| Every other week a new Fast Class movie will be published on the Client Data System Training and Support home page. Fast Classes spotlight advanced tools and functionality and serve as a supplement to the Core Courses offered on this web site. A comprehensive listing of all previously published Fast Classes appears below. |
 |
|
|
 |
Adding a Contact Picture
CDS 6 gives you the ability to add pictures of your contacts to contact records.
Runtime 5:21 |
|
|
Attaching Files to the SmartPad
Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, scanned images, documents in .PDF file format – virtually any file you can save on your computer or network can be added to a Contact’s SmartPad.
Runtime 4:45 |
|
|
Changing Area Codes
When an area code change happens, hundreds of phone numbers captured in CDS can be affected. The Area Code Change tool makes it possible to quickly change area codes in CDS in a few simple steps!
Runtime 4:37 |
|
|
Consolidated SmartPad
Need to review important SmartPad information for two or more contacts before an appointment? CDS gives you the ability to view SmartPad records for multiple contacts in one consolidated SmartPad.
Runtime 3:43 |
|
|
Contact Extract and Load
You need to streamline all of your CDS contacts into one database. The CDS Transfer feature makes it easy to transfer multiple contact records from one CDS database to another.*
Runtime 7:17
*Whenever possible, Ebix CRM recommends storing all contact data in one database. |
|
|
Contact Reports
Need to take a printed snapshot of a contact’s critical information – address, phone numbers, key relationships, dependent information, policy benefits, and investment positions? The Contact Reports feature of CDS allows you to quickly generate a Crystal Report with important contact information.
Runtime 4:41 |
|
|
Creating a Contact Phone List
Creating a comprehensive phone list for a select group of contacts is quick and easy.
Runtime 2:45 |
|
|
Creating Key Relationship Definitions
CDS has a number of Key Relationship definitions available so that you can effectively link the contact records of family members, friends, and business associates. But if you can’t find just the right relationship in the system definitions, you can create your own!
Runtime 5:12 |
|
|
Data Export
Uh-oh. You’ve turned to a mail house to help with a mass mailing to all of your prospects and now you need to provide them with an Excel file containing all the names and addresses. How difficult is this going to be? Do not fear! The Import/Export utility can easily export data out of CDS in a format that can be opened by a number of different applications, including Microsoft Excel.
Runtime 7:57 |
|
|
Data Import
If time is money, the CDS Import/Export utility can save you a bundle! This weeks Fast Class edition demonstrates how the Import/Export utility can be used to create contact records from data stored in a comma separated value (.csv) file in a few simple steps.
Runtime 9:28 |
|
|
Deleted Contact Restoration
Use the CDS Administrator utility to restore deleted Contact, Business, and Advisor records.
Runtime 5:27 |
|
|
Defining Custom Fields
The variety of data you can capture with the Client Data System (CDS) is immense. But you may need to capture data that is unique to the way you interact with your contacts. If you need to track which of your contacts own a home or rent, when a contact attended one of your seminars, or who likes to Golf – view this Fast Class to learn how you can use the Custom Fields in CDS to meet your unique needs.
Runtime 4:41 |
|
|
Dependent Contact Promotion
Dependents can easily grow into prospects and even clients. SmartOffice makes it easy to track your contacts as their needs change. Learn how to promote your dependent records to full contact records with a simple click of a button.
Runtime 5:05 |
|
|
HIPAA Compliance Features
This Fast Class edition will demonstrate the HIPAA workflow that you can use to help you ensure that HIPAA protected insurance products, individual contacts, and letters are correctly identified in CDS 6.
Runtime 8:54 |
|
|
Importing Group Census Data
You’ve got hundreds of contacts to enter into the Group Census of a business record in CDS. You can spend all day adding the contacts by hand, or you can import the contacts directly into the Group Census of the business record using the Import Census Names tool.
Runtime 6:47 |
|
|
Integration with Profiles+™ Professional
Let the built in integration tools in CDS help you leverage contact data captured in CDS and the financial planning tools of Profiles+™ Professional. This Fast Class demonstrates how easy it is to export contact data from CDS – including investment, policy, and dependent data – directly into Profiles+™ Professional.
Runtime 7:56 |
|
|
Keyboard Shortcuts
Let CDS keyboard shortcuts save you time when performing frequent tasks such as adding SmartPad records, creating Calendar Activities, and sending e-mail messages.
Runtime 4:19
|
|
|
Laser App Integration
Let CDS and the Laser App Integration Module help you save time by quickly populating Laser App forms with data captured in CDS*.
