Choosing the right Customer Relationship Management (CRM) can be very difficult. In today’s business world, where customer relationships are key, a successful CRM is not only a tool, but it is also a partner that will help you ultimately achieve your goals and increase the growth of your business.
However, too often companies are fearful about implementing a CRM, because past negative experiences, insufficient planning, lack of training and inappropriate choice of CRM solution are just some of the reasons for this reluctance. In this article, we will discuss some possible ways to prepare you for such decision-making when choosing the right CRM for your business.
Define Your Needs and Objectives
When the time comes to define your company’s CRM needs and objectives, it is important to answer three questions that begin with “what”, “who” and “how”.
The “what” concerns the nature of the information to be managed, whether it is customer data, sales history or centralized marketing management. It is important to agree among your team on what should be inside the CRM. As for the “who”, it defines the internal and external stakeholders who will interact with the CRM; and that is sales teams, customer relation personnel, managers and/or others. Last but not least, the “how” concerns how the CRM will cohesively integrate into the ongoing process.
By thoroughly analyzing these three types of questions, you will establish the necessary foundations to implement a CRM that meets your needs and goals of your business.
Define Your Budget and Identify Your Features
When you undertake a project such as implementing a CRM, it is important to clearly define your budget, whether it is a major internal transformation or a targeted CRM for marketing. Next, you need to identify the essential functionalities by answering key questions, such as “Which functionalities are essential for the success of your business?”, “What capabilities does the CRM absolutely need in order to meet your specific needs and objectives?”, etc. In order to assist you to achieve such an assessment, here is an objective evaluation grid for you to download and to fill out. This will help you structure yourself by comparing the different CRM options and will guide you towards a wise choice based on your requirements and your budgetary constraints.
Conclusion : The Key to Choosing a Prosperous CRM
In conclusion, choosing the right Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a decisive step in a modern company’s quest for success. Although this may seem scary for many reasons, overcoming these challenges is essential. By exploring in-depth the definition of your needs, your objectives, your budget and the identification of features, you lay the foundations for a successful CRM implementation. Remember, a CRM is not just a tool, but a strategic partner that amplifies growth and strengthens customer relationships. To give you additional tools regarding the selection of a CRM, here are some we recommend: Klaviyo, Active campaign, Hubspot. If you have any questions, we will be happy to help you.
Klaviyo $ → $$
Klaviyo is an advanced marketing automation platform designed specifically for ecommerce. It allows the creation of highly personalized automated emails and SMS sequences, thus promoting the building of lasting relationships with customers and ultimately increasing revenue through targeted marketing campaigns. *Recommended for ecommerce and B2C companies
Hubspot $$ → $$$$
HubSpot is a comprehensive marketing, sales, and customer service solution designed to help businesses grow meaningfully. This all-in-one platform offers tools for contact management, marketing campaign creation, sales management, and customer support. HubSpot can also facilitate process automation and drive alignment among sales teams. With HubSpot, businesses can centralize and streamline their operations to deliver exceptional customer experiences and drive business growth. *Recommended for B2B companies
ActiveCampaign $
ActiveCampaign is a comprehensive marketing automation platform that allows businesses to automate and personalize their marketing campaigns. It is designed to promote customer engagement. This platform offers features such as advanced segmentation, message personalization, and lead management. *Recommended for B2B companies
