IBM integrates SugarCRM into LotusLive

SugarCRM has integrated its Software-as-a-Service-based CRM offerings with IBM’s LotusLive collaboration tools to enable marketers and customer service staff to seamlessly access online meetings and attach notes and documents to consumer records.

The move is the first fruit of the open source supplier’s decision to join IBM’s Global Alliance Portfolio in the Cloud Solutions area and integration work with other IBM SaaS-based products is expected to follow.

Larry Augustin, SugarCRM’s chief executive, said: “The integration of LotusLive capabilities with SugarCRM provides a powerful set of tools for all of our users. Now, sales and support professionals can connect directly with prospects and customers in an instant, helping to provide higher service levels and shorter sales cycles.”

The integration of the two products will enable SugarCRM customers to access LotusLive tools directly from the Sugar shortcut bar as well as launch web and audio meetings from the Sugar user interface.

Meetings can be managed at the account, contact, opportunity and support case level and notes and documents can be attached to a customer record and shared with consumers via LotusLive. The integration work will be made available to users this spring.