Using a customer relationship management (CRM) system has become integral to businesses. They allow you to manage clients, leads, sales, workflows and so much more. There are plenty of off-the-shelf solutions out there, such as Zoho One, Salesforce and HubSpot. But some companies also choose to have their own custom systems made.
Which is better? We’re here to find out.
Start the conversationWhat is a Custom CRM?
A custom CRM is designed specifically for an individual business. Of course, not every business works the same, so it makes sense to have custom software. A custom system is built according to your needs, so it’s completely fit for purpose. You’ll consult thoroughly with the development company and they’ll deliver a product that does everything you need. Imagine that; a tool that looks after marketing tasks, sales automation, emails, customer records, lead generation, workflows. It sounds like a dream come true.
However, there’s a significant cost involved in producing tailored CRMs, so is it worth it? Let’s look at the pros and cons of custom CRM development.
The Pros of Custom CRM Development
Well, there are plenty of benefits to building your own CRM. There are a lot of reasons businesses go this way. A custom designed and developed CRM is great for the following reasons:
- Suits your exact needs
- Matches your daily operations, making it easy for staff
- It can mimic previous systems for easy and familiar use
- You can integrate third-party software
- No monthly licensing or subscription fees
- Customised reporting features
- Easy tracking of results
Now, it should be noted that some of these features aren’t unique to custom systems. The reporting and results tracking, for example, are present in most CRMs, but you could tailor them more specifically to your needs.
The Cons of Custom CRM Development
If it was all positive, then everybody would have custom software, right? Well, for all the benefits you’ll get from a custom CRM there are also a couple of downfalls. Will one of these issues be a dealbreaker for your business?
- Cost of development is high
- Further expense to update the system
- Unless requested, it may not be as scalable as off-the-shelf solutions
- Development team may cease trading, making updates and support hard to find
As you can see, the list isn’t long, but the cost alone is sometimes a turn-off. Off-the-shelf products generally have pretty good support available. You’ll get regular updates, too. It means you don’t have to dip into your pocket for improvements. However, most CRM brands require ongoing license payments, so over time, the upfront cost of a custom system may be worth it.
Is There an Alternative?
Fortunately, if you can’t decide or can’t afford a fully customised CRM solution, there is a valid alternative. If you can find a competent CRM consultant, they will set you up with a well-known CRM and customise it for you. Most CRMs are pretty good when it comes to customisation, and you can even integrate third party software. With the right sort of help, you could get the best of both worlds!
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