As companies compete in digital markets, you may find that your old business practices just aren’t working like they once did. So it’s imperative to use technology as a way of diversification in your customer relationship process.
But if your company has been using the same processes for decades, the fast-paced world of ever-changing technology might feel intimidating. It doesn’t have to be. A customer relationship management (CRM) system is a simple way to leverage the latest in business technologies. Here are 5 elements of a good CRM system.
What is a CRM system?
First, it’s important to understand what a CRM platform is. There are many different methods and strategies for customer service that your team uses every day. A CRM system is a software that brings all your methods together in one easy to use interface. CRM systems are great for:
- Storing leads and customers
- Scheduling appointments and assignments
- Administering your product pipeline
- Creating and tracking reports
- Navigating high-quality analytics
So now that we are clear about how a CRM system can work for you, here are 5 elements of a great CRM system:
1. Ease of use
A good CRM system must utilize a simple interface. Sure, many of your younger employees might already be proficient in the latest technology, but some of your more tenured employees might feel a little less adept in the digital world. Therefore, a CRM system needs to be simple to use for everyone and user-friendly.
2. Manages your leads
With a quality CRM system, gone are the days of sifting through multiple spreadsheets trying to keep track of all your leads. This software keeps all your lead information together in one place. Reliable CRM systems also allow your team to perform functions such as emailing or calling leads directly from the platform.
3. Project management
CRM systems are built to help your team manage their projects including sales, customer service, or other similar tasks. Your team will be able to view upcoming deadlines, track projects in real time, assign tasks, and communicate amongst each other all via the CRM platform.
4. Integrated Email
With a great CRM system, your Email is integrated into the software system. There is no longer the need to move between your CRM platform and your Email platform. Not only does this jumping between systems cost valuable time, but it also exposes you to making errors or even data breaches. Built in is the ability to view Email metrics that are valuable data for your company to see what is working and which processes to avoid.
5. Powerful analytics
Performance analytics are essential to your business. If you want to grow in revenue you need to know which processes are working and which ones you should abandon. A great CRM system stores all of your data and has the power to create insightful reports without the use of multiple statistical platforms. The best CRM software allows for the manipulation of reports at a custom level to match your companies needs.
Customer relationship management doesn’t have to be a difficult and intimidating process. Don’t wait until your business has too many clients and leads to handle before integrating a quality CRM system into your business processes. The sooner your team starts using a quality platform the sooner you can take on more clients without becoming overwhelmed.
