Zoho CRM – Best Features, Pricing, Pros, Cons, And Alternatives
Zoho CRM is a customer relationship management and lead management software that is popular among small businesses that are in their phase of growth. As clients and customer starts growing for a company, the Zoho CRM provides the extra features and quantity that the company needs. The free plan of Zoho also comes with numerous useful features.
In this article, you will mainly learn about one of the popular CRM software systems, the Zoho CRM. Furthermore, we will discuss the plans available if you want to purchase the software. Furthermore, you will learn what are the major features that Zoho CRM has that your business can benefit from.
Finally, we will discuss why this software system is a great option for your business, along with a few pros and cons regarding the same. Hence, to learn more about Zoho CRM, read on through to the end of the article.
Zoho CRM – A General Overview Of The Platform
A review article on Forbes.com puts it rightly –
“Zoho CRM makes it easy for newcomers to get started with a CRM, especially if they’re not familiar with the software. The free plan includes just enough of the basic features to be helpful for an individual or an ultrasmall company. And the interface is intuitive and clean, which makes it even easier to learn to use.”
This is one of the major factors that the Zoho CRM API is very popular among small businesses. Furthermore, the software system comes with a lot of features that are not only helpful for small businesses only, but for growing businesses as well.
Zoho CRM Pricing
In the following table, you will get the entire pricing and plans of the Zoho CRM:
| Plans | Monthly Pricing | Annual Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Zoho CRM Free | Free | Free |
| Zoho CRM Standard | $20 per user per month (annual billing) | $14 per user per month (annual billing) |
| Zoho CRM Professional | $35 per user per month (annual billing) | $23 per user per month (annual billing) |
| Zoho CRM Enterprise | $50 per user per month (annual billing) | $40 per user per month (annual billing) |
| Zoho CRM Ultimate | $65 per user per month (annual billing) | $52 per user per month (annual billing) |
| Zoho CRM Plus | $65 per user per month (annual billing) | $52 per user per month (annual billing) |
| Zoho One | $105 per user per month (annual billing) | $90 per user per month (annual billing) |
What Are The Major Zoho CRM Features?
Once you do a Zoho CRM login, you will find the Zoho interface being very user-friendly. Once in the software, you will also come across a variety of customization features. You can also create personalized layouts, which you can save, clone, and share. With a many automation features, you can simplify your complicated tasks.
Furthermore, Zoho also comes with an AI assistant. According to the official website of Zoho CRM Plus,
“Zoho’s AI assistant, Zia, guides your teams by predicting business trends, suggesting the best times to contact customers, identifying sentiments in emails and tickets, and providing intelligent business dashboards.”
Another great feature of Zoho is that it can be integrated with all the different Zoho software systems. Furthermore, the Zoho CRM supports other systems too.
Why Is Zoho CRM A Great Option For Your Business?
Being one of the best software options for lead management, Zoho CRM helps in unifying your business and marketing processes.
According to the official website of Zoho CRM,
“Zoho CRM Plus unifies your sales, marketing, customer service, and every other customer-facing team on one platform so you can deliver exceptional customer experiences to every customer. Unify business data, customer engagements, ROI, and more—all while keeping your customer at the center of everything you do.”
With this CRM, you will be able to provide your customers with the needed convenience of omnichannel engagement. With Zoho, you can engage with your customers at every level of the customer lifecycle. You can always have full access and full information about your customers through different channels, as you will get real-time notifications on the software system.
Zoho CRM – The Major Pros And Cons
The following are some of the essential pros and cons that you must be aware of before you make a purchase of Zoho CRM:
Pros Of Zoho CRM
Here are the major pros of Zoho CRM:
- Zoho CRM comes with a free plan but with limited features.
- The pricing plans are affordable and friendly for small businesses.
- All the pricing plans contain the automation feature.
- You can integrate the CRM with various other Zoho software systems as well as other software systems.
- The CRM is simple and easy to customize.
- There is a mobile app as well, which allows remote access.
- If you do not like the software, you will get the money back in 30 to 45 days.
Cons Of Zoho CRM
Here are the cons of Zoho CRM that will allow you to make a decision while purchasing:
- The AI features come only the top-tier plans.
