16 Customer Relationship Management for Small Businesses

CRM apps are necessary, even for small businesses, to help them stay on top of their client list. Read the top 16 CRM apps for small businesses now.

One of the perks of having a business is the satisfaction of building your very own community of customers and supporters. As your business grows, so will this community grow. You will need a way to track each one because you do not get to your multitude without caring for that one customer. 

It is where Customer Relationship Management (CRM) comes in. CRM apps are necessary, even for small businesses, to help them stay on top of their client list. 

A robust CRM is not just exclusive to businesses with limitless budgets or to tech professionals and tech-savvy enterprises. There are CRM apps well-tailored for the needs of small businesses. Tedious tasks of managing client lists should be a thing of the past. 

16 Customer Relationship Management for Small Businesses

1. Microsoft Dynamics 365

Office 365 tools continue to dominate the market today, despite the advent of productivity tools like GSuite. Legitimate Windows Operating Systems are the most trusted OS systems in the business world because it’s easier to integrate apps and software, which is typical when you are running a business. 

Microsoft is also home to the best productivity tools, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 is one of them. Unify your business’ data, get accurate, predictive insights, and see amazing results in your CRM. 

For sales and marketing, Microsoft Dynamics 365 is an all-in-one platform. This CRM is more than your average CRM software. It is a platform that enables businesses to successfully carry out business automation through software. 

This platform is of course compatible with all the rest of the Microsoft products you love. Businesses get to make smarter decisions and apply strategies that drive businesses to become more efficient and profitable. 

Businesses get to win more deals and build stronger relationships with their client base. Microsoft Dynamics 365 also help businesses find new leads and nurture strong relationships. Relationship building improves productivity and performance. 

It is recognized as a leading CRM tool by trusted analyst brands (Forrester, IDC, and Gartner) and by global businesses like Chevron, Tesla, HP, Coca-Cola, Crate&Barrel, and Lowe’s. 

Businesses can better engage with experts and peers, find local events, and read blog articles. Users will not only find 24/7 support from Microsoft but also access industry-leading self-help and support options. Microsoft Dynamics 365 also provides steady product updates to all its users. 

2. Hubspot CRM

HubSpot CRM provides an entirely free version of its CRM app, popular with small businesses. The app has all the standard functionality of CRM software, allowing you to keep track of your company's operations and more. 

You can track contacts and business accounts, assign and monitor deals, and handle all data in a comprehensive overview shared among the entire team. 

If you are already a HubSpot customer, you may use this CRM app to improve inbound revenue. HubSpot provides many integration solutions for different apps, including SalesForce, Shopify, and Microsoft Dynamics.

3. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM always makes it onto small businesses’ best tech lists, and their CRM product isn't any different. Cloud-based, it supports lead migration, user retention, and sales creation. Salesforce integration, sales supporting, systems integration, and omnichannel service functions. 

It comes with high-rated iOS and Android applications, making it a decent option if you need quick smartphone access. And if stability is a problem, it also covers Zoho CRM. Your data is secured by encryption, dual-factor authentication, IP constraints, and audit logs. 

There's even a free product version if you're on a small budget. It serves up to three users and provides restricted flexibility, including leadership and document processing functions. Free edition also comes with smartphone applications. 

4. Drip

You can now automate your eCommerce marketing at scale with Drip. It is a leading CRM specially-made for eCommerce but functions great beyond that purpose too. It has a beautiful GUI (Graphical User Interface) and is straightforward and easy to use. 

This CRM platform makes building automation business processes and email campaigns simple. You can also create your email with a graphic builder or text builder. 

Drip also provides quick list segmentation, transaction analysis, content customization, buy-intention targeting, and more. With tags, activities, and custom areas, you can learn and follow your consumers’ stories. 

It's built to improve the bottom line and help you create leads, handle interactions, and turn them into lifetime clients. 

Drip provides content automation, advanced contact processing, actionable reports, email promotions, one-on-one interactions, eCommerce user monitoring, and more.

5. SendinBlue

With Sendinblue, you get more out of your marketing campaigns because it is a powerful email marketing service with all features you need in a CRM.

Sendinblue is an excellent option for any size business because you can get started for free and then upgrade as your business grows. They offer reliable email delivery, email marketing, automation, transactional emails for eCommerce, smart segmentation, and more.

They have SMS marketing and chat, unlike many other CRMs. SMS marketing is a good strategy that can boost revenue and engagement instantly. Their live chat solution helps you to communicate in real-time with clients and leads.

6. Salesmate CRM

You will speed up the sales processes with Salesmate CRM and give clients a customized experience. Manage your contacts efficiently and keep track of all sales activities connected to them. 

This platform is great for sending out email campaigns as well because if you press send, you will know what happens to your emails. As a small business, versatility and scalability are valued, and Salesmate is a great tool for such.

7. Freshsales

Freshsales is Freshworks' cloud-based CRM solution, which provides a suite of products aimed at small businesses. It makes it a good choice if you want tools outside of CRM, like project management and accounting, all seamlessly integrated into one set of applications.

