Riva On-Premises is a synchronization service installed on supported Windows platforms that delivers server-to-server integration for CRM and email systems. Riva On-Premises includes a Riva Manager application to create and manage connections and sync policies to control which data is synced for designated users.
With Riva On-Premises, you get a dedicated solution that can be deployed to meet stringent regulatory requirements and corporate security policies. There are no Outlook plug-ins or mobile applications that need to be installed, configured, or managed.
Riva On-Premises was launched in 2008 providing CRM integration between 10+ industry-leading CRMs and three enterprise email collaboration systems (Office 365, Exchange). Over time, Riva On-Premises has been extended to include support for HCL Notes and G Suite. And we developed Riva for Developers to allow corporate developers to connect Riva to in-house SQL-based ERP/CRM solutions.
Riva On-Premises can be used for organizations of all sizes (minimum 5-user purchase). Our largest Riva On-Premises customer uses Riva to sync over 20,000 CRM user accounts. For more information, see Riva On-Premises System Requirements.
Our customers include small, medium, large, and global customers in banking, financial services, government, services, manufacturing, industrial, and retail. Any customer who wants a server-to-server sync solution for CRM and email to enhance the productivity of their sales, marketing, and support teams can benefit by deploying a Riva On-Premises server.
This varies slightly depending on the CRM that you are using. For example, some CRM systems don’t support person accounts, quotes, or projects.
In addition, Riva pioneered time-saving email-to-opportunity and email-to-case features (Riva SmartConvert); the ability to assign emails to opportunities, cases, quotes, and custom objects (Riva AssignTo folders); and smart links to CRM contacts and other records from email clients and mobile devices (Riva ConnectBar).
Perhaps a better question is, “How would you like your contacts to be synced?” Riva On-Premises delivers a lot of flexibility in terms of contact synchronization.
By default, Riva can be configured to sync only contacts located in a special CRM folder. This prevents personal contacts from being synced up to the CRM. Or, Riva can be set to sync only contacts with a CRM category applied to them.
Beyond that, there are all sorts of ways we can sync your contacts. For example, Riva can filter contacts based on almost any CRM field (country, city, zip code, region…). By using organic contact sync filters, we can sync only those contacts with whom you’ve had a recent touchpoint. We can sync team-based contacts: that comes up fairly regularly. And we can also customize Riva to sync certain CRM contacts based on a check box being selected.
We look forward to hearing about your specific contact sync requirement. Chances are we have another customer who has had a similar requirement.
Yes! This varies between CRMs, but Riva On-Premises can sync custom fields and custom objects. We also have customers who leverage Riva SmartConvert and AssignTo folders to convert emails into custom objects or to track emails against custom objects.
To discuss your custom sync requirements, contact us.
A Riva On-Premises server communicates with the target email and CRM systems through secure connections. The Riva Manager application includes wizards that assist with creating and testing connections to email and CRM systems.
Riva uses the concept of “impersonation”. Riva connections are configured with credentials of users that are pre-configured with permissions or privileges to allow full access to the user mailboxes and corresponding CRM user accounts that Riva will sync.
Riva synchronization policies are created and configured to define which users will be synced, which data will be selected to sync, how often mailboxes and CRM user accounts will be polled for updates to sync, and how data will be filtered.
For an overview of how a Riva server is installed and configured, see Overview of a Riva Server Deployment.
You can review some excellent training videos at our YouTube Channel.
Riva is a transparent server-to-server synchronization technology that has no requirement for users to have their email client applications (Office 365, Outlook, or Notes clients) to be open.
Riva is not a plug-in technology. Because Riva is syncing between the user’s mailbox and CRM user account, Riva supports most mobile devices, smart phones, and tablets that are supported by their email system.
Typically, Riva cannot see what any CRM plug-in or mobile sync app is syncing for a user. If Riva syncs a user that is also using a CRM plug-in or mobile sync app at the same time, duplicate copies of the data may result in both the CRM and the user’s mailbox. Before enabling a Riva sync policy, administrators should confirm with users that they have disabled plug-ins and mobile CRM sync apps.
For more information, see Preventing duplicates: Working with Outlook plug-ins and Riva CRM integration.
The Riva sync policy provides options that allow setting sync poll intervals as low as 1 minute up to 24 hours. The default, recommended interval is 5 minutes between sync polls for each user. The sync policy also provides advanced options to control sync intervals at the data type level (contacts versus calendar), and there are options to tweak the sync performance if required.
Riva is built by using the Microsoft .NET Framework and Microsoft technology stack. Riva implements security based on Microsoft security best practices.
Communication from Riva to and from your CRM and email systems is made via SSL encryption. Riva communicates with your email server by using SSL-encrypted access and communicates with your CRM by using encrypted web services.
