There are a lot of important decisions that go into being a small business owner. Some of them are easier to make than others. But choosing a CRM system is perhaps one of the most involved decisions you can make. Why? Because it doesn’t just involve you or your leadership team. A CRM system involves your entire organization, from top to bottom. 

When it comes to choosing a CRM system, you’re probably going to want an intuitive interface; something user-friendly and not too difficult to navigate. You’ll want it to be cost-effective (of course) and improve operational efficiency and productivity. So where do you even begin to look for a system that’s going to give you all of this and more? That’s where experienced IT consulting comes into play.

What Can Your CRM System Do for You?

No two businesses are the same. What works for one company might be a complete letdown for another. You can’t just take some generic advice off the internet or purchase the CRM system your competitors are using. The one-size-fits-all approach isn’t the way to go, especially if you’re a small business with a distinct and unique set of needs.

As the need for CRM software rises across industries, CRM vendors are offering more and more new products, both niche and all-inclusive. Whether you wish to increase the  efficiency of your sales team, have better access to client data or improve lead generation, a CRM system can quickly boost business performance in all of these categories and more. But (you didn’t think it was going to be that easy, did you?) this can only happen for you if you have a clear agenda. If you don’t identify your needs, you risk investing in a solution that doesn’t match the daily workflows of your business, thus hindering your growth immensely. Lucky for you, the experts in IT consulting are here to offer you sage advice.

Top 3 Things to Consider When Choosing a New CRM System

1. Why You Need CRM Software

The first thing you need to do when choosing a CRM tool for your small business is map out your sales and marketing processes. Research which parts of the business you want to streamline and improve. Traditionally, operational needs go hand-in-hand with any problem (or problems) the business is facing, so focus on the things you’d like to improve first. There are several questions that can help you pick the most appropriate CRM system to reach your business goals:

• Is my sales team unable to convert leads?
• Do I need better access to client data?
• Do I need to increase efficiency across departments?
• Do I need to improve lead generation and follow-up practices?

Whatever your current operational needs, make sure the CRM system you choose aligns with broader, long-term business goals.

2. Overhead Costs

Consider the size of your organization. Do you have the bandwidth or capacity for a CRM system? It’s easy for business owners to get a little overzealous in obtaining what they want in order to keep up with the competition. Consider the costs before you spend the money. You don’t want your CRM system to suck all the money out of your budget and leave you with massive overheads on the product. CRM software is meant to help your business grow, not kill it.

3. Scalability

Most small businesses want to turn into large corporations one day. That’s why scalability is one of the key features of a good small business CRM. You need to opt for a solution that offers an extensive list of integration opportunities and is continuously working on expanding the number of available integrations. At the end of the day, you want your CRM system to grow as you do. It can be painful to have to part ways with your existing system and transfer all of your data due to an inability to integrate software with future tech.

Save on Stress and Unnecessary Spending

Business leaders can feel caught in a whirlwind of technology. Chasing after changes can be frustrating and negatively affect your growth and, ultimately, your profitability. Working with a tech consulting company to clarify strategy provides a rudder to navigate shifting winds. With the right technology, your business can stay on top of budgeting concerns while meeting critical goals. Contact Afidence for IT consulting and get expert advice on choosing the CRM system that satisfies your business needs.