We’ll compare details like features, offerings, pricing, and support. By the end of this post, you should clearly understand what you’re getting into.

What is Pipedrive CRM?

Pipedrive is a sales CRM focused on revenue teams (e.g., sales, marketing, and customer service). It’s a well-established and highly-rated tool. Although it’s not their primary focus, Pipedrive works well for those looking for a project management or collaboration CRM. If you’re looking for a CRM that you can use for internal communication, this tool is effective.

Pipedrive is specifically designed for small teams.

Founded in 2012, Pipedrive is a stable company based in Estonia. This company has 1,000 employees, eight offices worldwide, and serves over 100,000 customers.

Pipedrive’s Best Features

• Generate More Leads with Lead Booster: Lead Booster is an add-on for your Pipedrive CRM plan for an additional $32.50 per mo. It helps you to source leads from a database of 400 million profiles, includes a chatbot and live chat, and comes with embeddable web forms you can place on various web pages.
• Customize Your Deal Stages: add deals, calculate their value, win probability, and expected close date. Organize and track them by your pipeline stages. Adjust these stages to suit your sales cycle, create team pipelines, and filter results by team member or stage.
• Qualify and Score Leads with Email and Communication Tracking: get live notifications whenever prospects open and click on your emails. With internal chat integration, you can accept and route live chat requests on your website to the right sales rep.
• Customize Pipedrive for Your Construction Company: create customizable pipelines, fields, and stages—support multiple products, currencies, and languages (e.g., Hmong, Español).
• Switch Off Features for Efficiency: make Pipedrive your own by removing unnecessary features from your CRM platform. This minimizes clutter, keeping your team focused on the feature set that improves performance.
• Send trackable quotes, proposals, and contracts from within Pipedrive with Smart Docs and get notified when your prospect opens them. This way, you’ll know when to request eSignatures to close deals faster. This add-on is available for an additional $32.50 per mo. If you upgrade to an eligible plan, SmartDocs are included at no charge.

Pipedrive: Pros and Cons

Pipedrive is a mature and reliable CRM. Their platform has existed for 14 years, and their product is known for its effectiveness.  Pipedrive has all the standard CRM features you’d expect, but they also lean heavily into AI and automations. Their workflow automation tools are ahead of many of their competitors, and they offer a significant degree of control over the customization that’s available to users.

The good news is that their platform is designed to help you sell more. However, the downside is that this focus on sales comes with a significant cost, and many of their plans have limitations.

They don’t offer a free plan, but they do provide a free trial, which is relatively standard. However, you might find that many of the features you want or need are either available only as add-ons (requiring an upgrade or additional spending) or are simply unavailable.

With their entry-level plans, customer service is limited, as are product features and reporting capabilities. There’s no phone support, so for these basic plans, you must upgrade to access anything beyond a chatbot and its knowledge base. Setting up integrations can be challenging, and there is a steep learning curve for new users, which may be problematic if your employees are not technically inclined. If you want to create and send customizable email campaigns with pre-made templates, that’s an extra $13.33 per company per mo. To upload and store your documents in your CRM account, you can use their Smart Docs as an add-on for an additional $32.50 per month.

Pipedrive Support

Pipedrive offers tiered support. You’ll need a more expensive plan to speak to someone on the phone or via live chat. If you’re running a small company or have an office full of tech-savvy do-it-yourselfers, this match is made in heaven.

If your employees and subcontractors struggle with technology, their support plans could be problematic. If live or one-on-one support is a must-have for your business, you’ll need to upgrade to a higher tier. Here’s what a user had to say about Pipedrive support in their review.

“Signed up for a trial as I was interested in switching away from Hubspot. However when I signed up for a trial I was hoping to speak with someone over live chat to answer a few questions. They promote the live chat throughout their site, however their live chat is completely fake. It’s just a looping answer tree with an AI bot that does not allow you to speak to a real person. Spent 20 minutes trying different answers to see if I could actually speak with someone to answer my questions and had no luck.”

If you look at their pricing page, you can see that their Advanced plan offers live chat, and their Power plan offers 24/7 live chat support.

Pipedrive Pricing Plans

Essential: $24 per user/mo.

Advanced: $44 per user/mo.

Professional: $64 per user/mo.

Power: $79 per user/mo.

Enterprise:  $129 per user/mo.

