Michaels, Atimi Vice President. "We run a multi-million dollar business, with very big clients including HBO, ESPN, and a host of others. I could not be happier that we are running Daylite and my business is secure in their toolset."

Scott Michaels, Vice President of Client Services
Atimi Software

Atimi is a cross-platform development company that specializes in Macintosh applications, porting applications from Windows to the Macintosh, and mobile application development for the new generation of smartphones. As a pure services company, Atimi handles high-value intellectual property for some of the largest technology companies in the world. Atimi's processes ensure their clients reach their projected targets reliably and efficiently, allowing them to focus on building strong, lasting relationships with their own customers. Atimi is a privately owned Canadian corporation. An innovator in the iPhone mobile space – Atimi developed applications for leading global brands in media & entertainment (the New York Times and HBO); fashion (Donna Karan); health (ann-e); youth education and gaming (Etch-A-Sketch by FreezeTag); finance (TIO); sports (Vancouver Canucks) and utility (Drive Savers). More than 60% of the Atimi developed applications have been featured by Apple in TV ads, iTunes advertising in-store or in Apple print ads, and many applications placing in the Top 10 Best / Best in Class App categories with Apple, CNN, the New York Times, Macworld, Time Magazine, as well as numerous online publications.

Having worked on the front lines of software development and project management for over a decade, Scott champions the need for a cohesive strategy for companies bringing products to the mobile space. He has worked as part of the W3C in defining standards, and as the lead liaison for bridging innovative technology companies with existing major players, such as HBO, NBC, and other Fortune 500 companies.

What do you use Daylite for?

Managing deadlines, appointments, contacts and conflicts is critical in the law profession, and we use Daylite for all of this. But in a case management system Daylite goes even further than providing these essential features. Through DMI, we can link relevant emails to a case with a simple click. With the merge functions, we can write properly captioned letters and pleadings in seconds. And with plugins like FoneConnector, we manage and record our telephone calls intelligently. Daylite is literally the heart of our practice.

What was it about Daylite that drew you in initially?

Mostly two features that work so well in Daylite, but don't seem to exist with much function in other systems. First, email integration. Second, letter merging and letter writing. 90% of being a lawyer is communicating to others...and keeping track of those communications. We always pinpoint when an e-mail, letter or fax was sent or received. Of course, we can't forget that the interface is beautiful and the program is easily adaptable to any project-type.

How has Daylite Touch improved your workflow?

Task and appointment delegation is easy in Daylite...and our ability to delegate work from one person to another is irreplaceable. The ease of task delegation has removed so many communication headaches between folks in the firm. Daylite Touch just takes the benefits of Daylite and puts it in your pocket. When I'm in court, not only can I check my calendar for dates, but I can check everyone's calendar.

How has Daylite helped you to increase revenue in your business?

Daylite's task function keeps track of time spent, which we use in our office to bill down to our clients. The ease in using this feature, coupled with the integration of Daylite in our everyday work flow helps our office capture time as effectively as possible. In law, time is money, and there's no doubt that Daylite has kept our firm organized and positioned to properly bill clients and make money off our work.

Any other comments?

One often overlooked feature of Daylite is its ability to connect with other programs and plugins. This too separates it from other legal software, which is typically closed to developers. Daylite's development program made the plugin possible, which has tremendously helped our firm manage phone calls.

What do you use Daylite for?

Our main uses are for relationship management of our clients and partner databases. Mosaic Marketing's whole ethos is about bringing together clients and leisure and lifestyle businesses together in affinity marketing, sales promotion and benefits. So it is imperative that we can manage and integrate huge datasets with highly specific requirements to each.

What was it about Daylite that drew you in initially?

We resolved to have a Mac-only environment when we started our business and needed a comprehensive CRM solution that would do the same as the system we had previously used - Sage's Act! Happily we not only found that Daylite delivered Act! functions far better, but it did a whole lot more besides. Naturally I ran a trial version for a month during which I found one or two little quirks that I couldn't figure out. However, Marketcircle's support guys came back to me with a solution within a day and we have never looked back since.

What's your favourite thing about Daylite Touch?

Being able to have instant access to my database that is constantly syncing with my computers at home and office to keep me up to date with changes. It helps keep me on track with scheduling and clients at all times.

How has Daylite Touch improved your workflow?

Considerably. It is so easy to underestimate the immense power of a simple idea. Daylite's killer USP is the LINK functionality. Once you've forgotten everything you used to know from years of using a clunky, regimented, linear system like Act! and freed your mind to think of people, companies, tasks, groups or whatever piece of information you like as separate entities in their own right, and that these entities can be associated, linked and unlinked in a myriad of ways, you can begin to really tap into the power of a CRM system that can adapt to anything the modern world throws at it.

Which features do you find most useful to you and your business?

There are so many day-to-day features that we're so used to using as second nature we can begin to take them for granted. When you stop to think about it though, there are so many! The ability to access the database over ip or through Daylite Touch means that we can always access the data wherever we are. When you run your own business this is crucial. 

