| CRM for the Growing Small Business |
| by Clare Kaufman, freelance writer |
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| CRM software is a valuable tool for obtaining a 360-degree view of a business. The application consolidates data from all sides, linking databases and applying tracking and reporting functions. The insight a small business owner gains from such a snapshot can help coordinate daily operations and drive better business decisions. The upshot: CRM can help small businesses grow. |
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Building Better Business
Small businesses grow by acquiring and retaining new customers. Customer relationship management applications offer a range of features to promote that goal. CRM technology mobilizes customer and sales data to support all front-office processes. Optimized marketing campaigns, effectively managed sales leads, a streamlined sales process, development of shrewd business strategies, and stellar customer service rank among the benefits of customer relationship management.
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Making the Most of CRM
The right CRM solution can transform a small business into a rapidly growing enterprise. Small businesses should look for the following features to make the most of their CRM systems. |
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Scalability
Your Customer Relationship Management solution should grow with you. Look for a CRM platform that can easily be upgraded as your business needs develop. Many companies offer modular systems, which allow you to start with the fundamentals and build more advanced functionality in specific areas as needed. On Demand CRM makes it easy to build the system gradually--as the name suggests, you simply demand what you need, and pay as you go.
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Database Integration and Analytics
Don't settle for a simple contact management application when what you really need to grow the business is hard business intelligence. With the right CRM software, sales data can help you analyze the big picture and strategize accordingly. Contact information is just the tip of the iceberg. CRM software allows you to consolidate purchase history, automate data collection, track marketing campaigns and sales figures, and crunch those numbers with analytic software. You'll not only keep your current customers happy, but also develop a game plan that generates more leads and nets more happy customers.
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| Small business CRM may be a good choice, but make sure the system offers the key functionality you need to grow your business. Entellium's eSalesforce, for example, incorporates advanced features such as sales tracking, forecasting, and other analytics. |
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Customization
A growing small business has the opportunity to develop into a customer-focused enterprise, provided the technical resources are there. A customizable system that can adapt to your business processes can evolve alongside your business, creating the continuity that will help your business realize its full potential
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Low Entry Costs
Small businesses are less likely to have the necessary IT resources to support a hardware installation, let alone the capital to invest in the hardware. Look for a Customer Relationship Management system with low entry costs. Companies such as Entellium offer on-demand CRM designed for small and growing businesses.
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Hosted CRM
Most small businesses will find that hosted CRM answers their needs. These systems offer the flexibility a growing business needs, without the IT demands and expensive hardware installations of an on-premises system. Entellium is a market leader in web-based CRM for small business, and Siebel offers a popular hosted CRM, Siebel CRM OnDemand. |
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| No business, large or small, can afford to be left out of Customer Relationship Management. Small businesses with ambitious growth plans need to develop a CRM strategy in order to back those ambitions with solid data. Fortunately, CRM is no longer an expensive investment suitable only for large enterprise. Hosted solutions bring the power of CRM to any subscriber, allowing small businesses to leverage their most important asset, information. |
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Sources
"Small Business CRM," Entellium
"Taking the Next Step: Your CRM Helping Build Your Small Business," VendorGuru.com
TechTarget
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About the Author
Clare Kaufman is a freelance writer who covers business and education topics. She has a Ph.D. in English. |
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