So what is CRM software?

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a software solution that helps your business develop a philosophy which involves identifying, understanding and better providing for your customer base while building a working relationship with each customer to improve customer overall satisfaction and maximise profits.

In order to manage the relationship with the customer, a business needs to collect the correct information about its clients and then organise that information so it can be analysed and then actioned.

The secret to success is not just collecting data, but organising it in a way which fully utilises the data and that's where bespoke CRM software development can play its part.

A computer on its own cannot transform the relationship you have with a customer, that is down to you, but a well implemented CRM solution can increase sales and customer satisfaction by at least 40% if it is used correctly.

How do you choose a good CRM software solution?

Using a bespoke software developer will save you time and money in the long term. Off the shelf packages initially appear to be the easy option because of what they are, but once you start using an off the shelf package it soon becomes clear that the flexibility needed within the workplace simply isn't there. A software development company will write a bespoke CRM solution that is tailored to your specific needs, and if you needs change, the software can change with you.

Before you approach a software developer, be clear in your own mind on what is it you need from your new CRM. Create a brief for the software company that clearly states what is you require and how you intend to utilise the information gathered.

An example of a company using a CRM application would be a business selling clothes directly to the public. If they maintained a database of which customers buy what type of product and when, how often they make that purchase and what type of options they choose with their typical purchase, the business will know what marketing material to send out and what new products to promote to each customer and what options may convert into a sale. They could use the information gathered in a CRM to build a relationship with the customer by reminding customers of new fashion lines, for example a customer that likes bright t-shirts could be emailed when a new range of summer clothes is available.

Bespoke Software Development is a lot cheaper than it used to be, in fact having a customised software solution created in many cases is just as cheap if not cheaper than an off the shelf alternative.