CRM

Am looking to buy and implement  a CRM for my business, We are a team of 12 staff ranging from Sales, Account, marketing, Mangers and also Directors.

Am looking for a business or person that used a CRM or knows i good IT company that can help me buy the right one.

We use excel, access and email a lot so I would like a system that can feed off all times.

Can any help?

Matthew

I found an open-source CRM based on Microsoft.

Called Splendid,

Give me a call if you need assistance, I have implimented on my web server

Salesforce, yep - I've never used it but heard it's a bit of a learning curve and a bit more expensive, too? Quite like the look of it though and everyone seems to say the same thing (read quite a few CRM reviews). 

I'm using BatchBook at the moment - like the social media integration and the fact it makes everything easy. 

Here's another vote for Salesforce.com, or if that's a bit too much you could try Maximiser max.co.uk

Hi Matthew,

About three years ago we were in the same situation, we need a CRM that integrated with all our work. We looked around after using/testing Salesforce, FreeCRM, Microsoft CRM, SAGE Act!, Goldmine. We settled on a product called ConnectWise which is hosted and accessible by all staff. That said what it comes down to is your needs and then making sure the software you choose meets those needs.

I would more than happy to provide some free advice to help put you in the right direction.

We have in the past researched products on behalf of our customers and then helped them get started with the product. It has meant all the technical stuff is left to us and you get the right product for the job.

-Elliott

Salesforce isn't too expensive - not cheap for the Group option (£17 a month per person etc) but if you sign up before the end of november and use CRM11 discount code - you get a it for just over £10/month. Note that you do have to pay up front for the year - sadly no monthly payment plan.

The only down fall is it can be a bit overwhelming when you first get it - the main reason I signed up for it again (was using Podio until yesterday) is because I used to use it in a previous life as a salesman and it made tracking opportunities much easier.

Hi

I love Capsule CRM.  It's free up to a certain point.  It also offers seamless email integration and is also available as a Google App. 

I love it because it integrates with Mailchimp and Xero, amongst many others. They also have an excellent mobile app for CRM on the move.

Try out the free version. It's simple to use with a very small learning curve.

Alison

I'm an ACT! user but bought it before sage took it over - it was much cheaper then, still found it great CRM and easy to use. I also have been looking at

Salesforce as my wife uses it at BT conferencing so we would have a common support network at home.

But I am still a little wary of cloud computing - if its all in the cloud and your broadband goes , how do you work? I suppose the reverse of this is if your

PC goes down you can work from anywhere and any PC to your CRM - which is more likely?

I would think it more likely that you PC will go down (and are you methodical about running back-ups?)

If your broadband goes it will probably only be a temporary issue, and you can always use a mobile dongle or your phone's connection.

We run everything on the cloud and I feel a lot happier knowing my data is mirrored across multiple geographic locations for 0.09 redundancy rates and almost 0 chance of total data loss - compare that with having everything on one pc hard-drive which could be stolen, lost or damaged.

Hi matt i use ACT CRM, we had it fully customised for our needs and full training and support form Chris Slater which was invaluable, I will forward this post onto him!

Should have said we also back up everything locally - I'm a bit paranoid but I've lost data before and it isn't funny.

By the way if you're using gmail and you're not backing up locally (easiest way is using the free Mozilla Thunderbird email client) you could be asking for trouble - Gmail accounts can be hacked and all data lost from them.

To do this:
Google Mozilla Thunderbird, download and install it, follow the set up guide to connect it to your Gmail account (basically just input your username and password) then let it connect (select imap so you don't delete mails from the server).

Once you have set up Thunderbird go to File / Offline and click on Download/Sync now - the first time you do this it could take hours so best to do it overnight. (Then run this process at least once a week).

Finally Google 2-Step Authentication and follow the instructions to activate 2 Step auth on your google accounts (a particularly good idea for Google Apps users). This means everytime you try to log into your account from a new machine Google will send you a verification code to your phone, so if a hacker gets your password but isn't accessing your account from a machine you have used before they won't be able to get in.

OK, that's probably enough paranoia for a Friday morning :-)

without knowing to much about your biz only the little you have said i would go Salesforce. Capsule is great but I feel you may ultimatily find it a bit limiting.

We use Salesforce on Group edition. We have this linked to Xero for accounts stuff so we can see relevant financial info whilst performing sales activity etc. We have this integrated also with Google apps so our emails can be copied into accout records when they are sent so you have a record of every email.

There are also some nifty features like integrating Google chat within salesforce so you can instant message team memebrs from with the CRM.

We dont have our Salesforce synced to Mailchimp yet but I believe you can do that so integrating email marketing apps can also be done.

In regard to the learning curve I didnt really find it to challenging. Things like Capsule are very simple and its a little more complicated but most of it is common sense if you take the time to sit down and explore it for a few hours.

Great questions Matthew - I'm also trying to find a CRM at the moment. We currently use Salesforce - but it's not the right solution for us - sledgehammer/nut scenario.

So I'm enjoying reading everyone's responses.

Hi Matthew

Generally my starting point would be to see if a cloud-based or office-based solution fits best.  But given that you are a communications company selling mobile solutions, I’ll assume cloud-based is what you’re after.

Like Alison I’d vote for Capsule CRM.  I agree with James that it does have limitations but it’s cost effective and offers lots of interfacing with 3^rdparty products to overcome some of these.  One example I like is the ease with which you can generate and update task entries into your Outlook calendar (and others).

One aspect that I major on with clients (and Capsule manages well in the form of “Tracks”) is that you can create sales opportunity and implementation processes.   This means that you can ensure staff carry out the right tasks at the right time and in the right order, based on your Company standards.  In other words, implementing best practice throughout which should help add to the bottom line.

And Chloë – sounds like Capsule’s worth a look at for you too.

BTW – just to confirm I have no axe to grind here!  No relationship with Capsule, just found it works pretty well in the right situation.