Upgraded to the new iPhone 4S? Why not harness the power of CRM on it – like webCRM
The Apple iPhone 4s has been selling in record numbers globally. Many of these are corporate sales. But why have such technology at your team’s fingertips without harnessing the power of a simple but effective Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, like webCRM?
Technology is an integral part of business and with sales and customer support teams increasingly needing to find new ways to attract new customers and retain existing ones it’s imperative that they can access the latest company and customer data.
That’s where webCRM is a great tool for businesses large and small. Whether it’s the latest iPhone 4s, iPad 2, BlackBerry or Android-based mobile device or tablet PC, webCRM brings CRM technology to where you need it – mobile, portable, or at your desk.
CRM and National Customer Service Week
It’s National Customer Service Week in the UK, but are you giving your existing and potential customers the service they deserve? Have you considered a web-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system such as webCRM to build your relationship and retain customers?
Customers are your best asset. They provide opportunities for new sales and act as an endorsement to your products and services when everything’s going well. But if you’re not maintaining your relationship or using an effective business CRM system, you could be losing sales, customers and your reputation.
“CRM systems such as webCRM ensure you maintain a proactive relationship with your customer,” said Stephen Todd of Leicestershire-based webCRM.
“From recording activities and enquiries, following-up sales opportunities, sending e-mails and arranging meetings which can synchronised with Microsoft Outlook, webCRM is a valuable business tool.”
Planning consultant plans ahead with webCRM
A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system capable of integrating with Microsoft Outlook, support increased marketing mailshots and improve customer interaction was a key requirement from Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners (NLP).
webCRM met all of its requirements and has helped the business and its 156 CRM users to integrate and consolidate business development processes.
The planning consultancy, which has offices in London, Cardiff, Manchester and Newscastle, was using four shared contact lists in Outlook and monitoring weekly marketing activities on an Excel spreadsheet before it considered a CRM system
“We identified a need to help with our new business development towards the beginning of the recession. We decided we needed better tools to see where our effort was on the marketing side and to improve our targeting,” said Peter Claxton, Technology Manager at NLP.
Logistics industry needs to drive forward with CRM
The UK’s logistics and transportation industry could drive up profitability and efficiencies if it improved the use of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology.
Facing a continued battle against fuel and transportation costs, James Bogue of webCRM Ltd said logistics and transportation businesses could ramp-up efficiencies by using web-based CRM systems to allow improved interaction with existing and new customers.
“Understanding what a new or existing customer wants can be the difference between profit and loss for a logistics firm,” said Mr Bogue. “A firm might be transporting goods to one city for a client when another has mentioned a similar destination to a different member of the sales team who has failed to record it.
“As a result, a potential sale has been lost or the margins of the job have been poor as it was only 75 per cent full. This impacts not only on the profitability of the job, but the overall business.” He added that enquiries logged from potential clients could have the same effect if data was recorded and shared via CRM. Read more
webCRM helps college engage with businesses
Farnborough College of Technology turned to webCRM when it needed a dynamic and effective Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to increase interaction with the business community and to compete with other training providers.
With an existing CRM system structured predominantly around learners, the college’s Business Services team needed a CRM system capable of supporting their drive for new business, securing repeat contracts, and to compete with other training providers.
“Our focus is very much on providing businesses with first-class training services and we found we needed a CRM system that would support us in both developing new relationships and managing existing ones effectively.” said Geoff Roy, Business Development Consultant.
“The training sector is highly competitive and we needed to ensure we could target and retain business and having an effective CRM system was vital. The fact that it tracks sales gives us a good idea of potential new business at any given time.” Read more
webcrm helps Seafield Logistics to distribute information
With 18 sites spread throughout the UK, rapidly growing distribution and warehousing company Seafield Logistics needed a business CRM system capable of integrating management and customer information.
