Business Contact Manager For Outlook 2013 -
Despite being discontinued, some small businesses still use Business Contact Manager for Outlook 2013 because of specific advantages:
While BCM was struggling with its identity as a "heavy add-in," the market shifted.
Business Contact Manager (BCM) for Outlook 2013 was a customer relationship management (CRM) solution designed by Microsoft for small businesses. Built directly into the Outlook interface, it aimed to provide a centralized system for managing contacts, sales opportunities, and marketing projects without requiring small business owners to purchase expensive, standalone CRM software.
While it was a powerful tool for its time, it is important to note that Microsoft has discontinued this feature. Below is a detailed look at its functionality, history, and current status.
Document Version: 1.0
Last Updated: April 2026 (retrospective analysis)
Today, the BCM folder structure is gone from modern Outlook. The functionality that BCM tried to provide—tracking sales pipelines and contact history—has been absorbed by Microsoft 365 in two ways: business contact manager for outlook 2013
The Moral of the Story:
Business Contact Manager for Outlook 2013 represents a specific era of computing—the era of the "Power Desktop User." It was a tool built for people who lived inside Outlook and wanted their data trapped on their hard drive. As the world moved to the cloud and mobile devices, a local SQL database tethered to an email client became a relic of a bygone age.
For those who used it, it was a brilliant solution that turned Outlook from a mailbox into a business engine. But ultimately, it was a bridge technology that couldn't survive the crossing into the modern cloud era.
Business Contact Manager (BCM) for Outlook 2013 is a free customer relationship management (CRM) add-on designed for small businesses
. While Microsoft has discontinued the product and no longer provides direct downloads, it remains functional for those who still have the installation files. Dynamics Community Key Features Contact & Account Management
: Connects contact records with specific account records to track business relationships. Communication Tracking Despite being discontinued, some small businesses still use
: Automatically tracks emails, documents, and phone calls associated with each business contact. Customizable Forms
: Allows you to modify business forms to dictate exactly how your data is organized.
: Provides built-in sales, marketing, and project management reporting tools. Synchronization
: Enables viewing and editing business contacts across Outlook, SharePoint, and Windows Live. Slipstick Systems Technical Specifications Database Capacity : Utilizes a free SQL database that can hold up to Compatibility : Works with Outlook 2010 and 2013; however, it is not supported in Outlook 2016 or newer versions. Download Package : The full installation file for BCM 2013 is approximately 368-369 MB Slipstick Systems Important Support Information End of Life
: Support for the underlying Office 2013 suite officially ended on April 11, 2023 Known Limitations Document Version : 1
: Users have reported issues when using shared databases with Windows 8 while logged in via a Microsoft account. Key features like flags and categories may have limited functionality in certain Exchange configurations. : Microsoft originally introduced Outlook Customer Manager
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With the rise of cloud computing and mobile-first workplaces, BCM faced several limitations: