CRMs benefit both large corporate entities as well as small to mid-size businesses. From one to a million contacts, a CRM can help any business implement a successful sales strategy providing the user with extensive data integrated into one da

tabase. CRMs house contacts from all over the world, keeping both your local and International contacts organized. There are two types of CRM platforms, the core CRM and the integrated CRM. Both are useful depending on your business' needs.

The Core CRM

The primary purpose of a CRM is to organize, track and manage your clients, customers, leads and prospects to enhance the relationship between business and community. A basic CRM allows the user to house all of their contacts under one roof, while supplying ample information about the client that could potentially help them move that contact through the sales funnel. A properly implemented CRM tracks and records details regarding phone calls made, appointments, meetings, emails sent and received, etc. Having all of this information stored in one place makes it easy for anyone involved in the sales process to easily view each contacts position, as well as collect other important data that may help in more targeted marketing. If the company does not require a more advanced system with enhanced marketing features, then a core CRM platform is the best way to go. Simple and efficient, the core CRM will supply enough information both for maintaining clients and turning potentials leads/prospects into customers. 

The Integrated CRM 

An integrated CRM platform, also known as a front-office system, acts as fully integrated marketing, sales, and business operating system. The platforms integrate a number of different features including, but not limited to email marketing, project management, website, analytics and tracking, as well as social media and calendaring. An integrated system stimulates collaboration between departments by providing a complete view of the customer. For example, if the marketing department sends out a survey to current clients, responses received are stored with the contacts information. If this survey or email was sent through a third party application, this data would need to be recorded and then uploaded into the CRM. The fact that this data is already associated with the contact increases productivity and efficiency, while decreasing miscommunication between departments. An integrated system eliminates the need for multiple platforms, increasing efficiency and cutting costs. 

The Results?

Increasing customer relationships is a natural byproduct of a CRM (customer relationship manager). The increased loyalty to a business' customers will, in the long run, lead customers to remain loyal to brand. 

Lastly, a collective database (generally cloud-based for most online CRMs), that all members have access to, limits mistakes between different departments, and ultimately leads to a more organized way of operating any  business. CRM data includes all the activity history with a particular customer, their preferences, how they interact with your website or emails. All of this information is easily accessible to everyone within the business, making and and all interactions with clients and leads transparent.