CRM stands for Customer Relationship Manager, and it really is a relationship manager. A good CRM should allow you to organize all your customers’ data in one place. It should automate certain tasks for you and it should assist you with marketing, sales, and billing as several CRMs’ plug into QuickBooks. Well you may be thinking, I am already organized and my accounting software helps me with billing so why would I spend money in yet another technology?
Why do you need a CRM?
Technology when used correctly helps you strengthen your business. It allows you to be more effective, maintain better customer service, keep accurate records, and acquire more clients. A CRM can also help you gain a competitive edge because it will allow you to offer services that your competitor might not have.
How do I know which CRM to select?
Selecting a CRM can be overwhelming, if you Google the word “crm” you get a multitude of results so where to start? Research a CRM that is recognized in your industry, this means that it has been tailored to your industry whether its technology, food, tourism, or healthcare. You may also want to consult with colleagues in your field and find out what they are using and ask them to share with you what their experience has been. Another option to explore is having custom made software that will fit the way you operate your business. However, with the multitude of reputable companies that offer CRM’s this option seems to be only for those large corporate organizations with specific needs.
What is the cost of a CRM?
Our customers love to hear about how technology can assist them but the last question is always… how much will this cost? And this is indeed a valid question because technology should assist you in making money, it should not just make you spend money. The cost of a CRM will vary; some vendors will sell you the software and licenses upfront at a cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000.00 or more depending on the size of your company and the amount of licenses you purchase. Other vendors will host the CRM for you in the cloud and charge you a minimal monthly fee. At Xennix we have utilized both options hosting the CRM ourselves and also having it in the cloud. If you are not an IT company and have limited IT staff I would suggest just letting the vendor host the software for you, the monthly fees are usually minimal and they take care of the CRM for you.
What are the CRM downfalls?
The CRM is there to assist your company. However, there is a learning curve! Therefore, you and your staff need to be prepared to spend some hours learning about the CRM. You should have one or two people (depending on the size of the company) dedicated to learning everything there is to know about the CRM so that they can train the staff. Many vendors also provide training for the whole company and this is something that you might consider. After all, what is the point of having a car if you don’t know how to drive it! Many critics of the CRM say that CRMs are just a waste of money and time, that no one ever really masters them and that employees are reluctant to learn. That doesn’t seem fair because from our experience employees are happy to learn and embrace anything that will make their jobs easier! At Xennix we are proud CRM users and if you would like any assistance selecting the right CRM for your industry we can point you in the right direction and offer you some guidance. Contact us today at (407)403-5198 in Orlando and (242)676-3721 in the Bahamas.
Click here to veiw Xennix Ltd listing page on BahamasLocal.com
