May 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Undoubtedly, small and medium-sized businesses need a customer relationship management (CRM) solution equally or as much as their larger competitors do. A CRM solution will provide a better view of customer buying habits, and automate many time-consuming sales and service-related tasks, such as fulfillment.
Purchasing the CRM application can be an extensive project for the smaller company. It is important to find a CRM solution that works the way the staff needs it to, while still fitting the budget.
Realistically, the bottom line needs to be making an investment that would bring a return to the business, so view CRM as a long-term investment.
Also, remember to budget for changes. When creating the initial budget, leave a little extra room for unforeseen customizations or modificiation and other adjustments such as an extra data field or new types of reports that may assist you in achieving your perfect CRM application goal.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Since today's workforce is more mobile than ever before, there is a very real need for mobile CRM that keeps business moving forward while on the road. Ultimately resulting in high staff productiviity as well as reduced downtime. Consider empowering your field staff by adding a CRM solution to a BlackBerry device and allowing them pertinent real time on-demand information including (but not limited to) sales forecasts, customer information and schedules.
Install your CRM product on your BlackBerry device. Search records and update accounts as data is automatically updated on both your device and desktop. Synchronize an established list of opportunities, tasks, appintments or cases.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Today it is imperative to make sure your company has an integrated customer strategy with CRM software. That is, an existing and functioning method in which many different vendors are able to work with marketers using CRM Software to create and execute marketing programs. Realize that distinct databases of customer information may deter companies from gaining a clear picture of the entire view of the customer throughout the organization.
Often business managers are using tactics that do not address customers, rather products. This is due to the fact that they are still looking at accounts on file, rather than at customer relationships. For example, credit card companies that send two offers - one that recommends consilidating their debt into a home equity loan and the other that offers a balance transfer for their credit card within a short period of time.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Leading experts indicate that CRM is driving the wireless market from field service to sales.
Wireless CRM is reaching all time high in 2008. The first to utilize wireless are insurance and finance companies, those who already have large continual field service operations such as package delivery companies or technology vendors with large on-site technical support teams.
CRM software vendors are meeting this demand and providing support for field sales and service personnel.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
When asked who uses CRM software, recent polls suggest that most companies report sales and marketing areas using CRM software more than any other areas in a company; just over 33 percent.
Almost a quarter of the companies polled (just over 22 percent) identified sales and a few other departments. Just over 25 percent said CRM software is used by the entire organization. To reap the full benefits of CRM software, the entire organization must be on board.
When asked who's driving the implementation, 44 percent of companies polled replied with a sales-focused executive. A marketing executive was the driver in 21 percent, and an IT exectuive in almost 15 percent. Only 18% of the respondents answered by identifying the CEO as the driver.
Regardless of how these companies answered, CRM is working for these companies no matter how it was implemented.