CRM Development

Buyers Guide

Last updated: May 29, 2023

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Development

Whether you run a small business or a large one, you would need a unified platform to manage your customer interactions. This would include managing current prospects and developing strategies for potential ones. While there are a few generic CRM systems available in the market, if you’re looking for more personalized CRM software, you might have to find an effective CRM development software.

Ideally, your CRM Development software or CRM development company should provide all the tools you need to manage your sales, marketing, and customer support.

Currently, there are hundreds of web-based CRM development software that offer all those services and more. So how do you know which one’s right for your business? In this guide, we’ll walk you through how you can find the right CRM development tool for your business and what bottom line features to look for.

Many businesses are looking to upgrade their client interactions from basic email marketing and contact management systems to a unified CRM solution. However, their requirements for a CRM differ greatly. While some businesses might require a sales-focused CRM software, others might require an engagement-focused CRM. To help you find a custom CRM development software that suits your needs, follow our guide.

Why You Need a CRM Solution?

Over the years, we’ve helped various businesses find the right CRM solution for their business. While some are looking to replace an out-dated system, others are looking to start from scratch.

In either case, the underlying problem is the same – building a personalized experience for their current and potential prospects. No matter which category you fall into, check out our guide to CRM development:

Most businesses are looking to invest in a CRM development solution because they’re:

• Looking to automate common functions like notification alerts, follow-up emails, etc.
• Aiming to unify their customer records to reduce errors like double-entry.
• Hoping to generate, manage, organize, and track individual leads efficiently.
• Searching for specific features like ticket management.
• Going through company growth.

Core CRM Application

A CRM solution is divided into four categories. These include:

Contact Management: This is the first step in any CRM solution where your prospects first come in touch with your team. They could be asking for information on your products, pricing information, or even reviews.

Marketing Automation: This is the second step where you proactively engage with your current and potential prospects through marketing.

Sales Management: This is the third step where you can track and manage your sales leads throughout the sales process.

Customer Service Management: This is the fourth step in managing and tracking your customer queries and issues with a trouble ticket management system.

Web-Based CRM vs. On-Premise CRM

While traditionally, businesses used to invest in on-premise CRM solutions, that can become quite costly for small and medium businesses. We always suggest using a cloud-based or web-based CRM solution because it helps minimize costs and ensures your information stays safe.

Plus, you don’t need to invest in huge servers that cost thousands of dollars. Also, you can opt for a monthly subscription with web-based CRM development solutions. However, with on-premise CRM, you’d have to pay a one-time fee that might not be feasible for your business.

If by chance, an on-premise CRM solution doesn’t work out, you can’t back out either because you’ve already paid.

CRM Development Solution Options

After you have figured out a category that will fit your business, there are three main platform options available to build it.

• On-premise Solution
• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
• Platform as a Service (PaaS)
• Software as a Service (SaaS)

To help you understand these options better, here’s a visual representation of their services:

Common Features of CRM Development Solutions

Most eCommerce development solutions have the following features:

Contact Management – Stores your prospects’ contact information like name, email, phone number, etc.

Interaction Tracking – Track each client interaction for better engagement.

Lead Management – Manage prospects by leading them down the sales funnel.

Email Integration – Integrate with an email (Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook) for better collaboration.

Document Management – Store, upload, and share documents from a unified location.

Quotes Management – Makes it easier to manage quotes and proposals sent to prospects.

Pipeline Management – An overview of your sales funnel and where each lead lies.

Workflow Automation – Automate repetitive workflows using macros such as follow-up emails.

Benefits of CRM Development Solutions

Without a doubt, eCommerce website development offers a plethora of benefits. These include:

Convenience:

CRM solutions are booming for the last few years. The convenience of usability is the key that sets brands apart—offering the convenience of purchasing items from anywhere in the world that is simple, quick, and less time-consuming.

Personalization and Customer Experience:

CRM solutions can create rich user profiles, giving them the authority to improve customer experience by understanding them on a personal level through personalized products and offering suggestions for other products they find interesting.

Integration with other solutions:

While an effective CRM provides all the features we mentioned before, it also offers integration with other tools such as an ERP, HRM, and Salesforce development services.

Choosing the Best CRM Development Solution – Best Practices

An attractive window display is where the first impression matters. It invites customers, and an effortless, seamless website will encourage them to browse and buy.

Therefore, keep in mind the following elements to build a robust CRM solution.

Pro-Tip: The best CRM platform is the one that successfully delivers the outcomes and objectives that you have set for your business.

• Budget – In retrospect, CRM development can be over-taxing if you do not have a budget strategy with optimal delivery constraints. Playing smart on allocation and investment will be enough to get you sales and facilitate growth.
• Conduct in-depth research of your business industry – staying current and updated on industry news (whether it’s home goods, fashion, or B2B) is equally crucial and will keep you from being left behind.
• Ensure you can customize your platform and scale-up in the future - While most solutions are customizable and can be easily scaled up, few can’t. So be careful when choosing your CRM development solution.
• Roll-out the implementation in phases - This will help you manage your implementation effectively and know early-on if anything’s wrong.