Runtime 5:44
*Laser App and the CDS Laser App Integration Module both purchased separately. |
|
|
Managing Duplicate Contacts
CDS has built in tools to help you easily eliminate duplicate contacts. The Potential Duplicate Contacts report and the Merge Contact tool will help you maintain data integrity and keep CDS working at peak efficiency.
Runtime 5:55 |
|
|
Mass Modifying Data
You've been working with a group of prospects that have recently become clients and need the change reflected in their contact records. With the Mass Modify tool, you can change the data in the same field for a number of records at one time.
Runtime 4:42 |
|
|
Outlook® Synchronization
The new Outlook® Synchronization utility in CDS 6 makes it easy to synchronize your CDS contacts, activities, and SmartPad™ notes with Microsoft® Outlook®.
Runtime 14:30 |
|
|
Policy Upselling
Capturing up-to-date contact information in CDS is vital to ensuring that the insurance needs of your contacts are met as their lives change. The dynamic reports featured in this Fast Class will help you meet the changing needs of your clients by taking advantage of up-to-date contact income information.
Runtime 9:20 |
|
|
Startup Module Selection
Get started faster. Select a startup module to view calendar items, policies, investments, or pending cases immediately when you login to CDS.
Runtime 3:03 |
|
|
System Filters
Ever get a partial message to return a phone call with just a phone number and a first name? With CDS System Filters, you can search for contacts based on phone number, zip/postal code, email address, policy numbers, and family Income.
Runtime 6:07 |
|
|
Things Done Report
One of the many useful resources in CDS, the Things Done Report will track added, modified, and deleted records by user in CDS. In addition, the Things Done Report is a useful tool for preparing a database for maintenance such as the Database Rebuild.
Runtime 3:56 |
|
|
Uploading a Document
Attach files such as Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, scanned images, and documents in .PDF file format to any Contact Record, SmartPad, or Policy in CDS.
Runtime 6:05 |
|
|
Advanced Client File Fast Classes
Mining Data in Custom Fields
Learn how to create filters to mine data captured on the Custom Fields tab.
Recommended pre-requisite – Defining Custom Fields Fast Class
Runtime 5:05 |
|
|
|
|
 |
Activity List Options
Want a quick way to view a list of all the activities in your office? The Activity List tool makes it easy to view a well-defined list of activities - such as all the scheduled phone calls from last week, or important appointments from a specific user. View activities organized by date range, activity type, timed or untimed activities, priority level, and more!
Runtime 4:04 |
|
|
Activity Reports
The Calendar in the Client Data System (CDS) is a very powerful tool that allows you to capture critical information for all of your appointments, meetings, and to-do items. Problem: you’re not always at your computer to check your schedule or verify availability. Solution: Printable Calendar Activity Reports that allow you to have your CDS Calendar at your fingertips when you need it!
Runtime 7:06 |
|
|
Creating Recurring Activities
The enhanced Activity Recurrence tool in CDS 6 makes it easy to create CDS calendar entries for weekly staff meetings and monthly training sessions in just a few simple steps. Add multiple participants and the activities will be added automatically to the CDS Calendar of each invited participant.
Runtime 7:07 |
|
|
Important Dates Posting
You’ve got hundreds (if not thousands) of critical dates in your Client Data System – Contact Birthdays, Policy Renewal Dates, Investment Maturity Dates – just to name a few. Put those dates to work for you with the Important Dates Posting tool. CDS will schedule reminders for virtually any date you’ve captured in your system, including dates captured in your dated custom fields.
Runtime 6:02 |
|
|
Launching CDS in Calendar View
You can launch CDS in any of the three calendar view options and see your daily, weekly or monthly schedule at login.
Runtime 2:51 |
|
|
Moving and Copying Activities with a Filter
You can save time by using filters in CDS 6 to move or copy a series of activities at one time..
Runtime 4:24 |
|
|
New Calendar Features in CDS 6
New features and enhancements have been added to the CDS Calendar that will make Activity Management more intuitive and efficient.
Runtime 5:24 |
|
|
Prospect Follow-up with Mass Activity Creation
You’ve just conducted a successful seminar and a number of attendees have requested some additional information on retirement planning solutions. Let the CDS Mass Activity Creation tool help you schedule follow-up phone calls to capitalize on your interested prospects!
Runtime 6:40 |
|
|
Viewing Another User's Calendar
Need to schedule a meeting for two or more users? In this lesson, learn how to view the activities of other users in your CDS database.
Runtime 4:29 |
|
|
|
|
 |
Creating a Template
Why start from scratch when writing personalized letters to your contacts? Save time by creating templates for individual contact correspondence.
Runtime 11:26 |
|
|
E-Z Mail
One of your contacts has just sent you some critical information via e-mail and you need to get that posted to his SmartPad. No Problem! With E-Z Mail, you can post incoming and outgoing e-mails to contact SmartPad records in CDS.
