Whether you choose another Outlook-integrated add-in like DejaOffice or eWay-CRM, a cloud-based system like Zoho or Dynamics 365, or even just Outlook's native features, the important thing is that you have a system for managing your customer relationships. Your contacts, leads, and customers are the lifeblood of your business. They deserve better than a discontinued, unsupported application held together with workarounds and prayers.
The official lifecycle end dates were set:
Are you trying to , or fixing an existing error ? Are you running a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Outlook 2013?
Dictate how your data is organized by creating custom tabs, filters, and record types.
Sales cycles require careful management. BCM allowed you to set up custom rules for how leads should be pursued, and the system would automatically prioritize opportunities so users could focus on the most important tasks first. You could visualize your sales pipeline and funnel, then export that data to Microsoft Excel for numerical reporting. business contact manager for outlook 2013
Running obsolete, SQL-based software in 2026 poses potential data security risks and compatibility issues with modern Windows environments. Modern Alternatives to BCM for Outlook 2013
The magic was in the folder. Unlike standard Outlook, where finding an email requires searching through thousands of items, BCM linked every email, meeting, and phone log to a specific contact record. You clicked on "Contoso," and instantly saw the entire timeline of your relationship with them.
If you're looking for a comprehensive CRM solution that integrates well with Outlook 2013, I recommend . While it's not the cheapest option, its seamless integration and robust features make it a top choice.
For very simple needs, don't overlook what Outlook already offers. You can customize Outlook's contact form to add custom fields, use categories to organize contacts, and leverage Outlook's search and filtering capabilities. While not a full CRM, this may be sufficient for freelancers and very small businesses. The official lifecycle end dates were set: Are
Select as your file format. This format is universally accepted by almost all modern CRM platforms and Microsoft Excel.
The Zoho CRM plug-in allows users to sync contacts, tasks, and calendars bidirectional between Outlook and the cloud database.
Navigate to the wizard under the BCM menu. Select Export to a file .
Microsoft stopped developing BCM after the 2013 lifecycle. They did not release a version for Outlook 2016, 2019, 2021, or the modern Microsoft 365 cloud environment. System Requirements and Vulnerabilities To run BCM 2013, you must use legacy environments: Sales cycles require careful management
A highly popular BCM replacement that runs directly inside Outlook. eWay-CRM offers an interface very similar to BCM, ensuring a low learning curve. It adds modern features such as workflow automation, project management, professional marketing emails, and detailed sales pipelines. The company also offers BCM data migration services.
Select the fields you want to export (Accounts, Contacts, Opportunities).
BCM uses a SQL Server database (either SQL Server Express or a full SQL Server instance). During installation, you will be prompted to create or attach a database. For small teams, the local SQL Server Express instance included with BCM is sufficient.