Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software

What is CRM Software?

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software offers centralized tools for storing, organizing and analyzing important customer data. While worthwhile, keeping excellent data records can be time-consuming and prone to error when done manually. CRM software therefore helps to convert leads, retain existing customers, and improves internal processes. 

CRM systems, be they through integrations with other Customer Experience (CX) tools or simply as stand-alone systems, can be beneficial across departments, from marketing and sales to customer support. Centralizing all of your customer, lead, and sales data into one powerful CRM platform can streamline processes, improve lead conversions, drive sales, and help shape companywide decisions regarding new or existing business.

Key Features and Capabilities of CRM Software  

  • Customer profiling
  • Contact management
  • Calendar integration and management
  • Interaction tracking
  • Task management
  • Email integration
  • Social media integration
  • Lead management
  • Sales pipelines
  • Lead scoring
  • Lead tracking
  • Workflow automation tools
  • Document storage
  • Customer lifecycle management

Additionally, CRM platforms also integrate with other customer-focused platforms, such as customer intelligence software. With CX now being a top factor of consideration for businesses of all sizes, incorporating granular customer insights is essential to improving customer service, while also delivering timely personalized recommendations that are attuned to the needs of varying audiences.

Key Benefits of CRM Software  

  • Centralized customer data: Top CRM platforms essentially offer sales and service teams the ability to communicate with a customer via a single profile. This is done by integrating interactions from multiple communication channels, thereby delivering omnichannel communications through one unified platform – as opposed to having to toggle between multiple applications.
  • Streamlined access for sales and service teams: While centralized customer profiles contribute to smoother collaboration between teams thanks to a single-pane-of-glass interface, task management capabilities enable team members to create, assign and share tasks in order to stay on top of day-to-day duties.
  • Automation of repetitive tasks: Configuring workflows within a CRM can allow teams to automate common and mundane tasks, so precious time can be freed for more pressing responsibilities, or for tasks that require strategic attention.
  • Personalized recommendations: CRM systems, together with customer journey mapping tools, can help marketing teams deliver personalized recommendations that are carefully customized and timed to the unique needs of each customer, in order to resonate better – while also driving sales.

Have more questions about CRM software? Visit our CRM FAQs to learn more.

Top 10 CRM Software Vendors

NetSuite / SYSPRO / Salesforce Service Cloud / Monday.com / SAP S/4HANA / Oracle ERP / Maximizer / Insightly / OnePageCRM / Act!

WH Score
7.9
Intercom

Intercom

0reviews
Starting Price:$29 per user / per month
Intercom is a customer service platform that enables businesses to communicate with their customers in a personalized and efficient manner. The platform offers a range of features including live chat, email marketing, and customer support tools to help businesses engage with their customers at every...
WH Score
7.9
Odoo

Odoo

0reviews
Starting Price:$0 per user / per month
Odoo is a flexible ERP software that provides a full array of tools, including CRM, accounting, inventory management, and project monitoring. It also provides businesses with the ability to expand through seamless integration, customizable features and an easy-to-use interface thanks to being open-s...
WH Score
7.9
Ravetree

Ravetree

0reviews
Starting Price:$29 per user / per month
Ravetree is an award-winning work management software platform that includes best-in-class project management, resource planning, time & expense tracking, invoicing & billing, and CRM. Companies benefit from having a single source of truth from which they can optimize their operations and ea...
WH Score
7.9
Metasystems

Metasystems

0reviews
Starting Price:N/A
ICIM ERP by Metasystems is a comprehensive ERP that combines various business operations such as order management, manufacturing, warranty management, and financials. It is used by small, and mid-sized discrete manufacturers. It combines various processes such as engineering, order management, CRM, ...
WH Score
7.9
Deskera

Deskera

17reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Especially suited to SMBs, Deskera features all the necessary tools to run efficient accounting processes and maintain accurate books. Track employee time-off and run payroll from the same system, so you don’t need to depend on multiple applications to manage your business’s finances.&nb...
WH Score
7.9
Cirrus Insight

Cirrus Insight

0reviews
Starting Price:$14 per user / per month
Cirrus Insight is a CRM automation platform that's designed to streamline and optimize various aspects of business operations by seamlessly integrating email, calendars, and Salesforce. This powerful tool offers solutions tailored to meet the needs of a wide range of industries, providing a robust s...
WH Score
7.8
Deltek ComputerEase

Deltek ComputerEase

12reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Deltek ComputerEase is an ERP solution developed specifically for construction firms and contractors and addresses the unique challenges of the construction industry.
WH Score
7.7
C2CRM

C2CRM

8reviews
Starting Price:$15 per user / per month
C2CRM is clearly different. It offers the power and flexibility usually reserved for custom CRM solutions, with the ease of use and implementation typically associated with contact managers. There’s simply nothing like C2CRM and it’s ready to help your business improve productivity, incr...
WH Score
7.5
Front

Front

17reviews
Starting Price:$19 per user / per month
Front is a complete CRM and Customer Success solution which ensures no task, message or customer quandary falls through the cracks. A central, unified console enables your team members to conduct omnichannel communications without having to toggle between multiple applications, while a mobile app al...
WH Score
7.5
Prophet

Prophet

5reviews
Starting Price:$25 per user / per month
Prophet CRM is a comprehensive customer relationship management software that helps businesses of all sizes manage and grow their customer base. With Prophet CRM, you can easily track sales leads, manage customer interactions, and automate your sales process.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Topics

Learn more about Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software

Are CRMs part of sales or marketing?

CRMs are characteristically designed to assist sales and service teams, as agents in these departments are in the frontlines of answering customer inquiries, or attending to complaints/feedback. While marketing teams may not directly use the core functionalities of CRMs, they may find value in accessing any inbuilt reporting and analytics tools, if available.

Additionally, marketing teams can assist other teams that do actively use CRMs, by configuring custom workflows in order to automate common tasks, implement customer self-service tools, or deliver personalized recommendations directly within the CRM – based on insights derived from reporting tools.

Is a CRM a database?

CRMs are based on customer databases, all of which are connected to one another. But a CRM is more than just a collection of databases; it's an entire system, complete with an easy-to-navigate user interface that allows sales and service teams to interact with prospects/customers. Additionally, CRM systems also offer analytics across all the information in the system so that you can analyze that data to spot opportunities, issues, or trends to inform your decision making. 

What is the difference between CRM and CDP?

Although CRMs and Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) are both solutions that are utilized for customer engagement and management, there are key differences between each. The main difference between CRMs and CDPs, however, lies in their core functionalities; while CRMs are systems that offer sales and service teams a set of tools to interact with customers across any channel of their choice, CDPs build centralized customer profiles by ingesting, analysing and unifying customer data from multiple channels.

Typically, CDPs connect with CRMs, so business teams can obtain deep customer insights directly into the latter, via the former. This integration then helps teams to automate tasks, customize recommendations, and contextually interact with customers – directly from the CRM interface.

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