Ten Steps to Selecting the Right CRM Software


Selecting a CRM solution requires a process different from the typical IT purchase procedure. Because CRM connects to all aspects of the organization, organizations must understand not only the products and vendors available to them but the way their own businesses work.

The next step was distributed that way, CRM and understanding the financial implications of the delivery model only if you have CRM products and vendors can start investigating. Features initially ignore; instead, customer support, vendor roadmap and vertical markets start with issues such as experience. Features are important, but mentality, because the feature shootout this business-critical aspects of CRM and CRM focuses on aspects of which often changes and users who cannot actually use.

Selecting a CRM – process can be reduced to 10 step as follows:-

  1. Know your business: You need to buy the software for your own use so, you need to be aware of your own requirement. How process works in your organization and where you are actually going to use the same? How you are going to implement the same between assumtions and reality. At the end of the mapping process, you should have a list of processes and activities you need to improve. This should be your guide to developing a list of must-have features.
  2. Choice your team carefully: Since multiple departments and sections will be using CRM software in your organization you should chose your team carefully who are going to help you in decision making. Obviously, a leader of the executive ranks, and probably do it, but often CRM applications without the use of those decisions have been made that do use them. This process not only ensures that you should understand about the user, better understanding about it, but when you decided to have their solutions partners can assist in adoption between.
  3. Understand your Regulatory Realities: It is also important to understand the relationship of information systems that assist in meeting compliance requirements in the industry. Each regulatory body would mandate specific ways that data can be handled. Software as a service (SaaS) delivery methods may present challenges, due to the shared services model may be difficult to meet these janadesh. Each regulatory body would mandate specific ways that data can be handled. Software as a service (SaaS) delivery methods may present challenges, due to the shared services model may be difficult to meet these janadesh.
  4. Consider your Budget and Where to Run Your CRM:  Considering your budget is another most important factor in decision making. Since, some companies has budget constrain due to limited resources and some other companies are able to invest thinking a long time investment.
  5. Integration with different departments : Integration can add significant costs and delays to any implementation, so if you are thinking of using your CRM system across the entire organization consider ease of integration as part of your preliminary criteria.
  6. Support Requirement: How adept is your staff at picking up new applications and new concepts? Unless they’re all early adapters, you’re probably going to need some degree of help with the product, and levels and costs of support can vary from vendor to vendor. For any new software Training cannot be avoided.
  7. Vertical Market Requirement: Industries for which tailored CRM applications have been created include insurance, real estate, agribusiness and non-profits. Also, companies that sell through channels (in other words, resellers or distributors) may have a need to manage tiers of customer relationships with partners, direct customers and customers who buy from partners. These companies often purchase and its effectiveness to be frustrated by the CRM; A related technique, partner relation management (PRM) for these businesses may be the real answer.
  8. Feature Requirement: Traditional way of selecting CRM software is to list all the features of selected CRMS and check who is giving the best value of money. But till now you know the process, your problem and solution for the same and actual requirement of your system. So, now it is easy for you to select right features for your CRM, and cut cost too.
  9. Final Financial : By now, you should have several solutions in mind that tackle the problems you identified at the start of the process. After you’ve figured out the solutions that will work, it’s time to decide which of these is most affordable. This is the time to look for hidden costs; the base cost is almost never the extent of your expenditures with CRM. As stated earlier, there may be expenses for customization, integration and support.
  10. Vendor Selection: once you sorted budget, features and support requirements you need to make decision about to purchase CRM Software from a Vendor. Vendor must be a trusted one. It should not be a case of over promised – under delivered . When you think you find the right SRM solution – pause and enquire about vendor, read reviews, check trial services, check their customer support knowledge, their hospitality and most important timely delivery of what they committing.