5 Myths about CRM Software you should Stop Believing
Ask non-techie guys to use software and they feel intimidated. Although businesses of all sizes are increasingly adopting CRM tools, some entrepreneurs continue to cling to CRM myths and avoid using them. The CRM industry has a staggering growth rate, hence any myths surrounding CRM software do not hold water.
Instead of using CRM, some business organizations prefer to use Gmail and spreadsheets to keep track of their contacts. These traditional methods fail to close deals faster or improve customer relationships. It will only make your team inefficient, particularly when they are handling complicated sales processes.
Myths that Need to be Debunked
1) CRM Implementation is an Expensive Affair
Contrary to the popular belief, incorporating a CRM system into your business is never a costly process, provided you choose the right type of software. If you pick a cloud-based online CRM software, there is no need to spend an excessive amount of money for setup, installation, and maintenance.
The CRM software is delivered via the Internet and the server is hosted in the Cloud. Just connect your laptop or any other mobile device to a reliable Internet connection to access and operate the CRM tool from anywhere, anytime. Cloud-based CRM provides a convenient way to manage prospects and existing customers. Irrespective of the device or location, you can easily access and process customer data. Swift deployment is the hallmark of cloud-based tools.
However, with on-premise CRM systems, things are different. You will require your IT infrastructure such as a server for hosting and operating the software. The process is tedious, labor intensive, and creates a deep hole in your pockets.
2) CRM Implementation isn’t worth the Trouble and Money
‘CRM software for VARs not worth the cost’ is the biggest myth that must be debunked immediately. The tool comes with a host of benefits, hence not using it can cause a significant loss in terms of revenue and sales. It provides an efficient way to manage customer data and give valuable insights about customer needs, allowing you to provide better customer service.
With CRM systems, it will be easier to keep track of customer data, which in turn will improve the productivity of your team. To improve sales, you need to provide an enhanced customer experience. This is achievable with a CRM tool that empowers you to deal with customers more effectively.
Cloud-based CRM tools will enable your sales reps to access data from multiple mobile devices. They don’t have to depend on laptops or desktops to operate the software. Integration with eCommerce business will help you to organize your contacts and store them in one place.
3) CRM Maintenance is a Tough Task
This is yet another CRM myth that has to be dispelled at the earliest. When you choose a SaaS-based CRM module, the vendor is fully responsible for its maintenance. In other words, you don’t have to worry about maintaining the software, as it is handled by the vendor. The vendor has its own team of experts that take care of software updates, security & performance, server maintenance, etc. This enables your team to handle customer data in a more streamlined manner.
4) CRM Tools have Steep Learning Curves
Are you concerned that your team won’t use it? This might have been true a decade or two but now CRM applications designed today are easy to learn and use. You don’t need any technical skills to understand the usage of CRM. So even if you are not good at technology, you won’t face any issues incorporating it into your business. Although CRM implementation is altogether a new process, your staff will face no issues adding it to their sales process.
5) You cannot run your Business Efficiently without CRM
While it would be wrong to say that the survival of a business isn’t possible without CRM, however, you cannot overlook the importance of CRM tools. In the absence of CRM, your team will face a lot of hardships in sorting and processing customer data. Understanding customer needs and identifying the right business opportunities will become a problem. It is observed that businesses that don’t use eCommerce CRM software have a tough time offering quality customer service.
Conclusion
Statistics show that businesses with 12 employees or more, incorporate a CRM solution into their organization. The CRM system is considered to be the largest software market worldwide and it is predicted that by 2025, it will go beyond $80 billion in revenues.
The above data clearly shows why you should dump the CRM myths and embrace the software as early as possible. Not using CRM is a missed opportunity to boost your bottom line. Its usage will make it easy for you to convert prospects into loyal customers. You can easily follow up with your previous customers and increase your sales. CRM software systems are worth every penny and ensure a high return on investment.
