How to Choose a CRM System

This week we are talking about how to choose the right CRM for your business needs

First, you need to create a list of all your business needs and requirements.This list should have two columns with the first column being “the must have” features so the CRM partner helping you with setup can tell you whether these features are included or if they are going to charge you extra. It’s important to know how much it will be to implement your requirements and if they are native to the CRM system

The second column on the list of requirements will be “nice to have ” items. These are the items that would be ideal to have but are not a deal-breaker if they aren’t included in the CRM. A must have item to clarify about your CRM is “ does this CRM have open APIs?”. If your system has open APIs this means it can support extending your CRM. As you grow your staff and business it’s likely you’ll want to incorporate third party services and systems into your CRM so you want to make sure this is an option.

The second step is finding out the support options that your target CRM offers. In the Zoho CRM, there are numerous convenient ways to get support through chat, phone, or email. You want to make sure the company will offer you quality and timely support, otherwise you will spend lots of money with vendors on basic support questions. Start calling your prospective CRM providers as if you were already their client to determine how effective their support will be.

The third and final step in selecting the right CRM is determining how easy it is to operate and manage your target CRM. After implementation and set up services, most of the maintenance will fall on your internal team. To avoid pain and struggle in the future be sure your selected CRM is easy to manage in house.