4 Types of CRM Software & Who Should Use Each

Broadly speaking, these CRMs are useful for larger sales teams needing robust data for planning and performance management. Also, data-heavy industries like banking and real estate will benefit from an analytical CRM’s robust data mining tools to forecast future outcomes. Finally, some service-based businesses can use analytical CRM software to identify trends and better understand customer behavior so they can provide the highest support.

Here’s who can benefit the most from using analytical CRM software to leverage data:

• Sales Teams Needing to Forecast Deals: Harness current and historical data to predict future trends and learn what motivates customers to make a purchase.
• Customer Support Teams Wanting to Improve Service: Use data to learn how to best serve customers in timely and efficient ways.
• Marketing Teams Trying to Reach New Leads: Discover where and how to effectively promote new services and develop effective messaging using data from past campaigns.
• Sales Managers Monitoring Progress: Track individual sales reps’ milestones and re-route projects accordingly should there be any bottlenecks.

If this sounds like you, click "show more" to learn about analytical CRMs' typical features and pricing, plus some of the top options you can purchase.

Operational CRM software streamlines front- and back-office tasks by automating things like data entry, appointment scheduling, customer service, and even tasks such as invoicing and performance management. It helps sales teams spend less time on non-revenue-generating tasks so they’ll have more time to spend on building meaningful relationships and closing deals.

Here’s who can benefit from operational CRM software to streamline their workflow:

• Those Needing Customer Lifecycle Management: Generate and nurture leads, and then manage the post-sale relationship, including billing and basic accounting.
• Sales Teams Needing Automations: Set up automated workflows to route leads, schedule meetings, update contact information, and perform other administrative tasks.
• Marketing Teams Generating Automated Leads: Automate things like basic lead generation as well as lead scoring and lead distribution to appropriate sales reps.
• Sales Reps Logging Interactions: Track prospect interactions, then use that data to provide personalized and efficient customer service.

If you identify with any of these typical operational CRM customers, continue reading for information on the features you can expect from an operational CRM, how much you can expect to pay, and a few of the leading options on the market.

Collaborative CRM software is best for team-based environments where multiple departments share data or interact with the same customers. This is especially important for the integration of the marketing, sales, and service teams. Further, with remote and hybrid work more commonplace nowadays, a collaborative CRM is integral in keeping everyone in the loop across time zones.

The following teams should use collaborative CRM to facilitate teamwork and communication:

• Sales Teams Sharing Leads and Prospects: Collaborate within the sales team by using the same tool to manage ongoing lead nurturing across multiple touch points.
• Customer Success Teams Supporting Clients: Share data with the sales team to better understand ongoing clients and provide customized service.
• Marketing Teams Generating Qualified Leads: Collaborate between marketing and sales so the highest value leads are generated and properly nurtured.

Expand the below if your business consists of one or all of the teams above and you want to read about what collaborative CRMs can do, plus how much they cost and a few of your top choices.

Marketing CRM software is essential for sales and marketing teams of any size that want to launch successful inbound campaigns. It gives businesses the tools they need to create eye-catching media and collateral while providing insight into what resonates with customers.

Here’s who can use marketing CRM software to their advantage:

• Email Marketers Creating Drip Campaigns: Ensure the right messages are being sent so they reach the right people at the right time for better lead nurturing.
• Social Media Marketers Generating Leads: Interact with and observe followers across one or several platforms, and use organic and paid efforts to generate social media leads.
• SMS Marketers Texting Leads: Boost engagement and increase sales via text messaging campaigns sent to select leads.
• Inbound Marketers Capturing Website Visitors: Capture leads and interact with prospects via interactive landing pages and elements like pop-ups and live chat widgets.

Are you among the marketers who can benefit from a marketing CRM? Click the below to start considering some top providers and to learn about their typical pricing and feature sets.