What is Salesforce CRM? A CRM Best for Enterprise Construction Companies

Salesforce started as a CRM company.

Today, they offer CRM software and apps for analytics, AI, application development, automation, customer service, ecommerce, marketing, and sales. Their SaaS platform has become an ecosystem companies can use over the long term. If you’re looking for a platform that will grow with you and you need enterprise-level power and support behind you, Salesforce is where it’s at.

Founded in 1999, Salesforce is a publicly traded company and the world’s largest enterprise software company.

Salesforce offers more than 4,500 apps via its AppExchange. Its software ecosystem integrates with a wide variety of tools and resources across all major industries, including construction.

The Salesforce Ecosystem

Source: ascendix.com

Salesforce’s Best Features

• Create Quotes and Estimates Automatically: create, customize, track, update, and report on leads automatically. Automatically account for key aspects—discounts, pricing, terms, etc.
• Salesforce Einstein Helps you Make Better Decisions Faster: Salesforce Einstein is an integrated set of AI tools and resources that makes their platform smarter. Einstein uses data to amplify your predictive power, enabling you to make accurate decisions in less time.
• Automated Lead Qualification and Routing: prospect data is collected and forwarded to Salesforce CRM using web capture forms. From there, each lead is scored and qualified based on the predefined criteria you set. Leads routed to your team are Sales Qualified Leads (SQLs) and ready to go.
• Salesforce’s App Ecosystem Helps Enterprises Grow Quickly: the Salesforce platform offers A to Z support for revenue teams. It’s extensive and expensive, but they’re the market leader for a reason.
• Omni-channel Support: Salesforce offers customer support across its app ecosystem, ensuring consistent communication. If you take advantage of their apps and services, the product and support fit seamlessly together.
• Field service management: This feature uses AI to optimize scheduling and dispatch management. Manage teams and assets in the field efficiently and provide them with the answers they need with On-site Knowledge Search.

Salesforce: Pros and Cons

Salesforce is the market leader for a reason.

Its scalable platform offers significant customization and provides teams with everything they need to manage projects and collaborate. It also comes with all the workflow automation and AI tools you expect from a market leader.

Salesforce Einstein is their AI product. With Einstein, your Construction Company can make incredibly accurate predictions based on prospect behavior.

Using Einstein, you can make smarter predictions about:

• The prospects you pursue
• How you approach them
• The resources you use to close a deal.

Instead of wasting time on deals that are unlikely to close, Einstein helps you focus on prospects eager to spend.

The obvious downside with Salesforce is cost.

Their CRM platform and the apps in their ecosystem are all (much) more expensive than their competitors. Their implementation costs are high, which is troubling because it takes a while to see results from using Salesforce. Their platform is excellent, but the high price means you won’t see a return on investment for a long time.

If you’re in it for the long haul, you’re okay with that, and you have the budget, Salesforce could be a good fit for your construction company. Like Pipedrive, many advanced features require an upgrade or additional purchase.

Support

Salesforce makes support easy for users and customers. You can contact them using the channel that works best for you—live chat, email, phone, or social media. You can request callbacks, peruse their knowledge base, and work through Salesforce University and Trailhead.

But there’s a limit.

If you need extensive support, Salesforce offers support plans that start at $25 per user per month for basic support. Pricing can vary significantly depending on your company’s needs and the features you’re looking for. If you’re looking for expedited support, escalating levels of access, and access to specialized teams, expect to pay significantly more for the help you need.

It’s not uncommon for premium support plans to cost hundreds of dollars per user per month.

Salesforce Pricing Plans

• Starter Suite: $25 per user/mo.
• Pro Suite: $100 per user/mo.
• Enterprise Suite: $165 per user/mo.
• Unlimited suite: $330 per user/mo.
• Einstein 1 Sales: $500 per user/mo.

Pipedrive CRM vs. Salesforce CRM: Sales CRM Features

Here’s our head-to-head sales CRM comparison of Pipedrive and Salesforce.

Our Features Verdict:

Salesforce is the clear winner in this matchup. If you’re managing a medium-to-large enterprise and you have the budget, team, and processes needed to operate a complex ecosystem like Salesforce, it’s probably a better fit. However, if you’re a small-to-medium company with a flexible budget, Pipedrive is a better fit. Pipedrive allows you to remove the features you don’t need and add the extras you want. You have a significant degree of control over the way your CRM operates. Just be aware that this degree of customization comes at a steep price.