As I mentioned above, linking is a cornerstone of Daylite for us. In the fast moving, incestuous and relatively small world of promotional marketing agency people change jobs more often than I service my car! So, the ability to link and unlink a rising star from one company to another and take all their linked history, dialogue and relationship with them is immensely powerful.

In a flexible marketplace we too buy in extra staff when we need them, and Daylite's seamless integration with Apple Mail, iWork and it's own built in document editor means that anyone can pick up the thread of communication and get up to speed quickly and efficiently. That proves invaluable for holiday cover too!

How has Daylite helped you to increase revenue in your business?

This is hard to put into quantifiable terms. There are so many factors at play in developing a modern business. However it is fair to say that Daylite provides us with all the tools we need to make sure we always look on the ball with our clients.

Any other comments?

As Apple continually exemplifies, you only stay ahead of the game by evolving and forging ahead with new ideas and developments. Marketcircle extols this virtue by regular updates, but also listening to the forums and bringing on new features which their customers request. That's how to retain loyalty.

What do you use Daylite for?

I use Daylite as a way to keep track of my clients and potential clients by creating projects and using the progress and activity tabs to keep me informed and up to date with information and day-to-day projects. I also use it as an informational tool for past clients and projects and link each project to the clients, production crew and models that are involved in a shoot so that I can have easier and instant access to information.

What's your favourite thing about Daylite Touch?

Being able to have instant access to my database that is constantly syncing with my computers at home and office to keep me up to date with changes. It helps keep me on track with scheduling and clients at all times.

How has Daylite Touch improved your workflow?

It has improved my workflow because I used to have different databases that were specialized for different portions and functions to my business and Daylite consolidates all of those functions into one, making my business more successful in its workflow. We did extensive research before we decided to go with Daylite, and found Daylite to be the best database out there.

Which features do you find most useful to you and your business?

Being able to create tasks to track correspondence is one of the most useful features in Daylite, you can set the status, location, category, and due date as well as link that task to an organization or person for follow up at a later time with portfolios or photoshoots. Another very useful feature is the use of forms and page layouts; I use them as a checklist for tasks that need to be completed during a production or photo shoot. I simply add the contacts to a form and it automatically generates an invoice or page with their information.

What do you use Daylite for?

We use Daylite primarily for project management, task management and maintaining a calendar of trade shows. All aspects of our use are integral to maintaining a steady work flow and managing the numerous marketing tasks and product development programs. We also attend approximately 40 exhibitions/trade shows every year. It is imperative that we are able to easily look ahead to see where staff will be, availability, and to earmark conflicts as early as possible.

What was it about Daylite what drew you in initially?

We are constantly searching for programs that will help us improve our operations in a variety of areas. Daylite seemed to capture numerous aspects of our business in one program.

How has Daylite Touch improved your workflow?

We can easily see at a glance what is urgent, what isn't, where conflicts arise. No matter where we are. And we are often out of the office. It is easy to forget about something when you are multi-tasking. Daylite helps us to not forget!

Which features do you find most useful to you and your business?

Projects and Calendars. Although we are still fairly new to Daylite, we look forward to incorporating contact management and making better use of GROUPS.

How has Daylite helped you to increase revenue in your business?

It has helped us track our marketing efforts with distributors and direct customers, which results in more pro-active marketing and sales efforts.

Any other comments?

As a small and rapidly growing company, it is vitally important to keep track of all aspects of the business, and to keep appropriate staff members in the loop for specific assignments and programs. Daylite almost functions as an office manager for us.

What do you use Daylite for?

I was first introduced to Daylite in early 2008 and implemented it in our Marketing department using it as a project management tool. We handle project requests from internal and external customers, and we enter that information into Daylite with the help of DMI, linking the relevant contacts to each project so that all our emails, tasks, and planning can be associated with that project are tracked.

What was it about Daylite what drew you in initially?

It was the strongest featured software for project management that I could find and being Mac based, it became a simple choice. It seemed to do most everything I wanted backed and supported by great online training videos, documentation and community forums, which has been very helpful.

How has Daylite and/or Daylite Touch improved your workflow?

Daylite allows our process to be more manageable and efficient. From initiating a project all the way to providing current assessments using smart lists and sending project reports via the Delivery integration feature, we rely on this daily. I also wrote a decently detailed manual to help our entire team with all the great features of Daylite.

Sean was kind enough to provide his instructional manual for others to benefit from. You can download it here.

Which features do you find most useful to you and your business?

The DMI integration with the ability to hold attachments and keep correspondence associated with the project is the most used feature. Tasking allows us to send action items to each other that we want to track through to completion as part of a larger project. The "Add file reference" is one of my new favourite features that saves me a ton of time by letting me set a link directly to a folder on our server or to a website. Pipeline stages with status change annotation help us with our reports that we send to project requestors showing the status of their projects and our current workload. I am currently looking into importing data from the project request form into Daylite using the "import XML web leads" function. There is a lot more, but that's some of the most used.

How has Daylite helped you to increase revenue in your business?

Efficiency + Reliability + Accountability = Success.