Friday, March 14, 2014

The Time is Now for Mobile CRM



Many organizations’ sales departments have had a troublesome past concerning their CRM systems. Most systems aren’t built with the work habits of a sales force in mind, which is why it’s time for a mobile CRM solution to ease the pain of the sales force.

The Mobile Advantage
Your “office” could be anywhere when you’re working sales. What good is the best CRM solution if you can’t take it with you?
Mobile CRM tools that you can use on your mobile devices, whether it’s a smartphone or a tablet computer, should give you the capabilities you need to stay in contact with the home office.

The truth is, the mobile concept is nothing new. However, few CRM vendors have been quick to embrace the concept, which actually should be a vital part of any organization’s strategy. Recently though, there has been a sea change, which is easy to see if you’ve searched for a mobile CRM in your app store.

The Growth of CRM Apps
Consumers are still using personal computers, but the number of them being bought and sold has decreased and continues to decrease. Meanwhile, the adoption rate of mobile devices by consumers, and the workforce, continues to soar. Not surprisingly, the growth of CRM apps for mobile devices is expected to grow by 500 percent in 2014.

In April of 2013 there were around 200 apps for CRM. Industry experts see that tally changing to around 1,200 by the end of 2014. Not just any mobile CRM will do, though. Vendors will need to make certain they are focusing on building apps around the specific needs of the various departments using the CRM.

SaaS is the New Norm
The workforce has become increasingly comfortable with solutions being offered off premise. Cloud-based solutions were nearly non-existent just 10 years ago, but by 2012, almost 40 percent of CRM software was being delivered through the cloud. It’s estimated that by 2016, more than 50 percent of the CRM market will be delivered SaaS.

However, the market for traditional CRM is not exactly erupting. The relatively slow growth of less than 10 percent in 2013 is an indicator that more organizations are adopting mobile CRM solutions rather than investing in new CRM.

Big Vendors Show Willingness to Change
The largest providers of CRM systems are making moves to bring new technologies into their existing CRM offerings that will allow users to migrate to mobile apps. Some of these vendors are simply partnering with smaller CRM providers that have built the mobile tools that many organizations are now relying on in their day-to-day business transactions. The move might have come more slowly than expected, but it’s definitely happening.

Look to the Leader in Mobile CRM
When evaluating which mobile CRM vendor you’re going to choose, consider the one that is offering the easiest and fastest solution on the market –
Front Row Solutions. At Front Row, we asked more than 100 sales reps what they want in their mobile CRM and we’ve delivered it. From our custom dashboard, you can see charts, reports, mapping, client contacts and more.