Skip to product menu
Zoho crm
close
  • Sales
    Press Space or Enter to display list of options
EXPLORE ALL PRODUCTS

Sales

 
CRM

Comprehensive CRM platform for customer-facing teams.

CRM
 
Bigin

Simple CRM for small businesses moving from spreadsheets.

Bigin
 
Forms

Build online forms for every business need.

Forms
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
RouteIQ

Comprehensive sales map visualization and optimal route planning solution.

RouteIQ
 
Thrive

Complete loyalty and affiliate management platform.

Thrive
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
Suites
CRM Plus

Unified platform to deliver top-notch customer experience.

CRM Plus

Marketing

 
Social

All-in-one social media management software.

Social
 
Campaigns

Create, send, and track targeted email campaigns that drive sales.

Campaigns
 
Forms

Build online forms for every business need.

Forms
 
Survey

Design surveys to reach and interact with your audience.

Survey
 
Sites

Online website builder with extensive customisation options.

Sites
 
PageSense

Website conversion optimization and personalisation platform.

PageSense
 
Backstage

End-to-end event management software.

Backstage
 
Webinar

Webinar platform for webcasting online webinars.

Webinar
 
Marketing Automation

All-in-one marketing automation software.

Marketing Automation
 
LandingPage

Smart landing page builder to increase conversion rates

LandingPage
 
Publish

Manage all your local business listings on a single platform.

Publish
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Thrive

Complete loyalty and affiliate management platform.

Thrive
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
NEW
LeadChain

Sync, manage, and convert leads across channels seamlessly.

LeadChain
 
NEW
CommunitySpaces

Online community platform for individuals and businesses to grow their network and brand.

CommunitySpaces
 
Suites
Marketing Plus

Unified marketing platform for marketing teams.

Marketing Plus

Commerce and POS

 
Commerce

eCommerce platform to manage and market your online store.

Commerce

Service

 
Desk

Helpdesk software to deliver great customer support.

Desk
 
Assist

Remote support and unattended remote access software.

Assist
 
Lens

Interactive remote assistance software with augmented reality.

Lens
 
FSM

End-to-end field service management platform for service businesses.

FSM
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
Suites
Service Plus

Unified platform for customer service and support teams.

Service Plus

Finance

 
Books

Powerful accounting platform for growing businesses.

Books
 
FREE
Invoice

100% Free invoicing solution.

Invoice
 
Expense

Effortless expense reporting platform.

Expense
 
Inventory

Powerful stock management and inventory control software.

Inventory
 
Billing

End-to-end billing solution for your business.

Billing
 
Checkout

Collect payments online with custom branded pages.

Checkout
 
NEW
Payroll

Payroll software with automated tax payments and filing.

Payroll
 
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo
 
Practice

Practice management software for accounting firms.

Practice
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Commerce

eCommerce platform to manage and market your online store.

Commerce
 
Suites
Finance Plus

All-in-one suite to manage your operations and finances.

Finance Plus

Email and Collaboration

 
Mail

Secure email service for teams of all sizes.

Mail
 
Meeting

Online meeting software for all your video conferencing & webinar needs.

Meeting
 
Writer

Word processor for focused writing and discussions.

Writer
 
Sheet

Spreadsheet software for collaborative teams.

Sheet
 
Show

Create, edit, and share slides with a sleek presentation app.

Show
 
Notebook

Beautiful home for all your notes.

Notebook
 
Cliq

Stay in touch with teams no matter where you are.

Cliq
 
Connect

Employee experience platform to communicate, engage, and build positive employee relations.

Connect
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
TeamInbox

Shared inboxes for teams.

TeamInbox
 
WorkDrive

Online file management for teams.

WorkDrive
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Office Suite

Powerful collaborative work platform for teams.

Office Suite
 
Office Integrator

Built in document editors for web apps.

Office Integrator
 
ZeptoMail

Secure and reliable transactional email sending service.

ZeptoMail
 
Calendar

Online business calendar to manage events and schedule appointments.

Calendar
 
Learn

Knowledge and learning management platform.

Learn
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
ToDo

Collaborative task management for individuals and teams.

ToDo
 
Tables

Work management tool to connect people, processes, and information.