- There are only a limited number of custom fields.
- There are no integrations available for free plans.
Zoho CRM Alternatives
We think that Zoho CRM can be an excellent choice for a small business. However, it is not the best option for large businesses. According to Forbes.com,
“While Zoho CRM is an excellent entry-level CRM, it may not be the best choice for every business. You can find plenty of Zoho CRM alternatives that could fit your CRM strategy better.”
The following are the six top alternatives of Zoho CRM that you will find easily:
1. ActiveCampaign
2. Monday.com
4. Salesforce Pardot
5. LeadSquared
6. Hatchbuck
Summing Up
If you are running a startup, then there cannot be any better CRM solutions available than Zoho CRM. Furthermore, you can surely choose the alternatives, as per your needs and likings. However, when it comes to a combination of features and pricing, Zoho CRM is the best option of all. What is your review of this software system? Share your reviews regarding Zoho CRM in the comments section below.
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Freshworks – Best Features, Pricing, Pros, And Cons: Let’s Discuss
Freshworks offers you a CRM that helps to streamline your sales and customer service management. The best part is that you will not need to break the bank to do so. The CRM system comes with a variety of useful features as well as other software systems from the brand, which can be integrated easily with the system. Furthermore, it is one of the such CRM options that come with a variety of customization options as well. In this article, you will learn about the major products of Freshworks, along with a brief overview of Freshworks’ services. Then we will provide you with the pricing of the Freshworks CRM. Next, we will discuss the major features of the CRM system from which you can benefit. Finally, you will learn why the Freshworks CRM is a great option for your business, followed by some pros and cons of the software system. Hence, to learn more about this software system, read on through to the end of the article. Freshworks Products – A Brief Overview Freshworks is a brand that comes with three different categories of products – Customer Service Products, IT Service Products, and CRM Products. The major CRM software from Freshworks is Freshsales. According to Forbes.com, “Freshsales is an all-in-one solution providing unified sales, marketing, chat and telephone capabilities. The Freshsales CRM works on a browser or mobile app, making it easy to reference or add to your contacts wherever you are. It’s also a fully customizable app, so you can change your dashboards to suit how you view your contacts or data.” Customer Service Products include Freshchat, Freshdesk Support Desk, Freshdesk Omnichannel, Freshdesk Contact Center, and Freshdesk Customer Success. IT Services Products include Freshservice for IT and service management, and Freshservice for Business Teams, for better-streamlining business processes. CRM Services include Freshsales and Freshsales Suite for the management of sales services and Freshmarketer for marketing and lead management. All the customer services products and the IT services products are included with the CRM services. Freshworks – What Is The Pricing? One of the best things about the Freshworks CRM (Freshsales) is that there are three different plans based on the type of user that needs to work on the CRM. Here are the plans and their respective pricing: PlansPricingFree PlanNo payment (for up to three users only)Growth$15 per user per month (annual billing)Pro$39 per user per month (annual billing) Furthermore, there is an 'Enterprise' plan that is designed for larger businesses, having complex sales processes and lead management needs. This plan is for businesses that deal with higher volumes of sales. The features, customization options, control, and governance are many. There are other controls as well, which are extremely helpful for businesses. Moreover, you can also include many add-ons with Enterprise as well. Freshworks CRM – What Are The Major Features Of Freshsales? According to the official website, “Freshsales leverages customer data in ways that help you personalize engagement, shorten the sales cycle, and focus on the leads most likely to sign on the dotted line. All automated, and powered by brilliant AI-driven insights.” Once you do Freshworks login into Freshsales, you will be greeted with an extremely useful and customizable dashboard. However, one of the best features about it is the fact that it is easy to use and simple at the same time. Here are the major features of Freshsales that you need to know about: There are an ample number of customization features that helps the Freshsales CRM fit your business in the right manner. The automation system can help in enhancing the productivity of the organization. With its multichannel communication systems, Freshsales can help better manage your customer relationships. With various sections that give you the view of customers, you can bring all the internal teams of your business along a single and shared view of the data associated with customers. With automated workflows, end-to-end personalization, behavioral segmentation, and more, you will be able to automate your marketing processes. The introduction of AI also makes things easier for you by providing you with helpful reports and insights. Why Can Freshworks Be A Great Addition To Your Business? Being