Note: Microsoft Outlook 2000 (or later version) or Lotus Notes R5 (or later version) must be installed before using E-Z Mail.
Runtime 9:35 |
|
|
Creating Labels
You’ve assembled an impressive list of contacts in CDS and now you want to make sure you connect with them during the Holiday season. Use the Avery© label templates included in CDS to quickly generate labels for Holiday correspondence - or any mass correspondence needs you may have throughout the year!
Runtime 4:05 |
|
|
Custom Labels
Make quick work of your holiday greeting card label printing! CDS comes with a variety of pre-formatted Avery© label templates to help speed the creation of holiday greeting card labels.
Runtime 6:19 |
|
|
Exporting Labels
After using the Avery © label templates included in CDS to generate labels for Holiday correspondence, you can export the formatted labels into Microsoft Word. Once in Word, you can use the font formatting tools to further customize font style, size, and color.
Runtime 7:40 |
|
|
Microsoft® Outlook® E-mail Posting
Post Outlook e-mail messages to contact SmartPad records, send CDS form letters as e-mail messages, and send mass e-mails with the Client Data System E-mail Posting for Microsoft Outlook utility.
Runtime 11:54 |
|
|
Runtime User Inputs
Your annual review letter is almost perfect. The one thing missing is a way to make unique additions to each mailing without having to create a brand new form letter each time. Runtime User Inputs allow you to make additions to each mailing, as you need them.
Runtime 6:33 |
|
|
Working with Spouse Merge Codes
CDS gives you the ability maintain excellent client relationships by addressing contact correspondence in accordance with your client’s wishes. This Fast Class will demonstrate the different ways in which CDS merge codes will populate contact information for spouses and domestic partners.
Runtime 7:35 |
|
|
|
|
 |
Adding Contacts to a Set
Need to add new clients to your list of monthly newsletter recipients? Or how about add new invitees to your golf group? No problem! In this fast class, learn the different ways contacts can be added to existing sets in CDS.
Runtime 3:30 |
|
|
Building Filters for the Half
(Filtering for age nearest birthday)
Marketing age sensitive products can be tricky, especially if you need to search your database for prospects that will reach a specific age in the next six months. Filtering ‘for the half’ is a technique that allows you to find all contacts of a certain age – and a half!
Runtime 9:14 |
|
|
Business Contact Report
You’re marketing a new group policy that’s ideal for small businesses with 10 employees or less. Let CDS help you quickly create a dynamic report identifying the primary contacts for your group policy prospects.
Runtime 5:50 |
|
|
Dynamic Report Contest Winners
Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to the winners of the first CDS Dynamic Report Contest! |
|
- Grand Prize Winner: Jane Schilz
Dynamic Report: New Potential Clients
- Runner-Up: Denise Wahl
Dynamic Report: Grandchildren for Insurance
|
|
| Runtime 5:55 |
|
|
Dynamic Report Download
Now you can download dynamic reports, filters, and sample form letters featured in previous Fast Classes. This Fast Class will walk you through the simple process of downloading files from the Dynamic Report Download page in the Online CDS Training and Support Center and adding the files to CDS.
Runtime 6:06
|
|
|
Dynamic Report Overview part I: Filters
This week's fast class begins a three part series that will review the process of mining data in CDS using Dynamic Reports. Part one reviews the process of filter creation.
Runtime 7:53 |
|
|
Dynamic Report Overview part II: Building Dynamic Reports
You've captured a tremendous amount of data in CDS. Now you need to identify prospects for new sales. Dynamic Reports enable you to capitalize on selling opportunities in your book of business by effectively mining data captured in CDS.
Runtime 9:15 |
|
|
Dynamic Report Overview part III: Dynamic Report Data
CDS Dynamic Reports make it easy to develop and maintain contact relationships. This Fast Class demonstrates how simple it is to add contacts to a set, generate correspondence, and create activities using Dynamic Report Data.
Runtime 5:30 |
|
|
Exporting Spreadsheet Data
The Client Data System (CDS) allows you to store an amazing amount of data for each of your contacts. From time to time, you may need to export some of that data to add it to a report or e-mail it to a client. Data from virtually any Summary view in CDS can easily be exported in a format that can be viewed in a number of different applications.
Runtime 7:08 |
|
 |
Filter and Set Combo Boxes
Filter and Set Combo Boxes can be used to mine contact data by combining set membership information and filter criteria in a contact list screen.
