One must know the CRM buzzwords to ask the right questions to optimize your CRM strategies. The most commonly used CRM terms will help you to define the way we speak and think about customer relationship management strategies. The most common CRM buzzwords are - Professional Services Automation (PSA) software, Open-source CRM, On-premise CRM, Cloud CRM etc. Read more at: http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/insidecrm/crm-buzzwords-demystified-a-crm-glossary-of-terms-73958

On premise CRM solutions are fading away and cloud-based CRM systems are the future.  According to Jim Desler, director of corporate communications for Microsoft, “The cloud opens up new possibilities and benefits for our customers”. Most software benefits from the cloud model, but the gains from placing CRM in the cloud are finding more customers. This article link describes reasons why businesses are moving to cloud CRM and how the cloud has changed the space. Read more at: http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/insidecrm/five-ways-the-cloud-changes-crm-71206

CRM tools have many advantages and the basic capabilities should keep track of customer communication, request customer enhancements and manage marketing campaigns to improve customer relationships. CRM can also help a small business to achieve growth. A CRM program needs to be worked on continuously. But, many companies have failed to get results from its CRM because of some bad CRM methods. Companies must implement some latest CRM tools to achieve growth. They are: Social CRM, Cloud CRM, and Mobile CRM. TO know more about how to overcome CRM challenges in small businesses, follow:  http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/insidecrm/enhancing-your-crm-as-a-midsized-business-69920

Have you recently asked the right questions from your CRM application? If no then here is a piece of advice from Inside CRM blog to upgrade your CRM application. It will bring more business agility, efficient workflow and will improve customer relationship.

But what are the right questions to ask:

• How old is your CRM solution? And if you can’t remember then here is your cue to upgrade.

• How many applications are you using to support your CRM?

• Does it grow with your business? 

To find your answers, click on the link: http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/insidecrm/how-to-tell-its-time-to-upgrade-your-crm-solution-67836

Cloud CRM software is a serious business investment in today's competitive environment. Out of 5279 CRM buyers 68 percent were either use non-industry specific software or manual methods like spreadsheets and paper notes to manage customer relationships. Commercial CRM is preferred to a proprietary solution. It was discovered that 9 percent customers wanted a cloud based CRM and a majority wanted to evaluate best of breed solutions over an integrated suite. Sales force automation was the top best of breed buyers and integrated suite. Nine percent wanted an integrated suite or even multiple applications. 

CRM software should have a good long run sustaining contact management as having a 360 degree view helps increase cross sell and upsell opportunities. It should have a good note taking capability for tracking customer information. Integrating with third party systems is also important. The reporting and analytics feature is also useful for staying informed and is advantageous to both customer and the organization and dashboards help getting a single view of activities.

Sales force automation was the best requested CRM application among integrated suite and best of breed buyers representing 76 percent of companies evaluating best of breed solutions and nearly 75 percent of people interested into integrated suites. 

Read more at http://www.business-standard.com/article/management/top-trends-in-crm-software-purchases-114080300625_1.html