one of the best lead management software options, Freshsales is a great option for growing your business. Forbes.com, in its review of Freshsales, rightly puts it, "Freshsales is an easy-to-use CRM tool that’s priced low enough for small startups that need to budget wisely. The free plan is a great entry-level tool and as your business grows, you can upgrade to one of the paid plans for more usability.” Apart from that, if you want to do more collaboration, you can also integrate Freshsales with all the other software systems present in Freshworks. What Are The Pros And Cons Of Freshworks CRM Freshsales? The following are some of the most essential pros and cons about Freshsales that you need to know before you make a purchase: Pros Of Freshsales Here are the major pros of Freshsales: There is a free plan which you can use perpetually. The paid plans of Freshsales are affordable as well. You will get to use the chat, email, and phone features on all the plans. All the paid plans contain an AI-powered lead-scoring feature. There are many automation options available with Freshsales as well. There are customization options in the dashboards and reports as well. Cons Of Freshsales The following are the Freshsales cons that you must consider before you make a purchase: Customer support is lacking and needs to be upgraded. In some cases, Freshsales customer support only works on weekdays. The free plan does not contain any reports. Final Thoughts Hope this article was helpful for you in getting a better idea of Freshsales CRM, which is one of the major software systems produced by Freshworks. The best thing about this software system is the fact that many features are available for free. However, if you are looking for advanced features, you must consider subscribing to the paid plans. What do you think about Freshsales? Share your reviews about the software in the comments section below. Read More: Malpractice Vs Negligence – Let’s Find Out The Difference Is Startup Business Insurance Necessary For New Businesses? What Is Commercial Insurance? And Its Different Types – Let’s Discuss
July, 07 2023
Maximizing Lead Conversion: Best Lead Management Software To Generate More Sales
Lead management comprises a variety of methods, processes, and practices, with the help of which businesses acquire new clients. This process is also called Customer Acquisition Management. There are many lead management software which are popular among both small and large businesses. These software systems come with tools that are created to fulfill the needs related to lead management processes. In this article, you will get a lead management software list, along with a description of the lead management software features. Furthermore, you will get some general details about each of these software systems. Hence, to learn more, read on through to the end of the article. What Is A Lead Management Software? Lead management is one of the most important processes of a business in today's day and age, especially if your business is based on the Internet. To manage leads, you will also need to get access to simple software-based tools that help you to maintain the client database and sales lead. According to an article on ActiveCampaign.com, “At its core, lead management software is a digital hub that consolidates and organizes all lead-related information. The software collects and stores valuable data about leads, including contact details, demographics, and interaction history.” Lead management software allows your business to find and get leads from different sources, including landing pages, website forms, social media platforms, and other platforms where marketing is possible. With such software, you will also be able to score leads and increase your prospects. Lead Management Software Vs CRM: What Is The Difference? While lead management software allows you to collect data, identify prospects, and close deals on sales, CRM software is helpful when you already have an existing customer base. In the latter system, you can consider the sales approach only if you have a database of customers. However, there are many new Lead management CRM software options available that allow you to do both jobs, including lead management and customer relationship management. According to SoftwareTestingHelp.com, “Certain software tools combine the services of lead management and CRM as the former leads to later, but CRM can never be a part of lead management. Lead Management vs. CRM is similar to Prospective Customers vs. Existing Customers.” Lead management software, as well as CRM software, provides you with a lot of benefits. It empowers you to find, capture, convert, and track leads in the best way possible. You can make your lead management processes much more effective with the help of such software systems and hence increase the chances of converting your leads into purchasing customers. The Best Free Lead Management Software In 2023 If you are looking for the best lead management software systems, you must consider a variety of factors before you make the purchase. These will help you to ensure that the software you are choosing is catering to the needs of your business. The first thing you must try to find in lead management software is flexibility and scalability. The software must be able to handle higher volumes of data. Furthermore, the software must be easy to use as well. Additionally, the software must come with all the latest features that are required from top lead management software and enable faster work processes. The following are the top lead management software options that you must look for in 2023: 1. Monday.com Whether you have a small business or a large business, this platform is a great option for you. One of the best features of this platform is pipeline management. Furthermore, it comes with great flexibility and security. Apart from that, the software supports integration, and you can customize it as per your needs. 