We know that a lot of blogs and articles out there don’t answer the real questions. Sure, you know that a CRM helps business managers and owners in all sorts of ways. We wrote our own article explaining what CRMS do and how this technology can change your entire customer experience.
We’re not that company that dances around the questions that might help you make big decisions about technology. Today’s question…
Where does a CRM actually exist?
CRMs, like many other software solutions, come in different types, and the most significant factor is where the CRM exists and how users can access it. Thankfully, multiple options mean that you can choose a CRM based on where you want it to live and how you want your employees to use the system.
Not all customers are the same, and not all businesses treat their customers the same. Any CRM system should allow businesses customizable options to improve customer care.
A CRM system should:
□ Replace your Rolodex and other archaic versions of client tracking
□ Access and monitor customer data
□ Gain insight and actionable information on business performance
□ Assess customer behavior easily
□ Streamline workflows and processes through automation.
Ultimately, the goal is to increase Customer Lifetime Value by engaging the sales flywheel and supporting your teams.
A Desktop CRM system lives on one desktop. This situation could work for solopreneurs or freelancers who do everything themselves. These types of CRM systems only work on the one computer where the owner installs them.
For that reason, these CRM systems offer more affordability because of the restriction of use. Though, they may still offer the same range of features as other types of CRM systems.
Client or server systems live in a database stored on the business or the client’s server. This means, users can access it through any computer with the coordinating software where the computer also has server access.
With a CRM server option, you can expect:
□ Startup costs for the server purchase
□ Costs for server installation
□ Time spent setting up the server
□ Responsibility for IT security and server maintenance
□ Limited options for upgrading features or functions
A cloud-based CRM operates online, and the provider handles the CRM server allowing access to the data and system via the cloud.
With a cloud-based CRM, you can expect:
□ Monthly fees for the supplier maintaining the server and providing updates
□ Lower initial costs
□ Easy to start right away
□ Remotely control features and functions
The biggest benefit of cloud-based CRMs is that users can access the system from nearly anywhere and don’t necessarily need that extra techy stuff like a secure VPN.
In the end, finding the right CRM is a huge decision because of the time investment and cost. You don’t want to go around trying a bunch of different options, so you need to make a decision with the information available. That’s tough in an age where everything seems so easy to implement or change.
Ultimately, what are the best options? A CRM server might be expensive, but it’s probably best for companies worried about security and control over the CRM. Alternatively, a cloud-based server might be the right choice for bigger companies that have remote teams and need easy mobile access.
At Woggle Consulting we’re always on the lookout for solutions that fit our customers best.
-Off you go! Your horizon awaits.
We’ve known that remote work has been on the horizon for a while, but the COVID-19 pandemic gave everyone a hard shove into the work-from-home lifestyle. Now that we’re starting to recover a bit, it’s clear that many employees want to stay home, and businesses want to avoid the hefty costs of keeping offices open.
Even if moving your staff to full-time remote work isn’t on the table, having a remote work software suite can deliver massive payoffs. Take a second and think of the companies that were “remote ready" in March 2020. Some companies only had to flip the metaphorical switch and send out a mass email telling staff to stay home.
Remote work offers a unique combination of benefits including raised morale and higher retention rates. So why didn't we all welcome remote work sooner? Companies reasonably were worried that working from home would come with security issues, kill collaboration, and cause communication struggles. In comes tech to solve the working world’s problems.
Now, there’s the issue of being overwhelmed with different tech tools and software that claim to be the key to making remote work, well, work. There cannot be one solution. But there are software suites that offer an array of tools and systems to keep your teams running.
We’re pretty lucky that Zoho has an entirely cloud-based remote system that ensures your team can always access the information and systems they need to get things done. You know, as long as they have internet access.
Zoho knows that you have concerns too. Yeah, your employees can get the information they need, but are they really going to work? Seamless reporting helps leaders know that teams are on track with sales goals and other performance metrics.
Worried about choosing the right combination of Zoho systems? Take a breath because Zoho already solved that problem. Zoho Remotely allows your office to function from anywhere with a winning combination of their best remote work apps.
Zoho keeps going. They connect with nearly all the other apps you need to keep your team working, such as:
If you have apps that you already love, chances are you can integrate them with Zoho while cleaning out the apps and processes that are weighing you down.
Because of built-in analytics, Zoho CRM can measure and manage metrics across all of your business operations. Give your sales team powerful tools with one clear path for customer handling in the CRM. Automate escalations to protect customers and support staff while standardizing approval systems to reduce bottlenecks.
