A Look into the Top Five CRM Programs

The value of any customer relationship program (CRM) is only as good as the efficiency, productivity and effectiveness the solution provides. Looking into the top five CRM programs will provide insight on what to look for when selecting the right platform for your environment. Keep in mind that no solution is a true one-size-fits-all and you should consider the features, benefits and real-world performance of any solution. Providers delivering the top CRM programs in the market should provide you with free trials of their full CRM suite to ensure it meets your needs and will integrate well in your environment. Here are the top five CRM programs to consider.

CRM Programs that Deliver: ACT!

ACT! is a desktop CRM program with strong presence in the market today. The possibilities offered in the ACT! sales software platform work well within the on-premise environment supporting mobile professionals. It is a standalone solution with third party integrations for mobile devices. This product is fully customizable, which makes it a solid performer in more complex environments. While it is not a cloud service, ACT! can be accessed through a remote sharing program. ACT! has expressed the goal to one day make their CRM programs available in the cloud. As for now, the desktop model offers a full suite to meet the needs of the average CRM user.

Leading CRM Programs: Salesforce

Salesforce offers cloud computing CRM programs designed to fit any business size, and has been a leader in cloud computing for quite some time. The company offers a $25 per user per month starter package, positioned well for companies who are just getting started. One great benefit about the CRM programs offered by Salesforce is that all platforms integrate well with mobile devices for greater flexibility. The CRM programs offered by this power player are positioned as powerful, easy to use and customizable, while also delivering cost efficiencies across the board.

Streamlined CRM Programs: Zoho CRM

Zoho offers cloud-based CRM programs delivered in a method similar to Salesforce. The major difference between the CRM programs offered by Salesforce and Zoho CRM is the price. Zoho CRM offers many of the same capabilities and services at a lower rate, making it a solid start for the smaller company seeking to leverage the capabilities available in CRM programs. Zoho recently released an application for the iPhone, taking its mobile CRM capabilities to the next level. The ability to integrate with QuickBooks makes Zoho CRM programs a powerful choice.

Competitive CRM Programs: Sugar CRM

Sugar CRM offers CRM programs that are cloud-based and similar to the solutions offered by Zoho and Salesforce. All three providers offer similar features and benefits, although CRM programs offered by Sugar CRM tend to be more competitive in terms of pricing. The ability to connect with mobile devices and customize the service is all the same and Sugar CRM is currently working on additional upgrades to continue to extend the value of its CRM programs.

CRM Programs with No Surprises: Prophet

Prophet is a desktop program that offers deep integration with Microsoft Outlook. A number of companies rely on Prophet to extend the value of their Outlook investment and capitalize on the familiar interface. Prophet’s support system is considered to be excellent and all costs are spelled out up front so that there are no hidden fees. The company also offers training to ensure all users are comfortable with the system and are adopting it as a part of standard business processes.

CRM programs can help to create an environment that drives customer service, captures additional opportunities and contributes to a healthy bottom line. Once you know which company offers the best solution for your users, implementation should be easy.