What are CRM Platforms? Have you ever heard about it? Keep your interest, since this is the focus of this article. Let’s find out.
What Are CRM Platforms?
A CRM platform is a software solution that helps you in managing your sales/marketing and customer support process. In simple words, it is a software solution that integrates different modules for your business sales, marketing, and customer service.
But, there is more to it than meets the eye. Here are some of the features of a CRM platform:
- Workflow automation
- Data storage
- Reporting and analytics
CRM platforms have evolved greatly with time. They have become more powerful over the years. Nowadays, they have accumulated critical mass with major businesses across various sectors. You can find many well-known companies using them to boost their business growth.
Now that you know what a CRM platform is, let’s explore the different types of CRM platforms you will encounter during this article.
What Are CRM Platforms Types?
1. On-Premise CRM Platforms
A premise CRM platform is installed on your server or computers in your office premises. They are costly, but they provide more control over data and security issues. These are the most popular ones among small businesses that do not want to share their data with third parties.
2. Hosted/Cloud-Based CRM Platforms
Hosted or Cloud-based CRM platforms are always online and require no customization of hardware or software. Many vendors are providing hosted-based solutions for small businesses in different price ranges and feature sets. Most of these services also offer mobile applications for tablets and smartphones so that users can access them from anywhere and at any time of the day.
Although hosted/cloud-based solutions cost less than premises-based solutions, they have limitations such as a lack of control over data security and limited customization options. But, they are very useful for small businesses that do not want to go into large investments on hardware or software upgrades over time.
3. On-Demand Software As A Service (Self-Service) CRM Platforms
On-demand CRM platforms in self-service mode provide much more flexibility to users since they can be accessed from anywhere or any device through an internet connection. All you need is an internet connection and you can access your data anytime from anywhere! These self-service-based solutions can be accessed through a web browser without installing any software locally on your mobile devices or desktops (although most of the platforms offer mobile applications so that users can access them on their mobile devices).
Why Is Choosing A CRM Platform Important?
You might think that CRM platforms are not important for your business, but they are! Here is why:
- They make customer information available to all the departments in your organization. This ensures that all the departments are aligned and can work better to serve your customers better.
- They allow you to retain complex data and use it at the right time. This helps in decision-making.
- They help you in automating the data analysis processes and thus, saving a lot of time. You can see the real-time data of your customers and make decisions based on it.
