Tools of the TRADE – 3
In this final episode, I would like talk about the most important tool that all companies nowadays utilize, CRM tools. CRM tools are utilized extensively for managing a company’s interactions with prospects & clients. It involves using technology to organize, automate, and synchronize business processes, sales activities, but also those for marketing, client services and tech support. Analyzing, measuring and valuing customer relationships are critical to implementing this strategy. Let’s have a look some the most widely used CRM tools and their benefits.
- Salesforce: One of the best known online CRM tools, Salesforce was built with sales in mind.It provides features useful for a sales staff, like the ability to easily access contact information through an iPhone while you’re out of the office.
- Sugar CRM: Sugar actually offers several different CRM tools, which happen to be open source. While Sugar CRM is not free, it’s extremely adaptable, allowing you to easily create custom modules as well as add external data.
- Zoho CRM: CRM grew out of managing sales and marketing efforts and you’ll find the CRM tools necessary for large-scale efforts in Zoho CRM (e.g., integrated inventory management) so that you can quickly complete sales.
CRM systems are chosen based on these key features, versatility, quality, efficiency, enterprise agility, customer attention and cost.
CRM systems come with a set of challenges as well and may require extensive training of the sales staff. Interfaces that are difficult to navigate, hence, implementation can be fragmented and not entirely complete. It is also very important to understand how the CRM system being put into operation blends with the various software that are currently in use.
All being said, CRM systems are the key to success in today’s work environment. This is one investment that any professional organization cannot afford to neglect.