CRM software is known to be the one-stop shop for businesses looking to expand exponentially. With their numerous features and scalability, they make for an excellent one-time investment that businesses can build upon in the future. However, it’s not that easy. The market is full of CRM systems and finding the one that suits your business can be a daunting task. It requires meticulous research and a grasp of the business landscape to pick the perfect CRM system; failing to do so can be highly destructive.
Let’s say you select the first CRM system in the market and things don’t go as planned. Apart from a hefty financial loss, you risk losing the data on your customers and finding yourself having to start from scratch; essentially carving the tombstone for your business. But don’t worry! We’ve compiled a list of things that you need to look for!
5 Hacks to help you pick the right CRM.
Understand your Business
Get a 360-degree view of your business, and I don’t mean just a look. Dig deep and understand where your business came from, where it's going and what it wants. Once you have a full view of your business requirements, it will be considerably easier to pick the right CRM by comparing your needs against those provided by the system. For E.g. certain businesses require Integrations with third-party software while others don’t. You don’t want yourself stuck with a CRM that doesn’t let you play around.
Implementation Issues
There are certain CRM systems that start off as soon as you download whereas others need proper deployment and in some cases, outside consultation. Deciding which to select depends upon the size of your business, the number of employees, and its scope. You don’t want a CRM that takes weeks to deploy and requires training costs when you’re just a startup; that step is going to run your business to the ground. Similarly, you don’t want a CRM that’s not scalable or customizable if you’re a big business. Some CRM systems require specific training to operate so you need to factor that in too.
Mobility and Compatibility
Everything in today’s world is going mobile. The days of sitting at the desk all day are gone! (okay, maybe they’re not but you get what I mean). Everyone from your sales team to your marketing team is not going to always be on their desk. Therefore, you need a CRM system that can be used with a number of different devices to ensure excellent response time and prompt customer support.
Similarly, you also want to ensure that the CRM you’re purchasing is compatible with other applications that you use. You don’t want to buy a CRM that’s not compatible and forces you to completely overhaul your entire business.
Customizations
Every business has a specific set of valuable data that they need. A financial firm is going to want a look into its customers’ socio-economic status so the pricier campaigns only target those customers with money to spare. A telecom industry may want data about its customers’ frequency of usage. Every business has different needs and consequently requires different customizations. However, one customization that you will need is that with social media. There’s no escaping that with the way things are going.
Get a Demo!
Always, and I mean ALWAYS get a demo presentation and have it tested. Before you spend big on a CRM, get a closer look at it by having a test run. This will show if the CRM is capable of handling your business needs and point out its strengths and weaknesses. You don’t want these issues to pop up after you’ve purchased. Give the demo a detailed look and take all the time you need to push this demo to its limits
Key Takeaway!
Implement these 5 hacks to get the perfect CRM for your business and set yourself up for life. Choosing a CRM is an important process and getting the right one will ensure that your company continues to grow!
If you’re still finding it hard to choose a CRM, we’d recommend SuiteCRM, an open-source CRM system that can be tailor-made to suit your needs. Get in touch and let us help you choose the best SuiteCRM customizations and integrations for your business.