It delivers comprehensive lead and deals management, email tracking, push notifications, multi-language support, customer journey timelines, and one-click phone calling.

Freshsales’ free Sprout version is a particular perk for small businesses and includes access to deals, contacts, leads, accounts, mobile apps, and more.

8. Salesflare

If you hate filling out a CRM and want one that actively helps you sell, Salesflare is a perfect CRM for you. It gathers up all the details you need automatically and regularly updates itself.

Salesflare is built specifically for small and medium-sized businesses that sell B2B.  And it still packs a lot of power although it can look basic. It can also be used to send personal email sequences at scale.

9. Nimble

Nimble caters to small businesses exclusively and ensures data-rich customer profiles. It extracts social media and external databases from online information and suggests contacts based on factors such as company or job title.

You will find template tools and an extensive marketplace of apps where more than 100 product add-ons can be browsed. For even greater flexibility, an API allows the creation of custom software.

Nimble allows users to work anywhere with a native smartphone app for Android and iOS. Capabilities include business card scanning, voice-based notes, reminders, and a calendar. You can also monitor and update projects and deals, visit social profiles of contacts, and delegate assignments.

10. Agile CRM

Agile CRM is one of the world's best all-in-one CRM applications. In one dashboard you get contact management, advertising, promotions, and customer support. Moreover, it's easy to use!

Users have a 360-degree contact view, project management, calendar, schedule, events, gamification to inspire friendly competition among your team, and, many other tools. 

In addition to the comprehensive reports online, you can view short reports, which can then be accessed to get a better look at what's going on. Agile CRM has service features like support ticketing, helpdesk, and, the like.

Agile CRM provides contact management on a single page, 1-click calling, appointment planning, and marketing tools to get leads. You can also create and send out  e-mails and landing pages easily.

11. Capsule CRM

Capsule CRM is an application that's been around for a while but picked up in popularity in 2008. It is a very user-friendly app that helps its users to track all connections and sales pipelines.

Businesses can use it both on mobile phones and desktops. The user interface is split into five groups: the dashboard, persons and organizations, sales pipeline, schedules and tasks, and cases. However, one potential problem is that it provides less functionality in reporting and campaigns.

12. BaseCRM now Zendesk Sell

The BaseCRM, now called Zendesk Sell, is a software that is ideal for companies looking to customize their sales pipelines. This sales monitoring tool lets businesses configure sales phases and add leads, partners, and records to all sales deals in the Sales Pipeline area. 

It also has visual reporting in real-time through templates, social network integrations, and other third-party apps like  MailChimp, Zapier, and more.

Its sales tools are also specially-made for sales-people so your sales reps will not have a difficult time using the software. Zendesk Sell is a simple CRM software that lets your sales team focus on selling. It also eliminates friction from deal updates so the sales team has constant access to it, whether to analyze data or collaborate using data. 

13. ConvergeHub

ConvergeHub is a cloud-based CRM software that is great for SMBs – especially because these businesses don’t have to deal with multiple repositories but rather one central platform. 

14. Sugar CRM

This CRM has an excellent solution for small businesses, called Sugar Professional. The platform offers customer experience solutions, creating a consistent and straightforward experience. Sugar Shell helps you automate workflows, and thanks to actionable intelligence, you have the right intel for each customer interaction.

15. Bitrix24

Bitrix24 takes communication with customers or teammates to a higher level. You will find all features small businesses need under one roof, like chat, video, email, SMS, social, telephony, and intranet. 

All of its functions integrate with the CRM, help desk, project management tools, marketing automation, and website builder.

Clicking the Contact Center on the main menu is the best way to connect communication channels. This shows your choices and allows each one to be set up. A third-party integration or rental of a number through Bitrix is needed for telephony, but other channels are simpler. For example, just click the Mail icon to attach your emails, pick your email, and fill in the necessary boxes.

16. Insightly

Insightfully combines an easy-to-use CRM with functions of project management that should appeal to any business team of any size. The automation and customization options ensure that the management of sales and tasks is made more streamlined by factors such as special setup needs, repetitive tasks, and business processes.

Insightly issue licenses at the administrative level, but employees are only permitted to see and alter documents that apply to their job function. This keeps errors down while not burdening staff with irrelevant data. For instance, you would probably want to grant Projects read-only permissions to your sales reps so that they can monitor the progress of a client but not alter the ongoing project record.

It’s easier to manage projects efficiently and with consistency, and teams can devise a suitable workflow  to help automate specific tasks. 

This functionality is also useful for businesses outside a traditional sales funnel. 

Conclusion

When looking at the best CRM for small businesses, it’s clear you don’t need to sacrifice high-quality features even if you don’t have deep pockets. If you’ve never used a CRM software tool before, it can take your business to new heights.

CRM software isn’t just for big companies. Make a wise choice today, and it will reap the rewards for years to come.

Author bio: Mayleen Meñez https://twitter.com/MayleenMenez used to work in media before finding her true passion in NGO work, traveling the Philippines and Asia doing so. She is a resident Search Engine Optimization writer for Softvire Australia and Softvire New Zealand.