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.”
Businesses are “too reliant” on spreadsheets
Businesses are too reliant on out-of-date, un-secure and often inaccessible spreadsheets, according to web-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) provider, webCRM.
The Leicestershire-based online CRM company is urging businesses to consider the implications of using spreadsheets for sales and customer data – such as losing sales opportunities, having inaccurate data and sales staff duplicating on leads.
“It’s important for a company of any size to have instant and up-to-date access to sales lead details, customer information and other data, otherwise everyone’s working on different information, most of which will be out-of-date before they begin a task,” said James Bogue of webCRM.
“Businesses are often too reliant on spreadsheets. Every sales lead is vital – not to mention expensive. Managing these leads can mean the difference between success and failure or even profit and loss. That’s where a good CRM system can make the difference.
“Existing spreadsheets can be imported to web-based systems such as webCRM meaning data can be refreshed and updated easily. That means sales teams on the road can access and update customer data or sales leads and colleagues have real-time access to it.”
Consider a CRM system in National Franchise Week 2011
Franchises are one of the UK’s continuously growing sectors, with a turnover of £12.4 billion in 2010.
Whether you’re a franchise owner or brand, sales leads and customer retention are critical for business growth – and an online Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system like webCRM is critical to manage both.
To mark National Franchise Week, which culminates in the National Franchise Exhibition at the NEC, Birmingham, this Friday (30 September 2011), web-based CRM provider, webCRM, is urging franchises to consider introducing a CRM system to their business.
“Bringing enquiries, sales leads and customer data together into one system is critical for a business,” said James Bogue of Leicestershire-based webCRM that has 7,000 users.
“Franchises often have fragmented systems or spreadsheets in place for the different parts of the business – new sales, existing customers and marketing. This leads to a breakdown in the flow and distribution of communications, often hindering a business’ growth. Read more
Outlook and webCRM – the perfect CRM match
Microsoft Outlook is a common software package used by businesses for day-to-day e-mail, calendar and contact information.
But why not use that data to your commercial advantage by integrating it into a web-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system?
webCRM’s cloud-based CRM system fully integrates with Outlook allowing all or selected contacts, appointments, activities and e-mails to seamlessly integr
ate between the two systems. But why’s this so important?
Whether it’s a small, medium or large business, sharing information internally is critical to ensure good business development and overall commercial growth.
Sales and customer services teams need to work closely together and have access to relevant, accurate and up-to-date information to avoid missed sales leads, customer enquiries, duplicate or even missed appointments. Read more
Text ahead with webCRM
webCRM’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system has many functions which we’ll cover on our blog over the coming weeks. Here we focus on the the ability to use SMS to text clients and colleagues from within webCRM.*
Whether it’s part of a marketing campaign, chasing an lead or sending a meeting reminder, texting by SMS is an effective way of contact and it can all be done within webCRM’s web-based system. So no more checking your diary and fumbling on the mobile phone keyboard.
Just think, you’ve had the lead and updated the CRM system. You’ve put that all important meeting with a prospective client in the diary but just to make sure they remember you can set the system to text a reminder.
And it’s not just individual texts. You might have a PR or marketing campaign or even a big event coming up. Connect your campaign so that delegates, clients or prospective delegate get a quick SMS text reminder. You can even send confirmation texts after a sale or enquiry as confirmation. The possibilities are endless but beneficial. Read more
webCRM adds company credit and director searches
webCRM Ltd has added a new ‘company and director search’ module to its web-based CRM system, providing users with access to UK business accounts and directors’ searches filed with Companies House.
Users will have the ability to undertake basic searches on potential and existing clients, including risk scores, credit limits, directors shareholdings, accounts, mortgage and charges and County Court Judgements at additional cost. webCRM is using UK Data as the supplier.
“Searches on potential or existing business customers assist companies when making commercial decisions,” said Stephen Todd, director at webCRM.
“The integration of the UK Data database means users can access this information directly from the webCRM system, making the transition between data systems easier. It also enhances the user experience – cutting time between window and screen transitions.”
webCRM users will be able to click on a search option within webCRM before being taken to the UK Data website where their results will be posted. The user can record the information into the CRM system where necessary. 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 gets 9/10 in CRM review
webCRM has been awarded 9/10 in a GetApp.com Customer Relationship Management product review.
GetApp.com provides insight and opinion on web apps, cloud computing, SaaS and business software.
Reviewer Michelle Nachum was impressed with the ability of webCRM to empower businesses to manage contacts and track sales leads, as well as its integration with Microsoft Outlook.
“Like many CRM programs, webCRM allows small businesses to streamline and organize their customers and clients. But the solution is not just a fancy database for customer contact information – the product will allow a team to forecast and predict successful sales orders; create budgets; collaborate on documents; maintain a group calendar; conduct marketing campaigns and create lead generation opportunities,” she states in her review of the product which can be found here. Read more
More businesses turn to cloud services like webCRM
More businesses are turning to cloud computing services to host their business systems, backing the surge in users for webCRM’s web-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.
According to research published this week, around 45 per cent of large businesses are using cloud services for their IT services which is up 24 per cent compared to the same period in 2010. The research was carried out by Ovum who questioned 110 multinationals.
The trend follows research published earlier this year that found more small and medium-sized businesses are turning to web-based services for many of their IT and business services, including Customer Relationship Management systems like webCRM.
“There’s a clear shift in business confidence when it comes to hosted services,” said James Bogue of webCRM.
“Companies are realising it’s more cost effective to have their system hosted off site on secure servers than having to procure and run their own costly IT-based systems.”
He added: “webCRM is a good example of this. Companies can be safe in the knowledge that their CRM system is secure and backed-up. More importantly, webCRM ensures customers have access to a fast and reliable system that is securely accessible anywhere via a PC, MAC, iPad, mobile phone or other portable device. 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 integrates website contact forms with CRM
Potential clients are more likely to use a company’s website contact form than call direct with an enquiry about a product and service.
Wouldn’t it be great if that information was automatically captured on your CRM system without the need to manually transfer or input the information from the form or the automated e-mail it produces?
Well, with webCRM you can now capture the information straight into your CRM system, ensuring an immediate response to the lead from your sales or customer services team.
The web forms support standard fields, for example ‘Name’ and ‘E-mail’, plus your preferred custom fields, such as ‘Products of Interest’ and ‘Timescales’. Use this to seamlessly create follow-up activities with all the enquiry details. 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
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
webCRM listed as 2011 Top 40 CRM Vendor
webCRM has been listed in the top 40 of an influential list of top CRM systems globally.
Business-Software.com, the leading software evaluation website for IT and business professionals, has listed webCRM in its annual report of the top 40 CRM providers.
Stephen Todd of webCRM said: “We’re very pleased to be listed as one of the top 40 CRM providers in the world in this list. It demonstrates how webCRM is now one of the major players within the CRM industry and we’re proud of our ability to provide an affordable and scalable web-based CRM system to small, medium and large businesses and organisations.” 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
