Living DayLites – Productivity Manager for the Mac – Daylite Productivity Suite

reviewed by Robert Pritchett

Get organized! Work smarter and not harder. Stay in control! Manage Information and relationships instead of collecting it in shoeboxes and neglecting those you work with. Work your information instead of letting it work you.

Run through this quick looksee: http://www.marketcircle.com/images/splash/home_splash_l_20060619_minitour.mov

Welcome to Business Management Productivity with Mac OS X in mind. WeÕve looked at some project management solutions in the past that were either web-based subscription services or cross-platform with monthly fees for use. Now letÕs take a peek at ÒProductivity ManagementÓ that takes Project Management up a notch.

Marketcircle has been focusing on a Mac-based business project management productivity tool for a few years now and this is about as good as it gets, because it relies on the strengths associated with Mac OS X with no compromises.

I would strongly suggest that you go through the QuickTime videos in the tutorials linked above to get a real flavor for this app. The Tour isnÕt too bad either! The Daylite Productivity Suite (DPS) merges Daylite 3 nicely with AppleÕs own Mail.app functionality and really enhances the experience by putting in those Ómissing piecesÓ we have all be craving for that Apple has not delivered yet. You know, things like Email merge with template letters and memos. It does this with the Daylite Mail Integration Module (DMI). DMI also handles the contact list functions nicely by participating in the dynamic database that grows to include everybody you work with, both inside and outside the company. Keep track of all activities and correspondence as an electronic papertrail. The only thing is, Daylite has to be running before Mail.app, so that the interface will work properly. DayliteÕs database has to be accessible.

Purchased as standalone, DMI runs around $49 USD as an add-on to Daylite 3. http://www.marketcircle.com/daylite/mail.html

Daylite 3 is designed for use of a small business from 1 to 50 or so people. It brings together calendaring and scheduling, activity delegation, pipeline views (essentially, project management workflow activities), report writing (memos, letters, etc.) and basically staying organized using a relatively clean interface. It also knows how to use AppleÕs Address Book to best effect. DMI also has the ability to let us work remotely by bringing the power of the Internet to the desktop, wherever it may be. http://www.marketcircle.com/daylite/index.html

The Project Management function comes through in the Project Pipeline, using workflow stages, progress tabs, activities and forms. It follows the process that Apple provides for its own sales staff such as initial contact, pain identification, solution gathering and presenting, negotiations, purchase options, implementation activities, etc.

Reports that upper management likes so much, can easily be generated. With a small business, that would be me.

Correspondence that requires paper instead of electronics can also be utilized using labels and envelope addressing apps.

Daylite requires a username/password combination to get going. The database engine used is OpenBase. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Openbase Remember the Parliant PhoneValet Message Center? The Daylite OpenBase maintenance window recognizes it.

The Preferences windows are well-organized. One is the Roles & Relationships window. There are lists of Contact Roles, Organization Roles and Relationships. Once one panel is figured out, the process is simple. Click on the + or – to add or remove an item in each windowpane. Simple! Even simpler is that Marketcircle preloaded most items so it is much easier to remove than to add. Adding requires a little more skill – like knowing your business, so Daylite 3 (okay, DMI) can be customized to fit your way of getting work done and becoming profitable.

With macCompanion staff increasing, I need a better way to manage and DPS appears to be one that works for me.

Billings is another module that purchased separately, runs around $39 USD. And no, it does not come as part of the DPS , but donÕt you think a ÒSuiteÓ should?

I gave the Daylite Productivity Suite a 5, because it does a fantastic job of doing what it does best, keeping things organized in a frenetic world.

See Leo LaPorte talk about it: http://movies.marketcircle.com/mov/daylite3/Daylite_on_Call_For_Help.mov