CRM software for small B2C manufacturing business.
Discussion
Hi everyone, I would like some advice on the best CRM solution for my business (website link in my profile).
We are a small two man business, but hoping to take on a few more people next year. As the proprietor I handle everything from marketing to dispatch , and the other guy predominantly just works on product development, creating new artwork.
At present, I have been handling all customer interactions and orders purely though the main email account and Outlook, I have set it up in such a way that a customer goes through a set cycle of folders, enquiry > lead > order > order discussion > dispatch. I know it's not ideal but it was what I started doing when I was making a few products a month in a bedroom, but now I'm up to almost 100 a month and starting to dish out these orders to the other guy, I need a better way of tracking everything so by the sounds of it, I need a CRM solution.
Only thing is I have absolutely no experience with these, I don't really understand the features or which ones I should really be focussing on given the specifics of my business. We sell predominantly B2C through our own website, the products are all highly customised with all artwork and manufacture done in the same room. It's clear the biggest players in the CRM industry like Salesforce are going to be total overkill and too expensive for my needs, but I am confused as to what the myriad of smaller cheaper systems offer and how they can benefit me.
Any advice welcome, especially if you run a similar sort of business!
We are a small two man business, but hoping to take on a few more people next year. As the proprietor I handle everything from marketing to dispatch , and the other guy predominantly just works on product development, creating new artwork.
At present, I have been handling all customer interactions and orders purely though the main email account and Outlook, I have set it up in such a way that a customer goes through a set cycle of folders, enquiry > lead > order > order discussion > dispatch. I know it's not ideal but it was what I started doing when I was making a few products a month in a bedroom, but now I'm up to almost 100 a month and starting to dish out these orders to the other guy, I need a better way of tracking everything so by the sounds of it, I need a CRM solution.
Only thing is I have absolutely no experience with these, I don't really understand the features or which ones I should really be focussing on given the specifics of my business. We sell predominantly B2C through our own website, the products are all highly customised with all artwork and manufacture done in the same room. It's clear the biggest players in the CRM industry like Salesforce are going to be total overkill and too expensive for my needs, but I am confused as to what the myriad of smaller cheaper systems offer and how they can benefit me.
Any advice welcome, especially if you run a similar sort of business!
My business is not similar in any way, apart from the fact that it is quite small. But, like you have said, I considered Salesforce to be 'overkill' for our needs.
I looked at a few options, mine needed to be Mac friendly too. First we went with Capsule, which was okay, but have since settled on Pipedrive which I cannot recommend highly enough.
Costs are low, and it does about 95% of what I need. It is very user friendly and intuitive, I really like it. There are Youtube videos which will give you a feel.
I looked at a few options, mine needed to be Mac friendly too. First we went with Capsule, which was okay, but have since settled on Pipedrive which I cannot recommend highly enough.
Costs are low, and it does about 95% of what I need. It is very user friendly and intuitive, I really like it. There are Youtube videos which will give you a feel.
There are many CRM's that can be used by small businesses - Capsule, Insightly, Zoho, Pipedrive are just a few. However it sounds like you may need an order processing system rather than just CRM? If there's anything that will integrate with your accounting software then I guess that would save a lot of time.
BGARK said:
Interesting, what do you prefer over Capsule?
Pretty much everything! Not that there is anything wrong with Capsule, I did look into many CRM's before deciding to try that. But with Pipedrive it just suits the way I work, and I enjoy using it every day. I suppose as highlights, the way the pipeline deals page allows you to drag and drop deal progress left to right and vice versa, and the way that I can link the deals with my different Customers. Also I prefer how I can drag a file or image from my desktop straight into a deal and how it is stored in the timeline. Pipedrive is very customisable too, which is necessary as my business is probably different to most in the way a new Customer through to deal finalisation is worked.
Have you tried both yourself?
KarlS said:
BGARK said:
Interesting, what do you prefer over Capsule?
Pretty much everything! Not that there is anything wrong with Capsule, I did look into many CRM's before deciding to try that. But with Pipedrive it just suits the way I work, and I enjoy using it every day. I suppose as highlights, the way the pipeline deals page allows you to drag and drop deal progress left to right and vice versa, and the way that I can link the deals with my different Customers. Also I prefer how I can drag a file or image from my desktop straight into a deal and how it is stored in the timeline. Pipedrive is very customisable too, which is necessary as my business is probably different to most in the way a new Customer through to deal finalisation is worked.
Have you tried both yourself?
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