Native Server Level Exchange Sync

[northwestmsp]

Any plans to integrate native backend connections to Exchange? Having to update calendars by having the application open is a giant PIA. Like really annoying. Seriously. Now with the new web interface we will have people that won't have the application open most of the time!

[Support Team]

Re: Native Server Level Exchange Sync

Thank you for asking. At this time we do not have near future plans for this. We've received several other requests for this over the years and we weight it from time to time in comparison with other things.

With Exchange, you can already configure RangerMSP so a single user will sync all calendars for all users! You can even run it on the server. Each user should configure their Outlook sync settings to allow others to sync their calendars, and the users that syncs for all needs to be able to access all other users calendars, on Exchange, from their Outook.

Hope this helps.

[aaspeer]

Re: Native Server Level Exchange Sync

Yeah. I agree. It is really time for this feature. Literally every other CRM PSA does this directly. Its cleaner when things happen on the backend.

[lpopejoy]

Re: Native Server Level Exchange Sync

Syncing other users calendars doesn't work if you have uac turned on. Having this process run client side really has never been dependable for us. It's the biggest reason we don't use the CommitCRM calendar.

The alert server already knows the second that a new appointment is created - that should fire off a calendar sync as well!

[nattivillin]

Re: Native Server Level Exchange Sync

Syncing other users calendars requires you to have every password
Syncing other users calendars causes an issue with UAC.
Syncing by having to have outlook open and running is unreliable

[Support Team]

Re: Native Server Level Exchange Sync

Mmm, knowing the password of others is NOT required.

The ONLY requirement is that the user that syncs for other users will be allowed to access the other users calendar (and Exchange level permission).

Hope this helps!

[lpopejoy]

Re: Native Server Level Exchange Sync

UAC turned off is a requirement as well, right? ...or am I dreaming that?

[Support Team]

Re: Native Server Level Exchange Sync

Quick question - With UAC turned ON and leaving RangerMSP aside - Can your domain user is able to access other users Calendars using their Outlook?

[nattivillin]

Re: Native Server Level Exchange Sync

So we need to create a fake email account, that has full calendar permissions for everyoneelses's account.

Then we need to run a desktop session with outlook and CommitCRM running all the time. With the fake account signed in for this to work properly?

[Support Team]

Re: Native Server Level Exchange Sync

Why fake? Can't your user, as the manager, access all of your employee users and use that? But in any way - yes, a user with access to other users Exchange calendars is required in order for that user to sync other users calendars.

Hope this helps.

[nattivillin]

Re: Native Server Level Exchange Sync

The service manager could, but that relies on them at be in that day or that week. People take PTO, vacations, etc.

It is bad practice to have an important system like calendar sync dependent on 1 user's outlook.

What if the machine did an update in the middle of the night? What if the machine crashed? A host of other possibilities.

People would be missing appointments all because 1 person was out or had an issue with outlook / their computer

Automated things tend to run better when end users don't have to be there to make them happen.

[Andy882]

Re: Native Server Level Exchange Sync

+1 for adding Native Exchange integration in future release. Also for us we don't use Pop3 or IMAP so these modules are pretty much useless for us right now.

[bdbrower]

Re: Native Server Level Exchange Sync

+1 - This is another issue where everyone (except CommitCRM Support) understands and agrees that this is a long overdue (and very much needed) product improvement. CommitCRM is a very good product at a very good price, but it seems a bit myopic (arrogant?) to refuse to move up the priority list a feature that virtually all of your competitors have had in place for quite some time now, and that, to someone looking for a CRM product, could easily disqualify CommitCRM as a choice if they were aware of this shortcoming.

[Support Team]

Re: Native Server Level Exchange Sync

@Andy882 - Got that. FWIW, enabling POP3 and SMTP for Exchange is a breeze so we suspect that this definitely should not be a reason not to use a business level functionality that you may require. Thank you for your feedback.

[Andy882]

Re: Native Server Level Exchange Sync

It is another port that would need to be opened, and we have no devices/clients connect via POP3 or IMAP. The technologies that we do use and have enabled are MAPI/Exchange ActiveSync/OWA/OutlookAnyWhere. I think this should also be moved up in the priority list like others have mentioned as well.