Pipedrive CRM vs. Salesforce CRM: Which is the Better Choice?

If you’re a small-to-medium company looking for a reliable CRM from a market leader, Pipedrive is the better fit. Their pricing isn’t out of reach for established companies, but you should still expect to pay extra for advanced features, services, and support.

If you’re an enterprise or medium-sized construction company working with large amounts of data, Salesforce is the better option. Larger companies can dedicate more resources to implementation. Bigger construction companies have developers, support teams, IT, and various other specialists at their disposal. They can hire the team they need to create, migrate, and manage their data.

Pipeline CRM: The Best CRM for Construction Sales Pipeline Management

Pipeline CRM is created by, built for, and run by salespeople.

You understand the challenges the construction industry is facing right now, and you’re under a significant amount of pressure.

You need to generate leads and sales in a soft market and convince clients who are also feeling the pinch financially that working with your company is the right move. On top of that, you’re doing your best to find, attract, and keep the right people in your company.

If your business is going to survive our current economic climate, it needs cash flow, the right people, and systems and procedures that help your company grow.

Pipeline CRM is optimized around one thing. Closing sales.

Pipeline CRM is the best construction CRM for contractors and builders. It is an easy-to-use, customizable lead management and construction sales CRM. The customer relationship management tool helps you organize and manage all job-specific data from one place—increasing your chances of winning more deals. Whether you’re in the office, on the road, or at a job site, you can take your business up a notch wherever you are.

Pipeline CRM is perfect for construction companies for a few simple reasons.

1. Our Features Generate Revenue for You: we automate your lead, pipeline, and opportunity management. Our AI and automation handle repetitive tasks for you. You get third-party integrations and customizations that connect with the software and tools you’re already using. Create custom reports to track your team’s performance and make cash flow projections.
2. Help When You Need It: At Pipeline CRM, earning your business is a big deal for us. Unlimited support comes standard.
3. Our Success Depends on Yours: as a small company, we recognize that if our software doesn’t meet your needs and we can’t provide the support you require, it will reflect on us. We are dedicated to ensuring that you achieve your goals with our solutions.
4. Your Feedback Improves Pipeline CRM: we’re hungry for your feedback, and our size means we can incorporate it into the product much faster than other CRM systems for construction companies.

If your construction company needs to close deals, manage follow-up, and win clients, Pipeline is a great fit. Need a precise way to manage your bids, projects, client details, and client follow-up in a centralized dashboard? Pipeline CRM is a great CRM alternative.

Pipeline’s Best Features

• Make It Easy to Close Deals: manage leads and bids through proposals and beyond. Track all prospect and customer interactions, as well as project documents like estimates, building permits, contractor reports, contracts, and more, all in one place.
• Customize Your Pipeline and Deal Flow: make Pipeline yours; customize your deal stages to track multiple revenue streams, like residential versus commercial deals. Create up to 25 custom fields automatically appearing on every deal page, such as primary contact, job site, or post-bid follow-up date.
• Automate Your Sales Process: Pipeline CRM will alert you when a prospect has viewed an estimate so you can follow up with them immediately. Automations instantly notify sales managers and other team members when deals are closed and milestones are reached.
• Get Automated Alerts for Important Events: close more deals by creating automated alerts. These alerts notify you of critical tasks, important communications, and completed milestones, requirements, and more.
• Get to the Job Site Fast with Quick Maps​: if your team is always on the go, our geolocator can help. With one-click mapping, you can plan your route quicker and smarter, especially if multiple teams work at separate job sites.
• Project-Specific Notes and Document Storage​: add notes to a bid while out on a job. Plus, signed contracts and invoices, contact details, pictures of the property, and anything you need to remember next time you’re at this job site for quick reference.

Pipeline: Pros and Cons

As far as CRMs go, Pipeline is scalable yet very affordable. Our CRM grows with you, providing you with the sales management automation, tools, reports, and resources you need to run your construction business efficiently. Pipeline CRM is ideal for sales-driven companies of all sizes—small, medium, or large—as it can effectively manage the workload.

On the other hand, that may be why it’s not the right fit for you. Since Pipeline CRM is sales-driven, it may not be the best choice if you require a different type of CRM:

• Analytical CRMs focus on inspecting and analyzing key areas of your construction business.
• Collaborative CRMs focus on internal and external communication.
• Strategic CRMs give managers and executives a high-level view of their company.

