7 Best CRM Software for 2024: What is the best CRM software?
Customer relationship management (CRM) software is a tool that helps businesses manage their interactions with current and potential customers. CRM software can help with various aspects of the customer journey, such as marketing, sales, service, and retention. CRM software can also provide insights into customer behavior, preferences, and satisfaction.
But with so many CRM software options available in the market, how do you choose the best one for your business? In this article, we will compare and contrast seven of the best CRM software for 2021, based on their features, pricing, ease of use, and customer reviews. We will also answer some frequently asked questions about CRM software and provide some tips on how to use it effectively.
Key Takeaways
CRM software is a tool that helps businesses manage their interactions with current
and potential customers.The seven best CRM software for 2021 are HubSpot CRM, Salesforce, Zoho CRM, Freshworks CRM, Pipedrive, Insightly, and Microsoft Dynamics 365.
The benefits of using CRM software include improving customer satisfaction and loyalty, increasing sales productivity and revenue, optimizing marketing campaigns and strategies, enhancing collaboration and communication, and reducing costs and errors.
The factors to consider when choosing a CRM software include your business size and industry, your business objectives and challenges, your budget and resources, and your user experience and preferences.
The steps to implement and use CRM software effectively include defining your goals and expectations, choosing your vendor and plan, preparing your data and systems, training your users and stakeholders, monitoring and evaluating your performance, and updating and improving your CRM software.
The seven best CRM software for 2021 are:
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM is a free and easy-to-use CRM software that integrates with other HubSpot products, such as Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, and Service Hub. HubSpot CRM allows you to manage contacts, deals, tasks, emails, calls, meetings, and more from one dashboard. You can also access HubSpot CRM from any device, as it has a mobile app and a web browser extension. HubSpot CRM is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses that want a simple and powerful CRM solution.
Salesforce
Salesforce is one of the most popular and comprehensive CRM software in the world. Salesforce offers a range of products for different business needs, such as Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Commerce Cloud, and more. Salesforce allows you to manage leads, accounts, contacts, opportunities, campaigns, cases, orders, invoices, and more from one platform. You can also customize Salesforce to fit your specific workflows and processes. Salesforce is suitable for businesses of any size and industry that want a scalable and flexible CRM solution.
Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is a cloud-based CRM software that is part of the Zoho suite of applications. Zoho CRM helps you manage sales, marketing, customer support, and analytics from one interface. You can also integrate Zoho CRM with other Zoho apps, such as Zoho Mail, Zoho Docs, Zoho Projects, Zoho Invoice, and more. Zoho CRM is designed for small to large businesses that want an affordable and feature-rich CRM solution.
Freshworks CRM
Freshworks CRM is a unified CRM software that combines sales and marketing automation with customer support and engagement. Freshworks CRM helps you attract, engage, close, and retain customers with features such as email marketing, web chat, phone calls, social media monitoring, deal management, ticketing system, feedback collection, and more. Freshworks CRM is aimed at small to medium-sized businesses that want an all-in-one CRM solution.
Pipedrive
Pipedrive is a sales-focused CRM software that helps you manage your sales pipeline and activities. Pipedrive lets you track leads, deals, stages, actions, emails, calls, and more from one visual dashboard. You can also automate repetitive tasks and sync Pipedrive with other tools like Gmail, Outlook, Calendar, and more. Pipedrive is best for small to medium-sized businesses that want a simple and intuitive CRM solution for sales.
Insightly: Insightly is a cloud-based CRM software that helps you manage relationships, projects, and business processes. Insightly lets you manage contacts, organizations, opportunities, tasks, events, emails, notes, and more from one platform. You can also integrate Insightly with other apps like Gmail, Outlook, Mailchimp, QuickBooks, and more. Insightly is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses that want a versatile and collaborative CRM solution.
Microsoft Dynamics 365: Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a cloud-based CRM software that is part of the Microsoft ecosystem. Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers various modules for different business functions, such as Sales, Customer Service, Marketing, Field Service, Finance, and more. Microsoft Dynamics 365 allows you to manage contacts, accounts, leads, opportunities, cases, campaigns, orders, invoices, and more from one platform. You can also connect Microsoft Dynamics 365 with other Microsoft products like Office 365, Power BI, Azure,
and more. Microsoft Dynamics 365 is suitable for medium to large businesses that want a robust and integrated CRM solution.