2. ActiveCampaign This software comes with numerous exceptional features and top-grade capabilities. One of the major aspects of this software is its ability to automate. As per the claims of its official website, “With its intuitive interface and powerful automation tools, ActiveCampaign enables businesses to nurture and convert leads into paying customers.” 3. Salesforce Pardot Although a great option for medium-sized businesses, large businesses can use the software too. Pardot is a standalone application and comes with a variety of branching software systems. If you need a lot of email campaigns as well as a large database, you must choose Salesforce Pardot over anything. 4. Zoho CRM One of the most popular CRM systems also offers beneficial lead management options. Furthermore, this platform has a lot of other apps with other individual features, and all of them are already integrated with one another. Furthermore, SoftwareTestingHelp.com reviews – “The Company provides great customer support. The product is value for money and includes good features that suit various businesses.” 5. Less Annoying CRM If you want a simple and all-encompassing lead management and CRM software, then you must go for Less Annoying CRM. One of the best things about the software is that the pricing is straightforward, and the usage does not need a learning curve. Furthermore, setting up the software is also really easy. 6. LeadSquared Although a useful lead management and CRM software, LeadSquared is a platform that comes with different software services as well. This is a great option for startups and small businesses. The pricing is also not very high, which can be a relief for small businesses looking for growth. 7. Hatchbuck Hatchbuck is a CRM software that also offers you lead management options. The great thing about this software is that it is easy to use and does not require any learning curve. According to MotleyFool.com, “The solution offers an abundance of marketing and sales automation at a relatively low price, which makes Hatchbuck a great first system for small business marketing professionals and more novice marketing technology users.” Final Thoughts If you are looking for useful and long-term lead management software, you must choose from the options above. Hope this article was helpful to you in giving you a better idea of which software systems to purchase. Do you know of other great software for lead management? Share your views with us in the comments section below.
June, 06 2023
How Does The Procurement Process Work? Essential Things To Know About It
The procurement process has been an essential part of the business since its existence. The process of buying the products and services for running the business smoothly forms an essential part of the organization. You need to get the supplies at the lowest cost procurement while maintaining the bottom line in the business. The procurement team works in coordination with the other departments of the organization. To get the necessary pieces of equipment essential for day-to-day work. If you want to grow your business smoothly, you cannot ignore the importance of the procurement process. It forms an integral part of the business that can help your organization to grow. Seek the help of a strategy consultant if you face any difficulty in the process. What Is A Procurement Process? The procurement process refers to the series of steps an organization follows to acquire goods, services, resources from external sources. It involves everything from identifying the need for a product or service to the final payment. You need to be well aware of your organization's needs. How Does The Procurement Process Work? There are several ways the procurement process works in an organization. You need to be well aware of it while meeting your organizational goals with ease. Some of the key processes which you can employ are as follows:- 1. Identifying The Needs With Procurement Process Departments or individuals within an organization identify the goods or services required. This might involve assessing inventory levels, forecasting future needs, or responding to specific project requirements. Here the seller's concessions also form an important part. It can reduce your cost significantly. 2. Specification Development Clear specifications or requirements and draft the details of quality, quantity, timelines, and any other specific criteria. It will help you to keep accurate records of the products that you are purchasing from the market. Furthermore, it will guide you in times of crisis if you face any legal complications. 