Tables
 
FREE
PDF Editor

Collaborative online PDF editing tool.

PDF Editor
 
Suites
Workplace

Application suite built to improve team productivity and collaboration.

Workplace

Human Resources

 
People

Organize, automate, and simplify your HR processes.

People
 
Recruit

Intuitive recruiting platform built to provide hiring solutions.

Recruit
 
Expense

Effortless expense reporting platform.

Expense
 
Workerly

Manage temporary staffing with an employee scheduling solution.

Workerly
 
NEW
Payroll

Payroll software with automated tax payments and filing.

Payroll
 
Shifts

Employee scheduling and time tracking app.

Shifts
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Suites
People Plus

Comprehensive HR platform for seamless employee experiences.

People Plus

Security and IT Management

 
Creator

Build custom apps to simplify business processes.

Creator
 
Directory

Workforce identity and access management solution for cloud businesses.

Directory
 
FREE
OneAuth

Secure multi-factor authenticator (MFA) for all your online accounts.

OneAuth
 
Vault

Online password manager for teams.

Vault
 
Catalyst

Pro-code platform to build and deploy your apps.

Catalyst
 
Toolkit

Complete resource for any admin-related lookup queries.

Toolkit
 
Lens

Interactive remote assistance software with augmented reality.

Lens
 
Assist

Remote support and unattended remote access software.

Assist
 
QEngine

Test automation software to build, manage, execute, and report testcases.

QEngine
 
NEW
RPA

Automate manual, tedious, and repetitive tasks easily.

RPA

BI and Analytics

 
Analytics

Modern self-service BI and analytics platform.

Analytics
 
Embedded BI

Embedded analytics and white label BI solutions, tailored for your needs.

Embedded BI
 
DataPrep

AI-powered data preparation service for your data-driven organization.

DataPrep
 
NEW
IoT

Harnessing IoT analytics for real-time operational intelligence.

IoT

Project Management

 
Projects

Manage, track, and collaborate on projects with teams.

Projects
 
Sprints

Planning and tracking tool for scrum teams.

Sprints
 
BugTracker

Automatic bug tracking software for managing bugs.

BugTracker
 
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo

Developer Platforms

 
Creator

Build custom apps to simplify business processes.

Creator
 
Flow

Automate business workflows by creating smart integrations.

Flow
 
Catalyst

Pro-code platform to build and deploy your apps.

Catalyst
 
Office Integrator

Built in document editors for web apps.

Office Integrator
 
ZeptoMail

Secure and reliable transactional email sending service.

ZeptoMail
 
QEngine

Test automation software to build, manage, execute, and report testcases.

QEngine
 
Tables

Work management tool to connect people, processes, and information.

Tables
 
NEW
RPA

Automate manual, tedious, and repetitive tasks easily.

RPA
 
NEW
Apptics

Application analytics for all apps.

Apptics
 
Embedded BI

Embedded analytics and white label BI solutions, tailored for your needs.

Embedded BI
 
NEW
IoT

Build, deploy, and scale IoT solutions for connected businesses.

IoT
 
DataPrep

AI-powered data preparation service for your data-driven organization.

DataPrep

IoT

 
NEW
IoT

Low-code IoT platform and solutions for connected businesses.

IoT

Search Result

 
CRM Plus

Unified platform to deliver top-notch customer experience.

Try now
CRM Plus
 
Service Plus

Unified platform for customer service and support teams.

Try now
Service Plus
 
Finance Plus

All-in-one suite to manage your operations and finances.

Try now
Finance Plus
 
People Plus

Comprehensive HR platform for seamless employee experiences.

Try now
People Plus
 
Workplace

Application suite built to improve team productivity and collaboration.

Try now
Workplace
 
Marketing Plus

Unified marketing platform for marketing teams.

Try now
Marketing Plus
 
All-in-one suite

Zoho One

The Operating System for Business

Run your entire business on Zoho with our unified cloud software, designed to help you break down silos between departments and increase organizational efficiency.

TRY ZOHO ONE
Zoho One
Zoho Marketplace

With over 2000 ready-to-use extensions across 40+ categories, connect your favorite business tools with the Zoho products you already use.

