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Published October 13th, 2016 by

Differences Between CRM and SFA Software Solutions

Differences Between CRM and SFA Software Solutions

Customers and sales are two of the most important things for any business. Without buyers, you wouldn’t get to sell your products, and your store wouldn’t be able to survive. Thus, it’s essential to promote what you offer to your market. That way, more and more people will purchase your items.

However, a strategic marketing campaign is not enough. You also need to ensure that your consumers are happy with your service. That way, they won’t go to your competitors every time they want to buy something. Consequently, they may recommend you to people they know, giving you an opportunity to increase sales.

Nevertheless, you can’t do it without using the right applications. These programs will not only make you work faster but will also help you create a compelling ad. You just need to use the data and features provided by the software to get things done right.

There are several tools that you can use for running a business. Your choice depends on what you offer to your clients. However, if you’re selling items, your best option would be Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and SFA systems.

Many people think that CRM and SFA are the same when in fact, SFA is only a part of CRM, and there’s a big difference between these two applications.

This post will discuss what you need to know about these programs. You will also learn what makes them different from one another. Lastly, you will learn what software you should choose. So without further ado, let’s begin the discussion!

An Inside Look on Sales Force Automation

So what is a sales force automation tool? It is a program that streamlines all business tasks, from sales processing to managing clients. Many people call it as sales automation as it focuses on the entire sales procedure. Nevertheless, some call it as employee automation as it helps improve the efficacy of your personnel.

There are several features that you can get from the SFA software. First is the lead management. As the name implies, it focuses on the leads that the business gets. It provides the lead’s full information and then allows users to assign it to the right person. Hence, it will eliminate duplication of tasks.

Another feature is the opportunity management. It enables the entire team members to work as a unit, thus eliminating competition from one another. Furthermore, it tracks transactions and causes of bottlenecks. That way, users can determine the cause of low sales.

The account management is another feature provided by the sales force automation tool. It gives full details of the client’s account. Hence, when you assign the consumer to one of your employees, he doesn’t need to ask the client’s information. They can start answering their queries or processing sales.

Furthermore, it also reduces the chances of making mistakes. Because your employees have access to the information, they can view it as many times as they want.

Another feature that the sales management system has to offer is the territory management. It lets you assign an account to the right person or group. The good thing about it is that it allows you to finish urgent tasks. For example, if you receive leads that require immediate attention, you can designate them to a department that works fast.

Last is the contract management. This feature lets you control the lifespan of the contract. You can determine the expiry of the agreement and manage the information provided by the contract.

There are many employee automation software providers out there, claiming they’ve got the best sales force automation tools. Before you get their products, you need to read reviews of sales force automation tools. That way, you won’t get the least productive software on the market.

Customer Relationship Management: An Overview

Customer Relationship Management, or CRM for short, is a program that promotes a better relationship with their clients. It uses systems and procedures that will help companies to improve their services.

There are several benefits that CRM software has to offer. First, it improves customer retention. Because it increases the productivity of the company, there’s a lesser chance of client turnovers. Consequently, it will cut the cost.

According to entrepreneurs, it’s more expensive to get more customers than to retain them because you must advertise your business. Whether you’re promoting your company online or offline, you need to spend a lot of cash. When you plug it the traditional way, you must pay the TV and radio stations whenever they air the ad.

The same thing goes for Internet marketing. With every visit you get, you have to pay the host of your banner ads. Hence, if you distribute it to several websites, you have to pay them when someone clicks the banner.

However, if you use a robust CRM program, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. You just need to improve your service to increase client retention and cut the cost.

Apart from that, it also reduces customer complaints. Gripes can result in two unwanted effects. First is the consumer turnover. The reason people leave your business is the experience they’ve had with you. If they are unhappy with your products or services, chances are, they will go to your competitors.

Another effect is damaged reputation. With the advent of social media, it’s now easier to write complaints online. They just need to post it on their accounts or a particular group. In just a matter of hours, everyone will have a bad perception of your business.

Though you can hire a reputation manager, it won’t change the fact that you now have a bad public image. Even if they talk to the complainant or implement SEO techniques, someone still has a bad perception of you.

However, if you used a CRM system, this thing wouldn’t happen. This tool records every conversation you have with your customers. The purpose of this feature is to identify the common problem experienced by your clients. That way, you can think of ways to prevent these issues from occurring. If it happens again, you can give your customers a piece of advice on how to fix it.

There are different CRM platforms that you can use in your business. First is the cloud-based software. It’s one of the widely used CRM programs. It allows users to gather information without going to different sources. Moreover, it lets them give access to their employees, so they can get the same information without sending it one by one.

Next is the mobile-based program. This software lets you track sales and communication channels anytime and everywhere. You just need to download the app and sync it to the software. You have to ensure though that the mobile application and the computer program have the same brand. Otherwise, it will be impossible to sync them together.

Last is the Social CRM, which is the cheapest among the three. As the name suggests, it uses the power of social media. Customers just need to post their concerns on your page, so you can answer their queries.

Is there Any difference?

As mentioned earlier, many people think that the customer relationship management and sales process automation are the same. Though SFA is part of the CRM process, it doesn’t mean they are alike.

There is a big difference between these two platforms. First is their focus. CRM concentrates on your clients. It helps improve your service and communication with your customers, resulting in a better buyer–seller relationship. SFA, on the other hand, focuses on improving the entire sales process, resulting in the improvement of the company’s productivity. If everything works faster, chances are, your sales will improve. Thus, your business will succeed.

So are sales force automation tools the right choice? The answer lies in you. If your relationship with your clients is good, but your transactions are weak, then, this software is the best option. However, if you want to improve customer retention, then, CRM is the best answer.

Nevertheless, the best answer would be both. Both tools do not only enhance customer loyalty but sales too. If you process their orders fast, chances are, they will go back to your store. Moreover, they might write a review regarding how good your service is.

Furthermore, it can lead to a better relationship with your client. They will treat you as the one they can count on whenever they need something. For example, they want to start buying Christmas gifts this month. Because they have experienced your service, they won’t go into another shop. They will visit your store and look for some items to give.

There are many software vendors, who offer these packages separately. Still, there are some who sell CRM platforms that have an SFA feature. It’s up to you whether or not you want to buy two separate units. However, you need to ensure you get the best SFA or CRM tool. Read some user reviews online as it will tell you the pros and cons of each product.

Do you want to get the best SFA package? Go to CrowdReviews.com and read about their sales force automation software reviews.

Trevor Price

Trevor Price helps small businesses leverage mobile technology to reach their audience and extend their capabilities in delivery, information, and tracking.

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