Home
>
Software
>
Is Your Small Business Ready For A CRM Software Solution?

Is Your Small Business Ready For A CRM Software Solution?

I have yet to see a business that, sometimes in spite of themselves, didn't benefit from implementing a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) or a simpler Contact Management software solution.

Your small business might be the rare exception, but if you can relate to some of the following scenarios, you may be ready to take advantage of the improved and inexpensive CRM systems coming on-stream.

Mary, your star sales performer, has just been poached by your opposition. She departs your employ with immediate effect. You are left wondering:

What deals was she working on?

What is the status of those deals?

Mary's replacement would be able to hit the ground running, taking over where Mary left off if you have a small business CRM solution installed.

You need to do an e/mail marketing campaign to your customer base, but even the simple task of extracting a targeted list of all your client's names and addresses proves difficult. And you haven't even begun to send out your mailer yet, never mind manage and follow through with your responses.

Your sales people spend an inordinate amount of time preparing themselves for the next day, deciding who they are going to call or visit. That information should be spat out by the Task List of the CRM or Contact Manager, freeing them up to spend more time productively doing scenario planning, and selling.

Is getting reports from your sales people like pulling teeth? Do your reps spend far too long compiling data and reports essential to forward planning?

This is time that you'd far preferably have your employees spend doing what they are paid to do - sell your

products. We only have a finite amount of time to contact and meet clients. Employees should, as far as possible, discipline themselves to perform the bulk of admin 'after hours', rather than during office hours. The right CRM tools will yet again put you on the right track.

These are all reports that could be generated at the touch of a button, and winging their way to your inbox with another, if you have the right CRM solution in place. You could even, depending on your choice of CRM solution, have reports extracted and forwarded to you automatically.

Nobody can sleep well in the knowledge that their biggest asset, their customer database, is in a mess! It may look pretty, but does it work?

Here are some other possible questions that you need answers for; the facts may remain elusive without the benefit of a functional CRM solution.

Why did you lose that deal?

Just when did you promise to get back to ACME Inc., after their budget gets approved?

Exactly how much did you quote them?

Who last engaged with that client from your sales/service or accounts departments; when, and what transpired?

When does their contract with your competition or with you expire?

What is the weighted value of those potential deals, forecast for the next x months?

You have a great new deal sweetener and need to get a mailer, fax shot, emailer out to your clients in a hurry, but how?

Who are your VIP customers - by region, product, rep or any other user-defined category? How do you rate or profile them?

You can't pinpoint just why Johnny is having problems closing deals.

You want to sell your business but you can't show your prospective buyers a professional, current list of your pending deals or active clients, the goodwill that makes much of the real value of any business.

These are just a few of the questions a competent CRM application should be able to answer for you.

Next time up, we'll examine the different types of CRM or Contact Management solutions that you should consider for your small business.

One thing is for certain ? a few short months after implementing your CRM solution, you'll wonder how on earth you ever got by without it!

About the author:

Perry Norgarb has specialized in CRM solutions for small businesses for the last 15 years.

Contact him or find out more about Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Contact Management and other Sales Tracking software tips and solutions for small businesses at: http://www.smallbizcrm.com.

You are free to re-publish this article as long as this bio box and copyright remain intact and the links 'live'. ? 26, April, 2005.

shuttle to Midway Beardstown .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare

In The News:

The FBI has issued a warning that scammers are impersonating doctors, police and banks using spoofed numbers as "smishing" texts surge nationwide.

Communities with unreliable internet service stand to gain after Amazon's Project Kuiper launched its first full batch of satellites into orbit April 28.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says unsubscribing from spam might actually backfire. Learn when to avoid it and stop junk effectively.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how the first nonstop beating heart transplant, called zero ischemic time, at Taiwan hospital changes surgery.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson: FBI warns of "time-traveling" hackers.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about a soft, vine-like robot called SPROUT that aids safe survivor rescues in collapsed buildings.

Health insurance giant Blue Shield of California confirmed it had been sharing private health data of 4.7 million users with Google for three years without even realizing it.

Delta and JetZero’s blended wing body aircraft marks a meaningful step toward a cleaner, quieter and more efficient future for air travel.

Recent reports show many common passwords can be cracked in literally seconds. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how to strengthen your passwords.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Iron, a robot that stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 154 pounds, combines advanced artificial intelligence with human-like movement and exceptional vision.

Hertz, the rental car giant, recently confirmed that customer information was exposed through a cyberattack on one of its software vendors.

There are a number of features with AirPods you may or may not know about to take your listening experience to the next level. Kurt the CyberGuy explains.

These 35 Chrome extensions have privacy and security concerns. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says to delete them now.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says 329,000 mph fusion rocket promises to be fast, disruptive and enable deep-space missions.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says a new autonomous AI is a game changer that also raises privacy risks. Is your data safe?

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says robots and drones are revolutionizing fruit farming with faster picking and smarter handling.

Landmark Admin revises May 2024 cyberattack scope to show twice as many people were affected. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives tips to help stay safe from an insurance data breach.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how Yamaha’s hydrogen outboard motor could revolutionize boating with zero emissions.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how to memorialize or remove a deceased loved one’s Facebook account and protect their digital legacy from misuse or scams.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says an Apple Watch saved psychiatrist Amanda Faulkner by detecting deadly leukemia early.

Scammers and fraudsters are increasingly targeting the most vulnerable, especially nursing homes and the personal data of their residents. Kurt the CyberGuy has safety tips.

Infected USB flash drives can spread malware among multiple organizations in ways that can easily bypass traditional security systems.

With a fully automated warehouse system and AI-powered robots, Ocado's Hive picks, packs and delivers grocery store orders in just a few minutes.