Identifying the most appropriate customer relationship management (CRM) system among distributors implies the selection of a platform that is able to support the dynamic, information-driven distribution business. However, for the management of customer relations and order tracking, distributors require CRM tools to enhance customer care and effectively integrate with logistics and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
This guide lists the seven best CRM tools for distributors that are specifically designed or highly flexible for distribution processes. You will see the highlights of each CRM, including its advantages, disadvantages, and cost. This will assist you in choosing the right platform that can build stronger relationships with clients and grow in the long term.
Best CRM For Distributors | ||
Software | Features | Price |
Salesforce |
| Starting from $25/user/month
|
Zoho |
| Starting from $20/user/month (billed monthly)
|
Pipedrive |
| Starting from US$19/seat/month (billed monthly) |
Kylas |
| Starting from $250/month |
ClickUp |
| Starting from $10/user/month |
Insightly |
| Starting from $29/user/month (billed annually)
|
Freshsales |
| Starting from $11/user/month |
Salesforce Sales Cloud provides distributors with the essential CRM tool that simplifies business operations and improves customer relationships for profitable growth. It is also positioned as the top artificial intelligence (AI) CRM platform that assists distributors to a great extent.
Whether you are liaising with suppliers, notifying inventory, or enhancing the productivity of sales staff, Salesforce offers tools that follow the responsiveness demands of distribution businesses. The features include:
- Retail Execution Tools: Salesforce provides active brand plans with guided selling, in-store collateral, and account-specific product lists and order templates
- Advanced Order Management: Empower agents with a unified screen showing contextual data like order history, customer records, payment terms, and service tools
- Self-Service Digital Storefronts: It enables customers to reorder with one click and access personalized experiences across channels
Pros And Cons
Pros | Cons |
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Pricing
Salesforce CRM offers multiple pricing plans suitable for businesses of all sizes:
- Salesforce Foundation: $0
- Starter Suite: $25/user/month
- Pro Suite: $100/user/month (billed annually)
It also offers a 30-day free trial, allowing users to explore its full CRM capabilities before committing.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Zoho CRM software provides a scalable and adaptable solution to distributors who want to optimize their businesses and make it easier to manage customer relationships and automate sales processes. Constructed to facilitate sophisticated distribution channels, the platform is perfectly integrated with inventory, order management, and financial tools. Its low-code platform enables distributors to tailor modules, automate repeated tasks, and consolidate data across teams, all at a low cost. The features include:
- AI-Powered Helcp Desk: The platform centralizes customer service with tools like AI-driven ticket handling, contextual support, and real-time analytics
- Custom Distributor Portals: Built on Zoho Creator, these portals offer real-time data access, AI features, and tailored workflows for streamlining distributor operations
- Omnichannel Communiation: Integrates email, phone, social media, and live chat for unified customer engagement
Pros And Cons
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Pricing
Zoho CRM cost is flexible and depends on the following plans:
- Standard: $20/user/month
- Professional: $35/user/month
- Enterprise: $50/user/month
- Ultimate: $65/user/month
Zoho CRM also offers a 15-day free trial for its Professional plan, allowing users to test its core CRM features before subscribing.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Pipedrive CRM is a sales-oriented platform that is meant to assist distributors in managing pipelines, automating processes, and amplifying the visibility of deals. Developed in an easy-to-use, customizable manner, it provides a visual drag-and-drop interface and built-in AI-assisted sales. Furthermore, it allows distributors to track orders, handle contacts, and project sales, making it a good fit for small to mid-sized distribution teams. The features include:
- Visual Pipeline Management: It customizes deal stages to mirror the distribution workflow, from supplier negotiations to order fulfillment
- AI Sales Assistant: Get real-time tips and reminders to boost productivity, which helps you stay on track with tasks
- Lead And Deal Insights: It provides forecast sales and analyzes performance with built-in reports
Pros And Cons
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Pricing
The vendor offers four pricing plans, including:
- Lite: $19/seat/month
- Growth: $34/seat/month
- Premium: $64/seat/month
- Ultimate: $89/seat/month
Pipedrive CRM also offers a 14-day free trial for all its plans, allowing users to test its core CRM features before subscribing
