CRM Software: Types, Benefits, Features, & The #1 Alternative

It is tough for businesses. Particularly small businesses, to survive in the current hyper-competitive digital environment. As a small business owner, you must juggle many responsibilities. Be it acquiring and managing leads or handling contracts and deals. There is a lot that you have to get done on a day-to-day basis.

Hence, you need all the help you can get. That is where CRM software becomes useful. CRM software helps businesses manage customer interactions, relationships, and data. It provides a centralized system for managing customer information and communication. That enables businesses to streamline processes, increase productivity, and improve customer satisfaction.

But, there is one mistake many businesses make. They pick a pre-built solution instead of going for a custom CRM. Pre-built or off-the-shelf CRM software is convenient to buy for sure. Yet, they are often not the right fit for a business.

In this blog post, we’ll explore custom CRM software’s types, benefits, and features. We will discuss how custom CRM systems compare with their off-the-shelf counterparts. We will also delve into the pain points small businesses experience with ready-made CRMs. We also examine how custom CRM development services mitigate these challenges.

Types of CRM Software

There are three types of CRM software that businesses use:

• Operational CRM

An operational CRM betters customer interactions and enhances the efficiency of day-to-day business activities. It automates and standardizes the customer-facing processes of a business. It typically includes sales automation, marketing automation, and customer service modules. Mailchimp is an example of an operational CRM.

• Analytical CRM

Analytical CRM is primarily used by businesses to understand their target customers better. It helps business owners in making more data-driven decisions. An analytical CRM gathers and analyzes customer data, deriving valuable insights. It significantly improves the decision-making process. A well-tailored analytical CRM provides detailed insights into customer behaviour, preferences, and needs. These insights help optimize marketing campaigns, sales strategies, and customer service. Zoho Analytics is an example of Analytical CRM.

• Collaborative CRM

Departments such as sales, marketing, and customer service should work in tandem with one another.

Collaborative CRM facilitates that. It streamlines workflows by facilitating communication and collaboration amongst different business departments. It generally has shared calendars, task management, and email integration features. Pipedrive is an example of collaborative CRM.

But What If Your Business Needs Specific Features from All the above CRMs?

Each of the above CRMs has its own unique utility. But more often than not, off-the-shelf solutions fall short of meeting the unique needs of a business. That’s where custom CRM development services come in.

What if you can build a CRM system that incorporates all three types of CRM software? A team of experienced developers can do that for you!

Custom CRM software developed by a reputed company will cater to your specific industry needs. This way, you can get all the benefits of CRM software without compromising functionality or scalability. Thus, instead of buying an off-the-shelf solution, you should hire CRM software developer teams for your CRM needs.

Benefits of Custom CRM Development

A custom CRM system can systematize and speed up the operations and processes of your business. Hence, saving you time and money. Particularly in the long run, it can significantly affect a business’s trajectory. Let’s take a look at all the advantages that a custom CRM can bring to your business:

• Increased productivity

No matter how many features an off-the-shelf CRM has, nothing works better than a custom CRM to increase productivity. And the reason is pretty simple. Say you have many features that don’t align with the existing workflow of your business. Instead of being a tool, those same features become a nuisance. For employees, using the software becomes needlessly tedious and time-consuming. Hence, instead of enhancing productivity, ready-made solutions have the opposite effect.

But, a custom CRM is built, considering each aspect of your business. Be it your customer acquisition process or the minutia of how your employees submit their end-of-day reports. A custom CRM adapts to all those little things that make your business unique. The result is software that fits like a glove in your business, amplifying your strengths and filling in the gaps.

A custom CRM tailored to your business will automate many manual tasks and modernize your business processes. And it will do that without disrupting your existing workflows too much. That will free up your employees’ time to focus on more strategic tasks. It will lead to a huge increase in the productivity and efficiency of your business.

• Better customer relationship management

Off-the-shelf solutions are generic and may not have the flexibility to adapt to the unique requirements of a business. Custom CRM solutions can provide a higher level of personalization. It does that with functions including but not limited to lead management, pipeline tracking, and customer communication.

Custom CRM solutions give businesses more control over how they manage customer relationships. They track customer interactions better, collecting valuable insights into their preferences and behaviors. These insights allow you to deliver personalized experiences to your customers. You can also address their needs better.

This level of customization helps you build stronger relationships with your customers. You will be rewarded with customer loyalty and improved customer retention.

• Improved sales and revenue

A custom CRM facilitates a central database of customer information. It gives you a clear view of your sales pipeline. It allows you to identify opportunities for upselling and cross-selling. Moreover, you can address potential issues before they become deal-breakers. That leads to increased sales and revenue.

• Enhanced data security

It is tricky with ready-made solutions. You are hoping that the solution’s security infrastructure is robust enough to keep your data safe and secure. But you can’t just cross your fingers and hope for the best.

Custom CRM allows you to take the safety of your data into your own hands. You can choose to take the help of the industry’s best CRM development company. With the help of professionals, you can put advanced security features in place. It will ensure that your customer and business data is safe and secure.