Runtime 3:38 |
|
|
IRA Contribution History
The holidays are just around the corner and after that…tax season! Now might be an ideal time to get clients thinking about making contributions to their IRA accounts. Let CDS help with a dynamic report that will identify clients who have already contributed, clients who have yet to contribute, and contributing clients who have room to contribute even more!
Runtime 10:12 |
|
|
LTC Prospecting
Research indicates that some of the ideal candidates for LTC products are life insurance policyholders between 40 and 55 years old. CDS can help you identify these potentially ideal candidates with a filtered dynamic report.
Runtime 11:36 |
|
|
Mandatory IRA Distributions
Rather than comb through summary lists trying to find individuals who will need to take mandatory IRA deductions in the coming year (the cross section of contacts turning 70 ½ who hold IRAs), let CDS do the work for you! This Fast Class will demonstrate one way to create a Dynamic Report that will find all individuals turning 70 ½ during the current year that hold some form of IRA security.
Runtime 11:57 |
|
|
Mining Data in Custom Fields
You may need to track information unique to your business that is not tracked in CDS by default. Custom tracking enables a user to save and look up specialized business and contact information.
Runtime 7:54 |
|
|
Ten Year Term Renewals
Policy renewal dates can sneak up on your clients, especially with ten-year (or longer) term policies. CDS can help you remind your clients of policy expiration dates in time for them to make important decisions regarding policy renewal or conversion. This Fast Class will demonstrate one way to create a Dynamic Report that will find all ten-year term policies with a renewal date in the next 60 days.
Runtime 8:03 |
|
|
Time Log Based Fee Report
Time can be money with the Time Log Based Fee Report! The CDS time log makes it easy to track time spent meeting the needs of your clients. This Fast Class demonstrates how to turn time log data into a dynamic report that will calculate a fee based on an hourly rate.
Runtime 9:49 |
|
|
|
|
 |
Creating an Investment Graph
Need to print a detailed pie chart that displays your client's assets? Learn how to create an investment graph using the Investment Report Setup utility in CDS.
Runtime 5:10 |
|
|
Investment Report Disclaimers
In the constantly changing world of investment products and regulations, CDS makes it possible for you to keep investment report disclaimers current, offering your clients (and your business) up to date protection.
Runtime 4:15 |
|
|
Investment Report Options
The Investment Report Setup utility offers several different options for running investment reports. Sort an investment report by asset class, add a disclaimer, or create a pie chart representation of a client's assets and more!
Runtime 7:52 |
|
|
|
|
 |
| Control File Update |
- Control files generally expire each year at the end of November. In mid-October, the
Ebix CRM Admin Team begins sending out links to E-Z Renewal to all users of CDS 3.0 or higher. Users of earlier versions of CDS will receive updated control files with new expiration dates via email.
- When new licenses are purchased, control files can be updated using https://register.ez-data.com. Contact the
Ebix CRM sales team for more information.
- On rare occasions, control files can become corrupted. In the case of a corrupt control file, the Admin Team can send out a replacement control file to resolve the issue.
|
|
|
| For versions of CDS earlier than 3.0: |
|
|
Creating a CDS Shortcut
Everyone likes a good shortcut. This Fast Class will demonstrate how to create a shortcut for CDS on the Windows desktop that will automatically enter the Database Name and User Name into the CDS login screen, saving time whenever you need to login to CDS.
Runtime 5:57 |
|
|
Database Backup
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The best way to prevent losing your data after a system failure or other event is to have a reliable and consistent method for backing up your CDS data on secure media. It is also essential to create a secure backup before upgrading CDS or your operating system.
Runtime 6:06 |
|
|
Database Rebuild
Just like your car needs regular oil changes to keep the engine running smoothly, CDS needs maintenance too, to ensure that the database is running at peak efficiency. This week’s Fast Class demonstrates one very important component of the recommended CDS maintenance routine - the Database Rebuild.
Runtime 4:37 |
|
|
Data Validation
CDS allows you to track contact age, policy renewal date, and investment value information. The Data Validation tool will ensure that these and other important values are accurate and up-to-date.
Runtime 3:03 |
|
|
Server Migration
You've just retired your old server computer and need to transfer your CDS Server folder to a new server computer. In this lesson, learn the steps of copying and pasting the CDS Server folder from an old server computer to a new one.
Runtime 11:24 |
|
|
Maintaining the Database Cache
A fast database increases office productivity. And there is an easy way to ensure that CDS is running fast! The database cache is a useful utility that keeps track of recently viewed data cutting down on the time it takes for CDS to load data views. Running S.I.R.(Synchronize/Initialize/Re-index) maintenance ensures that the database cache is functioning at optimal efficiency. S.I.R. can also be run when data views seem out of sync or to clear up C-tree errors, should any occur.
Runtime 3:52 |
|