If you’re looking for a CRM that shines with agile project management and internal team collaboration, Pipeline isn’t for you. We have those features (most CRMs do), but our primary focus is helping your construction business close deals and generate revenue.

Pipeline Support

We offer best-in-class customer support, as all of our plans include Unlimited Chat and Email Support for everyone. You don’t have to upgrade your plan to get help from a real person. There are no special support packages or add-ons you have to purchase and no extended Service License Agreements (SLAs) forcing you to spend more money to get help with the program you’re already paying for.

When you need our help, we’re ready to help you, as it should be.

Pipeline CRM Pricing Plans

• Start plan: $25 per user per month
• Develop plan: $33 per user per month
• Grow plan: $49 per user per month
• Enterprise plan: Custom

Pipeline CRM offers four paid plans, including a custom option for enterprise-level businesses. Pricing starts at $25, $33, and $49 per seat per month when billed annually. You can explore its powerful and simple features with a 14-day free trial before committing.

This means you get the same powerful features offered by Pipedrive and Salesforce at a fraction of the price.

Pipeline CRM: The Best Sales CRM Alternative to Pipedrive CRM and Salesforce CRM

What’s the best part about Pipeline CRM for construction companies?

We help you close deals.

You get all of the powerful features and add-ons Pipedrive and Salesforce offer, including Generative AI, workflow automation, advanced customization, lead and opportunity management, pipeline management, custom and ad hoc reporting, as well as all the core CRM features your construction company needs to thrive.

We’re offering nearly all the same services at a flat, low rate. We’re not adding hidden fees to increase our profits. You’ll have unlimited support from real people and unlimited file and document storage.

Why are we doing this?

We aim to earn your business by providing you with value. The more successful deals we help you close, the more likely you are to continue working with us. When you win, we win.

Pipedrive CRM vs. Salesforce CRM – FAQs

Here are some answers to common questions about Pipedrive, Salesforce, and Pipeline CRM.

What Should I Consider When Shopping for a CRM for Small to Medium Businesses?

Here are several factors you’ll want to consider. Use this list as a helpful starting point.

• The Type of CRM You Need: analytical CRMs are used for reporting and inspection. Collaborative CRMs are used for internal and external communication. Operational CRMs increase revenue. Strategic CRMs give executives a high-level view of performance.
• Total Cost of Ownership: you’ll need to research and identify the total cost of your CRM project. With SaaS platforms like Pipeline CRM, there are no hidden costs; what you see is what you get. When factoring in the total cost of ownership, you’ll want to assess factors such as monthly software costs, implementation, maintenance, training and support.
• Identify Training and Support Needs: will your employees need onboarding and training? Do you have the necessary policies, procedures, and people in place? Are you okay with spending more money on support and training? Pipedrive and Salesforce offer support for a price. Are you comfortable with help at a price?

What’s the Best Alternative to Pipedrive?

Pipeline CRM is the best construction CRM for small to medium-sized businesses. In a head-to-head sales CRM comparison, Pipeline CRM offers everything you get with Pipedrive (and more) for less. There are no forced upgrades and no add-on avalanche. Unlimited support and all of the same features and tools you want.

Looking for a Sales CRM for Construction?

Pipedrive and Salesforce are market leaders for a reason. They’re mature tools that are used by thousands of customers.

If you own or manage a construction company and are evaluating your CRM options, each of these options could be an excellent choice, depending on your needs.

Pipedrive is perfect for small to medium-sized businesses, and Salesforce is perfect for enterprises—large construction companies with the resources, training, team, procedures, and time needed to generate a return on investment.

Pipeline CRM is best for small to medium-sized companies that need a construction CRM and unlimited support; it’s the perfect platform for companies that need to close deals and generate revenue today. It’s a comprehensive and affordable solution that combines powerful features without compromising quality.

Explore Pipeline CRM’s full range of features, or book a demo with us today.

In this CRM comparison, we’ll examine the key differences between Monday CRM and Close CRM, including their features and pricing plans. We’ll also introduce Pipeline CRM as a viable alternative to Monday CRM and Close CRM, especially for businesses seeking a long-term solution that is specific to sales and pipeline management.

What is Monday CRM?

