3 key things every good CRM system should do, regardless of what your business is and what your plans are
CRM systems are often the backbone of a successful, organised business. But if you look on Google, you’ll find article after article with 10, 20 and even 30 things you should look for in your CRM system. But frankly that’s a lot of things to remember, and a lot of them might not even be relevant to your needs. Also, the articles are usually from the CRM companies themselves, so they’ll always be a little biased!
So today we thought we would chip in our 2 pence worth and narrow it down to 3 key things every good CRM system should do.
Play Well With Others
A CRM that can only operate in a vacuum is useless. You may use dozens of different systems and applications in your business, and you’re not buying a CRM just to add to that collection of disparate working systems. Instead, a good CRM will be able to connect with all of them, linking them together into one seamless experience.
That’s why you need to ensure that any CRM you choose can integrate with the other applications you already have. That means the basics like Office 365 of G-suite, but also things like accounting and ERP software, HR programs, your own website and web forms, billing and e-commerce platforms and marketing solutions (if you use any of them). You should also check how easy it is to migrate your existing contact data into your new CRM system.
Can It Scale?
It’s all very well and good finding a CRM system that can fit your needs now, but if you have to look for another one in a year’s time, what’s the point? Some CRM systems are designed to meet the needs of very specific sizes of businesses, and won’t be able to help their customers once they move above that size. While this is incredibly useful when you are that target size, it can quickly become restrictive.
Instead, you want to find a CRM system that can grow and expand with you. With a scalable CRM system, you will be able to add and remove functionality as you need to, increase the volume of data you’re using without problems and add as many users as you need so that your teams are all on the same page. Finding a system with the flexibility and capacity to grow alongside your business means you’ll be making an investment in your future, as well as your present.
Mobile Accessibility
We live in a constantly on the go world, and we expect our technology to be able to keep up with us. So now, instead of just one option, you will generally find two types of CRM out there: on-premises and cloud-based. Both come with their own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s really up to how you plan to use it and how flexible you need to be.
If you have a sales force who will be out in the field a lot, or you travel a fair bit, then a cloud-based CRM system is probably best. But if you never leave the office, then you might benefit more from an on-site solution. What we will mention is that cloud-based CRM’s do give you the ability to access your data from anywhere and any device, which can be really useful if someone needs to work from home, or a user falls ill, and you need to access their data.
At Scale Up Solutions, we help growing businesses work out exactly what they need to support their journey, and how to put it in place. We are completely impartial, so we won’t try to sell you one particular CRM system. Instead, we work to understand your needs, and find a system that works for your unique business.
For more information, just get in touch today.
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