Benefits of a CRM

CRM systems are a bit like that one employee who somehow knows everything about everyone and never forgets a single detail – but without the coffee addiction or annual leave requests. If your business isn’t using a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system yet, this article is definitely for you.

Basically, CRMs are a standard business tool these days, and companies without them risk falling behind their competitors. In this article, we’re going to show you exactly why CRMs are almost a non-negotiable for modern businesses.

Just a warning, CRMs have a LOT of benefits when used properly. So, let’s not mess around – here are some of the best ones.

 

Improving customer service and retention

If you had to name two things that all customers love, what would they be?

We can think of two big ones: Feeling valued and not having to explain themselves over and over again to different staff members.

CRMs let you put all customer data in one place, so your team can access accurate and up-to-date information instantly. The result? More personalised, efficient service and happy customers. Happy customers are likely to come back again, and from a marketing point of view, repeat customers are like gold.

 

A CRM streamlines business processes

Do your teams love wasting time on boring, repetitive tasks?

No, we didn’t think so.

CRMs can automate a lot of those mundane jobs, like lead follow-ups or internal reminders, freeing your team to focus on what they do best.

It’s important to note that automation isn’t about replacing humans. It’s about letting technology take care of those time-consuming, repetitive tasks that humans aren’t even very good at. Instead, let your teams spend more time building customer relationships and providing awesome service.

Picture this: instead of manually tracking follow-ups, your CRM sends automated reminders, so that no potential lead or sales opportunity falls through the cracks. Your processes are smoother, your workflows are faster, and your sales people can focus on sales, not admin.

 

Boosting sales and revenue

More leads converted means more money in the bank – and isn’t that what we’re all here for?

Ok, so money isn’t everything. But it’s hard to do business without it, and CRMs help your teams close more deals.

You spend good money on marketing to bring leads through the door, so it doesn’t make much sense to let them fall through the cracks.

A CRM keeps your sales pipeline on track with tools like lead management, sales tracking, and automated follow-ups.

Importantly, with better processes, your team members can speak to more customers, too, further increasing the chance of increased revenue.

 

CRMs improve team collaboration

Let’s be honest, there are so many forms of communication for businesses and employees today. Collaboration should be easy, but sometimes there are just too many tools, and it all gets a bit complicated.

CRMs act as a kind of central hub for your entire team, making it easy to communicate and collaborate. Plus, everybody has access to the same data.

So whether your team is in the office, working from home, or scattered remotely across the country, a CRM brings everyone together.

 

A CRM offers a world of data at your fingertips

Once upon a time, everybody wanted to drill for oil. Or mine for gold. Today, data is the new precious commodity and CRMs give you access to plenty of it.

With a professionally set-up CRM, you’ll get heaps of advanced reporting tools, giving you insights into customer behaviour, sales trends, and so much more.

The data you can easily draw from a CRM helps you manage performance more effectively and make smarter business decisions.

 

A CRM personalises customer experiences

At the end of the day, customers want to feel appreciated. Nobody enjoys feeling like a number when they deal with a business.

CRMs let you provide a more personalised service by keeping detailed records of your customers’ preferences, past purchases, and interactions. A more tailored service makes people feel valued, which in turn improves brand loyalty.

Imagine sending a special offer that’s perfectly tailored to a customer’s buying habits. With a CRM, it’s a lot easier than you think and provides a layer of personalisation that customers love.

 

Supporting remote and hybrid work environments

Remote work has its perks, but staying connected isn’t always one of them.

Hybrid and remote work environments are becoming the norm now, but without the right software infrastructure, they can be a nightmare.

With cloud-based access and real-time updates, CRMs make it easier to stay connected, even on the other side of the world.

 

Making training and onboarding a breeze

Onboarding and training new employees can feel like an uphill battle, especially if you’re running a range of different systems they need access to. CRMS put all of your business software tools in one place, so new staff only need to access and learn one system.

CRMs also make training easier by providing clear workflows, centralised resources, and step-by-step guides. Get new staff members up and running faster, without making them feel like they’re stranded in the deep end.

 

Integrating CRMs with existing systems

While you can get most functions happening through your shiny new CRM, there might be reasons to keep a couple of old legacy systems around. Naturally, if you use too many different systems, you lose some of the convenience a CRM provides, but like most things, there’s always an exception.

Whether it’s an accounting package everybody is familiar with or an integrated phone system, you can connect your CRM pretty seamlessly. Most third party software connects easily to modern CRMs like Zoho – just check with your CRM consultant before buying if that’s a deal-breaker.

 

Reducing costs through efficiency

Obviously, CRMs come with a cost, but it’s a cost that can pay off several times over.

For starters, by automating tasks and improving efficiency, you’ll pretty quickly find your team members being more productive. They can speak to more customers, provide better service, or contribute to more strategic matters.

Combine this efficiency boost with the more obvious indicators like increased sales or significant business growth, and it’s clear that professionally installed CRMs deliver an awesome Return on Investment (ROI).

 

Looking for a CRM upgrade?

Whether you’ve got an existing CRM and not getting the full benefit, or you’re completely new to CRMs, Otto Digital can help. We offer customised CRM solutions, in addition to software development, business process improvement, website development and much more.  Basically, if your business needs a transformation, it’s time to contact our team!