Microsoft Business Contact Manager (BCM) for Outlook 2013 is a powerful Customer Relationship Management (CRM) add-in designed specifically for small businesses . It allows users to track customer relationships, sales leads, and marketing campaigns directly within the Outlook interface . Core Management Features
Contact and Account Linking: In the 2013 version, you can link individual Contact records to larger Account records, providing a clear view of how business relationships evolve over time .
Customizable Business Forms: Users can modify business forms to dictate exactly how data is organized, including assigning specific tabs and filters to contacts .
Interaction Tracking: The tool automatically logs and organizes a communication history timeline for each contact, including emails, meetings, calls, and documents .
Sales Opportunity Management: You can create and track sales opportunities, including estimated amounts, close dates, and deal stages . Marketing and Reporting
Marketing Campaigns: BCM allows small business owners to create, promote, and track marketing activities and identify active vs. inactive customers for targeted outreach .
Dashboards and Reporting: It provides built-in tools for creating reports and charts, offering fresh insights into sales performance and customer service .
Segmented Lists: You can categorize and segment contacts based on criteria like industry, location, or relationship status . Technical Capabilities and Data
SQL Database Support: BCM 2013 comes with a free SQL Server Express database that supports up to 10GB of storage .
Synchronization: It supports viewing and editing business contacts across Outlook, SharePoint, or Windows Live Contacts while maintaining a record of all changes .
Compatibility: BCM 2013 is compatible with Outlook 2010 and 2013; however, it is not supported in Outlook 2016 or newer versions .
Offline Access: With certain configurations, users can access local versions of CRM records and sync changes once they go back online . Critical Support Note What is Microsoft Business Contact Manager for Outlook
Business Contact Manager (BCM) for Outlook 2013 was designed to bridge the gap between simple email management and complex CRM systems. While Microsoft has since transitioned many of these features to newer platforms, understanding how to utilize, install, and troubleshoot BCM for Outlook 2013 remains vital for businesses maintaining legacy systems.
The following guide covers everything you need to know about this powerful productivity tool. What is Business Contact Manager for Outlook 2013?
Business Contact Manager is an add-in developed by Microsoft to provide small business owners with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) capabilities directly inside the Outlook interface. Unlike the standard Outlook Contacts, BCM allows for:
Lead Tracking: Monitor potential customers through a sales funnel.
Project Management: Organize tasks, emails, and documents by specific business projects.
Marketing Tools: Create call lists and track the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. business contact manager for outlook 2013
Financial Integration: Syncing with tools like QuickBooks to view customer payment history. Key Features of BCM 2013 1. Sales and Pipeline Management
BCM allows you to track sales opportunities from the initial lead stage to the final handshake. You can assign "probability" percentages to deals, helping you forecast revenue directly within your inbox. 2. Information Centralization
Standard Outlook stores contacts individually. BCM links emails, appointments, notes, and phone logs to a single "Account" or "Business Contact" record. This ensures that any team member with access can see the full history of a client interaction. 3. Customizable Dashboards
The software includes a "Gadgets" feature that provides a visual overview of your business health. You can view charts for: Sales by stage Top performing employees Recent marketing leads 4. Marketing Campaign Tracking
You can launch mass email campaigns or track telemarketing efforts. BCM tracks who responded, allowing you to calculate the Return on Investment (ROI) for every dollar spent on outreach. System Requirements and Installation
To run Business Contact Manager for Outlook 2013, your system must meet specific criteria: Software: Microsoft Outlook 2013 must be installed.
Database: BCM uses a SQL Server Express instance to store data. Operating System: Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10.
Memory: Minimum 2GB RAM (4GB recommended for smoother database performance). Installation Steps:
Download the BCM 2013 setup file from the official Microsoft Download Center (or your volume licensing portal). Run the installer to set up the SQL Server database.
Launch Outlook; you should see a "Business Contact Manager" tab in the navigation pane. Common Challenges and Troubleshooting
Despite its utility, BCM 2013 is known for being resource-intensive. Users often encounter these issues:
Add-in Crashes: Sometimes BCM will disable itself if Outlook crashes. You can re-enable it via File > Options > Add-ins > Manage COM Add-ins.
Database Connection Errors: Since BCM relies on a SQL database, firewall settings or a stopped SQL service can prevent it from loading.
Compatibility: BCM 2013 is not compatible with Outlook 2016, 2019, or Microsoft 365 versions. The Future of BCM: What Comes Next?
