With so many different Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems out there how do you know you have chosen the right one for your business?

Buying a CRM application is not easy. There are hundreds of companies out there that provide CRM in some form or function. Picking the one that’s right for your business means getting it right across an array of criteria relevant to your business. You need the right functionality and it needs to be delivered at the right price, and you need it to match the sophistication of your users.

In this article we’ve provided 8 top tips to selecting the right CRM system.

1. Whats the main purpose for your CRM System? Is it simply to manage your contacts or will you be using it for email campaigns, sales forecasting or social media management.  It’s important to find the right system that provides the tools you need.

2. Most CRM systems allow you to integrate external systems enabling you to manage your tasks directly from your CRM system. You might want to ensure that the CRM system you choose can interface with all the applications you already have in place. This might be your accounting software or your email marketing platform.

3. Depending on your IT skills and ability to learn new concepts you might want to consider whether you need customer support. At some point, especially if your business is growing, you’re probably going to need some degree of help with the product so check whether you can get email or telephone support as part of the service.

4. You’ll find that most CRM companies provide different package levels. If you’re a start up or small business the basic package is more than likely going to work for you for now. You can always upgrade at a later stage as your business grows.

5. Mobility is key in today’s fast paced world. Look for a tool that can be accessed using a variety of web-enabled devices from phones, to tablets and laptops, some CRM systems xanaxonlinebuy also provide an app making your data easily accessible. You will want a platform that will be updated regularly and remain current with new technology.

6. It is important that your CRM is flexible enough to handle your processes.  Likewise, you want a CRM that will grow with your business and will be able to adapt to your changing processes without having to be replaced. Explore the customisation tools within the software to ensure you can create a bespoke system that works for you.

7. It’s important that you ‘try before your buy’. All companies should provide a demo or better yet a month’s free trial before you sign up. This is the time to really dig deep into the system and make sure it can solve your problems and meets your expectations. Taking a little extra time at this point will save you time in the long run.

8. Once you’ve nailed down 2 or 3 that will work, it’s time to decide which of these is most affordable. This is the time to look for hidden costs; the base cost is almost never the extent of your expenditures with CRM. You might also be paying per user, the more users you have the higher the cost. Depending on the package level, you should expect to pay between £8 – £40 per user, per month.

Choosing the correct CRM for your business is an important process.  Following the above steps will help get you started, but make sure you dedicate enough time to the research process to find the best CRM tool for your organisation.

Summary

Your decision should be set around a set of business considerations that include budget, support, integration, and the specific requirements of your industry. Finally, you must find vendors who will work well with your company and fit with your organization’s level of sophistication to ensure a smooth relationship over the long haul.

For help selecting the right CRM system for your business please get in touch.