Compare CRM Software

CRM software comes in two major 'types'. The first type is software distributed on floppy disks, tapes, and CDs and the second type is through the web. Software that you pay for up-front (CDs) will run on-premises with your own set of servers and IT infrastructure.

This sort of solution gives the peace of mind that everything is under control, your own SAP (Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics or your choice of CRM) specialists deal with any problems that may occur. A piece of software obtained in one transaction is also easier to understand the true cost, you won't have extra charges, there is no monthly fee to worry about and it is easier to scale once the ball is on the roll and you recruit more people to work for you.

On the other hand, hosted software often proves to be a cheaper and more convenient solution for small businesses, or those who are not concerned about keeping every bit of the infrastructure behind company gates. Hosted services are not unlike a web based e-mail client, they store contacts in a logically aligned, easy to follow structure. The main selling point of such a solution is the relatively low up-front cost, easy maintenance and the easy scalability of performance even for companies with just a handful of users.

Before offering more advice on how to compare CRM software let’s talk more about what CRM stands for. By definition CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management, but when CRM is mentioned, it's often used to describe the piece of software running on either on-premise hardware or as an online service (SaaS). Its most important use is to keep track of customer related data and to allow access for those who need to be dealing with such information. The whole idea of CRM is quite simple; it lets the customer experience the best side of the company through streamlined workflows. In other words, a properly installed and maintained CRM lets you focus on more important things than easily automated sales, marketing, or customer facing tasks.

Different CRM Products are Available

When considering which software package you will go with, remember to consider the difficulty of the CRM system implementation. You would think that each package would be the same as far as installation goes. However, depending on the provider, the implementation process can either be a pleasure or a nightmare. You want to find a company that will walk you completely through this phase.

The list below consists of some of the more popular options on the market. We provide some basic features and pricing that should help you compare CRM products.

SalesForce.com

As you might already have guessed from the name, SalesForce.com is a web-hosted relationship management service. We can't talk about comparing CRM software packages here as the company is so obsessed with putting their product out as a service that their main logo consists of the word 'Software' and an interesting international sign, the prohibitive red circle.

The monthly fee varies between $5/month/user and $250/month/user, and for that money you get a plethora of features to mix and match. Be aware that too many features squeezed into one piece of software may hurt the efficiency of your employees, because they tend to look for ways to circumvent the system if they find it too complicated.

SalesForce prides themselves on being able to provide a dashboard and general interface that is easy to learn, yet fully functional and customizable. It integrates with any mail software and Google Apps, so if you have some of your form letters, excel sheets or contacts stored somewhere in the Google cloud, you may welcome this feature.


SAP

SAP is a name so big on the field of enterprise software that it has its own job title named after it; SAP specialists are highly sought after and paid well for their invaluable contribution. If you're nourishing the idea of building a SAP based IT infrastructure for your sales force, marketing or customer support division, you might want to know that a basic SAP license can cost more than $10,000 upfront, and it doesn't exactly run on just any piece of computer you might have in the basement.

The upfront cost can be shocking at first (it usually is shocking), but you get the most advanced, most freely customizable enterprise software there is. The unbelievably massive resources of the company ensure that any issue you come across can and will be addressed in a timely manner by the best professionals in the world.


Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Most employees are familiar with Microsoft OS based computers, they've had at least a basic training in Outlook, and the Office suite, thus Microsoft Dynamics CRM is often a good choice. It's a way to cut down on training costs and time. Even with good luck you can run into a four figure first bill though, which may raise concerns. It's not the fault of Microsoft, however, but rather an inherent problem in all self-hosted CRM software.

Final words

When you take your time and compare CRM software, it's crucial that you look beyond the price tag. It's not always the cheapest service or software that offers the best usability, or set of functions. I strongly suggest that you set aside at least a few hours to go through all the functions of the products provided by CRM solution providers. Try to pick a CRM system that doesn't bog down your employees in the details of the software, but lets them focus on the most important goal; making the customer happier.