EXPLORE MARKETPLACE
Marketplace
Skip to main content
Zoho crm

Do you need a CRM in the first place?

The first question you need to ask yourself before buying a CRM is, do you really need one? A CRM is an important asset to any business, and can elevate your customer experience significantly. On the flipside, they also require a significant investment of time, money, and effort from your organization to be deployed and used successfully.

Signs that your business needs a CRM

Regardless of whether you're a small business or an enterprise, one thing remains constant. Your success depends on the relationships you build with your customers. Managing your leads and customers with just an excel sheet can start to take a toll on your sales team and hurt your revenue in the long run. Look out for the following signs that indicate you're in need of a robust CRM solution.

Difficulty in following up with leads

When you start generating a steadily increasing flow of leads, your sales team may have trouble prioritizing which ones to focus on. It becomes harder to track the sources of your leads or identify leads worth pursuing. As a result, your sales team often ends up spending their time and effort on unqualified leads that may never close.

Scattered customer information

Oftentimes your customer information is spread out across a variety of different mediums. You've got contact information in your spreadsheets, your tasks written on sticky notes, and your conversations stored in your emails. This means that your team will have to endlessly comb through all these different sources to find relevant information when engaging with multiple customers. This ultimately leads to delays in responses and misinformed decision-making.

Poor customer experience

Customers crave personalization these days. They want businesses to understand their needs and engage them with relevant offers and solutions. When it's hard to stay on top of all your interactions with a customer—all their different needs and preferences—achieving this level of personalization becomes impossible. All your interactions end up becoming generic and scripted, which can turn off a lot of prospects from doing business with you.

Connecting with your customers

Modern customers are often active across multiple channels of communication, like email, social media, calls, and more. If your business finds it hard to engage with these customers on their preferred channel and keep track of all your previous interactions, you might want to buy a CRM.

Guidelines to buying a CRM
for your business

Make a quick online search for the term "CRM", and you'll be inundated with results from dozens of vendors all offering their own CRM solutions. You may also come across software review and aggregator sites offering detailed comparisons between popular CRM vendors. These can often overwhelm people looking for a CRM for their business. We've put together the following simple guidelines to help businesses of all size find the right CRM for them.

What type of CRM do you need?

Are you a small business trying to effectively manage your customer information in a single place while keeping it accessible across different devices? Or, are you a large business trying to manage your end-to-end customer journey and improve customer satisfaction? Depending on the size of your business, your needs may differ in complexity. This will be reflected in the type of CRM solution you will need.

Ask yourselves the right questions

Your sales team, decision makers, and all stakeholders must sit down and ask themselves a series of questions. Answering these questions helps establish your pain points and can help paint a clear picture of what you're looking for in a CRM.

  • Identify the challenges you are trying to address.
  • What are the business processes that you need to implement?
  • What third-party applications are you using that will need to be integrated?
  • How many people would be using the CRM system?
  • How much is your business ready to invest in the solution?

Frame your objectives

Once you identify your pain points, you may be tempted to choose a solution that helps you address a number of immediate challenges. But you will reap the most benefit if you frame your long-term objectives around your CRM process, rather than the CRM solution. It will help you reduce the implementation time, cost, and business complications. Always remember, The CRM you choose should be molded to fit your business requirements, and not the other way around.

Shortlist your vendors

Based on your requirements, your next step will be to look for vendors with CRMs that meet these requirements. Most vendors have detailed feature availability and comparison documents against other vendors on their websites that you can refer to. You can then shortlist the vendors whose offerings best match your requirements.

Understand the products

When your vendors have been shortlisted, it's time for you to start engaging with them. Get the vendors to explain their functionality in simple terms. You must be vigilant of CRM systems that use too many jargon and buzzwords in their marketing. If your vendor is unable to provide a convincing explanation for the functionalities in their product, do not buy from them.

Get demos and negotiate your prices

Get your vendors to run you through a customized demo to see if they can satisfy your needs in your business environment. Get quotes from your shortlisted vendors, compare pricing, and negotiate the best deal to stick to your budget. This is important, as the true cost of a CRM solution can be hard to gauge if your implementation process requires third-party assistance.

