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For many entrepreneurs, running their own business is not just about attracting new contractors, but more importantly about building lasting relationships with customers. Maintaining continuous contact with the clientele is key to establishing a stable position in the market. In this context, entrepreneurs use a variety of tools, and CRM systems are an important element in facilitating cooperation with contractors. Although the market offers a wealth of options in this area, choosing the right system can be difficult.
It is worth noting that in the case of CRM systems, a higher price or license fee does not always mean better quality. There is no rule that investing more money in the software or buying paid access will result in more efficient operations or easier management of the customer base. There are many excellent, yet free CRM systems that have won praise from satisfied users and reputable companies. In our opinion, what matters is understanding the assumptions and what the system is supposed to be used for. A correctly implemented free CRM will fulfill its functions, provided that it provides the necessary tools for the needs of your processes and organization of the company's work.
See also 10 ideas for using a CRM system
table of contents:
Security and data protection
CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system is a platform aimed at developing and maintaining individual relationships with customers, organizing the work of the company , creating a customer base. CRM in the free version that can be found on the Internet for basic needs can be found issue, however, security and data protection.
Loss of account access
It is worth considering what will happen if one day the company disappears or the server on which we have all company data, customer data and analytics goes down.
From our point of view, we would see a backup solution for the status of the CRM system daily at the end of the day sent to a server or stored in the cloud. The option to integrate with external programs and the ability to export backups is worth checking out.
Correctness of team implementation
Usually a CRM whether free or in a paid subscription without training employees and showing the advantages waits in the queue to be ticked off as done at the end of the week.
UX interface of free CRM and readability
In the field of sales, special attention should be paid to the automation and daily work of your team in the CRM system, which should be easy and pleasant. The success of the company's CRM implementation also depends on the intuitiveness of the solutions and the simplicity of working in the panel.
What are the advantages of free CRM over paid ones - check the functionality
A free CRM is an extremely helpful tool for achieving your company's goals, but it's worth checking that it offers everything we need, such as: the ability to export data, generate PDFs, add user roles and analyze data.
The implementation of the free system brings benefits on two levels :
See also How to implement CRM in a company
CRM is an indispensable value for companies that emphasize excellent customer service and continuous improvement of service standards. There is no restriction on specific departments in the company or industries as the main emphasis in the case of free CRM is worth placing on the correctness of its implementation and adaptation to individual needs.
Before you decide on a free CRM, hold a meeting with your team and gather feedback on it
Free CRM systems are most often based on an open source license, which allows you to freely adapt the application to the specific needs of each organization. It also happens that over time, free solutions become paid or their functionality is limited, for example:
These and other limitations may or may not show up over time as you work on the free version of CRM.
Our offer:
There are numerous CRM systems available on the market, both paid and completely free. Both types of solutions have their strengths and limitations, depending on individual user preferences and needs. What some entrepreneurs find indispensable, others may see as unnecessary. There is no perfect CRM that would meet the expectations of every user. The choice of a system should be a case-by-case approach, taking into account the purpose of implementing the software and expectations of its functions. After answering these questions, it is worth considering the available options on the market. Sometimes it turns out that free CRM systems are as effective or even more beneficial than their paid counterparts. Below are some of the best free CRM systems available on the market.
Source: https://poradnikprzedsiebiorcy.pl/-5-darmowych-crmow-ktore-ulatwia-ci-prace
In the case of SugarCRM, we have a choice of both paid and free variants. The decision depends on our needs and preferences. The free version, SugarCRM Community, although somewhat more modest in functionality than the paid version, still offers a wide range of capabilities. Among the available features are a personalized user panel, flexible linking of system elements, quick addition of new objects from subpanels, event scheduling and registration, bulk data import and export, and customization of search criteria.
The system has numerous advantages, such as a simple custom wizard, a Polish language version, trusted clients, and a rich array of capabilities and built-in features.
However, you should be aware of some disadvantages of SugarCRM, such as an outdated interface design and some compatibility issues with some popular web browsers. Nevertheless, using it on Google Chrome browser may be the best option.
The two systems, SugarCRM and VTiger, have a number of similarities, which becomes obvious upon closer inspection. VTiger offers a rich array of features, which is a significant advantage of this solution.
Users can take advantage of free add-ons, including those for popular packages such as MS Office, and email programs including MS Outlook and Mozilla Thunderbird. VTiger is also distinguished by its high configuration flexibility, full Polish language version and active user community.
However, it is worth noting that the system has some drawbacks, similar to those found in SugarCRM, mainly an outdated interface design.
In addition, VTiger is a cloud-based CRM system
In simple terms, cloud CRM is a customer relationship management system that runs entirely in the Internet cloud. Customer data is securely stored and accessible online.
Many businesses have moved to cloud CRM technology because of its flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Users can easily access CRM applications via web tools or browsers. Company team members have the ability to log into the CRM system from anywhere in the world and from any device with Internet access.
Special attention should be paid to SuiteCRM, which is based on SugarCRM Community Edition. This system stands out for its rich feature set, surpassing the standard applications of competing solutions. Available capabilities include customer ticket registration, project management, meeting and phone call tracking, automation wizard, Google Maps integration and event organization.
OpenCRX is often considered the best fully free CRM available to all. The manufacturer has ambitious development plans, steering the system towards the class of ERP systems. The current CRM allows free configurations and provides numerous useful tools, and features good quality documentation. However, some imperfections should be mentioned, such as the poor Polish language version, which can be considered unsatisfactory in most cases, and operation, which is not the most intuitive. Nevertheless, it is worth taking a closer look at what this system offers.
Fat Free CRM is a great solution for small and start-up companies, featuring ease of use. It doesn't require a lot of time to learn the available functions, and all the necessary applications are available in the system. Unfortunately, the lack of a Polish language version may be a hindrance for those looking for a CRM in their native language, although the interface itself is easy to use. The system is distinguished by its high quality code. However, it is worth remembering that the program offers only basic functions and does not enjoy a very wide user base.
See How to choose a CRM for your business
You have already seen that free business process management tools are not always the optimal solution.
When using free CRM systems, we recommend treating them as an experiment and a chance to test your team's flexibility against new tools. However, it's worth exercising caution, especially when it comes to collecting personal data, as free solutions don't always offer adequate support and protection, and their descriptions of legal standards can be vague.
It is important to remember that the purchase of a CRM system alone does not automatically guarantee effective marketing campaigns, increased sales metrics or improved customer relations. It is necessary to implement the platform, train staff and customize it so that it can actually support the team effectively.
It is therefore worth considering investing in paid solutions that are regularly developed, updated and offer technical support. Developers of paid systems not only provide technical and content support, but also provide training and online courses. Partner companies, such as Craftware, can provide complementary implementations, tailoring CRM to the specific needs of the company.
We hope that reading this article has cleared up your doubts and made it easier to make an informed choice. If you still have questions, please contact us - we will be happy to provide additional information and advice on your specific situation.
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