Microsoft officially discontinued development for Business Contact Manager after the 2013 version. For businesses looking to modernize, the recommended paths are:
Outlook Customer Manager: A lightweight successor (now also retired).
Dynamics 365: A robust, enterprise-grade CRM that integrates deeply with Office. Microsoft Business Contact Manager (BCM) for Outlook 2013
Microsoft Lists: A flexible way to track leads and projects in the modern 365 ecosystem.
If you are struggling with a specific error or need help migrating your data, I can provide more targeted advice. To help me give you the best information, let me know:
Are you looking to install BCM for the first time or fix an existing error?
Is your database stored locally on one PC or on a shared network server?
Are you considering moving to a newer CRM, and if so, what is your team size?
Business Contact Manager (BCM) for Outlook 2013 is a free Microsoft add-on that provides basic Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools directly within the Outlook interface. It allows small business owners to track sales, manage marketing campaigns, and organize customer data without needing complex external software. Core Capabilities
Centralized Database: Uses a free SQL database (up to 10GB) to store interaction history, including emails, phone logs, and documents.
Relationship Tracking: Connects individual Contact records to Account records to visualize long-term business development.
Sales Pipeline: Offers tools to visualize sales funnels and export numerical data directly to Microsoft Excel for reporting.
Marketing Management: Enables the creation and tracking of marketing activities like mass mailings and call lists while distinguishing between active and inactive leads.
Customization: Features customizable forms, tabs, and filters that allow you to dictate how your data is organized. Setting Up BCM for Outlook 2013
Compatibility Pack: If you have a version of BCM from 2007 or 2010, you must install the Business Contact Manager compatibility pack to run it in Outlook 2013.
Full Installation: For new users, a full 32-bit install file is required.
Activation: If the BCM toolbar is missing after installation, check under File > Options > Add-ins and ensure it isn't listed under Disabled Items. Legacy Status and Replacements
BCM 2013 was the final version of the tool and is not compatible with Outlook 2016 or newer.
Outlook Customer Manager (OCM): Originally launched as the replacement for BCM in Office 365, OCM has also since been discontinued.
Current Alternatives: Many users now migrate to solutions like eWay-CRM or lightweight CRM tools like Zoho and Monday.com. What is Microsoft Business Contact Manager for Outlook Outlook Add-in : Adds BCM folders
Business Contact Manager (BCM) is a customer relationship management (CRM) add-in for Outlook 2013 that allows you to manage sales pipelines, track marketing activities, and organize customer information within your inbox. Important Notice: Microsoft officially ended support for Office 2013 on April 11, 2023
. BCM is also not supported in newer versions like Outlook 2016 or Microsoft 365, so most users have transitioned to Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM alternatives 1. Installation and Setup
If you still have the installer, follow these steps to set it up: Check Requirements : Ensure you have Outlook 2013 installed. BCM requires Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express to store its database. Run Installer
: Launch the BCM setup file. If the setup fails due to existing SQL Server versions, you may need to uninstall them before retrying. Database Creation
: Upon first launch, Outlook will prompt you to create a new database. You can host this locally on your PC or on a shared server if you are working with a team. 2. Managing Contacts and Groups
Once installed, BCM adds new tabs and folders to your navigation bar. Create a Business Contact : Go to the People/Contacts section, click New Contact
, and enter details like company name, job title, and linked records. Group Contacts : You can organize leads and clients by selecting Home > New Contact Group to group people for targeted marketing or projects. Import Existing Lists Import/Export wizard File > Open & Export to bring in contacts from a CSV file. Microsoft Support 3. Key CRM Functions Lead Tracking
: Tag contacts as "Leads" and track their progress through your sales funnel. Activity Logs
: Link emails, appointments, and phone logs directly to a business contact so your entire history is in one place.
: Use the built-in reporting tool to view sales forecasts, top customers, or neglected accounts. 4. Data Backup
Because BCM uses a separate SQL database, a standard Outlook backup won't save your BCM data. Business Contact Manager Manage Database and choose
Save the file to a secure location to prevent losing your CRM data. CRM alternatives that work with modern versions of Outlook? BCM Use with Outlook 2013 | Page 2 1 May 2013 —
That is a good piece of software to mention, though it depends on what you’re looking for.
To be precise: Microsoft Outlook 2013 with Business Contact Manager (BCM) was a powerful but now discontinued add-on that turned Outlook into a lightweight CRM.
Here’s why people still regard it as a “good piece” of software, even years later:
BCM for Outlook 2013 consists of: