Businesses seeking solutions to improve sales, marketing or support should consider customer relationship management software with customizable applications. Customizable applications allow businesses to mold the software around its own business needs, rather than the customer relationship management (CRM) system vendor providing a standard solution for every existing customer. Many CRM software vendors provide customizations that are simple and fast., and most applications can be customized by utilizing point-and-click wizards within the software platform.
CRM software provides point-and-click application customization as a convenience. Interfaces may be designed to meet the specific business needs of a customer. For instance, some companies require satellite video to locate potential customers for their business. When a potential customer is located, the data is cross-referenced with the address and contact information. Other companies may have no need for satellite video to locate customers, and this particular feature would be unnecessary. Companies select applications that increase productivity in their work environments.
When businesses upgrade their applications, the customized portions will automatically upgrade as well. Therefore, employees do not waste time recreating a customized application each time an upgrade occurs. This increases productivity and alleviates the frustration often associated with applications and upgrades.
Point-and-click application customization makes it easy for every employee to work smart—instead of having to be trained in a specific software program, and adapt their own way of engaging with material to the way that material is presented, they can adapt their interface. Employee morale and productivity improve when they are able to make adjustments to suit their own work styles.
Savvy employees may also customize applications with code. Many developers may use special programming languages in order to create more software functionality. Open ended development environments allow these types of changes using toolkits.
For example, a company involved in control systems development may need applications that support strong analysis and graphing. With new point-and-click applications, these types of complex applications may be accessed easily. In the past, complex commands and syntax were needed in order to access these types of applications. Now, a novice can access them with no problem. Several financial companies have utilized point-and-click applications for financial modeling, designing, and other quantitative analysis. Many sophisticated mathematical and other applications are now available in this intuitive, clickable format.
Practical Application
Haagen-Dazs Shoppe Company integrated a CRM system into their current work flow. The system replaced their current spread sheets with new applications that were customizable by each employee. The company integrated applications that would allow them to locate real estate leads, manage ads, track inspections, monitor training attendance and streamline store openings. Each of the applications is specific to the needs of Haagen-Dazs. Not only that, but the system was rolled out to all employees in less than six months, since it required little training beyond the hands-on customization. The system was easily accessible to its remote workers worldwide because it operated in the “cloud,” or over the Internet, rather than being housed onsite and accessed through company-issued hardware. Now, any authorized employee can log into the the CRM system, see their personalized interface, and begin working.
After introducing the CRM software, Haagen-Dazs has gained an approximate 15 additional franchise leads per month. The company is also able to analyze data more efficiently and access data from virtually any location—and, perhaps most importantly, has seen an increase in employee satisfaction because of the new system.
Businesses can customize applications and resume business faster with point-and-click applications. The less time spent customizing, the less downtime the company will experience. That, of course, is good for the company’s bottom line.
