It’s too easy to fall in love with what you’re used to. Learning something new is difficult, and sometimes you’re too proud to admit that a process or program is no longer working. The same applies to CRM software for small business owners everywhere.
Eventually, your software goes out of date and is no longer useful to you, your business, or your customers. Maybe it’s from a lack of updates; perhaps the tools aren’t masterful enough for your needs or preference, which leaves you dissatisfied. That’s when you should really consider moving on from the software or system that’s served you so well, for so long.
8 Signs It’s Time To Upgrade Your CRM Software
1. Your Sales Channels Aren’t in Your CRM
Lots of CRM software lacks several essential communication channels or at least doesn’t have fantastic integration for some essentials. These essentials include logging calls, texts, and emails. How are you supposed to keep track of what’s going on in your business if you can’t keep on top of how much you’re selling, and where?
Upgrading to better CRM software can let you have seamless, automatic logging of these communication channels, especially if you choose software with a mobile app. Step back and look at your business and see where your sales are coming from. Cold calls? Email marketing? Ensure you choose CRM software that can log these things, and do it easily, with all the necessary detail.
2. Your Software or Staff Report Inaccurate Data
Software isn’t flawless, and sometimes it can under or over-report data if it’s automated. If your staff are responsible for filling in the information, they may dislike your software and neglect to fill in some essential information. Manual data entry, redundant information, and difficult-to-use software are all huge turn-offs for your staff. You want something cleaner, more efficient, and as automated as you can get.
A high-quality CRM software for small business owners will pack in the automated features and get rid of the manual, or at least as much of the manual as possible. This may incentivize your staff to use it, and if you select high-quality software, there should be no mistakes either. Look for software that’s rated well by users, and has an excellent UI. Drag and drop interfaces, contact importation, and similar features are a must, too.
3. Your Staff Are Always Behind
Sometimes staff just don’t pay attention. They don’t care enough about the latest deals to realize they’re happening, so you’re not selling them as well as you could be. Other times this is a CRM software fault, as it’s not tracking activities and sending out notifications to workers. Some CRM software doesn’t have custom criteria to fill in, so there’s no way to notify all staff of new deals and offers you have going on for customers.
You need to upgrade to something that allows custom criteria and custom notifications and has push notifications. Push notifications on desktop are nice, but having them on mobile is a plus, too. Consider whether your staff prefers sitting at the desk or working on the go to know which type of notification you need to prioritize. Once you have your staff up-to-date, you should see sales on deals and offers steadily increasing.
4. There’s Blatant Employee Frustration
“Oh, you’ll get used to it.” “You’re just not using it properly.” “Maybe your computer is buggy.” How often do you find yourself saying these things to staff members who express distress with your CRM software? Sometimes the statements hold true, but if the complaints are widespread and continuous, then it’s the CRM software that’s at fault, not the employee. It’s time to upgrade to one that most, if not all of your staff members are satisfied with.
Search for CRM software for small business owners that’s rated well among users, doesn’t take a lot of know-how to use, and is transparent about everything you might expect with the software. Some CRM software comes with onboarding packages, which yes, cost extra, but sometimes it’s worth it. It’s better to have zero frustration among staff while spending more, than to spend less but have to deal with annoyance and distress.
5. You Want Something More Basic
Small businesses sometimes don’t need as many fancy, complex features as larger companies. There are so many features you won’t use, too much clutter on the UI, and new employees are often confused by it and worry they’re doing something wrong by ignoring the irrelevant features. You should remember that sometimes downsizing is an upgrade, although it might seem like a downgrade.
Plus, CRM software with fewer features often has room to go more in-depth data-wise on each feature. This is excellent for learning about everything you have going on. You should know everything about the few things you have going on, rather than knowing a little about a lot of things you don’t have going on. You can upgrade to a fancier, feature-rich CRM when the time comes and your needs grow one day.
6. You Want Social Media Help
You won’t get full social media integration in any CRM software, you really need a separate platform for that. However, there’s something in social media sales and customer service that you can’t deny. It would be nice to have CRM software that can reflect that.
Some CRM software lets you auto-complete contact profiles found on social media, find relevant social accounts, provide updates on the use of certain phrases or hashtags, as well as track leads acquired through posts and direct messages across various social media platforms. Some CRM software even integrates with social media monitoring software, so you can ensure everything is interlinked and you know what’s happening.
7. You’d Like Third-Party App Integration
There are tons of business tools out there and being able to integrate them all with your CRM software is a desirable asset. CRM software isn’t just for data storage, it’s a tool with plenty of utilities that can work across all departments of your business.
Consider a CRM software that lets you browse a range of integrations so you know what you’re getting into beforehand. Look at the other tools you use and see if any of them integrate with CRM software. If multiple third-party apps integrate with the same CRM software then it may be time to switch over to that CRM software. You’ll save so much time by making accessing all your tools this efficient.
8. It’s Stuck on One Device
Not everyone is chained to their desk all day. Some people like to work on their commute, but they can’t bring their laptops. Some people want to be reachable at all times, including when they’re out grocery shopping or going for a walk. You can’t stay in business mode away from your desk if your CRM software is desktop only. A mobile app is basically mandatory in all good programs at this point.
Seriously consider choosing a CRM with a smartphone application on iOS and Android. The phone application needs to be as in-depth and simple to use as the desktop version, and push notifications are a must. At the same time, there should be an option to turn off notifications for when staff actually want to take a break and get out of business mode for a while.
CRM Software for Small Business Owners: Why Upgrading Seems Intimidating
As a small business owner, you’re used to doing everything yourself for a small budget. You may have years of data stored within your software, or worse, in spreadsheets and folders and subpar tools that help. You can use your current processes seamlessly, as you spent years putting in the time and effort it takes to master your technique and make things more efficient. With all of this behind you, it’s no shock that change is scary.
It gets worse when you think of it this way: there are dozens, if not hundreds, of CRM software packages out there. Which one are you supposed to choose, and how will a new system factor into the company’s budget? Selecting the wrong one is just going to be headache-inducing, and something too pricey might create a dent in your profits.
Why Change Matters
Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and dive into the unknown. You may not want something new, but it could be the only thing that’s going to work to streamline and improve your current processes. You need change to keep your business running smoothly, so you can grow and continue to learn about your customer base and make your existing and future customers happy.
If you don’t change it’s more likely you’ll end up facing the music sooner or later, and both your business and your mentality will suffer for it. With everything above in mind, you know when it’s time to look for new and best CRM software for small business owners and processes. Contact us at Anthem Software and we’ll help you out with all of your CRM software needs and guide you through the process gently, yet efficiently.
