LinkedIn claims the world’s CRM all-in-one app industry was about $25.8 bln in 2022 and is projected to reach approximately $88.7 billion by 2032. So, the mentioned market will grow by at least 13.5% annually. Analysts explain such an active development because of numerous CRM benefits for small businesses.
Some entrepreneurs face difficulties when choosing a suitable application, though. That’s due to the mentioned digital solutions sometimes offering their clients excessively many features. It’s hard to determine which CRM functions are key in such cases. As a result, small business owners frequently can’t realize all the advantages of such systems. So, let’s discuss the main features and pros of the described software in more detail.
CRM Benefits for Small Business
Following Fundera, more than half of such companies fail throughout the initial five years of their operations. Furthermore, only 30% of them survive for a decade. Using a qualitative CRM system (like Planfix), in turn, helps significantly increase one’s chances to stay working over tens of years.
Efficient Customer Relationship Management for Your Teams
High-quality CRM functionalities include comprehensive features that allow for the things as follows:
- saving and analyzing previous conversations with consumers;
- automatic sending of customer tickets to relevant specialists;
- sorting as well as secure storage of consumer private information.
The mentioned customer relationship management benefits enable you to reduce problem-solving time and make servicing more personalized:
Better Customer Experience
While service becomes faster, as well as more individualized, consumers get more satisfied. FinancesOnline.com, for its part, says that 67% of customers are ready to pay more if they have good relationships with a brand. Also, 72% of consumers share positive experiences with others. So, you obtain more new customers in this case.
Improved Customers’ Data Organization
This is probably the key feature of CRM use. That’s due to only organized consumer data allowing you to retain customers effectively (sending emails with relevant proposals, suggesting fitting products, etc.).
Routine Tasks Automation
Support departments are frequently overloaded. Robotizing recurring processes, in turn, allows for offloading consultants. This CRM advantage essentially decreases the error probability related to a human factor.
Efficient Communication With Teams and Customers
This benefit makes the use of CRM in small businesses that cooperate with numerous third-party firms (suppliers, deliverers, etc.) indispensable. Moreover, CRMs, such as Planfix, allow for unifying customers’, partners’, and employees’ conversations.
Analytics and Reporting
Qualitative systems offer their users reporting features. You may analyze consumers’ preferences more deeply when employing such functions. Create comprehensive reports on clients’ data, employees activities, tasks and much more:
Your marketing effort should be relevant. This is because CMSWIRE states that nearly 60% of consumers switch brands due to a negative contact center experience. Among the benefits of CRM systems are functions like dynamic customer segmentation, which allows for the segregation of your targeted audience into small groups based on their interests, financial capabilities, etc. This enables you to come up with the best proposal for each separate customer.
Basic Features of CRM Software for Small Businesses
Forbes reports that approximately 80% of the mentioned firms have no employees. At the same time, most small businesses are forced to develop to stay competitive. So, you will have to hire workers at some point. Comprehensive functions of good-quality customer management systems may significantly reduce the number of staff required. And below, you’ll find a list of CRM features that can help the most.
Free Trial
You should make sure that a chosen system’s functions suit your goals. Reputable CRM software providers always offer prospects free trials to test their features. For example, Planfix suggests a 14-day pilot period to its clients. Moreover, there are no limits on the number of functions that may be tested.
Contact Management Feature
The function allows you to record contacts’ details and track their interactions with your business. So, the CRM contact management feature helps one analyze their customers’ behavior, manage work and make accurate predictions based on that info:
CRM Email Tracking
The tool enables entrepreneurs to send emails and check whether recipients have opened their letters. Additionally, this one of the key CRM features allows you to track what links inside emails were clicked. Thus, you can simply and quickly process emails with this function.
Other CRM Communication Tools
Here, the following Telephony-based features should be noted:
- ability to link CRM with your PBX;
- tracking customer calls;
- entering as well as viewing data during phone conversations;
- creating call-based tasks;
- recording and listening to phone conversations, and many more.
So, CRM with Telephony essentially improves the call communications with customers.
Lead Management
The CRM feature enhances the process of gaining and managing prospects. You may replace a small marketing department with this tool. Consequently, your business spending reduces essentially.
Customer Data Analytics, Reports, and Dashboards
Reliable CRM app vendors provide their clients with helpful functions to handle loads of sales data independently. That, for example, involves the following:
- exhaustive data reports in CRM in handy formats;
- convenient functions to analyze internal system info;
- easy-to-use CRM dashboards that allow you to build illustrative diagrams, graphs, etc.
With such tools, you will be able to make more precise conclusions and predictions.
Third-Party Integrations
Among the benefits of using CRM, this advantage is the most helpful for e-commerce businesses. That’s because CRM integrations allow entrepreneurs to interact with partners and consumers employing different communication platforms (Telegram, Facebook, etc.) in one place.
Automation
McKinsey claims that 50% of work can be automated today. Moreover, 1 in 3 companies worldwide has at least one robotized feature. That’s because if you automate everyday tasks, your business’ productivity will rise by more than 65%, according to GlobeNewswire.
Document Management
Following analysts from idm.net.au, about 45% of businesses worldwide face issues with searching papers. On top of that, 83% of companies are forced to recreate the existing documents, as they can’t find the originals among thousands of files. Good-quality CRM software will help you manage documents and avoid the difficulties mentioned:
CRM Systems for Small Business
First, it’s worth noting Planfix. The CRM capabilities have gone far beyond mere client management. The software represents a unified system in which all the operations are connected, and information flows from one process to another. The platform is incredibly flexible. So, it’s easy to set your firm requirements, even for users who are far from employing any apps. Among the other popular CRMs are:
- Zoho – a cloud-based software that has plenty of customizable functions;
- Monday – stands out for its intuitive interface and comprehensive collaboration features;
- Salesforce – excels in the presence of powerful, customer-centric automation;
- HubSpot CRM – offers its users great scalability possibilities.
Entrepreneurs should necessarily consider the key features of the area they work in when choosing a CRM system. Otherwise, you may just waste money. If you have any doubts, it’s better to contact specialists. We, the Planfix team, will answer all your questions about our all-in-one management system:
FAQ about CRM for Small Business
What Data Do I Need to Choose a CRM for Small Business?
Here, you should consider your current goals and demands as well as your financial capabilities. Also, entrepreneurs have to determine the necessary integrations. Lastly, test different CRM software using free trials.
Is CRM for a Small Business Different From CRM for an Enterprise?
Typically, fine applications have several tariff plans that include different sets of features. This allows you to not overpay while still obtaining the necessary functions. Small company owners highlight Planfix as a system with subscriptions for all kinds of businesses.
How Much Is a CRM for Small Business?
This depends on the features you need and the number of your employees. For instance, the Zoho Standard plan with many automated tools starts at $14/user/month. HubSpot CRM subscription for two users costs a minimum of $20 monthly. Planfix, in turn, offers small businesses a bunch of helpful features for up to 99 employees for only $8/user/month.
Wrapping Up
CRM software can essentially raise your revenue, boost productivity, and enhance the customer experience. This, however, is fair only if one employs a qualitative system that provides them with a unified environment where all the available features are connected with each other. Among such applications is Planfix, which excels in numerous positive customer comments. To try the multitude of the platform advantages and improve your business’ efficiency today, create an account at planfix.com right now!