3. Supplier Identification Potential suppliers or vendors you need to identify through databases, market research, or by issuing requests for information (RFI). It is the third most important step in the procurement process that you cannot ignore from your end. Once you follow this step, things are going to be easier for you. 4. Request For Proposal Or Quotation A formal document is sent to potential suppliers outlining the requirements and soliciting their proposals or quotes. This document includes information about the organization, its specific needs, evaluation criteria, timelines, and terms and conditions. It is one of the vital steps in the procurement process that you cannot ignore from your end. Follow the correct process that can make things easier for you. 5. Proposal Evaluation Received proposals reviewed and evaluated based on various criteria such as cost, quality, delivery time, supplier reputation, and compliance. You need to be well aware of this step at the time of proposal evaluation of the procurement process. Even a single small aspect is not left out in this process. Try to know the complete process to have a better insight into it. Consider the capital expenditure in this regard seriously. 6. Negotiation With Procurement Process Discussions take place with selected suppliers to finalize terms, prices, delivery schedules, and other conditions. This stage aims to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. The process of negotiation in the procurement process aims to offer a win-win solution to both parties. You cannot make your selection on the wrong end. 7. Contract Creation With Procurement Process A formal contract is drafted detailing the agreed-upon terms, responsibilities, timelines, and any other pertinent information. Both parties review and sign the contract. The agreement signifies the fact that both parties agree on the terms and conditions of the procurement process. Once you follow the correct method, things are going to be easier for you in the long run. 8. Purchase Order After the contract is signed, a purchase order is issued to the chosen supplier. The PO specifies the details of the purchase, including quantities, prices, delivery dates, and any other relevant terms. The PO is proof that both parties agree with the terms of the contract and that they can proceed with the procurement process. You need to know the complete process to make the process feasible for your business. 9. Goods & Service Receipts Upon delivery, the organization receives the goods or services and checks them against the agreed specifications. Any discrepancies or issues are addressed with the supplier. Once you get the receipts of the goods and services, it will become easier for you to complete the process of procurement. Types Of Procurement Process There are several types of procurement processes that you must be well aware of. You must not make your choices in grey. However, when you follow the correct process, things will become easier for you at the time of procurement. Some of the key types of procurement process are as follows:- 1. Direct Procurement This involves the acquisition of goods or services directly used in the production of a company's offerings. For example, raw materials, machinery, or components for manufacturing. 2. Indirect Procurement Indirect procurement involves acquiring goods or services that are directly not involve in the production process but are essential for business operations. This might include office supplies, IT services, marketing services, etc. 3. Service Procurement This focuses specifically on acquiring various types of services rather than physical goods. It could involve hiring contractors or consultants or outsourcing specific tasks like cleaning, security, or legal services. 4. Strategic Procurement This approach involves a more long-term and strategic view of procurement. It considers factors beyond immediate cost savings, such as supplier relationships, risk management, innovation, and overall value creation. 5. Sustainable Procurement Also known as green procurement or responsible procurement, this type emphasizes the environmental, social, and ethical impacts of procurement decisions. Final Take Away Hence, if you want to develop the perfect procurement process in your organization, then you cannot ignore the facts mentioned. You should follow the right process in this matter. It will help you to make a perfect deal for your business. Share your experiences with us in our comment box. It will help us to know your feedback in this matter. Your feedback forms a valuable part of our content strategy. So, you must not ignore this fact from your end. Read More Business Related News By Clicking Below!! What Is A Distribution Channel? Essential Things To Know About It Supply Chain Risk Management: Effective Strategies To Reduce It Equity Theory: A Balancing Act for Modern Workplaces
December, 12 2023
What Is Salesforce Sales Cloud? – Let’s Find Out In Details
