Third Door Media surveyed marketing executives, and found that almost one out of every four (26 percent) small businesses (companies with less than $25 million in sales) replaced their customer relationship management systems last year. Large companies replaced their CRMs at about the same level. Mid-sized companies (those with revenues between $25 million and $500) a little less – about 17 percent.
Gene Marks in Forbes focuses on three key lessons.
- homegrown systems are becoming less and less cost effective for CRM
- integration is becoming more important for CRMs.
- Before you blame “lack of features” when replacing your existing CRM, get expert advice.
Well, that last one. I’ve been preaching “work in the work layer,” and it’s just more ways to get into that space.
CRM products aren’t just for big companies – and haven’t been for a while. I haven’t talked about it a lot here, but that’s not to say it’s not another great way to solve customer problems. Again, don’t talk product… talk needs. Find out the requirements, identify the pain points, then address them.
It sounds like a lot of businesses are shopping for this one.
This content is made possible by community-minded viewers like you
Thank you
Join the Small Biz Thoughts Community