CRM stands for customer relationship management, but its use in various software suites goes far beyond lead nurturing. It can help automate lots of different things for companies, such as email marketing, customer data tracking, contact management, client histories, sales processes, reporting, planning, cloud storage and mobile accessibility, and a whole bunch of other business processes that were once time-consuming and cumbersome. It makes business easier and more efficient, so it’s of little surprise that it’s caught on so widely.
But which version of CRM software is the right one for your business? Which ones are considered the best? We turned to several tech savvy sources to build answers.
It became apparent as we did our research that several CRM software platforms commonly pop up on different “best-of” lists, even when looked at across various categories. Let’s take a look at what these frequently-mentioned platforms can do.
HubSpot’s CRM software is free, obviously making it an attractive choice for many companies. Perhaps more importantly, the company describes its capabilities as being able to “automates the tasks salespeople hate” so they won’t have to “fight with clunky tools that slow them down.” The program offers an up-to-the-minute view of your entire sales funnel and tracks customer interactions automatically.
Salesforce is one of the most popular CRMs in the country. It’s designed to enable sales people to convert leads and close deals faster by making the information they need clearer and more accessible. The company boasts customer reports that display an average +36 percent sales productivity, +28 percent revenue, and +38 percent better forecasting.
Zoho’s CRM platform is interesting in that it’s flexible. Users can customize their setup to add industry-specific functions and custom features to match their business’s needs. Also, repetitive tasks can be automated to save time on data entry and the sales processes that users establish can be scaled up during times of growth.
The CRM platform that Freshsales has developed uses AI-based scoring to prioritize leads. As the company says, this lets users know “which sales lead is hot and who’s not.” It can also provide what the company calls a “360-degree customer view” in that users can seamlessly access customers’ social profiles, touchpoints, and more.
Pipedrive’s CRM platform is built around the philosophy that power comes from simplicity, meaning that its users will be able to cut out a lot of admin work. The program uses a visual sales pipeline that prompts users to take action and remain organized. It’s reporting is designed to show users where they’re missing opportunities and which activities bring them the best conversion rate.
In addition to the five notable options we’ve described, there are lots of other types of CRM platforms out there. Some are intended for specific industries or companies of various sizes and some could be applicable to many types of companies. The following national-best lists offer a look at several of your company’s best options.
The Best CRM Software of 2018
(Not ranked in any particular order)
Source: PC Magazine
Best CRM Software Vendors by Market Presence
August 2018
Source: TechnologyAdvice
10 Most Popular CRM Software, with User Satisfaction Ratings
Source: Finances Online
Enterprise / Large-Scale Company CRM Platforms
Source: TechnologyAdvice
Small Business CRM Platforms
Source: TechnologyAdvice
CRM Platforms for Nonprofits
Source: TechnologyAdvice
Financial Services CRM Platforms
Source: TechnologyAdvice
Real Estate CRM Platforms
Source: TechnologyAdvice
Field Service Management CRM Platforms
Source: TechnologyAdvice
Healthcare CRM Platforms
Source: TechnologyAdvice
CRM software is changing the way business connects with opportunity and it looks like its use is only going to continue to spread. There are certainly a lot of different formats and providers out there and it may be a little tricky to determine which one is the best fit for your company, but in the end it will be worth it. The potential is too great to ignore, and many processes could become a lot easier. CRMs are a valuable tool that’s likely here to stay.
