Hosted CRM Reviews

Before you begin checking out the various hosted CRM vendors, you need to decide what you want the end result of your CRM strategy to be. You need to determine what your current customer relation strategy is, then decide where you want it to be, and then analyze the gap to get the actionable items that will be corrected via the CRM solution.

This action-item list will show you your CRM needs, and essentially gives the list of the features that you need, which will help you move on to the next step of choosing the features for your needs.

A hosted CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, system is a software solution that is hosted on a remote server and accessed through the internet, rather than being installed locally on a company's own computer system. This type of CRM offers a number of features and benefits for businesses of all sizes and comparing hosted CRM to hybrid CRM can be beneficial to choosing the best system.

One of the main benefits of a hosted CRM is the ability to access the system from anywhere with an internet connection. This means that employees can easily access and update customer information, track sales and marketing campaign efforts, and collaborate with colleagues, even when they are out of the office.

Another key feature of a hosted CRM is the ability to track and manage customer interactions and data. This includes tracking customer interactions through various channels such as phone calls, emails, and social media, as well as storing customer data such as contact information, purchase history, and preferences. This allows businesses to get a more complete view of their customers and tailor their interactions accordingly, particularly with social CRM.

A hosted CRM also offers robust reporting and analytics capabilities, allowing businesses to track key performance indicators, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions. This can help businesses optimize their sales and marketing efforts, improve customer retention, and increase overall profitability.

In addition, a hosted CRM typically includes features such as CRM project management tools, task tracking, and document management, which can help businesses streamline their operations and increase productivity.

Overall, a hosted CRM offers a range of features and benefits that can help businesses better manage their customer relationships and optimize their operations. By providing a central hub for customer data, communication, and collaboration, a hosted CRM can help businesses achieve greater efficiency and success.

Sales force automation is usually the most important feature that businesses are looking for as SFA encompasses lead and contact management, opportunity management, etc., but consider the other features that are available and the benefits that can be derived from them.

Other important features are analytical tools like reporting, forecasting, data management, pre-built reports and role-based CRM analytics. Another set of features to be considered are service and support features like email response management, chat, agent productivity tools, etc.

Creating a budget for a hosted CRM solution is simple as you do not need to account for on-site costs like equipment and personnel and it can boost CRM ROI. What you do need to figure out is the budget you have available for implementation and on-going services. Be sure to add into the mix your scalability requirements as your workforce changes in the years to come.

Depending on the CRM solution you purchase, the costs generally range from $50 to $500 per person.

Our CRM comparison tools can help you sift between the various leading CRM vendors featured on our site along with a helpful matrix of some of the top solutions in the industry.

Now that you know what features you are looking for, what your budget is, and where to compare the different solutions, all that is left to do is to analyze which of the vendors from your research has the exact qualities that you are looking for, at the budget you have allotted.