Meanwhile, leaders can use customizable dashboards to track team progress, who is landing the most sales, and which campaigns have the most leads.
Remote work software solutions often focus on the CRM to protect the customers' best interest. But, what about everyone else? Don't worry. Zoho has over 45 applications in their suite, and unlike other unnamed software providers, these applications actually integrate beautifully. It's the software suite with apps that know how to work as a team.
So, what do you need to know about Zoho and its many apps?
It doesn't matter if your top talent wants to move across the country or if you need to work while you're on the go. Leaders and staff can collaborate and crush it without being in the same physical space.
Interested in setting up your company for remote working? We'd love to chat with you.
Schedule a Free Consultation today!
-Off you go! Your horizon awaits.
Zoho is a CRM that has been around for over 15 years in the industry. As a start up themselves, they know what it is like to be at every stage of a growing business. The needs of their users is at the center of everything they do and create. For starters, they have a whopping 50% faster implementation. Also, their marketplace has over 900 apps to help you integrate with the ones you already have. Don't forget it has a scalable ecosystem with flexible contracts. Finally, one the highlights that puts them at the forefront is their rating in mobile functionality. Of which, they are rated the best!
Zoho is your hub for building better customer relationships with features like sales pipeline management, marketing automation, analytics, and so much more. Zoho CRM is big, so that with a little tailoring, it can fit any industry or business like a glove. You can think of Woggle Consulting like your software tailor. We listen to where it pinches here or is to loose there, and we work with it until it is the most comfortable thing for you and your team to use.
Zoho is omnichannel and remote-ready for your workforce. Nowadays, flexibility of where your employees work is at the forefront of every business owner's mind. You can keep your peace of mind on communication because Zoho integrates emails seamlessly. Speaking of communication- Zoho's web conferencing, phone, chat and social applications make it easier for your employees to get the job done. No matter what the world throws at them!
Security and privacy are at the heart of everything Zoho does. They've designed state-of-the-art and secure data centers, sophisticated network security protocols, and infrastructure to offer secure and uninterrupted services.
-Off you go! Your horizon awaits.
Acronyms are really annoying, but we like ERPs, so we’ll let it slide. ERP stands for “Enterprise Resource Planning,” but that doesn’t help anyone understand this type of tool. Let’s start by taking a step back.
Could you start to list all the resources you use to plan and track all of your business activities? Do you use email? What about a CRM or Customer Relationship Manager? Those are just a few common starting points. Calendars, invoicing systems, accounting, human resources, and more are all resources that most businesses need to maintain basic operations.
At its core, ERP software brings all of these functions together into one system. The best way to describe an ERP is as a business ecosystem. If you can see all of these elements, you can manage processes, information, and functionality. But, if you can streamline them, then you can create a balance across your entire organization. An ERP is a system that gives you the big and little picture for every resource-driven element of your business, and that can help you lead your company toward even greater success.
An ERP is worth the investment. ERPs do come with a hefty price tag, but the benefits of unifying your systems often provide a fast return.
Imagine how many more sales your team could make if they didn’t spend time in meetings discussing how to use a spreadsheet that someone spent hours creating. Not to mention the downtime your staff have while they continuously reload overcomplicated spreadsheets that crash every ten minutes.
What if your customer service and helpdesk staff didn’t have to hunt down information for your customers?
Think of all the time, effort, and money you will save on training when everything runs in one system. Instead of training your staff across multiple systems, you train them on one, and it has everything they could ever need.
Here’s the big-ticket question for most business owners: what if you could eliminate tedious tasks and instead pay people to do meaningful work?
With an ERP, you can identify and automate tedious tasks easily. ERPs usually come with a mobile compatible app so you and your staff can be anywhere and still access vital company data. These systems can make it easy to respond to customers faster, manage resources better, and increase ROI from your employees.
Having your data in spreadsheets or on various systems doesn’t make it more secure. If anything, it can lead to duplicate or inaccurate data leading to serious compliance risks. ERPs typically have multiple access levels, so you can control who can see, change, or delete specific areas of information.
Standardizing your software gives you a competitive edge without risking security gaps. Usually, ERPs have built-in risk management to establish compliance even with constant changes in work environments, security, and human resources regulations.
ERPs are well-known for their data capturing and reporting. With an ERP, you will immediately have access to better reporting with more reliable data. ERPs store data in a single database, meaning that every department can work with the same information rather than gather their own.
