CRM is the abbreviation for Customer Relationship Management. It is software that helps companies build better relationships with existing and potential new customers, or improve current relationships. This increase and better coordination of communication will enhance the overall quality of customer service and customer satisfaction. However, using a CRM tool is not limited to communicating with regular customers. It can also involve employees, partners, suppliers, etc.. In this way, the bundling of all contacts in a central platform is achieved. In addition, the interactions can be transformed into concrete figures from which valuable statistics can then be obtained. Especially in combination with a good project management tool, new, effective strategies can be implemented and your own sales increased. All this without having to invest considerable sums in new customer acquisition.
Is CRM software the right thing for my company?
Basically, all companies that are in regular contact with their customers and partners should rely on an appropriate software for administration. How the implementation takes place can be decided without further ado individually. For example, the system can be used in the entire company or only in a few specific areas. Depending on what the need is, the following possibilities for use arise, for example:
- the use of a CRM system can be considered as an analytical tool for data acquisition and processing. In this case, the system evaluates all customer data, such as transactions, orders, etc., in order to gain new resources for determining target group characteristics or migration tendencies for your company.
2 Furthermore, the use of a CRM system as an operative system in the company is an option. In this case, the existing data is used to analyse and implement strategic measures such as market segmentation.
3) Communicative customer relationship management tools can be used in the company to simplify communication between customers and employees. The system provides a central platform for all forms of communication. Be it by post, fax, telephone or via the Internet. All data is stored centrally and can be accessed by the relevant employees as required.
Finally, internal processes such as communication and coordination between individual departments can also be made more efficient with a collaborative CRM system. It can also be used to standardize communication with outsourced bodies such as suppliers, partners or field sales staff.
What should you pay attention to?
Before implementing a CRM tool in a company, essential questions must be discussed in advance and clearly answered. These include, for example, topics such as the areas in which use is necessary and alternatively possible. In addition, it is to be analysed which new possibilities the system offers and how these must be converted. Finally, it has to be clarified which employees should have access from the CRM system and which authority levels or authorizations they should have.
Especially for smaller companies it often makes sense to consider a cloud-based solution. This does not require an expensive own server and also no special IT personnel, since installation, installation and administration as well as maintenance are taken over by the operator. The operator is also responsible for operational readiness and security, so that there is always certainty that the CRM software is ready for use and that problems can be solved quickly. In addition, cloud-based solutions offer many flexible access options. Especially via smartphones, tablets or on the go. This is done either via the Internet or an app and enables field sales representatives or colleagues on business trips to access the system and retrieve or enter information.