A customer relationship management (CRM) system stores your contacts, conversations, deals, and follow-ups in one place.

Why use a CRM?

– Stop losing leads in inboxes and spreadsheets

– See the status of every opportunity

– Give the whole team access to customer history

– Automate reminders and follow-up

– Report on pipeline and revenue

What to consider

1. Your process. Map how you find, qualify, and close customers. Choose software that fits your process, not the reverse.

2. Ease of use. If your team hates it, they won’t use it. Adoption matters more than features.

3. Key features.

– Contact and company records

– Deal pipeline

– Email and calendar integration

– Task reminders

– Reporting dashboards

– Mobile access

4. Integrations. Check compatibility with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, accounting, and marketing tools.

5. Pricing. Compare per-user costs, plan limits, and add-ons. Watch for features locked behind higher tiers.

6. Data and privacy. Know where data is hosted and how it can be exported, especially relevant for Quebec’s Law 25.

7. Support and migration. Can you import existing data easily?

Options to explore

Mainstream cloud CRMs, Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Microsoft-centric organizations, and open-source or self-hosted systems for those wanting control.

Implementation tips

– Start with a simple setup

– Define required fields and naming

– Train staff and set expectations

– Review usage monthly

DBR Soft can help you pick and set up a CRM that your team will actually use. Contact us for more information.