CRM Blog
Fri, 12 Feb 2010
The baby and the bathwater
Your competitors do not stand still. Therefore your business is either growing or shrinking.
Sales and marketing technology can help it grow. However, beware of throwing the baby out with the bathwater...
You will already have a range of existing software systems to run your business which probably work OK, and having to throw them out simply to get better information on customers, prospects suppliers and staff activity would probably be silly if you can avoid it.
And you'd probably like to get at your data from anywhere on anything...
Using the power of the Internet, Business Builder ITG can:
- provide summarized graphical views of your existing systems data, including MIS, so you make better business decisions faster
- provide a single, secure view of what's going on in your business, accessible from anywhere on the planet with Internet access
- allow staff to work from home and improve your data security compared to PC based systems
- flag up performance against KPI's for staff activity
- allow you to use your existing data to manage marketing activity
Before you invest in expensive technology speak to us.
Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Fri, 22 Jan 2010
The reason to get on with CRM is... what?
Here's a perspective on why Customer Relationship Management (CRM) will make more difference to your business than anything else you can do.
Although the basic use for your CRM software is to manage and track sales activity with customers and prospects from a standardised products database to either help sell more to existing customers, or find new ones through marketing, or make your processes more consistent, there are greater benefits to be had. The ultimate goal if used to support and / or develop best sales and marketing practice within the business, is to help deliver improved free cash flow in the business.
Think about that. Using a system for managing customers and prospects better can lead to improved cash flow.
We don't just sell you the software but can support the business change necessary to get the most from it.
The point is that the reason for putting web-based CRM software in is strategic: using web-based CRM gives you predictable costs, better data security and a framework for delivering more sales of better quality and better profit margin through the business. Everyone becomes a marketer. NB: In the business process this happens before, or in front of the accounts system and can be installed independent of it then linked.
So the reason to get on with it sooner rather than later is ....that however conservative you want to be about the likely returns, it is costing you significant sums to do nothing.
Yes it can be very difficult to calculate Return on investment made. Here's a simple sum. Ask us about it if you just want to argue about the numbers.
What percentage do you feel confident using CRM would save you against your current costs? Or add to your annual turnover? This could be from less steps in the order process, standardisation of documents, generally streamlining your processes. Or think of it just in sales increase terms, from selling more to existing customers by closing more sales, reducing the number of quotes that go nowhere, or finding new customers. Pick a safe percentage, say 2% - 5%. Work out what that is as a £'s value on your turnover.
Take the projected cost of the CRM system. Divide one into the other.
This is what the payback period would be if using it as part of your day to day activity put just 2% on your turnover. Certainly less than 6 months? Then take that 2% a year and work out what its costing you over the last six months not to have done it. What other investment in your business has that sort of payback period?
Example:
- £2 million turnover @2% = £40,000 in first year
- Software cost say £20,000
- Actual payback on investment 6 months, after that you are ahead
Or if you prefer, every 6 months if you don't do something costs you £20,000 (on the above sums).
You do the sums based on your turnover, then talk to us for more information. No hard sell, because we don't need to.
Wed, 05 Aug 2009
Generating cash in a recession
Business Builder systems automate and deskill key business process tasks and gives you better business information to help you sell more.
Technology costs less than staff.
Three questions for you:
1. How are you going to improve your spare cash position in the current economic climate?
2. What are you doing to stop your competitors taking your business in 2009?
3. Do you know how web based technology can help you do this?
Investment in the right technology can drive your business forward at the expense of your competition.
For a no obligation chat contact us.
Thu, 04 Jun 2009
How many sales are you missing RIGHT NOW ?
It's a depression ridden, volatile and ugly financial climate. Heck, even President Barack Obama can't spare the cash for a pair of new shoes. If you have the feeling that something isn't quite right with your process for closing sales.