Uncovering Hidden Pain Points: The Importance of a Robust CRM System for Business Success

In today's competitive business landscape, enhancing customer visibility and making informed decisions are crucial for sustained success. Implementing a cost-effective Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system can empower your business by centralising customer data, streamlining processes, and facilitating data-driven decision-making. 84%of businesses using a CRM say that they use that data to differentiate themselves and gain a competitive advantage.

This blog will provide valuable insights on choosing the right CRM, tips for using it effectively to drive decision-making, and hiring the right people to manage your CRM.

How to choose a CRM system

Choosing the right CRM system is a crucial decision for businesses looking to improve their customer processes. But deciding which CRM is right for you can be challenging. The UK CRM software market is worth an estimated $4billionand there are hundreds of providers all claiming their software is the best. With so many options available, selecting the most suitable CRM can be overwhelming. Here are four key considerations that you should consider when choosing a CRM system:

· Define your business needs

Always assess your specific requirements and objectives in the short term and weigh these against your future needs, scalability, and growth prospects.

· Research available CRM options

Create a comparison of your shortlisted options comparing different CRM platforms and their features based on your preferences and budget.

· Consider integration capabilities

To ensure compatibility with existing software systems (e.g., marketing automation, email platforms) look for APIs or connectors for seamless data synchronisation

· Determine ease of use for your team

Evaluate user-friendliness, customisation options and a CRM’s ability to be tailored to your unique business processes

By carefully evaluating these factors, you can make an informed decision that sets the foundation for successful CRM implementation.

Using a CRM Effectively for Decision-Making

Companies generate a wealth of data on their customers, their habits, and their preferences. Your CRM captures data from multiple touchpoints and stores customer information in a unified system. A well-implemented CRM system empowers businesses to harness the power of this data, gain valuable insights, and make informed choices.

Unlock the power of your CRM with these strategies and tips:

· Implement robust reporting and analytics

Use your CRM's reporting capabilities to gain insights into customer behaviour, track sales performance, assess campaign effectiveness, and create customised reports to track your goals and KPIs.

· Leverage automation and workflows

Maximise your team’s efficiency by streamlining repetitive tasks with automation, implementing workflows for sales and marketing, and ensuring consistent processes.

· Enable collaboration and communication

Encourage cross-department collaboration through your CRM by enabling shared access to customer data and using features like real-time messaging or commenting for seamless communication.

Hiring the Right CRM Management Team

However, implementing a CRM system alone is not enough! You need a capable CRM management team to ensure its effectiveness. CRM management involves overseeing the implementation, maintenance, and optimisation of the CRM system while keeping it aligned with your business goals and customer needs.

Good CRM management encompasses a range of skills, including technical proficiency, industry knowledge, and strong communication abilities. When done right, effective CRM management can yield numerous benefits, such as enhanced customer satisfaction, improved sales performance, streamlined processes, and data-driven decision-making.

When you are looking to hire the right CRM consultant it helps to:

1. Identify required skill sets

Effective CRM management requires professionals with CRM experience and technical proficiency. This level of expertise allows for seamless implementation, optimisation, and troubleshooting. You should also be looking for individuals with a solid understanding of your industry and customer needs who can bring valuable insights, helping you to tailor your CRM strategies to drive customer satisfaction and business growth.

2. Evaluate CRM proficiency

When looking for proficient candidates it’s important to assessing their familiarity with various CRM platforms and their past success in implementing CRM systems. You can ask candidates to provide specific examples of how they have used CRM platforms in their previous roles to meet your specific goals, such as better customer relationships or improved sales processes. Ensuring you hire individuals with practical experience and a proven track record of effectively leveraging CRM systems.

3. Prioritise communication and interpersonal skills

Candidates who can communicate and collaborate effectively with multiple stakeholders can bridge the gap between the technical aspects of implementation and your business requirements. For smooth adoption it’s also important that potential candidates can work closely with your existing teams to train and support system to get the most from your CRM system.

4. Seek continuous learning and adaptability

Having a CRM manager who is invested in their continuous professional development means they stay up to date with the latest CRM trends and enhancements and can bring that knowledge to your implementation. By emphasising the need for flexibility and adaptability to evolving business requirements during the hiring process, you can attract individuals who demonstrate a genuine eagerness to learn and stay updated. This ensures that your CRM manager is equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to drive ongoing improvements in customer relationship management.

Hubbado is a resource management platform that gives you access to a pre-vetted community of highly skilled consultants, so you always have access to the skills and expertise you need to take your business forward.

At Hubbado, we have a track record of sourcing highly skilled CRM specialists and providing them at a rate that is 30% lower than CRM integrators and reseller companies.

Members of our exclusive community are vetted by an expert in their job sector for their industry knowledge, certifications, communication skills & more. Meaning that whatever the technical scope of your project you can always find a consultant who understands your needs.

Connect a consultant today or book a call with one of our friendly sales team.