A CRM for tradespeople and SMEs
Discover a CRM specifically designed to meet the needs of tradespeople and small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
There is an overwhelming choice of CRMs. Thousands of them exist. Some are made by large software publishers, others by smaller ones; some are developed internationally and then translated, others by local companies. For a long time, CRMs were also often the preserve of large companies and big groups. First because they were often the only ones able to afford this type of IT solution, but also because of a corporate culture more common in internationally oriented companies following American methods.
But times are changing. CRM solutions are becoming more accessible and now take into account the issues faced by small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). Here are the criteria you should pay attention to before making your choice.
Price
Money is the lifeblood of business! And in SMEs, cash flow often leaves no room for error.
Technological progress has enabled an impressive leap forward. IT habits were initially geared towards "on premise" solutions (installed on site), which required a dedicated application server (hardware + server software + backup), a complete computer network, staff for maintenance… in short, nothing affordable for a small business or a tradesperson.
The widespread adoption of "cloud" solutions now makes it possible to reduce costs considerably. The publisher offering a CRM solution provides access to the production server and organises the backup and maintenance of the installations for hundreds, or even thousands, of customers at once. A web solution also means you can access it from any internet connection (office computer, home computer or even smartphone), which better meets the responsiveness constraints of SMEs.
User-friendliness, simplicity and intuitiveness
Some users are more comfortable with IT than others. And choosing a tool that is not user-friendly enough risks social fallout, with the loss of some team members! And they were so hard to find in the first place!
You need to choose a CRM solution that is simple, intuitive and focused on "user comfort", with a simple, responsive interface (the display automatically adapts to the size of the screen on which it is viewed).
Small organisations prefer simple, effective solutions that get straight to the point.
Security
As we have seen, CRM solution publishers vary in size. They must not take the security of your data lightly! Because in the event of a problem or data loss, the future of your business would be at stake. Remember to check the provider's financial security, the technical infrastructure on which the solution is based, the internal and external backup rules for your data, your ability to export your data easily, and the labels and certificates of the IT infrastructure. Don't hesitate to get help if needed, perhaps from the provider who sells you your computers.
Security also means being able to grant customised access rights per user, starting with permitted login hours. Because security must first be organised internally.
Features
This is not about equipping yourself for the sake of it. The CRM solution you choose will become the heart of your organisation; it absolutely must bring you added responsiveness, organisation and efficiency… otherwise, what's the point?
Read our article on the main features offered by CRM tools here.
Customisation and automation
For the budget available in an SME, you will opt for a general-purpose solution, but it must reflect who you are. You need to be able to customise it. Of course, your logo, contact details and mandatory legal notices must appear on your sales documents (as in eKo CRM). A French tradesperson will be pleased to send quotes or invoices together with the VAT certificate to be completed by the customer and/or their General Terms and Conditions of Sale without even having to think about it (as in eKo CRM). A retailer will be pleased to receive automatic stock alerts to avoid running out of certain products (as in eKo CRM). Also useful is the automatic personalised covering text that accompanies quotes or invoices sent in one click (as in eKo CRM)! Customisation and automation are made up of little things that change your life.
Customer service
You regularly write quotes and invoices, but do you often issue credit notes too? You have just activated a new module, but where do you click?
The provider whose CRM solution you choose must be able to respond to your requests. How are training and support organised? Online, by video call, by email, by phone? Can someone come on site? How is access activated for new employees?
You should also consider support resources such as online tutorials and the existence of a user guide or manual.
All-in-one or separate modules
Opt for an all-in-one solution to avoid endlessly re-keying customer data. Some offers are modular, but the modules do not necessarily communicate with each other, or not fully, which can quickly become a source of additional tedious and unproductive work. Tradespeople and SMEs have neither the time nor the staff for that.
Interconnection
The CRM solution you choose is ideally all-in-one, as we saw above. But that does not mean you have to be isolated. Interconnection means, for example, synchronising with your mailbox. Or being able to export your sales journal in the format expected by your accounting firm. Interconnection also means letting users log in whatever device they use: a Windows or Linux PC, an Apple Mac, an Android smartphone or iPhone… IT equipment is not always uniform in SMEs.
Real-time updates
Responsiveness must not be an empty word. If the provider releases a security update or a fix for its CRM solution, the update must be applied without delay. Your teams cannot wait. The same goes for everything you enter in the software. If your assistant has taken the time to enter an urgent quote, you must be able to review it immediately before it is finally sent to the customer.
Sales tracking
As we said at the start of this article, finance is the lifeblood of business. The CRM solution you choose must enable you to:
- Easily find your quotes awaiting a response so you can follow up with your customers easily.
- Track the progress of sales opportunities through a customised, collaborative pipeline that is simple to configure.
- Reconcile receipts and manage your payments.
- See a summary of your activity on a simple, effective dashboard.
For tradespeople and SMEs, the watchword is "efficiency". Teams are often kept as small as possible and there is no duplication of roles within them. You have to get straight to the point.
So you need to find the ideal tool to support your work effectively.
We suggest eKo CRM!
Curious to discover all of eKo's features? This way!
