Brightpearl has some new features that allow integration with external services such as email and calendars. Google Apps is well suited to provide an integrated service for business using your own domain name.
How do I sign up for Google Apps?
Go here: http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/business/index.html
Google have just introduced a Launch Guide here
Which Version should I choose?
Brightpearl recommends the premier edition (£33/user/year), but the free version works well too. Google’s terms state that businesses must use the premier edition, but charities and not for profit organisations may use he standard edition for free.
Free 1 month Trial of Premier Edition
What do I need to tell Brightpearl?
Google Apps requires that you verify ownership of your domain name with one of two methods (please use the "create a CNAME record" method) and set up the DNS for email to work correctly by configuring your MX records.
Please go to your Support Portal (from within your Brightpearl account click: Help > "My Account / Brightpearl Support") and raise a ticket requesting Google Apps setup.
You’ll need to tell us the CNAME verification code that Google provide in their "Verify Domain Ownership" setup page, so please mention this in your ticket.
We can assist in configuring your domain’s DNS records both for domain name verification and MX record setup. We can also help and advise with importing your existing email from your previous email host into your new Google Apps account.
I have more than one domain name – what do I do?
Google Apps allows for additional domain names to be added as aliases (Manage This Domain > Domain Settings > Domain Names > Add Domain Alias).
Just let us know on a ticket (see What do I need to tell Brightpearl).
How do I import existing email into Google Apps?
Google have documented most of the relevant info here.
For existing Brightpearl email accounts:
- Enter anything as the email address
- enter your actual email address as the username
- enter your password - if you don't know it, ask us to reset it for you
- enter smtp.thisispearl.com as the mailserver
How do I configure my Google Apps account to forward mail to my dropbox?
- In Brightpearl, create a new contact called Google Apps, with email address 'mail-noreply@enter-your-domain-here.com'
This will be used to receive the verification code that google sends when you set up a new forwarder email address. - Go to Setup > Contacts and note down your dropbox email address, which will be in the format dropbox+0982039842@thisispearl.com
Note: the '+' sign in the dropbox address is sometimes converted to '%2D' in the underlying link when this is send via email. Make sure that the '+' has not been replaced in this manner. - In each of your Google Apps mail accounts, go to: Settings > 'Forwarding and POP/IMAP' and select 'forward all incoming mail to'
- select add a new forwarder, and enter your dropbox email address (from step 1.).
- You'll then need to go to the Google Apps contact you created in Pearl and add check the timeline for the verification code email and enter this in google apps to activate the forwarding email address.
