As a result, the user interface looks primarily like Outlook with some additional dialog boxes created by DLLs that support the specific activities of the CRM application. It is an additive model. The PurpleCRM form includes everything in an Outlook form, plus enhancements to the journaling function, a relationship management function, a financial management vertical application, and an opportunities management form. In addition to reducing the learning curve, the integration with Outlook gives salespeople the ability to use PurpleCRM on or off the network. They can take their portable computers on the road and use regular Outlook synchronization to sync up when they return to the office.
Server provides the security, e-mail, and public folder functionality.
PurpleCRM has two data stores. All the forms, the data inside those forms, and the attachments are stored in the Exchange data store. All that data is replicated through Exchange event services to a SQL Server database. The SQL Server database provides a relational representation of the Exchange data model to present users with simple access to the data. It also maintains historical transactions for components such as opportunity management, relationship management, and journals.