• Real-time insights and reporting

With a custom CRM system, you can access real-time data and reporting. It will give you a clear view of your business operations and performance. It helps you make data-driven decisions. You can adjust your strategies in real time for optimal results.

All the above benefits emphasize how beneficial it is for a business to hire CRM developer teams that are trustworthy and reliable. Hiring great talent will allow you to build the kind of custom CRM that will best serve your business.

Features of CRM software

Following are some of the features typically included in a custom CRM. You can always curate a custom CRM’s features and functionalities according to your business’s needs and requirements.

• Customization options: Customize the CRM to suit your business needs.

• Contact management: A custom CRM enables you to systematize and manage contacts.

• Lead management: It standardizes and simplifies the lead management process of your business.

• Sales forecasting: It predicts sales trends and helps you make well-informed decisions.

• Marketing automation: It automates marketing campaigns, increasing the efficiency of your business.

• Customer analytics: It collects and analyzes customer data. It provides you with valuable insights that help your decision-making process.

• Social media integration: A custom CRM can integrate social media platforms. It enables you to enhance communication with both employees as well as customers.

• Mobile access: Thanks to its mobile capabilities, remote access to a custom CRM system is possible.

Challenges of using pre-built software for small business owners

Small businesses may face the following challenges using pre-built software or off-the-shelf solutions:

Training Costs:

Pre-built software is a complex system that constantly requires extensive training. Small businesses may need to hire a consultant or spend extra time and resources to train their employees. That is a cost not every business can bear. And even when they can, the ROIs on custom CRM software are much better in the long run than pre-built software.

You are probably thinking- How come custom software provides better ROIs than pre-built software? How can this be if the upfront cost of custom software development is usually more than buying a ready-made digital product? But you have to consider that training costs are not the only costs you have to incur. The licensing and training costs are just two of the long list of expenses you must bear to put pre-built software in place. There are other costs involved, such as:

Integration Costs

A pre-built software may not be easy to integrate with other systems or software used within your business. Small businesses may need to pay extra for integrations. They may have to hire CRM software development teams to customize the system.

Customization Costs

An off-the-shelf cookie-cutter solution may not offer much. A small business may need many different features or customization options. As a small business owner, you might pay more for customization or hire CRM developer teams to build custom solutions. If you may end up doing it anyways, why not do that in the first place? It will save you so much time, money, and effort.

Subscription Costs

Often pre-built solutions are subscription-based services. They require you to pay a monthly or annual fee. A small business owner might find this cost prohibitive, especially if he is not using all the system’s features. And most of the time, that is exactly the case.

Hidden Costs

A pre-built software may need add-ons or features not included in the standard subscription. Small businesses may find that these hidden costs add up quickly. They might need an extra budget to cover.

Data security

With pre-built software, data security is often out of the hands of small business owners, which may be a concern if sensitive data is involved. With custom software, you get to put robust security measures in place. That will prevent your organizational data from being threatened, stolen, or damaged.

Lack of flexibility

Pre-built software solutions may not be flexible enough to adapt to the changing needs of a small business. It may lead to a need for frequent software changes or upgrades. But with a custom CRM system, you can always contact your custom CRM development services provider. Service providers also offer their clients ongoing support and maintenance services. You can leverage those services to upgrade your custom software. Keep it current and relevant in the face of changing technological environments.

The #1 Alternative: Custom CRM Development

Custom CRM development is the best alternative for small business owners. Do you want to enjoy the benefits of CRM software without the limitations of pre-built solutions? The custom CRM development will give you the tailored solution you seek. It will fit your unique needs and workflows without compromising on features or paying for unnecessary ones.

Let’s do a quick summary of all the benefits we have covered of custom CRM development:

Flexibility and scalability:

With a custom CRM solution, you can add or remove features as your business grows and changes. You can integrate it with other tools and systems you’re already using.

Cost-effectiveness:

While pre-built solutions may initially seem affordable, the costs can add up quickly. When you factor in the fees for extra users, add-ons, and customizations, it’s quite a lot. Custom CRM development allows you to control your costs and only pay for what you need.

Personalized features:

With custom CRM development, you can get features specifically designed for your business needs. It will make your workflows more efficient and your team more productive.

Better control and ownership:

With a custom CRM solution, you have full control and ownership of your data. You can make changes and updates as needed without relying on the vendor.

Conclusion

As a small business owner, you need a CRM system to address your specific challenges. Custom CRM development services can offer you flexibility, scalability, and personalization. These are what you need to increase the efficacy of your business processes. Most importantly, it will save you time and money in the long run. Don’t settle for an off-the-shelf CRM solution that doesn’t fit your needs.

We are Dream Cyber Infoway, the industry’s best CRM development company. We specialize in custom CRM development. We can help you build a solution tailored to your needs and budget. Contact us today for a free consultation and turbocharge your business with Custom CRM software.