No matter what the size of the business these days, customer relationship management software is available for all. With the industry’s latest developments in the cloud, any sized business can employ CRM solutions for proper sales productivity. Soffront, a leading provider of cloud CRM software, provides a detailed list of reasons and methods for why and how your sales process should match your CRM application in a recent helpful blog post.

Your business doesn’t have to be big enough to host the software necessary to run CRM applications anymore, thanks to the cloud.  Cloud CRM providers can help any SMB retain a proper customer strategy ensuring maximum efficiency and increasing revenue. The blog notes how important it is for the sales force to be “on board” before transitioning to automation: “Sales managers must communicate the value of CRM implementation and how it will lead to more sales and better communication with clients and leads. If the sales force sees CRM only as a way for management to monitor their activity, the new system will meet with resistance.” 

Another step to take is to make sure that the CRM application enables customization for your business including screen options, drop-down box options, the automation of workflow, and design templates. Essentially, a successful sales process needs to be in place before any automation can happen – automating a poorly installed process will not result in any benefits for the business, obviously. Soffront recommends, that companies, “Set requirements for when a lead becomes a prospect, a prospect becomes an opportunity, and an opportunity becomes a sale. Then, determine the actions that should be taken at each step.”

Ultimately, the CRM will make your sales process become better at what it’s there for already. The CRM software should “fit your sales process, not the other way around.” 

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Juliana Kenny graduated from the University of Connecticut with a double degree in English and French. After managing a small company for two years, she joined TMC (News - Alert) as a Web Editor for TMCnet. Juliana currently focuses on the call center and CRM industries, but she also writes about cloud telephony and network gear including softswitches.

Edited by Jennifer Russell