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Kylas Sales CRM is built to support distributors, who require scalable and customizable tools to manage leads, deals, and staff productivity. The platform enables multi-channel lead capture, pipeline customization, and workflow automation. It also has a user-friendly interface and integrated analytics. This makes it ideal for distributors dealing with large volumes of sales, distant teams, and diverse lines. The features include:
- Lead Routing Engine: It automatically assigns leads to the right sales reps based on rules
- SmartLists And Filters: It provides segmented data for targeted follow-ups and reporting
- Custom Roles And Permissions: Software gives control access to data and features by role or individual
Pros And Cons
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Pricing
Kylas Sales CRM pricing varies according to the following plans:
- Embark Plan: $0/month
- Elevate Plan: $250/month
- Exceed Plan: $500/month
The platform also provides a free trial to its users.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
The ClickUp software is a flexible CRM and project management system that provides distributors with a single space to handle customer relationships, automate workflows, and monitor sales performance. Its templates enable distributors to tailor pipelines, track customer interactions, and connect with many tools. Moreover, its automation and AI features streamline repetitive tasks, making it a flexible choice for wholesale, retail, and manufacturing distributors looking for scalable solutions.
The features include:
- Distributors CRM Template: It includes custom statuses and fields for tracking leads, contacts, and product details
- ClickUp AI: It automates emails, meeting notes, and sales content creation
- Task Checklist: Create sub-tasks, assign individual items to team members, and organize everything with intuitive drag-and-drop functionality
Pros And Cons
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Pricing
ClickUp offers four main pricing tiers:
- Free Forever: $0/user/month
- Unlimited: $10/user/month
- Business: $19/user/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Insightly is a well-established CRM platform designed to help distributors manage customer relationships, automate workflows, and streamline post-sales operations. The software supports distributors to track leads, manage quotes, and organize delivery schedules, with built-in project management and customizable pipelines. It is perfect for companies that deal with complicated sales cycles and customer service in a variety of channels because of unified CRM and marketing tools. The features include:
- Quote And Price Book Management: The software configures and sends branded quotes directly from opportunity records
- Project And Task Management: Insightly converts deals into projects with milestones and task tracking
- Custom Pipelines And Lead Routing: It provides tailored sales stages and auto-assigns leads based on rules
Pros And Cons
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Pricing
Insightly CRM offers four annual pricing tiers:
- Plus: $29/user/month
- Professional: $49/user/month
- Enterprise: $99/user/month
Insightly also provides a 14-day free trial on its Plus and Professional plans.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Freshsales includes lead management, workflow automation, and performance tracking tools within the broader Freshworks ecosystem. It is a part of a software known as Freshworks. Freshsales provides distributors with tools to manage pipelines, reach customers in multiple channels, and acquire insights with AI-driven analytics. The platform also offers support for multi-channel communication, customizable dashboards, integration with various tools, including QuickBooks, Mailchimp Software, and Zapier software. The features include:
- Freddy AI Lead Scoring: It prioritizes leads based on engagement and conversion likelihood
- Sales Pipeline Views: The software provides deal stages with drag-and-drop Kanban boards
- Workflow Automation: It helps in automating follow-ups, lead assignments, and alerts
Pros And Cons
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Pricing
Freshsales offers multiple pricing plans, including:
- Growth plan: $11/user/month
- Pro plan: $47/user/month
- Enterprise plan: $71/user/month
It also provides a 21-day free trial for its buyers.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Choosing the right CRM for your distribution business depends on several key factors. It should align with your sales processes, customer engagement strategy, and internal workflows. Consider how well it integrates with your existing tools, supports mobile access, and handles the complexity of your product line and order processing.
Scalability, ease of use, and customization are also essential. The best approach is to shortlist two or three CRMs that align with your workflow, then test them through free trials or demos before committing. This not only helps you assess functionality but also involves your team in the decision-making process, ensuring the CRM supports both current operations and future growth.