CRM for Small to Mid-Size Businesses

In a startling report, only one-third of a sample of small to mid-size businesses utilize a customer relationship management (CRM) system. However, this same study found that SMBs spend nearly a quarter of their time manually inputting data, and over half of these businesses claim they don’t have enough time to meet their goals.

With a CRM instance, these companies could drastically cut down on manual data entry, freeing up a substantial amount of time for value-added processes. Furthermore, CRM empowers sales and marketing teams to make smarter, faster decisions by using data and automated functions to provide 360-degree insight and simplify processes.

If CRM can solve large problems facing SMBs and streamline the sales cycle, why aren’t more businesses taking advantage of this technology? The answer: lack of resources. Few small to mid-size companies have an in-house IT staff, making it difficult to set up and maintain a system. Additionally, they struggle to provide sufficient training because of issues with costs and scheduling.

But enterprise software is more available to SMBs now than ever before. With our following tips, small to mid-size businesses can successfully implement CRM to boost sales and strengthen data collection.

Deploy CRM in the Cloud

The greatest contributor to the increasing availability of enterprise software is cloud computing, which offers cheaper, faster deployments. Still, many companies continue to trust on-premises software over cloud-hosted systems, believing their data is safer in their own hardware. However, research has shown that the cloud is often more secure. Rather than take pains to protect their own data, businesses can leave the task of safeguarding critical information to experts from their cloud provider.

These experts will do more than protect data. Your cloud provider will also take care of CRM maintenance and updates. For a small to mid-size business lacking a large IT department, the cloud proves an ideal solution, empowering their firm to enjoy a secure, up-to-date CRM system. Though cloud hosting usually requires a monthly licensing fee, the total cost of ownership (TCO) of cloud-hosted software tends to remain lower than an on-premises system. That’s because you don’t have to worry about the tremendous costs of installing and maintaining hardware, lowering the price of your initial implementation and upgrades.

Team Up with CRM Consultants

Successful enterprise software projects require careful planning. Choosing the right vendor, aligning CRM features to business processes, developing a security plan, training your users: without going through these stages, your CRM project is doomed to fall apart before you reach the scheduled go live. Small to mid-size businesses that understand the serious undertaking of software implementations don’t think it’s possible to take on a CRM project, but that’s not the case.

CRM consulting firms alleviate the stress of software implementations. Once you find technical experts who specialize in your industry, you can let them work their magic. They’ll mitigate risk throughout the process, helping you select and configure the system to adhere with your goals and practices. Additionally, CRM consultants can provide materials and hands-on instruction to train users to take advantage of their systems. They can even address challenges and changes that occur years down the line. CRM experts leverage their support and knowledge to guide businesses of any size throughout their software journeys.

Wrap Up

Enterprise software isn’t just for industry giants. With cloud deployment options and consulting firms, SMBs can get in on the advanced analytics and superior sales processes of CRM software. For small to mid-size manufacturers and distributors, Datix is your go-to CRM consulting firm. As a certified partner of both Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Salesforce, we have unique insight into two of the top CRM vendors, enabling us to help you determine the right system for your specific needs. From start to finish, we offer the full package: a one-stop shop for CRM, ERP and eCommerce solutions; dynamic software integrations through Unity; and continuous improvement plans (CIP) to ensure your system supports your enterprise beyond go live.

In an increasingly competitive global marketplace, you can’t afford to go without CRM. Contact Datix today to find out why we’re the best in CRM implementations and integrations for small to mid-size companies!

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