Feb
22

By CommenceCRM

Why Buy CRM Software?

Standing on the runway waiting for takeoff.

What are you waiting for?

You’re a small to midsize business with automated systems for accounting, but when it comes to managing sales and customer relationships you’re using a dated contact manager or an excel spreadsheet.  If this sounds like you, it’s time to consider investing in CRM software.  Today there are dozens of CRM systems available for small to midsize companies and they can be deployed on premise or as a hosted solution managed and maintained by the third party solution provider.

What CRM software will provide right out of the gate is the ability to consolidate customer data.  Information that’s coming into your business every day via the telephone, fax, e-mail or the web can finally be placed into a single consolidated customer database where it is available to the people that require it to efficiently do their jobs – Hallelujah.  Your staff can now communicate effectively with customers and or prospects and have the information they need immediately accessible to them.

What about sales? Do you have a structured process in place for capturing and qualifying leads or managing the sales process?   Why not?  It’s easy and most CRM software programs provide this as part of a standard package.   You certainly cannot expect to improve close ratios if you are not monitoring and managing the sales process.   A good CRM software program will enable you to add a structured approach to selling and the ability to monitor the performance of your sales team.

Lastly, what about customer service?  The difference today between retaining a customer and losing one may rest with the level and quality of service you provide to your customers. But how can you expect your service staff to do this without having access to customer records?  CRM software programs enable this by providing the service staff with the access to what the customer purchased, when they purchased it, who they purchased it from, and if they have had any history of problems.  No rational business executive can argue with the need to improve how they market, sell and provide service to their customers so what are you waiting for?

You can get started quickly and see substantial results using online CRM software.  These programs do not require any additional hardware or software and cost less than a cup of coffee a day per employee.  While many Internet sites have additional information about different CRM software programs, you may wish to review some of the white papers and tips at commenceaug202.wpengine.com.

Image “Standing on the runway waiting for takeoff” by Andrew King on Flickr, under Creative Commons license.

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