By taking the time to identify your organisation's specific requirements, you can ensure that the CRM you choose will meet those needs and provide value to your business. For example, if your business relies heavily on lead generation, you'll want to choose a CRM that has robust lead management and nurturing capabilities.
On the other hand, if your business is more focused on customer support, you'll want to choose a CRM with strong customer service and ticketing features. By considering your business needs upfront, you can choose a CRM that aligns with your goals and helps you succeed.
Considering your business needs before choosing a CRM avoids unnecessary expenses. Some CRM systems can come at a hefty price, and if you choose one that aligns differently with your specific needs, you may end up paying for features you don't use. By taking the time to evaluate your business needs, you can identify the most critical features of your organisation and choose a CRM that offers those features at a price point that works for your budget. This way, you can get the most value for your investment and avoid overspending on unnecessary features.
Let’s discuss five of the most important things to consider when choosing a CRM so that you don’t end up flushing money down the drain.
First, identify if you need a CRM or an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). This would, of course, depend on the size and need of the business.
You might want to consider some simple questions:
Almost anyone will use a tool or platform if it makes their lives easier at work, an automation tool or perhaps a tool that can help store and organise their contacts. In essence, look for a CRM with functions allowing users to use it to their advantage. If you invest in a CRM that doesn’t have the functions your sales team needs, they might just use their phone or, worse- a spreadsheet!
A CRM's usability can significantly impact its effectiveness in meeting your business needs. Allowing your team to work with a complex CRM or a CRM with a steep learning curve can result in lower productivity and less accurate data. Before choosing a CRM, it's a good idea to test it and evaluate its usability.
Is this something that your team can use? Will your team use it? Will it make work easier for them?
Look for a system that is intuitive and easy to navigate, with features and functions that are easy to access and use. This can help ensure that your team will use the system, leading to higher adoption rates and more accurate data.
Another reason to consider a CRM's usability is that it can impact your team's productivity. A CRM that is easy to use and navigate can help your team work more efficiently and effectively. They can quickly access the needed information, update customer data in real-time, and manage their workflows more efficiently.
On the other hand, a complex CRM can slow your team down, leading to frustration and lost productivity. By considering a CRM's usability before choosing a system, you can ensure that your team has the tools to work effectively and efficiently, leading to better customer experiences and higher overall productivity.
Why would you consider something to make your life easier?
Like a car or machinery, a CRM needs proper and regular maintenance for optimal function. Some of the things that need to be done are as follows:
Go for a CRM that allows you to make these changes independently. Making these changes on your own or by any of your team members makes it more cost-efficient because you won't need to ask a tech person to do the updates for you.
A CRM that is difficult to maintain may become outdated quickly, requiring significant updates or even a complete system overhaul and may require considerable resources to keep up-to-date, which can increase costs and reduce your return on investment.
By choosing a CRM that is easy to maintain, you can ensure that your system remains up-to-date and relevant, with the latest features and capabilities. This can help ensure that your team has the tools to work effectively and efficiently now and in the future.
When you go for a CRM that’s easy to keep up with and maintain, it can help ensure you get the most value from your investment, reduce your ongoing costs and ensure that your team has access to the latest features and capabilities without requiring significant additional investments in time or resources. This can help you maximise your investment in a CRM system and achieve greater success for your business.
Cost and time are two of the most important things to consider when choosing a CRM.
Is it within your budget? How long will it take to implement? How long or short is the learning curve?
Some CRMs can take weeks and days to implement, from set-up, migration, training testing and evaluation. While some require a few days, it is essential to include these factors when deciding. Remember that implementing a CRM requires a significant amount of participation from different people, potentially leading to increased costs.
Regarding cost and time, we recommend HubSpot because it takes a few days to get it going, plus a few more days spent on training and testing. A few other CRMs (which we will not mention) charge a considerable amount of money upon implementation, not to mention charging you again for updates, maintenance etc.,
Consider the upfront costs of the system, as well as ongoing maintenance and support costs. Additionally, consider the period required for implementation and training and the time your team will need to get up-to-speed with the system. By considering these factors, you can ensure that you choose a CRM that meets your business needs while staying within your budget.
A lengthy implementation process can result in significant downtime, reducing your team's ability to engage with customers and manage their workloads effectively. Additionally, a complex system may require substantial training time, further impacting productivity.
By selecting a CRM that can be implemented quickly and easily, you can minimise downtime and ensure that your team can quickly start using the system to improve customer experiences and drive productivity.
Finally, an important thing to consider when choosing a CRM for your business is its stability and support system. This is the point where you could greatly rely on reviews and customer testimonials. It might also help if you schedule a demo with the CRM company so you can assess its professionalism by how it deals with its potential customers.
Some questions are:
Before considering the above items, you need to find out first if you need a CRM or ERP. Evaluate your business needs first, then if you genuinely need a CRM, result in the above consideration before making a decision. Contact Ucidity for CRM solutions that suit your business size and needs!
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