Deploy your CRM solution effectively

Once you've found the right CRM that meets all your requirements at the right price, slowly roll it out across your business and let your team get comfortable using it. If there is a learning curve in adopting your solution, certain vendors provide personalized training to help your team learn the ins and outs of the CRM and use it effectively.

Features to look for in your
small business CRM

We talked about how your CRM requirements can change based on the size of your business. So, let's take a minute to discuss the different features you should be looking for in a CRM. If you are a small business, a complex, feature-loaded CRM might end up hindering you more than it helps given that you'll have to invest a lot more time and money into the setup and customization process for features that don't make sense for a business of your size.

Manage your leads and prospects effectively

A good SMB CRM helps you centralize prospect information and interactions in a single place, empowering your team with a 360-degree view of your customers. Interact with customers over email, calls, and social media directly within your CRM. Real-time notifications for all these interactions will help you address the needs of your prospects in the shortest time-frame possible.

lead, contact and account management with Bigin

Manage your pipelines

The ability to create your own sales pipeline with customized stages tailored to your sales process is instrumental in closing deals effectively. A pipeline view of all your deals helps your sales team track the status of every deal and prioritize their follow ups on the deals with the greatest chance of closure.

Pipeline management with Bigin

Automate recurring activities

Every lead counts, and every deal matters when you are a small business. Your sales reps shouldn't be bogged down with data entry or other mundane administrative tasks when they should be focused on selling. Easy-to-create workflows can help you automate routine tasks and maximize your selling time. Create workflows that help you track deal updates, set up email alerts, and more.

Workflow automation with Bigin

Analyze and measure your performance

Powerful reports and dashboards can help you analyze your sales performance and gain more clarity into your business anytime, anywhere. Track key metrics like leads generated, deals closed, deals in the pipeline, and more with the help of charts, graphs, KPIs, and more.

Business analytics in Bigin

Features to look for in
an enterprise CRM

As your business grows, your requirements also grow and become more complex. Your CRM should be able to support an expanding set of users, scaling your sales process, implementing more complex business processes, and integrating with more 3rd-party applications. You need a robust, secure, and scalable enterprise-grade CRM solution.

Customizations to reflect your business

The best CRMs are the ones that can be molded to fit your business. The ability to customize your CRM to collect a variety of information and execute your unique business processes is a necessity for large businesses and businesses looking to grow.

Multi-page Layouts Custom Components Subforms
Multiple layouts in Zoho CRM Customize your modules with custom components Interlink data with Subforms in Zoho CRM

Integrations with 3rd-party apps

There are often multiple applications that you might have in place to handle specific business operations. Your CRM must be able to integrate with these applications seamlessly to send data back and forth. This helps your customer-facing teams get a complete picture of your customers' journey from inside the CRM, allowing for more personalized service.

Scale your business effortlessly

Let your business grow without your software bottlenecking you. Craft end-to-end customer journeys, build and automate complex processes, design and distribute custom mobile applications that interact with your CRM data, and even embed third-party applications into your CRM window to get a unified view of your business.

Keep your data secure, and stay compliant
with regulations

When working with customers from different countries, it's important to pay attention to their data security and stay compliant with any local regulations. From granular security settings and access controls to GDPR compliance features, choose a CRM designed to keep your data safe and your business in compliance across the globe.

Data Processing Basis Marking Personal Fields Encryption At Rest (EAR)
Choose the right processing basis for customer data Mark fields containing sensitive or personal data Choose data that needs to be encrypted at rest with Zoho CRM

Testimonials from the Zoho CRM Family

Zoho has played an important role in standardizing our program. We now have more than 15,000 sellers using our services.

The Zoho CRM mobile app helped me analyse my sales rep's occupancy data, with options like Check-in, which is a very advantageous tool for any organization.

Our bottom line has increased by over $100K per year from the cost savings alone after using Zoho.

Anand Goyal,Director, Amazon India
Divya Sundaraju,Asst.Manager - Learning & Development, FundsIndia
Alex Tolbert,CEO, Bernard Health
123
/ 3

Sign up for a free trial, and explore the benefits
a robust CRM can give your business

SIGN UP FOR FREE