For more than 20 years, I’ve relied on Quicken to manage my personal finances, while I use Zoho Books to run the financial side of my business. Both products do an excellent job in their respective roles, and I’ve become a big believer in using the right tool for the right purpose. Simply put, I love Quicken.
At the same time, I’ve spent over two decades helping businesses use Act! CRM. Like many Act! users, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for software that consistently delivers value. When you’ve invested years entering data, building processes, and learning a system inside and out, loyalty comes naturally.
Recently, however, Quicken reminded me of something I’ve been telling Act! users for years: technology doesn’t stand still.
The Quicken vs. OneDrive Battle
A few weeks ago, I found myself locked in a frustrating battle between Quicken and Microsoft OneDrive.
Quicken prefers to store its data files locally, while OneDrive wants to synchronize everything to the cloud. What should have been a simple update turned into hours of troubleshooting, file relocations, and sync issues.
Fortunately, persistence paid off. I eventually got everything working correctly, but the experience reminded me how difficult it can be to keep older desktop applications running smoothly in a cloud-first world.
Why This Sounds Familiar to Act! Users
Many Act! users face similar challenges every day.
Years ago, installing software on a desktop computer was straightforward. Today, businesses must deal with:
- Windows updates
- Cloud storage synchronization
- Remote work environments
- Multiple devices
- Security requirements
- Database maintenance
The software may still do its job, but keeping it running often requires more effort than it once did.
Loyalty Is Good. Reality Matters More.
I understand software loyalty better than most.
After all, I’ve been using Quicken for more than two decades. I’ve also worked with Act! users who have been using the software for 10, 15, or even 20 years.
There’s nothing wrong with loyalty. In fact, it’s often a sign that a product delivered tremendous value.
But loyalty should never prevent us from evaluating whether a solution still fits our current needs.
Sometimes You Stay. Sometimes You Move On.
In my case, I decided to stay with Quicken. The software still meets my needs, and after winning my battle with OneDrive, I’m happy to continue using it.
For businesses using Act!, however, the answer may be different.
Many organizations discover that cloud-based CRM solutions like Zoho CRM eliminate many of the challenges associated with desktop software. Automatic updates, anywhere access, workflow automation, and reduced IT maintenance can make a compelling case for change.
That doesn’t mean Act! is a bad product. It simply means that business requirements evolve.
Sometimes the best decision is to stay with a trusted solution. Sometimes the best decision is to move on.
Final Thoughts on Act!
My Quicken adventure ended successfully. My data is safe, OneDrive is behaving itself, and my finances are once again neatly organized.
But the experience reinforced a lesson I’ve learned repeatedly throughout my career: every technology has a lifecycle.
Whether it’s Quicken, Act!, or any other long-standing software product, there comes a point where every user must ask:
“Am I staying because this is still the best solution, or am I staying simply because it’s familiar?”
That’s a question worth asking.
Still Using Act! CRM?
Tech Benders has helped nearly 400 organizations evaluate, repair, optimize, and migrate their Act! databases. Whether you’re committed to staying with Act! or exploring Zoho CRM, we’re happy to help you determine the best path forward.
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