Tip
One tip on how to use CRM software effectively is to segment your customers based on their characteristics, such as demographics, behavior, interests, and needs. This can help you tailor your communication, marketing,
sales, and service strategies to each customer segment and provide them with more relevant and personalized offers and solutions.
What is the best CRM software?
Customer relationship management (CRM) software is a tool that helps businesses manage their interactions with current and potential customers. CRM software can help with various aspects of the customer journey, such as lead generation, sales pipeline, marketing automation, customer service, and analytics.
There are many CRM software solutions available in the market, each with its own features, benefits, and drawbacks. Choosing the best CRM software for your business depends on your specific needs, goals, and budget. However, some general criteria that you can use to evaluate different CRM software are:
- Ease of use: How intuitive and user-friendly is the CRM software? Does it have a clear and simple interface? Does it offer training and support?
- Customization: How flexible and adaptable is the CRM software? Can you tailor it to your business processes and workflows? Can you integrate it with other tools and platforms that you use?
- Scalability: How well does the CRM software grow with your business? Can it handle increasing volumes of data and users? Can it accommodate changing needs and requirements?
- Functionality: What features and capabilities does the CRM software offer? Does it cover all the aspects of the customer journey that you need? Does it provide insights and reports that help you improve your performance?
- Price: How much does the CRM software cost? Is it affordable and within your budget? Does it offer different plans and options that suit your needs?
Based on these criteria, we have compiled a list of some of the best CRM software solutions in 2023, according to various sources and reviews. These are:
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM is a free and powerful CRM software that offers a comprehensive suite of tools for lead generation, sales pipeline, marketing automation, customer service, and analytics. HubSpot CRM integrates seamlessly with HubSpot’s other products, such as Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, Service Hub, and CMS Hub, as well as with hundreds of third-party apps. HubSpot CRM is easy to use, customizable, scalable, and functional. It is suitable for small to large businesses across various industries.
Salesforce Sales Cloud
Salesforce Sales Cloud is a popular and robust CRM software that helps businesses manage their sales processes and customer relationships. Salesforce Sales Cloud offers features such as contact management, opportunity management, lead management, forecasting, reporting, email integration, mobile access, artificial intelligence, and more. Salesforce Sales Cloud is highly customizable, scalable, and functional. It can integrate with other Salesforce products, such as Marketing Cloud, Service Cloud, Commerce Cloud, and Platform, as well as with thousands of third-party apps. Salesforce Sales Cloud is suitable for small to large businesses across various industries.
Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is an affordable and versatile CRM software that helps businesses attract, retain, and delight their customers. Zoho CRM offers features such as sales automation, marketing automation, customer service, social media integration, omnichannel communication, analytics, artificial intelligence, and more. Zoho CRM is easy to use, customizable, scalable, and functional. It can integrate with other Zoho products, such as Zoho Desk, Zoho Campaigns, Zoho Analytics, and Zoho One, as well as with hundreds of third-party apps. Zoho CRM is suitable for small to medium-sized businesses across various industries.
These are just some of the best CRM software solutions in 2023. There are many other options available in the market that you can explore and compare to find the best fit for your business.
Global demand for CRM software
CRM software is one of the fastest-growing segments in the software industry. According to a report by Grand View Research, the global CRM software market size was valued at USD 58.04 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.2% from 2021 to 2028.
The report cites several factors that are driving the demand for CRM software globally:
- The increasing adoption of cloud-based solutions that offer scalability, flexibility, security, and cost-effectiveness.
- The rising need for automation and optimization of business processes and workflows to enhance efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
- The growing importance of data-driven decision making and analytics to gain insights into customer behavior, preferences, and trends.
- The expanding use of social media, mobile devices, and e-commerce platforms that create new channels and opportunities for customer engagement.
- The evolving customer expectations and demands for personalized, seamless, and omnichannel experiences.
The report also identifies some of the key players in the global CRM software market,
such as:
- Salesforce.com Inc.
- Oracle Corporation
- SAP SE
- Microsoft Corporation
- Adobe Inc.
- HubSpot Inc.
- Zoho Corporation Pvt. Ltd.
- Freshworks Inc.
- Zendesk Inc.
- Creatio
The report segments the global CRM software market by deployment mode (cloud and on-premise), by enterprise size (large enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises), by application (customer service, marketing, sales, and others), by end-use industry (banking, financial services, and insurance, retail and consumer goods, healthcare, IT and telecom, manufacturing, and others), and by region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa).
