You understand the importance of a good CRM system – which is why you
have one! But are you using it to its full potential? By integrating
some core systems with your CRM software, you can take your
multi-tasking, lead-generating abilities to a whole new level. Here are
three valuable integrations you should consider as add-ons to your CRM:
1. Marketing Automation Integration
This is probably the most important connection you can make. CRM and
marketing automation go hand-in-hand when it comes to pain-free selling
and customer engagement. Any major CRM provider will offer the option of
integration with your marketing automation software. Not all CRM’s are
compatible with every marketing automation, so it’s important to make
sure yours can link with the CRM you are using. By uniting these two
systems you are not only simplifying your processes but optimizing them
as well. I’ve listed TAI’s marketing automation solutions and their
compatibility with some common CRM’s. If yours is not listed or you are
unsure, you can always contact your CRM provider and ask.
- Act-On: compatible with Salesforce, Infor CRM, SugarCRM, & Microsoft Dynamics
- Collabspot: compatible with SugarCRM
- Salesfusion: compatible with Salesforce, Infor CRM, and SugarCRM
2. Email Integration
Every department uses email to communicate with customers and
prospects. This preferred communication channel can be used for lead
nurturing, sales activities, and services initiatives, making it an
extremely valuable CRM integration. Your CRM houses all your important
customer data and logged emails help complete the picture of those
customers. Integrating email with your CRM simplifies communication and
keeps all teams current on customer statuses. Service teams can
auto-generate support cases from an email to their CRM for easy
follow-through and case management. Marketing teams can view
conversations in the feed to understand what interests a prospect, and
sales teams can keep more accurate records on the customer by making
changes from their email sidebar in a few easy clicks. The CRM
information pulled into the email sidebar is editable, so if, for
example, you notice a customer’s email signature has a new phone number,
you can update it immediately via the sidebar without having to log in
to the CRM, too. The benefits of email integration abound, increasing
automation, streamlining customer service, and speeding up data entry to
give your teams more time to focus on what matters.
3. ERP Integration
Another important integration we recommend is with your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. While a CRM system is ideal for front-end information like your customer data, the ERP system works on the back-end detailing that customer’s accounting information, purchases, billing, etc. When you combine the two, you are multiplying the advantages of each system. Instead of the sales department having to email the accounting department to manually enter new sale information, the process is automated, which saves everyone time and effort. If that’s not enough to convince you, think about the margin of error. If someone is manually entering information there’s more room for inaccuracies.
So what's the overarching benefit of all of this? Transparency. Transparency is the most valuable outcome of any integration, because it enables teams to work more collaboratively and gain a 360-degree view of their customer data. You're not blindsiding your teams because of lack of information. Sales can see when services is working on an issue or when a customer hasn't paid their bill, services can stay connected to the customer's progress, and marketing can gain a broader perspective of the customer's behaviors. It's a win-win-win that accelerates data potential from all angles.
TAI’s sister company, StarfishETL, offers seamless, fast integrations for all of the above mentioned integration types, plus many more. It’s rated highest among its competitors for customer satisfaction (G2 Crowd). If you're thinking about integrating your systems, you can find more information about StarfishETL on their website at www.starfishetl.com.