The Evolution Of CRM – Discover The Roots Of CRM

Maxis CRM

Author

October 12, 2022

Why is the evolution of CRM software so important? Let me tell you why!

Have you ever purchased anything from any e-commerce behemoths? Of course, who hasn’t? 

We are all familiar with every e-commerce platform available out there! But have you ever wondered how these platforms grew from being just an ordinary idea to becoming the world’s leading online retailers? The answer is simple and clear: through their customers and their customer relationship management (CRM) software.

The evolution of CRM technology replaced the tangled network of databases, spreadsheets, and apps that businesses traditionally used to track client data, resulting in better management, increased efficiency, and happier clients. 

So, if you are new to the evolution of CRM technology and are unaware of all the wonderful things that it can do to your business, then this is the place for you!

What Is CRM? 

So, what exactly is CRM? CRM is an abbreviation for customer relationship management, which is a component of a larger CRM strategy developed by a company to build strong relationships with customers and ensure that they stick with a brand for a long time. 

It is, in essence, a well-organized repository for customer data and all of the processes associated with its management. With a CRM, the organization can easily manage its sales, marketing, and customer support processes, resulting in increased profits.

When people discuss CRM evolution in general, they usually mean a CRM system, which is a tool for managing contacts, sales, agent productivity, and more. From finding novel customers and converting them into a loyal base to providing complete support throughout their journey – there’s nothing a CRM tool can’t do. CRM in short, is a one-stop shop for your customer’s journey, that includes sales management, actionable insights, integration with social media, and team communication.

What Is A CRM Software? 

CRM software is simply a database that assists a business in keeping track of all of the details about prospects and customers. Today’s CRM systems emphasize simple interfaces and workflows that you can update and customize with a few clicks, making it easier than ever to keep track of critical activities and client information.

A CRM software replaces the many spreadsheets, databases, and apps that many businesses use to track client data. As a result, there is more structured organization management, efficiency, better time management, and satisfied clients.

QUICK TIP: Sign up for a free trial of Maxis CRM if you’re eager to put a CRM to the test. Walk through the features and examples outlined in the Maxis CRM application and relish your customer relationship management journey right away!

Nonetheless, CRM systems aren’t like dusty old information libraries. CRM software acts as a second brain for marketing, sales, and service departments in companies that integrate and use it effectively. CRM software organizes all communications (form fills, phone calls, emails, text messages, and meetings), documents, quotes, purchases, and tasks related to each lead and client. Your entire team has access to those details at the right time—to close a sale or provide exceptional service.

Strategically, the evolution of CRM software assists your company in focusing on customers and customer outcomes. When you have all of your prospects’ and customers’ data in one system, you can clearly see what’s working, what’s not, and what changes you need to make. Marketing teams can track the effectiveness of their marketing efforts, sales managers can gain insights into pipeline revenue and open proposals, and customer experience managers can assess their team’s performance and identify areas for improvement.

The Evolution Of CRM

The term “CRM” that you all know about today was coined recently. However, the evolution of CRM, that is the customer relationship management strategies and solutions have been around for a while. It is as old as the trade itself, which dates back 20,000 years. 

According to a CMO’s 2019 Highlights & Insights Report, buyers proclaimed that customer service is the most crucial factor influencing their purchasing decision. Hence businesses understood that neglecting their customers and ignoring their journey could sink their brand in the blink of an eye.

Soon, the paleolithic traders understood the value of cultivating customer relationships. How do you think they could have built their business in ancient times, that too in a pre-digital era? They kept track of their supply chain buyers and sellers, as well as their location and product preferences.

With the growth of trade, there was a greater need for accounting to determine who owned what and who owed what to whom. And with the various requirements of running a business, “CRM” was born and evolved over time.

The 1950s

Businesses during this period used pen and paper to record their daily tasks. While tracking information and updates became increasingly difficult, file cabinets were purchased in bulk to support the documentation process. Later that year, the Rolodex (a rotating card file device used to store business contact information) was created, precisely in 1956 by Danish engineer Hildaur Neilsen for a New York manufacturing company. From the early 1950s to the late 1960s, the primary form of CRM evolution was Rolodex which was invented to store the contact information of the business prospects.  