Monday CRM, also known as Monday.com sales CRM, tackles common sales challenges for small and medium businesses. They operate mainly in the professional services, financial services, real estate, and consumer goods industries.

Monday CRM enables sales teams to manage the entire sales cycle, from pre-sales activities like lead generation and qualification to post-sales support. It offers a comprehensive suite, including robust features for lead and deal management, account and contact management, and sales operations.

Top Features

Among its many features, Monday.com CRM emphasizes these core selling points:

• AI-enhanced sales tools: leverage AI to automate task generation, craft personalized outreach emails, and create custom calculation formulas for in-depth sales reporting analysis.
• Automated sales processes: streamline repetitive sales activities by automating lead assignments to sales reps and setting reminders for upcoming events.
• Vast integration options: seamlessly connect Monday CRM with over 150 sales, marketing, and team management applications, including Aircall, DocuSign, Miro, Calendly, and QuickBooks.
• Comprehensive email solution: save time by sending mass emails to prospects. You can monitor their performance with detailed tracking of open ratios, conversion rates, and more. 
• CRM on the go: manage your sales pipeline from anywhere, whether your reps are in the field or at the office via the mobile CRM app.

Pros and Cons

Monday CRM boasts several impressive sales features, but user experiences vary. While some users praise its ability to manage leads effectively, others express disappointment with its limited workflow automation and reporting capabilities.

As one G2 review highlights: “It has helped us keep on top of our contacts and customers and all of the dialogue around each quotation” (source). However, other users have noted shortcomings in these areas: “Some of the built-in automation is limited.” (source) and “For users who heavily rely on in-depth reporting and analytics, Monday CRM may fall short of expectations” (source).

What is Close CRM?

Close CRM positions itself as a user-friendly and responsive CRM solution. Unlike Monday CRM’s industry-specific focus, Close targets a broader audience of small businesses and startups.

Close CRM prioritizes specific sales challenges, for example, streamlining fast-paced sales activities, automating repetitive tasks, and fostering strong customer relationships.

Top Features

Close CRM is particularly known for these standout features:

• Centralized communication: seamlessly manage all internal and external communications, including emails, calls, SMS, and team collaborations.
• Advanced contact management: use the built-in search filter to locate contacts, conversations, or key phrases quickly.
• Customizable views: create dynamic smart views to visualize the sales data that matters most to your team.
• AI-powered tools: utilize custom GPT to generate prospecting lists, create meeting agendas, summarize call transcriptions, and draft effective emails.

Pros and Cons

Close CRM excels in communication management, offering built-in calling and SMS features to complement its email channels. This has significantly boosted sales productivity for many teams.

As one user noted, “Each of our reps makes more than 50 calls a day. For a call-heavy sales team like ours, Close really shines” (source). However, there is still room for improvement, with some users reporting minor glitches, such as issues with the mobile app during calls: “The mobile app for close creates certain issues while calling the leads, this is a small glitch at a time” (source).

Monday.com CRM vs. Close CRM: Sales CRM Features

Now that you have an overview of Monday CRM and Close CRM, let’s compare their features. The list below highlights the major differences between the two CRM solutions.

Our features verdict: Close CRM stands out by offering more comprehensive sales features than Monday CRM, especially for teams focused on enhancing their sales outreach. With built-in call and SMS capabilities, along with email drip campaigns, Close CRM allows you to streamline and scale your outreach efforts, helping you meet your sales goals more effectively.

Monday CRM vs. Close CRM: Pricing

While both CRMs are designed for small to medium-sized businesses, their pricing structures and seat packages vary significantly. Monday CRM generally offers a lower-cost option, while Close CRM positions itself as a premium CRM solution.

Monday CRM Pricing Plans

Monday CRM offers three paid tiers priced at $12, $17, and $28 per seat per month (billed annually). The features included in each tier vary, with the lowest tier focusing on contact management rather than sales features. For enterprise-level features, you’ll need to contact the sales team for a custom quote.

While there’s no permanent free plan, eligible students and nonprofits can qualify for a free version. Additionally, a 14-day free trial is available for all users.

It’s important to note that Monday.com CRM requires a minimum purchase of 3 seats, and the packages are based on predefined team sizes. Small team options start with 3 or 5 seats, with additional seats available in increments of 5. This means that if your sales team consists of 8 sales reps, you’ll need to pay for 10 seats even though you only use 8. The per-seat pricing remains consistent, regardless of team size.

