What you should know about Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software

The customer relationship management (CRM) software is a software used for sales and marketing functions by companies.  This software allows customers to place orders, make payments and access product catalogues on the web.  The CRM software is mainly used across sales, marketing and customer service departments.  It manages information about customers and their respective transactions with a company.

CRM software help to design new products based on customer experiences.  The sales department use the software to track the sales process from initial contact through the final purchase.

It helps a customer support organization to track ongoing correspondence with customers.  Cloud computing – based sales force CRM is the world’s most widely used sales force automation solution.  This software meets the needs of companies ranging from small organizations to large international enterprise.

 ​CRM Trends in 2018
Before getting into our recommendations for the best CRM software in 2018, we're going to analyze a couple particularly interesting trends related to CRM. These trends are still developing, but we see a lot of potential for AI, machine learning and subscription services as they relate to CRM.

AI and machine learning is starting to synchronize with CRM software to create new kinds of customer relationships. As machines become better at "relationship intelligence" AI is being integrated into other CRM software. Machines can't replace true human interaction, but they are starting to get close. Machine learning allows AI to become more intelligent about customer behavior, opening the door to new types of customer relationships and CRM processes.

The increasing prevalence of subscription services is evolving right alongside improvements to AI and machine learning. The "subscription economy," impacting entertainment, transportation and other fields, is changing customer relationships. AI can make use of the vast data gleaned from such subscription services to improve machine learning. By analyzing such data, smarter and smarter algorithms can parse out minute customer relationship details. This suggests AI and the "subscription economy" may be the way the CRM technology moves in 2018 and beyond.

INC in its current review has revealed different CRM softwares that can be used across all boards for various purpose to deliver the long term and short term customer management services of the organization.

Best CRM Software for Small Businesses is Salesforce CRM. It is one of the most recognizable names in CRM software, and for good reason. The company is the world's largest CRM provider, and consistently ranked at the top of industry surveys. They offer a cloud-based solution that reaches every stage of the customer life cycle and is flexible, mobile and fully customizable. It's also easy to learn and use, and offers an intuitive interface that's easy to navigate on mobile and desktop devices. It can be expensive for smaller companies, but many users contend that the lower training costs offset the higher subscription fee.

Best Free CRM Software is Zoho Office Suite. It may be free, but choose this option and you won't be forced to compromise on capabilities just because you're not a paying customer. This cloud-based The Zoho CRM solution was created with the needs of small and medium-sized businesses in mind. Users enjoy all the core functionalities of pricier options, and the interface includes tools such as sales and marketing automation, product configuration, reporting, and customer analytics. There's also a gamification feature that adds a bit of fun to the sales process and rewards salespeople who achieve targets. The mobile version gives users access to sales and customer information on iPads, iPhones and Android devices. The free edition is restricted to 10 users, with upgraded services starting at $12 per month. While users report that considerable customization can be necessary at the outset and customer support can be limited, Zoho is a powerful tool for small businesses that are not ready to pay subscription fees.

Best CRM Software for Startups is Hubspot. It is another fully functioning CRM that is free for users and includes many of the tools a startup needs. It can track and organize contacts and offers a complete overview of the sales pipeline. Hubspot CRM also offers a sales add-on, in free and pro versions ($50 per month), which include email notifications and templates, document tracking, and in-app calling. Moreover, Hubspot offers all the basic features necessary without the complexity that can make other CRM software difficult to use for newbies. It's also a certified, premier Google partner, easily integrates with other software, and can be used in a variety of industries. Unfortunately, there's no phone support for free users, but that would be a little too good to be true.

Best CRM Software for Companies that Want Customizable Solutions
Apptivo is a web-based CRM solution that offers a variety of customer relations, project tracking and financial management functions. Users love the customizable app features that allow them to pick and choose the functions they need for their companies. The software is highly compatible with Google applications and users rave about the highly responsive, 24-hour customer service and great live chat support option. Altogether, one of the most flexible and affordable CRM tools available.