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Risk management firm opts for Microsoft CRM
Not a risky business, apparently

By Jo Best

Published: Friday 11 August 2006

Professional services firm Control Risks has announced it will be rolling out Microsoft CRM to 650 staff in five continents.

According to the company, the new system will help employees better share information across its regional offices and improve its services.

The risk consultancy decided to upgrade its CRM suite following a strategic review of the business. Martin Joy, CIO of Control Risks, told silicon.com: "The incumbent CRM system was not fit for purpose. It wasn't scaleable and universally accessible."

After a four month examination of four different providers, the company plumped for Microsoft software and managed services company Aspective.

Joy said: "The most important thing was usability - intuitive ease of use was really what it's about. Being based around the simple and familiar interface of Outlook, it was hugely favourable on that point." According to Joy, Microsoft had not previously figured in Control Risks' CRM options, as it was not considered mature. "It's come of age now," he added.

Joy said the company chose Aspective to manage the system because of its knowledge of both technology and business change. "The processes, business change, the buy in, getting the data right - that's the challenge. Technology isn't typically the challenge," he said.

Control Risks is currently in the development phase and is planning to roll out the software, initially piloting it with some staff in its EMEA office.

The first quarter of next year will see a deployment taking in 300 people and will eventually take in 650 seats across the business.