Copyright © 2009 ZIENNA Logic, Australia

Providing information sharing solutions to mid-enterprise businesses.

Last updated 01 Aug 2009

Most businesses quickly realise that managing client information can become an extremely time consuming issue.  This is expecially true where there are many clients plus more than 3 staff in the office.  Once multiple staff members become involved in accessing client information there is a greater business demand for a single central database.

Accounting systems and email systems don't cater for sales and marketing functions.  Even simple requirements such as date and time stamped notes are often missing from those packages.  CRM systems are designed to capture, categorise and retrieve data easily, then provide mechanisms to perform an action on those lists.

Consequently, in the SME arena, it's most often the case that at least three software packages must exist to cater for the day-to-day activities; an accounting system, an email client and a CRM database.

Depending on your core business function, the most common requirements in a CRM system are:

• One centralised database
• Client information needs to be shared with many staff
• List management. Existing spreadsheets of data need to be eliminated
• Replacement of legacy CRM application (in many cases a home built Access database)
• A shared calendar for all staff
• Historical and chronological notes with clients
• Manage sales opportunities (sales funnel)
• Track and manage customer service issues
• Track and manage products sold and to whom (eg. hardware, software, contracts, memberships)

Click on the CRM bar for more information.