I’m still struggling with the terminology and concepts of CRM in general, and now I’m trying to conceptualize how we might use SuiteCRM for our needs.
It looks like an Account, Contact, or Opportunity can only be assigned to one User (at a time), but can be assigned to one or more Security Groups (Teams). I’ve configured SuiteCRM so that most Team members can view data only if it’s assigned to their Security Group (Team).
Suppose we want to sell to General Motors.
First, Edith in our East Sales Team is assigned the Account for GM, as well as several Contacts associated with GM. She creates an Opportunity for the deal they’re pitching GM’s people in Dearborn Michigan.
Now, Betty in our West Sales Team wants to create an Opportunity to pitch a different deal to different contacts at GM in Los Angeles. It appears to me that if we create a new Opportunity for this new deal, it will assign all of GM to Betty in the West Sales Team; GM is no longer assigned to Edith.
Both the East and West Sales Teams (Security Groups) are now able to view the Account and the new Opportunity. I’m not sure which Contacts could be seen by each Team. I think that the first Opportunity (and any associated Contacts NOT included in the new Opportunity) would remain visible only to the East Sales Team (?), but I’m not sure.
I suppose this is an issue of “inheritance” but I’m having trouble with the notion that (Things) can be assigned only to one User at a time.
Presumably, I need to stop thinking about Accounts being assigned to Users, and instead think of them as being accessible to Security Groups (Teams). Only Sales Managers would be allowed to add or remove those Team assignments for any Account, Contact, or Opportunity.
Feedback is welcome.