Close CRM Pricing Plans

Close CRM offers three paid plans: $49, $99, and $139 per user per month (billed annually). You can purchase seats individually to match the size of your sales team.

While there’s no free plan, you can try Close CRM for 14 days for free. If you decide to subscribe, the team will assist with migrating your data from your existing CRM system free of charge.

Our pricing verdict: Monday CRM offers a more budget-friendly solution for small businesses than Close CRM. At nearly half the cost of Close CRM’s lowest tier ($49), Monday CRM’s premium plans start at just $28 per user per month. Even with the minimum purchase of three seats ($84), you can equip three of your sales representatives with Monday CRM, providing more comprehensive support to your people than a single seat of Close CRM’s mid-tier plan ($99).

Now, does this mean Monday CRM is a better CRM software than Close CRM? To answer that, let’s consider the features, benefits, and costs of both CRMs.

Monday CRM vs. Close CRM: Which is the Better Choice?

After comparing both tools, it’s clear that Monday CRM and Close CRM cater to different business needs.

For small to medium-sized businesses heavily focused on sales outreach through emails, phone calls, and SMS, Close CRM is the stronger option. While it comes at a higher cost than Monday CRM, it provides greater flexibility and advanced features to help sales teams attract new customers more effectively.

However, if your business doesn’t heavily rely on email, phone, or text outreach and you’re looking for a more comprehensive sales CRM solution, Monday CRM may be a better fit. This is particularly true for larger teams, as Monday CRM is more affordable for businesses with multiple salespeople.

Pipeline CRM: The Best CRM for Sales Pipeline Management

When selecting a CRM, it’s crucial to consider not only your current needs but also how they might evolve as your business grows. Monday CRM is suitable for covering basic sales processes, but it may not scale well for more complex and advanced sales operations. Conversely, Close CRM might be too costly for a new business, even though it offers a more robust, long-term solution for teams with growing CRM needs.

Is there a middle ground? Yes, Pipeline CRM provides a balanced solution between Monday CRM’s affordable pricing and Close CRM’s advanced features.

Pipeline CRM Features

Here are some reasons why Pipeline CRM is the best CRM for small to medium-sized businesses, especially those in construction, agencies, logistics, and manufacturing:

• User-friendly design

Benefit from a familiar Excel-inspired design with drag-and-drop functionality and customizable table styles, while easily sorting and filtering data to display only relevant information.

• Data integrity

Maintain data accuracy with required and conditional fields, conditional formatting, and advanced de-duplication.

• Advanced automation

Automate recurring deals, suggest ‘next steps’ for changed deal statuses, and implement other advanced automation features beyond traditional email sequences.

• AI-Powered email assistance

Craft compelling emails directly within Pipeline CRM using our built-in AI email assistant, with customizable prompts to tailor content to your specific needs.

• Extensive Integrations

Seamlessly connect Pipeline CRM to popular sales and marketing applications, including phone solutions (Aircall, CallRail, etc.), accounting software (QuickBooks), marketing automation (Mailchimp and Customer.io), and more.

Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s how one of our customers describes their experience of using Pipeline CRM.

Pipeline CRM Pricing

Pipeline CRM offers four paid plans, including a custom option for enterprise-level businesses. Pricing starts at $25, $33, and $49 per seat per month when billed annually. You can explore its powerful and simple features with a 14-day free trial before committing.

Compared to Monday CRM and Close CRM, Pipeline CRM is more cost-effective overall:

• While Close CRM offers similar features, Pipeline CRM provides these at nearly half the price ($49 vs. $25).
• Compared to Monday CRM, Pipeline CRM’s slightly higher cost comes with more advanced features and greater reliability.

Pipeline CRM ensures that your sales team has access to the best tools for sales pipeline management, allowing them to grow without needing to switch to a different CRM as your business scales.

Pipeline CRM: The Best Sales CRM Alternatives to Monday CRM and Close CRM

While Monday CRM and Close CRM can be effective CRM tools, they may either lack comprehensive sales features or be too expensive for some businesses. Pipeline CRM offers a compelling CRM alternative, providing powerful features in a user-friendly package at a competitive price.

Try Pipeline CRM today, and let us know what you think!

Monday CRM vs. Close CRM – FAQs

Find answers to common questions about how Monday CRM compared to Close CRM, and Pipeline CRM as the better CRM alternative.