Riva uses a data pass-through model and architecture. Unlike BlackBerry Enterprise Server, Good Technologies Sync Server, or other data sync solutions, Riva does not retain a local copy of your Exchange message and data store. Nor does Riva retain a copy of your CRM data. Riva does not do a store and forward data transfer of email content. Riva does not store email content at any time.
Riva stores certain minimum types of information in memory for performance improvement. In order to keep communication with Exchange and your CRM as efficient as possible, Riva caches a dynamic mapping of company email domains and related contact email addresses in the Riva server RAM so that it doesn’t have to look up email addresses it has already stored in memory. This information is not written to local storage.
Riva keeps sync log files in order to carry out troubleshooting activities. These log files are retained for 14 days. In the logs, Riva retains the name of the users being synchronized, the subject of emails that are being archived or SmartConverted, and the name of the folder in which the SmartConvert or email archive process is carried out. The content of the email is never read or stored by Riva and is, therefore, not kept in cache or in the log files. Companies interested in reviewing the specific information that is being cached for their accounts can receive a link to the meta-directory information to see exactly what is being retained.
Riva support personnel have no access to the Riva server file system unless approved by the customer. Riva support personnel will only work on customer Riva servers under the direct supervision of the customer.
Riva communicates with email systems by using a user impersonation method supported by the vendor-supplied API. By implementing user impersonation, Riva synchronizes each individual user’s account as if the individual user were accessing the system. This ensures that CRM visibility and security and mailbox access are respected by Riva. By using impersonation, if a user modifies a contact in their email client address book, the “modified by:” field is preserved in your CRM as the user who made the modification in Outlook.
The best way to think of a Riva On-Premises server is as an information straight pass-through architecture. Unlike BlackBerry Enterprise Server, Micro Focus Data Synchronizer, Good Technologies, or other data sync solutions, Riva does not retain a copy of your email messages, address books, calendar or other CRM data. Riva does a data redirect. It transfers emails and CRM data without actually storing any of the personal data on the Riva On-Premises server.
Riva authenticates separately with the CRM and the email platform. Simply provide the interface with your current login credentials for the CRM and the email system, and update them whenever you change the password. Certain CRM solutions support OAuth authentication, which persists through password changes. For more information, contact your CRM provider.
Absolutely not! Riva On-Premises is a server-to-server data sync solution that does not make use of any client application or any email system snap-in or plug-in technology. Riva prepares the user’s mailbox for Riva during the first sync cycle. This transparency allows users to work in the client applications that they are used to working with, with no interruption of service. Since Riva On-Premises do not use email system plug-ins, you can sync data from any computer or mobile device that can sync to the email system server.
It is vital when first migrating to Riva, to disable any currently running sync service, such as plug-ins and snap-ins. Running multiple sync solutions would most likely result in unnecessarily duplicated data in both the CRM and the email system. Once you have disabled a currently running sync service, your first sync with Riva should be simple and convenient!
Riva is a highly scalable system capable of supporting a single user or thousands. The recommended minimum requirements vary accordingly:
Absolutely not! In fact, quite the opposite. Due to potential conflicts and the impact of the use of additional system resources, we recommend against installing Riva On-Premises on your email server or other critical servers. For more information, see Can existing Windows systems be used for the Riva server?
For a detailed response to this question, visit our Knowledge Base.
Yes. Riva Cloud and Riva On-Premises use the same synchronization service engines, so that Riva On-Premises synchronization policies and synchronization records can be transferred into a Riva Cloud subscription. Conversely, Riva Cloud subscriptions can be transferred to a Riva On-Premises server.
Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Absolutely. We offer a free 15-day trial. After you complete a discovery call with one of our specialists, you will receive an email with a download link for the riva-latest.zip file and links to online instructions to install and configure a Riva On-Premises server. If you are interested, you can set up a call now.
Yes. We will start you with a 15-day trial. If you need additional time, let your sales rep know, and we will extend your trial for a maximum of 15 additional days.
This varies based on the experience of the individual installing a Riva server. Most Riva server deployments take between 1 and 2 hours.
Absolutely. We offer a professional services “Get Started Bundle” for $300 / 300€ which includes up to 3 hours of dedicated time of a Riva support specialist who will lead you through install and configuration of a Riva server including test synchronization of data.
Most customers choose to take advantage of this offer as it provides excellent training for Riva admin staff in addition to ensuring that the Riva server is installed and configured correctly to meet customer sync requirements.
Yes. You can sync up to five users during the trial.
The trial for Riva goes 15 days into the past for data synchronization. This sync start date defines how far into the past Riva checks the CRM for active items (contacts, calendar items, tasks, opportunities, etc.) to synchronize initially. Once you purchase a license, this can be adjusted to whatever date you require.
To register a trial for Riva On-Premises, click here to schedule a Discovery Call with a Riva Specialist
