CRM or customer relationship management software is a powerful technology that has been constantly used by sales teams of businesses across many industry verticals for past 20+ years.
Traditionally, CRM databases were used on desktop computers. And though it still serves many important functions such as tracking customer relationships, set follow-up reminders and mapping of the sales pipeline – it remains stuck inside the office. It evolved as computing power increased with SaaS computing and became a powerful, software system rich with features. It is now capable of optimizing the sales funnel and giving valuable analytical statistics to the management and decision-makers.
However, despite its value, the sales rep could not retrieve any important information stored inside the desktop CRM. The kind of convenience they were looking for was unavailable to them as soon as they entered the field. The scenario has changed over time and market now has several mobile-first CRM solutions, such as ForceManager, which are providing much needed flexibility and autonomy. Mobile CRM, designed for mobile devices, gives access to customer data through a mobile app or a web-based browser with cloud CRM.
CRM: Some Quick Facts
1. Gartner reports indicate that by 2017 the customer relationship management market will be globally worth $36.4B.
2. For every $1 spent, CRM offers an average return of $5.60.
3. Sales reps saw productivity increased by 15% when they had mobile access to CRM applications.
Here are the Top 5 Benefits of using a mobile CRM:
1. Increase in Sales & It’s Completed Quicker First and foremost, a mobile CRM will increase sales. While they’re in the field, your sales rep will have instant access to account history, product information, pricing and promotional materials that in turn will help them close more deals and increase the overall deal value. As all of the necessary information will be available on their phones, they will not have to waste time looking up for contact info to remember the last conversation with a prospect. This shall remove the clutter helping them to create genuine relationships and ultimately closing more deals.
2. Increased ROI on CRM as Data Collection Increases Manifolds Another key benefit of using mobile CRM is to allow your sales force to access real time data while out in the fields meeting prospects and customers. The mobile CRM makes it faster to collect valuable information, delivers insight into what is happening in the field and how to best allocate resources. By allowing sales reps to use the CRM in the field to update contacts, input notes, request information or submit a proposal, management will always have access to the latest customer data, thus increasing the return on the CRM investment.
3. Enhanced Productivity Mobile CRM by utilizing core technologies on smartphones, tablets and all handheld/mobile devices gives instant info about an upcoming meeting, contact information and recent notes for the prospect without having to navigate separate applications or search at any other place. Thus, it boosts and maximizes the productivity of sales representatives. Having mobile CRM can be an enormous time-saver and helps in organizing and viewing your weekly agenda in a map-layout, optimize planning and make more client touches than otherwise possible.
4. BYOD-Friendly A mobile CRM works impeccably across all devices and platforms, including wearable and syncs information across all such platforms. So adopting mobile-CRM for your company allow your sales team to use the mobile/handheld device they prefer most in the field. Additionally, it helps to keep pace or outpace competition in the marketplace and shun use of outdated mobile devices.
5. Helps Provide Best Customer Service Earning customer loyalty isn’t easy. The objective is to acquire lifetime customers and so it’s critical that sales and customer service are aligned. Having access to the same updated information is imperative when it comes to finding, communicating and responding to queries, complaints and potential problems facing your current and future clients. Mobile CRM certainly makes it incredibly fast.
Conclusion
In 2015, having a mobile CRM will no longer be an option. This valuable technology shall be making your business more connected, your sales team more effective and management more efficient in allocating resources. All that in turn will yield higher revenue because with mobile CRM – your sales teams won’t be wasting time in the office with data entry when they could be out closing more deals.
Aequor 