Last updated on August 2nd, 2023
Your business is growing and your sales team just found a promising lead.
You open a spreadsheet pulling double-duty as a CRM and search through thousands of accounts to find their name. Next, you’re entering several lines of data in three different sheets. Then, you’re opening up different tabs on your browser to get in touch with them.
You’re drowning in a sea of data and uncertainty. You can’t forecast any sales or track their story without writing formulas in excel. You risk losing customers by not prioritizing them. You could miss out on leads that are right in front of you. Talk about sales stress.
When switching to a legitimate CRM you can almost hear your sales funnel sealing up. It becomes your one-stop sales resource, and you’re naturally nervous about spreading your sales process too thin again.
The whole point of an All-in-One CRM is to have one organized and efficient program. Adding apps (there’s always a new one) to your shiny new CRM might feel like you’re going against the grain. Why should you have tons of applications open while trying to focus on just one customer?
The time it takes to manage multiple applications comes out of your sales numbers. Getting lost in a sea of apps takes your technology a step backwards. Technology should help your sales, not hurt them.
All-in-One CRM solutions like VipeCloud stamp out stress. With VipeCloud, there’s no copying, pasting, or repeating tedious tasks – Thanks to a painless process called automation. VipeCloud takes your data and populates fields for you, so you can spend your time selling.
Add-on applications can help you boost your sales and save time, without becoming a hassle. The key to creating a complete All-In-One CRM is to bring all of your processes into it. So when should you add-on apps to your CRM?
Automate All Your Communications With VipeCloud
VipeCloud is the only Automation tool your small business needs to
be the hero to your customers.
With Email, Texting, Social, Suites, Chat, Stories, Video Email & Sign Up Forms fully built-in, we provide you with the perfect platform to grow your business.
15 Day Free Trial – Get started risk free. No CC needed.
When It Syncs with Your CRM
Your applications should live harmoniously with your CRM.
Depending on your needs, there are plenty of apps that upgrade your CRM without limiting functionality. Communication is critical — your sales team should be on the same page, and so should your applications. It’s like building a puzzle. If your CRM and your apps don’t fit, you’ll never see the full picture.
Before you bring an external app into your office, make sure it works well with your CRM. A good external app will be able to use the same data as your CRM without a problem. It’ll be able to sync data simply and quickly. All of your accounts from your CRM should be the same in your new app.
After all, if an add-on app doesn’t manage your data well, it’s an inconvenience instead of a benefit.
When It Weaves into Your Workflow
Onboarding takes long enough.
Don’t make training harder than it needs to be. You don’t have to inconvenience your team when you bring in an external app.
Fumbling around with a new program can freeze productivity. Strengthen your sales team by adding apps that work with routines, not against them. Sales reps will appreciate an add-on that doesn’t hurt their workflow.
Your CRM supports your workflow automatically. It makes your data and schedule convenient. Your team wants add-ons that enhance your CRM, not change change how they use it. Your apps flow from your office to your field sales team. Your whole team is counting on new, helpful features. Your add-ons are an upgrade to your CRM and your workflow.
For example, if you’re using VipeCloud, you could benefit from using an add-on like DocuSign. It integrates easily with no hassle and improves the overall closing process. Your whole team can use it and it won’t make you change your entire process.
When You Have Clear-Cut Criteria
Most CRMs have very general features. Some industries, however, need specific features. If you have a distinct target market, your add-on should be just as specific for business to really boom.
No CRM has the ability to visualize your accounts and create routes on a map. An add-on application like Badger Maps lets you optimize sales routes, filter your customers, and generate leads. These are great features for a field sales team that’s always on the go. You can import data from any CRM and take that information with you on your route.
Get the ball rolling and find out which features your team needs. Start by checking where your CRM falls short. Get feedback from your team about what they like and dislike when they use it. If they complain about industry-specific challenges, find an app that fixes their problems. Every company needs different resources. Don’t be afraid to use an add-on app if it fixes holes in your sales process.
When you have one main system your team is focused in the field. An add-on app is the icing on the cake that makes increasing sales easy.
Sales trainers won’t get confused with where they should input something, which saves time with the onboarding process with a simple, efficient system. Seasoned sales reps won’t be frustrated with a new system if there are only a few steps to record. Inside sales teams won’t be frazzled with new programs that take too much time to learn. A smart add-on is easy to pick up, simple to use, and beneficial for the whole team.
About the Author: Iris Dunn is an Account Manager at Badger Maps. Badger is a sales routing app that helps field salespeople be more successful. It integrates with a CRM and visualizes the customer data on a map. With Badger, reps save time and gain focus, spending less time on driving and busy work and more time on selling. You can follow Iris and her team on Facebook and Twitter @BadgerMaps.
Leave a Reply