Customer Relationship Management Implementation
As a SMB, considering the options to organize your customer data can leave you with more questions than answers. There are dozens of Customer Relationship Management, or CRM, system options out there and plenty of companies also specializing in industry-specific (consumer goods, financial services, industrial sector, etc.) or customized CRMs. If you’re on the fence about which option to choose, here are a few things to consider before you make your selection:
First, you need to determine if a generic or industry-specific/customized CRM will best fit your needs. Start by making a list of features and benefits that you need in order to maximize your ROI. Then consider your timeframe and budget; customizing a CRM will of course take a bit longer and involve more money initially, but will choosing the easy out-of-the-box option fit your company’s needs in the end? Ask also is the CRM priced per user or per office? Don’t forget that no matter which option you choose, you need to make sure the CRM will integrate with any other systems or technology your business is currently using.
Once you’ve narrowed your options down, it’s time to test the CRM. Make sure that you see a demo version of each product so that you can better determine if they will provide the data solution you’re looking for. Besides looking at functionality, testing each CRM may also provide more insight into the integration process and requirements.
After the demo process, the next step to help choose your CRM should be a focus on customer support. Many brands may be eager to help in the initial set-up stages when it comes to importing your data and customer records. However, in the months after your SMB is up and running, how will technical support operate? Will you be charged for additional assistance? Maybe you will have to use an 800 number, wait on hold for ages and then be treated as just a number in the hundreds of accounts using a big-name CRM. For most SMBs, having a direct contact to help answer your questions and walk you through the product and process may be the winning ticket when it comes to picking a CRM solution.
If you’re in the middle of weighing all the CRM possibilities, let 4 Corner IT help! With over ten years of experience in the preparing, planning and execution of CRM integration for companies small and large, we will walk you through the process and find the best solution to meet your business needs. Contact us today!