All that data can be organized, analyzed, and made into reports. Because your data is all in one place, you can easily generate reports that would have taken days of research when working with multiple platforms.
ERPs often have a dashboard where you can set custom reports and track specific KPIs to easily check-in on performance. These reports typically come with access levels to ensure that only relevant staff have access to valuable company data and reporting.
So why doesn’t everyone have an ERP if they’re so great? The price tag isn’t the only issue. Business owners often get stuck in analysis paralysis because of the overwhelming number of systems, options, and features. It’s overwhelming. These systems are also a beast to set up, especially while you’re also running the business.
ERPs are certainly worth the investment. We would be happy to help you find the right ERP for your business and to help set it up for you.
Sign up today for a free consultation.
-Off you go! Your horizon awaits.
Is there any hope of tracking every lead while also giving all of your customers the support they need? Most business owners know that customer relationship management is a never-ending journey, but that doesn't mean you have to fumble all along the way. A CRM is a customer relationship management strategy or system.
CRMs don't have to be a fancy software solution, although the technology can certainly make things easier... sometimes. As a buzzword or buzz-acronym, when people say "CRM," they're usually referring to one of the current heavy-weight software options such as Salesforce, Zoho, or Hubspot.
But, in reality, a CRM could be any system or strategy that helps a company manage its clients and potential clients. If you're still living in the 1960s, then that might look like a Rolodex, but for our modern readers, it probably means a high-tech tool or at least a well-crafted spreadsheet.
Typically, CRM software or SaaS solutions will use a database and provide an engaging interface to see leads and customer needs clearly. It can help your staff perform better, and improve your customer’s experience from their first contact with your company. Okay, that sounds nice and all, but what do CRMs actually do?
Because of the big names in the CRM space, it’s easy to set really high expectations and still not be disappointed. But of course, not all software is created equal, and with that in mind, we’ll look at the different tiers.
A basic CRM will stand in place of that glorified Rolodex and offer only a little more than contact information tracking. Essentially, this could be an Excel workbook.
Now, a decent CRM system will do so much more. It’s that one small step which is also a huge leap.
Business owners should expect:
On a day-to-day level, it’s difficult to keep track of who talked to which customers or what information made it to your important leads. CRMs centralize all lead and customer interactions within one system so that any employee who speaks with the client has a complete overview of that person’s experience and expectations.
For some businesses, they get lucky and begin using a CRM before they actually open their doors. But that’s not usually the case.
Most businesses realize that they need a CRM when they have a long list of customers and a disaster of scattered data. Everyone talks about how great CRMs are, but realistically they’re a pain to set up, and it takes patience and careful planning to do it right.
We get it! You don’t have time to spend building a new system from scratch. Most cloud-based CRM systems can begin functioning well as soon as the company loads in their existing customer data. Of course, you might not have time for that either.
At Woggle Consulting, we can coordinate a CRM set up with your internal team, or better yet, we’ll do the whole thing for you!
So, you’re a little suspicious of needing another software, and probably one that comes with a subscription or ongoing costs. We know the struggle. Here are three simple and direct questions to help you decide if a CRM is right for your company.
1. Are you struggling to track and organize your customer data?
We live in a time where data could be the difference between success and failure. But most of us still use spreadsheets, sticky notes, and cluttered apps to track contact information and customer questions. This type of data collection isn’t just disorganized. It’s dangerous. If you’re scrambling to find information, then you’re going to start losing customers.
2. Do you have a flood of new business and can’t keep up?
There’s a shared nightmare among business owners … what if you’re too successful? Entrepreneurs hope for and fear success stories like Death Wish Coffee, who oversold their inventory to the point of almost killing the company. A key part of their bounce-back was careful management of internal procedures through software.
If you have a ton of new business or know that you could soon, it’s better to get organized first. A great CRM will gather vital data and prioritize new leads. They can build a foundation of positive customer relationships and produce long-lasting results.
3. Are you uncertain about how to grow your business?
Okay, maybe the leads aren’t flooding in yet, but you want to get to that point. A customizable CRM can help you automate tedious tasks so your sales team can focus on tasks that make a real difference. The trick is to create a system that doesn’t let anything slip through the cracks while automating as much as possible.
If any of these questions hit home, then it’s time to start looking for the right CRM solution for you. We would love to help you on this journey and can get you started with a free consultation. Schedule a chat with us today to learn more about what a CRM can do for you specifically.
-Off you go! Your horizon awaits.
