Who has compared Tenon's Tracker and Begbies Red Flag?

Who has compared Tenon's Tracker and Begbies...

Didn't find your answer?

I was wondering if anyone has looked at Tenon's Tracker and Begbie's Red Flag software/online data and if so if you decided to buy into one or the other, or is there another alternative?

Both are primary for credit rating and tracking Companies House details and changes to clients, suppliers etc.

However both seem very useful for marketing purposes, and seem to have good search facilities to find details of businesses within various parameters.

We subscribe to Riskdisk at present, and although this has a business address list add-on, it doesn't seem anything like as versatile as the Tenons or Begbies products. Having said that it doesn't cost as much either.

Our primary interest in either of these products is from the marketing database perspective, with the credit control and company details side being secondary, although still necessary.

Thanks

Replies (11)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

John Toon
By John Toon
30th Mar 2012 12:09

Used Red Flag

Hi,

We used Begbies Red Flag for exactly the same purpose you want to with mixed results. It is great for getting details on clients/potential clients in post code areas and also there potential size based on what has been reported to Co's House/Credit Agencies.

We stopped using due to the cost and also because once you have the information you need unless there are huge amount of business moving into your area or start ups springing up not a lot will change. Also I was under the impression that Begbies were looking to offload Red Flag, but not sure if this has happened.

Also some of the information available can be limited such as details on sole traders/partnerships and you can in fairness get more from your local yellow pages!

Thanks (0)
avatar
By The_Saint
30th Mar 2012 12:22

Red Flag & Tracker

Crude method to look at client listings to see who might be a potential insolvency client of the future.

I can't see the benefit to accounants (who are not eithe rTenon or Begbies) in allowing this.

Perhaps I am just synical but beware Greeks bearing gifts!

 

 

Thanks (0)
avatar
By newmoon
30th Mar 2012 12:54

Thanks for the two comments

Thanks for the advice re Red Flag, I'll leave that one.

Although I'm in no hurry at all to spend money on these, Tenon's Tracker did seem very good, and potentially very useful. However this could have been down to a very slick demonstration of the software.

If anyone else has experience of using Tracker I'm very interested to know how you find it.

 

 

Thanks (0)
avatar
By david888
04th Apr 2012 16:41

Tracker

We have just started using Tracker and find it a very effective tool both for tracking companies and unincorporated businesses and for marketing information. It is very good value for money.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Andy Edwards
05th Apr 2012 16:00

Red Flag vs Tracker

I've looked at both systems and I think that they are both very similar in what they do and I think both are pretty good.

Using them as marketing tool, I favour Tracker simply because I think that the combination of criteria by which you can "data mine" is more comprehensive than red flag. To my mind this has saved me some time when I was looking to create marketing groups. For those that have also looked at, or used Fame, I'm struggling to bring to mind what Fame does that Tracker can't (but it has been a while since I've used Fame).

The layout of redflag is probably kinder on the eye than Tracker but that's personal preference and it could be argued that redflag is simpler to use "straight out of the box" but again, for me, there's not a lot in it.

There was a bit of a price differential 12 months ago, redflag being quite a bit more expensive but I think redflag have reduced their prices in the meantime, even so I believe that Tracker is still cheaper but pricing on both seems fairly fluid.

In summary, if it's marketing that you want it for I'd go for Tracker

Thanks (0)
avatar
By newmoon
05th Apr 2012 17:04

Thank you David888 and Andy Edwards

Thanks David and Andy for your comments and comparisons.

It looks like Tracker is a slightly better product for marketing purposes.

The prices are very similar, and Red Flag I think undercut Tracker by £50 if you say you have been looking at Tracker (and they probably charge more if you don't know about Tracker!). I think the prices I've been quoted are £750 for Tracker and £700 for Red Flag.

I wonder if these are standard prices or are there to be bargained down?

I haven't heard of Fame before, so will see what I can find out about that one.

Thanks again.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By The_Saint
16th Apr 2012 14:08

Fame

Hi

I have used fame and it seems to pick up known published data from Companies House and apply some accounting ratios etc.

 

It saves some time but it is historic information from which the accounting ratios are derived...how relevant is in my opinion open to question.

 

Regards

Thanks (0)
avatar
By zarathustra
16th Apr 2012 14:55

Creditsafe

We use creditsafe - is this similar to the two products mentioned above does anyone know?

Thanks (0)
avatar
By newmoon
16th Apr 2012 17:06

Creditsafe

I used Creditsafe a few years ago, and although the product was OK, the pricing was awful, with something like a £300 first year, then a rise to £1,200 in subsequent years. The £300 charge first year charge was in line with Riskdisk's ongoing prices, and the products were very similar.

After that experience I promised myself never to use Creditsafe again.

In any case their product then was a straighforward credit rating tool with Companies House information. The Tracker and Red Alert do significantly more, and by the sounds of it, so does Fame.

Thanks (0)
Man of Kent
By Kent accountant
17th Apr 2012 09:47

Barter with creditsafe
They are very poor negotiators.

I got renewal price down to £400, thought I'd done quite well, then a client told me he'd got it for £250!

If you say you're leaving to go elsewhere they will drop their prices significantly in order to keep you.

I do think the product is very good for credit checks. There is a marketing module which is quite clunky but the information is useful.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By paulbancroft
19th Dec 2012 15:13

More than alerts

It's worth noting that Tracker is a very comprehensive suite, helping with a range of risk-related issues. The Tracker subscription is relatively inexpensive, but the product has been through many stages of development and the facilities offered allow a whole range of options. These extend from RAG alerts, tailored to specific criteria, through to portfolio health ratings and new business list generation. There are excellent data cleansing facilities too, for checking and verifying a portfolio. It makes Tracker well worth a trial.

Thanks (0)