When does your window covering business need a CRM?

Many business owners are not sure if they need a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system.  File folders and Excel spreadsheets were the preferred tools for many years. But having a CRM is not just a fancy way to keep track of your customers, it’s also a way to promote business growth.

Below are some key ways to judge if it’s time to make the leap to a CRM

I have too many leads!

This may not sound like a problem, but the reality is that if you are not contacting leads promptly, your competitor is going to steal them away.  A good CRM can automatically send messages to your leads when they contact you and assign a follow up task.  It’s like having an employee that works 24/7.

I am missing follow-up calls!

Let’s admit it, anyone who has been in sales understands this one. Between working with new customers, contacting suppliers, and creating quotes – it’s easy to drop the ball on follow-ups. Waiting a month to follow up is typically not going to work in your favor. This is also easily automated with CRM.

I can’t remember what I discussed with a customer.

We all want our customers to think we remember the details of every conversation off the top of our heads. Sadly, when dealing with many customers over the course of a week, this is not the case. But when notes are entered into a CRM – you look like a superstar when your customer calls.

I have trouble locating emails!

This is a big one. How many times have you spent an outrageous amount of time trying to find an email conversation? With a CRM, all your emails can be automatically stored in the customer record for easy reference.

So why doesn’t every business owner already use a CRM?

Here are some common objections we hear:

It’s too expensive!

With today’s cloud-based systems, there is a choice for every price point. You don’t need a Rolls Royce to make it to work – a Ford will get you there.  Same concept applies with a CRM. Many are scalable – meaning that as your business grows, you can add on additional features.

I need an IT staff to set it up!

While some CRM systems do require a lot of complex setup, many are designed to be plug and play. A few simple steps and you’re ready to start maximizing your business.

This is how I’ve always done it!

We call this one the “afraid of change” objection. Yes, file folders and multiple cabinets to hold them all was the status quo years ago, but it’s not efficient. With cloud-based systems, your data is secure and accessible from wherever you are.  We recently talked to a client who had an office basement filled with filing cabinets making it virtually impossible to locate anything. Why waste time searching when you could be selling?

Hopefully this has given you a good bit of insight into the world of CRM’s. As a technology company, Solatech is dedicated to helping the window covering industry in every aspect. We know it’s not just about quoting.

Our cloud-based software offers integration with Lead Boomerang, a CRM built especially for the window covering industry. We also offer an API that will allow integration with other systems.

Contact us for more information and to schedule a personal demo: Click Here