CRM’s Don’t Have To Be Scary
As small business owner, you have to deal with a lot of challenges. Keeping track of your contacts and sales pipeline doesn’t have to be one of them. I am still surprised by how many seasoned security companies are still using spreadsheets to keep track of sales and customer communications. A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is a software tool to help with this process. With advances in technology and new competition entering the market over the last couple of years, the cost of a CRM solution has become more affordable and easier to use than ever.
What are the benefits of a CRM for dealers / integrators?
A CRM can help you and your sales team:
- Keep track of contacts.
- Update contact records easily in real time via mobile apps.
- Track sales opportunities.
- Keep your staff accountable and managers in the loop by tracking and managing customer communications.
Names like Sedona, WeSuite, and of course Salesforce are well known in the industry and are utilized by SDM 100 and other large security companies.
Fortunately, SMB’s now have easy access to the same technology as enterprise companies but at a more affordable price point. There are a ton of CRM’s out there to choose from. In this article I’ve rounded up the top 3 that I am familiar with as an easy way to start you on your research.
Insightly CRM
Insightly is a simple, but feature-rich CRM software fits the bill for microbusinesses. It has all the basic capabilities that really small businesses need in a CRM software, but is also highly scalable as your business grows. Additionally, Insightly is one of the most affordable CRM solutions available; there’s a free version to help you get started, and paid plans start at a fraction of the price of comparable CRM software.
Pros: Works well and integrates with Integrates with Google Apps. Nice mobile app. 30 day free trial.
Cons: A little pricey at $39/mo. per user. Has some additional features like Project Management and Pipeline Stages which can be a little complicated to set up.
Click here to learn more
Capsule CRM
Capsule aims to make CRM as simple as possible by offering six core capabilities to help you run your business: managing relationships, managing the sales pipeline, organizing emails, saving contact histories, performing task management and completing customization
Pros: Easy to use & set up. Great value starting at $12 per user per month.
Cons: None to speak of. Great little budget app for the small to medium business.
Click here to learn more
Zoho CRM
Basically a Salesforce copycat, Zoho CRM is powerful CRM software that doesn’t compromise on capabilities just because you’re not paying for it. Unlike other free CRM, Zoho CRM offers all the core functionalities of CRM software and lets you onboard up to 10 users at no extra cost. You’ll also have access to your data anytime, anywhere using Zoho CRM’s mobile app, without having to purchase a plan.
Pros: Lots of integrations including Google Apps and a native webmail client. Free basic version version with 10 users included.
Cons: A lot of tools that you may not need, but pay for nonetheless. Could be a little cumbersome for the average user, resulting in above average onboarding time.
Click here to learn more
So there you have it – a quick and easy reference to get you started down the path to more efficient sales pipelines, company organization and customer management. As you can see, CRM’s don’t have to be a scary endeavor. Happy Halloween to all of our dealer clients, partners and industry friends!
Are you a security dealer with a favorite CRM system? Are you still researching / considering a CRM? Share your comments below and tell us about it!