A specialist in storing and distributing goods as quickly and efficiently as possible throughout the UK and Europe, ensuring the business has access to key data and customer information from each site is critical to its success within one of the most competitive industries in the UK. A fast, secure and reliable CRM system was paramount.
The company turned to web-based webCRM for its CRM system and is already benefiting from its decision.
“We have 18 sites throughout the UK which all have their own customers and they all operate autonomously with their own sales information,” said Natalie Holt of Seafield Logistics based in Worksop, Nottinghamshire. Read more
webCRM improves business development at Oxford Hardware
Converting from paper and Excel files to a fast, secure and integrated CRM system was the only way to improve business development opportunities at Oxford Hardware, a leading provider of commercial catering, refrigeration and plumbing equipment.
The Warwick-based company, which has customers throughout the UK and Ireland, chose webCRM because of its adaptability and the fact that its cloud hosting means it can be accessed by the sales team from virtually anywhere.
Sales and Marketing spokesperson, Joanne Taylor, said the business had needed to move from a paper-based system to improve business opportunities.
“We were all working off paper and I was finding that it was all very well knowing who our customers were but we weren’t aware of who wasn’t. So it was a waste of business development,” she said.
“Initially we were looking for a CRM system of any sort. We wanted something that was easy to use and manage. When I’m out and about I also need to be able to fire up the laptop and have information to hand and access all the relevant information about the customer. I can check that there’s anything that I should be aware of before I walk into the customer’s building.” Read more
Lightwater Environmental improves efficiency with webCRM
Environmental management company Lightwater Environmental Ltd focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of businesses in the UK and saving them money at the same time. But now it’s improving its own business efficiency with the help of webCRM.
Lightwater Environmental Ltd provides businesses with free energy management surveys and recommends financially viable solutions to help businesses make informed decisions to reduce their carbon footprint while saving large amounts of money in the process.
With a growing client base and range of environmental management services on offer, Lightwater realised that it needed a single system for capturing, recording and distributing customer information, data and sales leads around its team. Lightwater are also known for providing a very high level of customer service to their clients and so the simple answer was a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and it turned to web-based webCRM for the answer. Read more
‘be more effective’ with webCRM
When a business improvement training company that deals with some of the UK’s top blue chip businesses needed to implement a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, it turned to web-based webCRM for the solution.
‘be more effective’ designs and delivers customer and business solutions that help companies to achieve results by improving processes, enhancing employee involvement and developing skills within businesses.
As with many businesses, ‘be more effective’ had relied on its own database and Excel-based documents in the past, but needed to procure a dedicated CRM system that could help deliver even greater results.
Managing Director, Bob Hayward, who is one of the UK’s top internal communication and employee engagement consultants, realised that for his team to develop the business further they needed a single ‘live’ system that they could all work with. And after careful consideration he decided webCRM was the answer. Read more
Excel Law takes webCRM on the road
When it comes to being able to access and input customer data live you need a CRM system that has the capability to work with a range of mobile and portable devices, including iPads and Tablet PCs.
Up until now, field and sales teams have had to rely on bespoke systems that allow them access to their company’s database or CRM system – often at extortionate costs and with a host of IT requirements. The alternative has been updating system in the evening or the next day – sometimes even days later.
webCRM is a web-based CRM system that is readily available on mobile phones, tablet PCs and iPads without the need for software or specialist IT requirements and runs extremely fast through the devices web browser. Read more
Eagle Education flies with web-based CRM provider webCRM
Eagle Education and Training is one of the UK’s fastest growing specialists in accountancy training. When it wanted to improve its sales lead conversions it needed a CRM system that was easy to use and implement within the business and so it turned to webCRM.
The Wrexham-based company provides specialist home and remote training and education for businesses and individuals seeking a range of accountancy qualifications to enhance their careers or as part of staff development programmes and training. The business had previously relied on its sales team dealing with enquiries through conventional office databases, but realised that it needed to modernise and implement a professional CRM system in order to grow the business.