1. What is the Best CRM Alternative to Close CRM?

Pipeline CRM is the best alternative to Close CRM, offering comparable powerful sales features without the hefty price tag. It not only supports your sales team through advanced sales outreach channels (such as emails and phone calls), but it also provides a user-friendly interface that makes it a strong contender for businesses seeking a Close CRM alternative.

2. Close CRM vs. Monday CRM, Which CRM is Better?

For businesses seeking a CRM with robust sales outreach options like emails, calls, and texts, Close CRM is a viable choice. However, if budget constraints and a less complex sales pipeline are factors, Monday CRM might be a suitable alternative. That said, Pipeline CRM offers a more comprehensive and affordable solution, combining powerful features without compromising on quality. Explore Pipeline CRM’s full range of features here.

3. What to Consider When Choosing CRM Software for Small Businesses?

When choosing CRM software for a small business, consider these key factors:

• Sales automation: automate repetitive tasks to increase efficiency and focus on closing deals.
• User-friendliness: choose a CRM with a simple interface and a low learning curve. This will provide a quicker return on investment (ROI).
• Scalability: evaluate whether the CRM can accommodate your business’s growth and whether upgrading to higher tiers is feasible.
• Transparent pricing: ensure there are no hidden costs or add-on services that could increase your expenses.

So, to give you all the information you need to make an accurate decision, we’ve analyzed the pros and cons of five CRM for logistics businesses and compared their pricing structures to help you identify the best CRM alternatives to Salesmate.

1. Pipeline CRM

Our first Salesmate CRM alternative is Pipeline CRM. As one of the best CRM for logistics companies, Pipeline CRM offers a winning combination of simplicity, robust features, and affordable pricing—perfect for streamlining your logistics operations.

Pipeline CRM recognizes the challenges logistics companies face, particularly the burden of repetitive tasks. Creating recurring orders, sending invoices, and tracking links can eat into valuable time that could be spent building client relationships and driving sales.

Pipeline’s transportation and logistics CRM tackles this head-on with its smart sales automation features. You can automate repetitive tasks like setting up retainers and recurring deals, allowing a new deal to automatically pop into the pipeline upon the closure of a recurring one. Pipeline CRM can also offer “next step” suggestions based on deal updates, keeping your sales team focused and efficient.

Additionally, the rich customization options let you tailor Pipeline CRM to your specific needs. From customizing deal stage names to personalizing your dashboard with relevant data fields, you can create a CRM experience that perfectly reflects your logistics workflow. 

All of these features will help your sales team close more deals faster and with greater results. Take GlobalTranz, for instance. This transportation and logistics company increased its agent partnership by 63% after adopting Pipeline CRM! Read their story here.

Pros

• Advanced email marketing solutions with built-in drip email campaigns and AI email assistance.
• Sales automation to set specific tasks and sales actions on auto-pilot.
• Multiple pipeline management.
• Powerful reporting to predict future deals and see patterns of successful deals.
• ‘Morning coffee report’ for a daily email overview of sales statuses.
• Vast integration with popular apps, including Gravity Forms, RingCentral, Asana, and ZoomInfo.

Cons

• Works best for small to medium-sized logistics businesses.

Pricing

Pipeline CRM offers three pricing options and a 14-day free trial. The prices below are for annual billing.

• Start: $25 per user per month – for 1 sales pipeline and 250 active deals per account.
• Develop: $33 per user per month – for 2 sales pipelines and 2500 active deals per account.
• Grow: $49 per user per month – for 5 sales pipelines and unlimited active deals per account.

Check out the Pipeline CRM pricing page to find the feature details of each plan.

2. Keap CRM

Keap CRM is another CRM alternative for Salesmate. It focuses on small logistics companies growing their businesses through traditional CRM functions and other sales-related solutions. This includes lead capturing through landing pages, lead nurturing with text, and built-in invoice management and email marketing solutions.

That said, these rich capabilities often make the system less intuitive for some users. This review, for instance, mentions the unresponsive interfaces they kept experiencing and the lack of customer support to fix the issues.

“Glitches, painfully slow access, data not saving, searches not giving accurate results, mobile app issues, voicemail issues, texting problems, support taking forever to resolve problems, if they even address them at all!”

Pros

• Lead capturing through forms and landing pages.
• