Highland Solutions Successfully Launches CRM Solution for Ragan Communications

CHICAGO - Oct. 7, 2015 - PRLog -- Highland Solutions, a software and business solutions consultant, recently announced the successful launch of a SugarCRM solution for Chicago-based publisher Lawrence Ragan Communications, Inc. (“Ragan”).

“We wanted to better understand and connect with our clients, as well as communicate more efficiently amongst our different divisions. We found SugarCRM could help us achieve our current goals, and scale as our company continued to grow,” said Mandy Zaransky-Hurst, chief operating officer and chief marketing officer at Ragan.

Ragan specializes in corporate communications, public relations, leadership development and marketing content. Their publications include Ragan.com, PR Daily, HR Communication News, and Healthcare Communication News.

Prior to engaging Highland Solutions, the Ragan team used email, various spreadsheets and SharePoint to track communication. They lacked a central repository for customer interactions and account history; information that needed to be shared across the organization was often partitioned between departments. The team realized a CRM solution could help provide a better client experience, while improving internal efficiencies for their teams.

“We’re excited about what Sugar and Highland can do to empower Ragan’s goals of gaining greater client insights, and feel privileged to be a partner in building solutions that support their long-term growth plans,” stated Jeff Nixon, president of Highland Solutions.

“I believe that consultative relationship is important to consider when reviewing comparable technology solutions. The lens we use to better understand our clients is Sugar—though it was Sugar plus the folks from Highland Solutions that won us over as a complete package,” said Zaransky-Hurst.

Throughout the project, Ragan worked with a dedicated development team to customize their solution. Ultimately, they were pleased with the quality of communication, as well as the tailored training they received.

“Highland Solutions offers a high level of service and communication. They have a genuine interest in better understanding and addressing client needs,” said Zaransky-Hurst.

About Lawrence Ragan Communications, Inc.

For more than three decades, Lawrence Ragan Communications, Inc., has been the leading publisher of corporate communications, public relations, and leadership development newsletters. Ever since the launch of The Ragan Report in 1970, Ragan has provided the professional communicator and executives with timely, practical, and relevant information that few others can match. The Ragan brand now includes over 16 targeted newsletters in the areas of employee communication, organizational writing and editing, sales and marketing, media relations and motivational management. In addition to our newsletter division, Ragan produces several communications conferences, workshops, and senior-level forums throughout the United States. Ragan conferences draw more than 3,000 professionals annually and provide attendees with access to leading communicators, best practices and rich networking opportunities.

Lawrence Ragan Communications is named for its founder, the dean of organizational communicators. With Lawrence Ragan's death in 1995, his son Mark Ragan—now CEO and Publisher—leads the 50-person firm.

About Highland Solutions

At Highland Solutions, we evaluate and strengthen business processes using technology as a tool to empower companies to do what they do best: add value for their customers. We collaborate with our clients to understand their unique business operations and needs. We then tailor solutions aimed at creating successful outcomes, including improving customer experience, increasing productivity and raising profitability. Our service offerings include systems integration, cloud computing, custom application design and development, e-commerce implementations, social business platforms, data-delivery architecture and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. For more information on Highland Solutions, visit highlandsolutions.com.