If you’re in a senior role at an SME, you’ll be all too familiar with the struggle of keeping your finances and your bottom line in check. Everything you do is to boost your sales revenue and to keep your business and its fiscal health under control. One minor slip up or one financial mistake too many can result in your carefully crafted house of cards crashing down. Therefore, when it comes to considering a vital software application such as CRM, it can leave many SMEs feeling like a deer in the headlights.
Is it worth the risk? What is the ROI? And how do you know it’s right for your business and your plans for growth and success? If you want to know more, read on to find out whether it’s worth investing in customer relationship management software.
How does CRM work?
CRM software isn’t just another cloud-based programme for your employees to get their heads around – it can revolutionise the way your employees handle and communicate with your clients. By effectively collecting all your customer data in one easy to manage place, employees can monitor and follow previous customer interactions, improving customer relations and fully tailoring future marketing strategies. This centralised customer data library means smoother workflows and provides your employees with the tools they need to deliver exceptional customer service across leads, queries, and with current clients.
Let’s look at these points in more detail.
You can use CRM to boost sales
Your marketing and sales teams will attest that the sales process is incredibly long-winded and often overly complicated. Even when sales come in, completing the sale and the subsequent follow up can be frustratingly inefficient due to outdated practices. This is where CRM comes in – by simplifying the process, your teams can make the most of every customer interaction and streamline the sales process including automating tasks such as creating quotes and orders.
Also, thanks to the centralisation of your customer data, you can create targeted ad campaigns and make sure your latest products and services are seen by the right people. This boosts the ROI on your marketing campaigns and improves revenue across the board.
Use CRM to foster client relationships
When clients feel valued and appreciated, they’ll return. By building on customer relationships with fully tailored responses and creating a fully customised experience for existing or potential clients, you’ll stand apart from your competitors and have a stronger chance of retaining the customers you’ve worked so hard to bring on board. CRM tracks and references all previous customer interactions. This data is available across your cooperation, so no matter who your client is dealing with, they’ll get a unique and personalised experience.
Improve sales performance
Arming your sales force with relevant client information means they can sell more effectively and specifically. No more bombarding clients with unwanted and unnecessary products and services, CRM works in tandem with your sales force, highlighting additional sales and even up-selling opportunities.
All in all, there are countless pros to CRM software that could have a greatly positive impact on your business processes. We recommend that you look into it sooner rather than later.