Automation, CRM, Custom Software? [A Open Inquery]

I'm obviously pretty biased wen it comes to this topic for small to mid-sized businesses.

Since different business sizes have different needs, the CRM category is one that really needs to be defined by the business space you're in. Our CRM is really focused at the market that likes "point & click" simplicity so they can set up all the sales automation on their own.

The other area we focus is on "actionable" items so when a customer does something, an automated action takes place to either follow up, place them in a different / additional sales path or further segment the customer.

Other CRM systems for larger businesses tend to focus on the management side and the reporting side so they can see what others are doing rather than having the system doing the work for them.

In short, they will watch the employees while a system like ours is like having additional employees.

I've used Great Plain and Maximo. I also built my own in-house once upon a time. CRM and ERP are unique to your shop. You need to understand your requirement and workflow process. Then, turn to off the shelve product for solution and possibly customization.

At the moment, I am doing offline marketing with local business. My CRM is very simple but effective.

a. Crawl the web for hot leads
b. Filter out those w/o email, phone # and website
c. Import the remainder to a CRM
d. Create email and video template
e. Send out to the list above
f. Have my VA follow up with a phone call several days later

The menu is simple. It has a bunch of buttons such as:
Sales, No Sale, Not Interested, Do Not Call, Answering Machine, Call Back, Hot Prospect, No Answer

Then, I have a book appointment button that pull up a calendar.

The CRM has inbound and outbound routing capabilities. So I can have multiple phone # tie to each campaign. I also can do SMS sequencing just like autoresponder sequence.

For example, I recently created a campaign for home-based business opportunity with no start up fee. I ran an ads on Facebook and tell them to text me if they are interested. Once the CRM receives a text, it will follow it a series of questions. It's hands off for me. The system will get Name, Email, Phone and what ever else I need.

So the questions for you now are:
-> What are your requirements?
-> Is there a certain workflow that you follow now? Is it rigid?
-> What do you currently use and do you have access to your own data?

These are just examples to get you thinking about your own environment. Then, you need to determine whether you have a budget for commercial off the shelf solution, open-source or customized one.

Am I making sense?

Have you tried CRM Software Solutions | CRM System Guide I like the Act (Sage Act). If you are a small or medium sized business looking for a cost effective CRM solution to record customer and prospect information, track calls, emails, meetings and to-do items, and manage all aspects of marketing (including e-marketing), sales and customer service activities - Act! could be the CRM for you.

i`m using Sugar CRM and it's quite good I must say. Reports , cases , history, notes, phone calls etc , all-in-one

CRM is Customer Relationship Management, so often it relates to software packages, however, even before computers, companies had their CRM systems offline and used it efficiently.

Examples of such systems are rollodesk or central files. When I say central files I refer rather to archive storage of letters, orders and other communication that relates to a particular customer.

Basic principle of archiving was to keep your data in your house. That is your major asset and the data belongs to one who collects it.

And that is how I started back in time many years, by simply using voice mail (autoresponder), customer cards with notes about them, and calendar and letters and calls for follow-up marketing.

Same principles do apply and shall apply for online and digital world.

I have tried using various CRM/CMS/ERP systems, and basically there is simply no turnkey solution encompassing all necessary data together. Especially, it is impossible to cover your own needs and ideas, provided you are creative...

I have tried using various CRM systems, such as vtiger CRM just to find out that they have been at that time, very badly copying the SugarCRM. There were times that I was happy with SugarCRM, just to find out that their updates, failures and bugs upon the update have completely ruined my business flow, stopped me in the work, and forced me to repair my databases, re-install the software or otherwise be working on something I did not choose to.

So I have worked on my own CRM and it is way more robust than relying on third parties on upgrades, and praying for bugs to be handled. Even with all the changes and modifications I am doing, I don't touch much what is working, but only adapt and expand new features. Today I have a powerful autoresponder and follow-up marketing system, that can be easily adapted to SMS, letters, automated calls, and I am able to expand and adapt it in the manner I need. It is not something for end-users, it is more for developers and joint ventures with others. When it becomes ready for end-users, it is going to have free licence and everyone will be able to run it easily on Amazon EC2 and there will be very simple installation.

Hello, I am working in a leading marketing company, recently, we started using in our company CRM-system BMP'online https://www.bpmonline.com/, Including me all are satisfied and are giving positive reply. This system can be easily filled by importing contacts from excel, BPM online is a cutting edge we based platfom that enables companies to manage processes, It is modern and pleasant to work with. The main feature of the platform is the most progressive standard for process modeling:BPMN. I also like to comment on any record in the system - you can discuss with colleagues or sale agreement, and all your process will be saved. Bpm online allows for the designing or modifiying process diagrams. And the final and the best feature which BPM have got is that we dont have to write a code to automate a process, a process can be run as soon as it is designed.

Apptivo cloud-based CRM software for small business. It's easy to use, affordable and with satisfied customer relationship.We offer a range of business solutions for any business.