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The beta version of Sugar 5.0 commercial and open source CRM software, has been released after the longest release cycle in SugarCRM history, which extended to more than a year. Sugar 5.0 introduces functionality such as capabilities that allow users to build custom modules, a new AJAX e-mail client and a 'Multi-Instance On-Demand' architecture. "This release allows customers to break away from the predatory lock-in of proprietary CRM vendors," said John Roberts, CEO of SugarCRM. The final version of the software due out toward the end of September this year.

New features have been introduced across four key areas -- Platform, CRM Functionality, On-Demand Architecture and Community Development.

Platform

• New Module Builder enables users to build custom modules from scratch, or combine existing or custom objects into a brand-new CRM module. For example, recruiters might create a 'Recruiting' module by combining a custom object for employment candidates with the existing 'Contacts' view to better manage the hiring process. Or, a financial planner could create a 'Client Details' custom module that reveals personalized information about each client for better management and follow-up of client relationships. Users can build an unlimited number of custom modules, which interoperate seamlessly with Reporting, Workflow and Sugar Studio tools, and are upgrade-safe.
• New Metadata Driven User Interface (UI) stores customizations in a metadata repository. The Metadata Driven UI combines the benefits of custom CRM with the ability to easily incorporate new features in future releases.
• Improved Access Control offers better support for team hierarchies and access control functions that manage and protect information at the field level.

CRM Functionality

• New AJAX E-mail Client delivers the functionality of a desktop E-mail Client with the portability of a Web-based e-mail application. The new E-mail Client features tight integration with Sugar's Sales Force Automation functionality, and offers state-of-the-art design, including drag-and-drop, search, keyboard shortcuts, rules wizard, and support for folders, contacts and personal inboxes. Interoperability with all leading e-mail servers allows the E-mail Client to complement or replace existing e-mail clients.
• Improved Dashboards with new charting capabilities, including support for funnel and pie charts, line and bar graphs and performance-gauge chart objects.
• Multiple Dashboards on Homepage allow users to access any number of pre- or custom-built dashboards from their homepage. Users can easily add, edit, share, rearrange or remove dashboards with a few simple clicks.

On-Demand Architecture

• According to the company, the new On-Demand architecture, or multi-instance architecture takes advantage of horizontal scale-out capabilities of open source software platforms, significant increases in processing power of commodity hardware and systems management software developed by SugarCRM to eliminate the tradeoffs between deep customization and upgradeability associated with previous generations of On-Demand CRM.

Community Development

• The GNU General Public License (GPL) version 3 has been adopted for Sugar Community Edition. This is aimed at allowing non- technical users to create, publish and share modules across Sugar deployments. "SugarCRM's adoption of the GPL for Community Edition combined with the ability of non-technical people to create their own modules will unleash a tidal wave of innovation in the Sugar Community," said Greg Soper, Managing Director of SalesAgility.com, a K provider of CRM solutions. "Users are no longer dependent on a vendor's product roadmap. If you need new functionality, you can simply create and share the exact functionality you need."

Since the founding of the Sugar Open Source project in 2004, the application has been downloaded over 1,200,000 times, and localized into more than 75 languages. More than 10,000 developers have developed over 400 extensions for Sugar Forge, SugarCRM's open source development destination. Since its release in October 2006, Sugar Exchange has grown to over 260 listings from 75 providers in nearly 40 product categories.

The Beta release of Sugar 5.0 will be available soon at http://www.sugarcrm.com. The general availability release of Sugar Community Edition, Sugar Professional and Sugar Enterprise, will be towards the end of September at http://www.sugarcrm.com.