The 1960s

A majority of businesses during this period reached out to their customers by scheduling on-site meetings. Sales executives would sell products by engaging in one-on-one conversations or cold calls.

The 1970s

The ability to register customer information such as name, address and transaction history on a standalone digital database was introduced with the adoption of early mainframe computers. Database marketing enabled businesses to customize communications to their customers with targeted messages and enabled tracking of the progression of business relationships on a screen. As mainframe computers became more popular, businesses were able to digitally store important customer information such as names and contact information. 

The 1980s

Conductor software released an electronic version of the Rolodex called ACT in 1987. ACT was a digital version of Rolodex with a built-in contact management tool. The tool signalled the start of outbound sales calls or cold calls to customers. It included a contact management tool and paved the way for the development of Content Management Systems (CMS) prototypes. 

The 1990s

Database marketing evolved into Sales Force Automation by adding features such as tracking and analyzing customer data and allowing automation of trivial tasks (SFA). Siebel Systems rose to prominence as the most popular SFA provider. By 1995, SFAs could convert leads and automate marketing campaigns with the click of a button, giving rise to the term Customer Relationship Management, or CRM. New features, such as tracking and analyzing customer data, were added to database marketing.

The 2000s

Does anyone remember the Y2K bug? It had managed to demolish online service providers and CRM vendors in a single blow. In the 2000s, the on-premise CRM evolution took over and was developed primarily for large organizations’ corporate-wide process automation. Fortunately, Paul Greenberg’s book, ‘CRM at the Speed of Light,’ managed to shift the discussion to a more coherent CRM system as a solution. This was followed in 2004 by the release of SugarCRM, the first open-source CRM. Vtiger followed suit, releasing an open-source CRM the following year.

The 2010s – The Ultra Modern CRM Systems

Integrations, improvements in data analytics and reporting, mobile access, and the involvement of AI and machine learning had increased with the rise of business intelligence services and communication systems.

CRM solutions are now fully equipped to manage sales pipelines and deliver exceptional customer experiences for small businesses, mid-size enterprises, and large multinational corporations. Thanks to all the recent advancements in mobile computing and Big Data. Modern CRM tools can generate realistic sales forecasts for each quarter and integrate with social media platforms and a plethora of applications, such as Gmail and more. 

The Future Of CRM: AI and Analytics

CRM is now one of the fastest-growing sectors in the Software as a Service (SaaS) industry and CRM systems are moving the needle toward customer satisfaction with each innovation.

CRM providers, such as Maxis CRM, a Chennai based enthusiastic startup, are constantly improving their products with AI, machine learning, and analytics to ensure that customers receive the best service possible. 

Artificial intelligence and machine learning, for example, will seamlessly assist your sales team in the near future shifting their focus from identifying prospects and pushing products to care for the customer. It’s only a matter of time before the barriers between your sales, marketing, and support teams completely disintegrate, allowing you to provide a comprehensive roadmap for your company’s growth.

According to a recent LinkedIn survey, “77% of top Salespeople rely on Sales intelligence tools.” As a result, customer relationship management is a crucial topic to consider, and any sales-dependent company that does not have a good CRM platform to support its sales team is said to be entering the battle arena unarmed. 

End Lines

Every business today faces numerous difficulties. From identifying the right lead to analyzing the best mode of communication to communicating with the potential customer on time, all customer-facing activities can be really challenging. An effective CRM system can help you form long-lasting relationships with your customers, lowering your churn rate. This can indirectly help your company grow and become more profitable.

Understanding CRM and how to effectively use it can help you keep customers engaged and loyal. However, in order to reap all of these benefits, you must first locate a suitable tool with advanced features. Before comparing different CRM solutions, analyze your business needs. This can assist you in locating the most functional tool for transforming your customer relationships. 

So what’s the good news? CRM systems like Maxis CRM can help you with your customer relationship management journey. 

Then what’s the bad news? It won’t happen unless you take the first step and schedule a demo!!!

Maxis CRM

Author

October 12, 2022