Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a pivotal component in the arsenal of modern businesses. While CRM is set to grow by 12% over the next five years, reaching a massive $129 billion by 2028, CRM revenue soared from $14 billion in 2010 to $69 billion in 2020, showcasing a 393% increase. For small businesses, CRM stands as a beacon of opportunity in a competitive marketplace. In today’s digital age, where customer satisfaction and loyalty are paramount, the effective management of client interactions can spell the difference between success and obscurity. CRM software empowers small businesses to centralize and optimize their customer data, enabling them to cultivate stronger relationships, tailor marketing efforts, and ultimately drive growth. In this introductory guide, we explore the transformative potential of CRM and top 5 free CRM softwares for small businesses highlighting its features, integrations and a lot more.
Contents
Understanding CRM Software
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) encompasses any tool, tactic, or procedure designed to enhance the organization and accessibility of customer data for businesses. However, as technological advancements unfolded and the intricacies of managing customer relations grew more intricate, CRM has transitioned into a pivotal asset for business success. Modern CRM software now serves as a unified platform that integrates disparate departments, spanning from marketing and sales to customer service, amalgamating their operations and metrics into a cohesive framework. It furnishes a comprehensive overview of all customer interactions, monitors sales progress, streamlines opportunity management, and fosters collaboration among diverse teams.
For those still wavering on the adoption of CRM software, it’s imperative to grasp its monumental significance – CRM software has burgeoned into the largest software market globally, with sustained exponential growth. Businesses worldwide, irrespective of size, are crafting CRM strategies to deliver tailored and personalized customer experiences. According to a Grand View Research report, the global customer relationship management market was valued at USD 40.2 billion in 2019 and is anticipated to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.2% from 2020 to 2027.
5 Free CRM Software For Small Businesses
HUBSPOT CRM
HubSpot CRM is a free CRM offering from HubSpot, a sales and marketing Software as a Service company. It is one of the best choices for small businesses looking for free CRM software as it is straightforward to set up, easy to use, and has pricing plans to fit every budget. Today, over 86,000 customers in more than 120 countries use HubSpot’s free CRM software to attract, engage and delight their customers.
Key Features
- Reporting Dashboard
- Company insights
- Deal Tracking
- Pipeline management
- Email tracking and notifications
- Prospect tracking
- Meeting scheduling
- Live chat
Integrations
- G-suite
- Social media
- eCommerce
- Microsoft 365
- Zapier
Deployment
- Web-based, cloud, SaaS
- Android
- iPhone/iPad
Customer support
- Live chat
- 24/7 Phone support
- Knowledge base
- Training videos
Pricing
According to HubSpot, HubSpot CRM is “100% free, forever”. However, you need to take out your wallet if you want the most out of HubSpot CRM.
- $0/month (Free)
- $45/month (Starter)
- $450/month (Professional)
- $1,200/month (Enterprise)
Check full features here: https://www.hubspot.com/products/get-started
ZOHO CRM
With plenty of integrations and customization options, Zoho CRM software is one of the best in this space for small businesses. It comes with an easy-to-use, streamlined and intuitive interface that can help you start selling in no time.
Key Features
- Journey orchestration
- Process management
- Automated lead generation from Facebook and Twitter
- Live chat and prospect tracking
- Lead management
- Deal management
- Workflow automation
- Contact management
Integrations
- G-suite
- Social media
- Microsoft 365
- Zapier
- Other Zoho tools
- Slack
Deployment
- Web-based, cloud, SaaS
- Android
- iPhone/iPad
Customer support
- Remote screen-share assistance
- Live chat
- 24/7 Phone support
Pricing
- 15-day free trial
- INR 720/user/month billed annually (Standard)
- INR 1200/user/ month billed annually (Professional)
- INR 2100/user/ month billed annually (Enterprise)
- INR 2300/user/ month billed annually (Ultimate)
Check full features here: https://www.zoho.com/crm/small-business-crm-software/
FRESHWORKS CRM
Freshworks CRM is one of the best free CRM software for small businesses. It delivers personalized experiences across marketing and sales. Freshworks CRM is powered by Freddy AI, an advanced AI algorithm that helps you discover the best leads, boost customer engagement, and nurture existing customers with a smart, comprehensive solution.
Features
- Contact lifecycle stage management
- Opportunity and pipeline management
- Customer contract management
- Email marketing
- Lead generation AI bot
- Auto-profile enrichment
- Predictive contact scoring
- Deal insights
- Instant reports and forecasting
Integrations
- G-suite
- Social media
- Mailchimp
- Microsoft 365
- HubSpot marketing
- Zapier
- QuickBooks
- Piesync
Deployment
- Web-based, cloud, SaaS
- Android
- iPhone/iPad
Customer support
- Live chat
- 24/7 Phone support
- Knowledge base
- Training videos
Pricing
- 21-day free trial
- INR 2099/user/month billed annually (Growth)
- INR 5099/user/ month billed annually (Pro)
- INR 9199/user/ month billed annually (Enterprise)
Check full features here: https://www.hubspot.com/products/get-started
SALESFORCE CRM
Salesforce CRM is one of the biggest and most widely used CRM software on the market. It is designed for service, marketing and sales. It features all the elements that you need to run your business on an automated platform. Overall, Salesforce CRM is a free CRM software that is the ultimate solution for your business.
Key Features
- Reporting Dashboard
- Opportunity management
- Account and contact management
- Lead management
- Quote management
- Workflow and approvals
- File sync and share
- Reports and sales forecasting
Integrations
- G-suite
- Slack
- Quickbooks
- MailChimp
- Jira
- DocuSign
- Dropbox
Deployment
- Web-based, cloud, SaaS
- Android
- iPhone/iPad
Customer support
- Live chat
- 24/7 Phone support
- Knowledge base
- Training videos
Pricing
- 14-day free trial.
- $25/user/month (Essential)
- $75/user/month (Sales Professional)
- $75/user/month (Service Professional)
- $1,250/month (Pardot growth)
Check full features here:
LESS ANNOYING CRM
Less Annoying CRM (LACRM) is an all-inclusive free CRM software for small businesses. It is designed with the ultimate goal of simplicity in mind. It is easy to use and only takes a few minutes to set up and get it running. It is made especially for small businesses, so it is affordable and as the name suggests, less annoying.
Key Features
- Contact management
- Leads and pipeline management
- Easy collaboration with other users
- Task management
- Report creation
Integrations
- G-suite
- Mailchimp
- Microsoft 365
Deployment
- Web-based
Customer support
- Phone support
CRM Pricing
- 30-day free trial
- $15/user/month
Check full features here : https://www.lessannoyingcrm.com/
Takeaway
Therefore, to effectively manage customer relationships in your business, a well-defined strategy, meticulous planning, and flawless execution are indispensable. In this pursuit, partnering with an adept digital marketing company in Bangalore or any other city elsewhere, can significantly enhance your endeavors, leveraging their expertise in online business management. Without a robust customer relationship management strategy in place, it becomes challenging to monitor all touchpoints and engagements with customers and leads nurtured through your digital marketing initiatives. Also, if you want to start an ecommerce business, the utilization of CRM software proves invaluable, furnishing comprehensive tools for effective customer relationship management. Numerous free CRM platforms cater to the needs of small to medium-sized enterprises, offering robust functionalities to monitor relationships, handle leads, pinpoint conversion opportunities, and more.
As a small business owner, delivering subpar customer experiences that result in revenue loss and tarnished reputation is the last scenario you desire. Hence, integrating the best free CRM software becomes imperative. So, seize the opportunity to harness these CRM tools and optimize your business operations to their fullest potential!