The 5 Must-Have Features of a CRM Solution

Presented by:
TMVendor Guru
The 5 Must-Have Features of a
CRM SolutionBy Francine L. HuffTable of Contents
Executive Overview....................................................................................................... 2
Introduction................................................................................................................. 2
Standard Features of CRM Systems................................................................................. 3
Must-Have Features of a CRM System.............................................................................. 3
1. Data Tracking and Integration..................................................................................... 32. Customer Support and Services.................................................................................. 33. Sales Management.................................................................................................... 4 4. Marketing Automation................................................................................................ 4 5. Analytics.................................................................................................................. 4
Case Studies................................................................................................................ 4
Conclusion................................................................................................................... 5
About the Author........................................................................................................... 5
Sources....................................................................................................................... 6
© 2007 VendorGuru.com. All rights reserved. www.VendorGuru.com Page: 1Executive Summary
Customer relationship management (CRM) systems are being implemented by a variety of companies looking for a competitive advantage in the global marketplace. Without customer loyalty, many companies won't be able to thrive and grow. Today's consumers are more demanding because they have a greater variety of choices, including doing business on the Internet and via automated phone systems. Many expect access to customer service 24 hours a day.
According to Douglas Gantenbein in "Building Customer Loyalty," "The right technology can create a pathway to great customer service by empowering employees to fully focus on the customer rather than spending their customer contact time looking up records or asking other employees for help. With information about a customer or a company's products at their fingertips, employees can put to work their experience and desire to succeed for any company that relies on satisfied customers. And satisfied customers become what a company really needs: loyal customers."
A range of options exists to help companies improve customer relations. To make sense of the CRM universe, this white paper offers an overview of the following five must-have features that should be part of any CRM solution:
1. Data Tracking and Integration 2. Customer Support and Services 3. Sales Management Tools 4. Marketing Automation 5. Analytics
An effective CRM strategy that implements these must-have features can help companies save time, increase productivity, build strong relationships, and complete more sales. It's important to choose the right CRM system to avoid costly mistakes.
Introduction
Putting the customer first should be one of the main goals of any business that wants to grow and thrive in today's competitive market. It is important for companies to implement tools that help them attract and retain customers as they integrate key aspects of their business to boost sales, manage contacts, and offer excellent customer service. The right CRM system software offer users flexibility as business grows.
"The key to a successful sales force is choosing the CRM solution that best fits your company. A successful CRM product should be built on its ability to embrace and empower your existing sales process and culture to make adoption of the solution quick and painless," according to Geary Broadnax, chairman and chief executive officer of Dovarri. "The CRM solution a company chooses should, above all else, increase sales and work flow without causing unnecessary disruption."
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