Communications with Customers

Guys, We are new to opencart and had this question - how do we manage the communications with our clients in regards to the email flow - upon purchase, upon shipment, upon receipt, etc etc.

Is there a separate module for this or is this within open-cart?

I am looking to basically have an automated flow of emails to the clients to make sure they are notified, kept int he loop, and have access to shipment tracking and other info.

Seems simple enough but I can not find it.

When you update the order status you can notify the customer by email.
you also have the possibility to send email to 1 or more customers from sales/mail.
you don't have any inbox within OC and as far as I know there are no CRM modules for OC.
You can however integrate OC with other existing CRM. Not sure of the quality of such solutions.
The easy way to manage the communication it's to use your, outlook, thuderbird or gmail/yahoo accounts.

Thanks - That is the obvious choice. I am looking into a CRM platform. There is time involved in the email process which I simply can not afford to loose. Thank you! I will update you when I find the solution - I am sure it is out there.

Hi

i can add to the discussion the fact there is now an integrated CRM into opencart, as an extension
CoffeeShopCrm
http://tiny.cc/cscrm

Gives you all of the customers information in one page
Manage orders as sales opportunities, with due dates, updaing user
etc.
Orders history are integrated into the order tracking

Also service issues handling, for existing customers

demo here
http://tiny.cc/cscdemo

Hope is helps
Guy