The Salesforce Sales Cloud is an automation software where you will get the combination of CRM, Data, and AI. This will help you in boosting your productivity levels and grow your business by increasing your sales. The software system comes with a lot of features that enable you to carry out your lead management and accounting processes effectively. In this article, you will mainly get a review of the Salesforce Sales Cloud software. Furthermore, we will discuss the major features of the software system and how the software can be a great addition to your business. Finally, we will discuss some of the major pros and cons of the software. Hence, to learn more about Salesforce Sales Cloud, read on through to the end of the article. Salesforce Sales Cloud – A General Overview Of The Software When it comes to CRM solutions, there is hardly any software better than Salesforce Sales Cloud. More than 150K companies worldwide use the offerings of Salesforce to streamline their business processes. With automation features, you can save a lot of your time and create new values for your business while you improve your relationships and communications with customers. According to the official website of Salesforce, Salesforce Sales Cloud lets you – "Sell faster, smarter, and more efficiently with AI + Data + CRM. Boost productivity and grow in a whole new way with the #1 CRM for sales…Start and scale with a sales solution that's tailored to your business. Maximize productivity, get insights, and streamline processes with the best sales software.” If you want software that will take your customer relationship management operations to the next level, then you must consider implementing Salesforce Sales Cloud in your business. As it has great integration options, you can also get the services of other Salesforce software systems. For example, for lead management, you can integrate Salesforce Pardot easily with the Sales Cloud. Salesforce Sales Cloud Pricing The following are the pricing as per the plans of Salesforce Sales Cloud: Salesforce Sales Cloud PlansPriceStarter$25 per user per month (annual billing)Professional$75 per user per month (annual billing)Enterprise$150 per user per month (annual billing)Unlimited$300 per user per month (annual billing)Sales Suite$600 per user per month (annual billing) To learn more details about the pricing and what features you will get in regard to all these plans, check the official pricing list of Salesforce Sales Cloud. What Are The Salesforce Sales Cloud Features? One of the best features of Salesforce Sales Cloud is that it comes with a host of applications that is ready for integration with each other. So, the software system acts as a centralized platform for your business to check every part of your organization’s processes. According to a review of the platform on Cargas.com, “The Sales Cloud handles contacts, accounts, reports, dashboards, and forecasting, among other sales responsibilities. It integrates with Salesforce’s other products like Service Cloud and Marketing Cloud, as well as numerous third-party solutions.” 1. Good information on Sales Opportunities. 2. Automation of daily and mundane tasks lets you focus on important issues at hand. 3. Forecast management will help you get information on pipeline health for better decisions. 4. The revenue cloud gives you the platform to perform Billing, CPQ, and Subscription management. 5. The app helps you to enhance Sales Engagement. 6. Easy feature for tracking to plan. Why Salesforce Sales Cloud Is A Great Option For Your Business? According to TechRadar.com, “Even at the upper end of Sales Cloud pricing, mature sales teams may need to purchase other Salesforce products and add-ons to mine the full potential of Sales Cloud’s capabilities. If you’re leading a large sales team and want to keep everything centralized, Salesforce is an ideal choice.” Salesforce is a top-grade software company, and the Sales Cloud is one of its best application software systems. As a lot of companies worldwide use the services of Salesforce, hence the reports regarding Salesforce are quite good when it comes to integration, contact management, reliability, and ease of usage. You can also get a Salesforce Sales Cloud Certification if you become an expert in the software. Essential Pros And Cons Of Salesforce Sales Cloud The following are the major pros and cons of Salesforce Sales Cloud that you need to be aware of before you consider purchasing it for your business: Pros Of Salesforce Sales Cloud Here are the major pros of Salesforce Sales Cloud: There are many customization options that can help you in tailoring the software system based on the needs and demands of your business. There are many integration capabilities of the software, and it can also integrate many third-party applications if you are looking to increase the functionality of the software. The reports, analytics, and dashboards are straightforward and easy to use, as well as flexible. There are many other automation tools that are not only user-friendly but also useful for doing repetitive tasks. The interface is fully modern and intuitive and is straightforward to use simultaneously This ensures a great user experience. Cons Of Salesforce Sales Cloud These are the major cons of Salesforce Sales Cloud that you must know: As per industry-standards, the software is priced on the higher side, and the add-ons are also highly-priced. The tools are quite complex, and they need a learning curve beforehand for someone new to the software systems. The deployment timeline of the software system is lengthy, as customization of the software based on the business needs takes time. Customer support does not respond seriously to non-critical problems. Final Thought Hope this article was helpful for you to understand the utility of Salesforce Sales Cloud. If you are looking for an all-encompassing software for your business, then you must consider purchasing this software and implementing it. The customization and integration features of the software are top-class. Do you know of some other software systems that are as good as Salesforce Sales Cloud and great for growing businesses? Share your reviews about some in the comments section below.
July, 07 2023