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06.04.07
Analyze Your CRM Needs Before You Buy
 By Sayed Ally
The modern business owner has a lot more pressure because of
the hi-tech world we live in. It's not easy holding on to that
edge you have over the competition. As a result we sometime
make rushed decisions that are actually poor decisions. That's
exactly what happens when we rush to put a Customer
Relationship Management system in place. So how do you stop the
wrong decision from being made? It's easy – you analyze your CRM
needs before you buy.
When it comes to CRM options there are all kinds of solutions
out there ranging from the most basic solutions to solutions
that are so complex they require days of training. So whether
you want something as simple as a customer sales tracking
system or something as complex as a CRM system that reaches
across your entire company network there is a CRM software
package that can meet your needs.
The most common mistake made when looking at CRM software is
asking what it is that company and staff can do with the
software rather than what the software can do for the company.
When you use this mind set you aren't as likely to get wooed in
by all the bells and whistles a software package has to offer.
Instead you will look at the software and how it relates
directly to what your business wants to achieve.
Analyze your current business processes and methodology. Mark
the areas you wish to improve or enhance. That way when you are
testing CRM software you'll know exactly what it is you want to
achieve and you can see if it is capable of doing just that.
Most CRM software is designed to flow from lead management to
marketing, to sales automation, then through to account
contacts, and opportunity management on to sales tracking and
finally forecasting.
But there are CRM software solutions that offer basic customer
services, support and tracking and for many businesses that may
be all that is required. At the very least it's a good place to
start and if you buy the right software you'll be able to
expand it at a later date.
As the consumer it is up to you to do your research and make
sure you understand what it is you are buying. Make sure that
you confirm the features that are bragged about to make sure
they really are what the "advertisements" say they are. Also
it's up to you to make sure the software is going to work with
your company. Finding the right functionality for your company
is important.
For example let's have a look at Microsoft Dynamics CRM – here
is a software package that let's you take it for a test drive
in their hands on demo lab. This virtual demo lets you try
before you buy to determine if this really is the software for
your needs.
Once you know what you need, if you do your research, try the
demos, and analyze your CRM needs before you buy, when you do
make that final decision you'll have the right software for
your company. It's really that simple!
About the Author:
Sayed Ally, is the lead CRM Analyst. His company provides, Microsoft CRM 3.0. Sayed can be reached at Tel : (905) 815- 1995 ext 22, email: aSayed@cqsolutions.com
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