Choosing a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software could be one of the most important decisions you make for your business. CRM software can be life-changing for a business, providing organisation and allowing you to provide superior service to your clients.

However, selecting the best CRM for your business can pose a significant challenge. There are hundreds of options available, and once your choice is made, it is challenging to make a change. To help you narrow down what to look for in a CRM, here are three things to consider when choosing a CRM.

Features

While all CRM software has the same overall goal, keep your business organised, each CRM offers a myriad of features that can help with specific aspects of attaining your goals as a business. Here are a few examples of some features you should be considering when evaluating the best CRM for your business.

• Marketing Tools: If your business relies heavily on marketing, finding a product with marketing add-ons is something to consider. This can help organise email pipelines, client/customer messaging, and even some aspects of project management.

• Reporting: Almost all CRM software sports some form of reporting function. However, if your business already relies on reports you should ensure the CRM you choose is compatible with your current reporting software.

• Integration: In addition to importing/exporting reports, your CRM should enable you to integrate with other aspects of your business as well (Gmail accounts, social network access, etc.)

There is a CRM solution for every business, and it is vital to ensure you select one with the appropriate features for your team while making sure you don’t pay for features you will never use.

Cost

Cost is something that business owners consider in almost every decision they make, and it certainly should be a consideration when deciding upon a CRM. The pricing of CRM software is as variable as the selection of vendors is.

Vendors offer a variety of price packaging. Some charge a flat rate based on the number of users, while others utilise a per-user structure. Generally, a per-month and per-user structure is typical.

If you are unsure about committing to a CRM or if your business will truly utilise it, many CRM software vendors offer free or reduced cost trial periods. This can allow you time to explore a product and its benefits before committing financial resources to its implementation.

Third-Party Consulting

While features and package costs are significant considerations, so too are the costs of implementation. Depending on the CRM software you decide on, and how substantial its services are, CRM implementation can create a real distraction for your business. Considering whether to use a third-party service can play a prominent role in which CRM you choose.

Third parties offer services like CRM consulting, support, and implementation services that can ease the transition and operation of CRM software. While your team carries on with their business, a third party can be implementing your new CRM. Here are a few things a CRM third-party consultant can offer:

• Implementation: Transferring information alone can be one of the most cumbersome tasks when it is time to start with a new CRM. Allowing a third party to take this on frees up time so staff can continue doing what they do best.

• Consulting: Once a decision has been made on the best CRM for your business, it can be a challenge to figure out how to use it, or if you are using it correctly. Having someone available to consult with you and ensure you are utilising your CRM to its maximum potential could prove invaluable.

• Integration: Many CRM features include integration with other products, like your financial software. It can be challenging to execute this integration without a CRM expert available. A CRM consultant can assist with building the appropriate communication between your CRM and the necessary sources to ensure you are getting the most out of your CRM software.

Conclusion

Customer Relationship Management software can genuinely change how your business operates. Providing organisation and powerful tools, a CRM makes your business more efficient. While there are many aspects of making the choice, it is important to remember the points above when choosing a CRM.

For more information about using a CRM, contact SalesFix and talk to one of our expert Salesforce consultants today.