CRM software is a vital tool for businesses that want to improve their customer relationships and increase their sales. CRM software can help businesses with various aspects of the customer journey, such as lead generation, sales pipeline, marketing automation, customer service, and analytics. There are many CRM software solutions available in the market, each with its own features, benefits, and drawbacks. Choosing the best CRM software for your business depends on your specific needs, goals, and budget. Some of the best CRM software solutions in 2023 are HubSpot CRM, Salesforce Sales Cloud, and Zoho CRM. The global demand for CRM software is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.2% from 2021 to 2028, driven by factors such as cloud adoption, automation, data analytics, social media, mobile devices, e-commerce platforms, and customer expectations.
FREQUENTLY QUESTIONS
Q1: What are the benefits of using CRM software?
A: Some of the benefits of using CRM software are:
- It can help you improve customer satisfaction and loyalty by providing personalized and timely service.
- It can help you increase sales productivity and revenue by streamlining and automating sales processes.
- It can help you optimize marketing campaigns and strategies by tracking and analyzing customer behavior and preferences.
- It can help you enhance collaboration and communication among your team members by sharing information and insights.
- It can help you reduce costs and errors by eliminating manual and duplicate tasks.
Q2: How much does CRM software cost?
A: The cost of CRM software depends on various factors, such as the number of users, the features, the level of customization, the type of deployment, and the vendor. Generally, CRM software can range from free to thousands of dollars per month. Some CRM software offer a free trial or a free plan for a limited number of users or features. Some CRM software charge a flat fee per user per month, while others charge based on the number of contacts, records, or transactions. Some CRM software require a one-time setup fee or an annual contract, while others allow you to pay as you go.
Q3: How do I choose the best CRM software for my business?
A: There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as different businesses have different needs and goals. However, some of the factors that you should consider when choosing a CRM software are:
- Your business size and industry: You should look for a CRM software that can accommodate your number of customers, employees, and locations, as well as your specific industry requirements and regulations.
- Your business objectives and challenges: You should look for a CRM software that can help you achieve your desired outcomes and solve your pain points, such as increasing customer retention, boosting sales performance, improving marketing ROI, or enhancing customer service.
- Your budget and resources: You should look for a CRM software that fits your budget and available resources, such as time, staff, and technical expertise. You should also consider the total cost of ownership, including the initial investment, the ongoing maintenance, and the potential upgrades.
- Your user experience and preferences: You should look for a CRM software that is easy to use and navigate, as well as compatible with your existing systems and tools. You should also consider the user feedback and reviews from other customers who have used the CRM software.
Q4: How do I implement and use CRM software effectively?
A: Implementing and using CRM software effectively requires planning, training, and evaluation. Some of the steps that you should follow are:
- Define your goals and expectations: You should set clear and measurable objectives for what you want to achieve with CRM software and how you will track your progress and results.
- Choose your vendor and plan: You should research and compare different CRM software options and select the one that best suits your needs and budget. You should also choose the appropriate plan or package that offers the features and support that you need.
- Prepare your data and systems: You should clean up and organize your existing data and ensure that it is accurate and consistent. You should also integrate your CRM software with your other systems and tools that you use for your business operations.
- Train your users and stakeholders: You should provide adequate training and guidance to your users and stakeholders on how to use the CRM software effectively. You should also communicate the benefits and expectations of using the CRM software and address any questions or concerns that they may have.
- Monitor and evaluate your performance: You should regularly monitor and evaluate your performance using the CRM software and analyze the data and reports that it provides. You should also solicit feedback from your users and customers on their experience and satisfaction with the CRM software. You should also update and improve your CRM software as needed to meet your changing needs and goals.
References:
http://www.hcltech.com/sites/default/files/CRM_Trends_Insurance.pdf
https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/21171/1/Chapter%209%20-%2010%20Dec%202014%20-%20ANA-ACT%5B1%5D.pdf
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210832718300735
https://archive.org/details/computeraidedmar0000shaw
http://www.bain.com/publications/articles/management-tools-customer-relationship-management.aspx
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/customer_relation_management.asp
https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/4001096
https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/software-survey-crm-systems-in-2021
http://www.nojitter.com/post/240172247/how-context-sits-at-intersection-of-crm-acd
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