Sonya Ashbury of Eagle Education and Training explained: “Because the business was growing it was getting more difficult to keep track of leads and we wanted to have a professional system in place. We found out about webCRM through networking with other people who told us about it. I was finding it more and more difficult to find a system that wasn’t over complicated. The webCRM website was easy to find and the system itself was very simple to understand.” Read more
Customer satisfaction matters for webCRM
The whole point of a good hosted CRM system is that it ensures a business is continuously aware of its interaction with new and existing customers and ensuring no time is wasted in duplicating actions and resources between individuals or teams. This also means that the business’ customer is also happy as they’re not being bombarded by different sales or customer service members. And a happy customer is likely to be a returning or retained customer.
James Bogue, a CRM specialist and director at webCRM explains why webCRM is different when it comes to CRM systems. “Here at webCRM we not only understand the processes that businesses want and need in a CRM system to ensure co-ordination between teams, but we also realise that one size doesn’t fit all. And so we’re quite open when we say our web-based CRM system is simple… but effective for businesses of all sizes – from sole traders to small, medium and large businesses. That means we provide each client with a CRM system that can be shaped and adapted when needs must and as the business grows or when new systems or processes are put in place within the business.”
“That’s all well and good we hear you say. But unlike many other CRM system providers we believe our relationship is ongoing. Yes, it’s a relationship, not just a sale. And so once we’ve provided our CRM system and run through the basics to ensure it’s right for the business, we continue that relationship by ensuring we’re always available to run through questions or any issues and solve them – in most cases there and then.” Read more
Talk about CRM with webCRM
It’s good to talk, as one UK telecommunications company used to say in its advertising. And here at webCRM we always like talking about CRM systems – so much so that we’ve fully launched a new live chat facility that allows our existing customers and potential clients to interact with us live via the website.
“You might have seen our earlier blog post about this when we launched a trial for it last year. Whether it’s an existing customer wanting to change something on their webCRM system or just needing a bit of advice, or a potential customer who simply wants to understand Customer Relationship Management systems better, we can help either way and answer your questions from the comfort of your PC or Mac. What could be easier?” said James Bogue of webCRM.
“We’ve trialled the system for a few months now to make sure it works as seamlessly as possible and is relevant to the needs of our customers. And so far we’ve had a big thumbs up from those who have used it. We’ve also been very surprised at the uptake from people who want to learn more about CRM and how it can enhance their business’s growth,” he added. Read more
Web design franchise experts realise the importance of web-based CRM systems
UK internet and web design franchise Spoton.net is an expert in its field and when the company wanted to enhance its sales leads and customer service experience it realised that a simple but effective web-based CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system was necessary.
With franchises spread around the UK and Ireland, Spoton.net needed a system that its own in-house team could use to develop sales leads and marketing campaigns, but one that its franchises could also use to grow their own businesses as well. So they turned to webCRM Ltd for a solution after scouring the CRM industry.
“We were a new start-up and knew that we’d need a CRM system to help develop the business,” said Karl Lewins, Franchise Development Manager at Spoton.net. “We searched for the best CRM system we could find. But it had to be simple and easy to use as we’d be rolling it out to our franchises as well.”
“webCRM was a perfect solution,” according to Mr Lewins, because its was “intuitive” and they could develop the system to how they wanted it easily. More importantly, it was web-based, allowing greater freedom and adaptability.” Read more
webCRM doubles its customer base
2010 was a very good year for web-based CRM system provider webCRM and its customers.
We launched more new functionality to the CRM system than ever before, with more than 30 minor and more significant enhancements, including an API (enabling webCRM to talk to almost any ERP system) and an integration to Google Maps, enabling a quick overview of where your customers and leads are physically located. And the upgrades haven’t made the system any more complicated - we still maintain our uniqueness as the most easy CRM system to set up and get started with.
2010 also marked a doubling of the webCRM customer base. More than 3000 new users have started using webCRM during 2010, and we have seen a significant increase in the no. of users for each customer.
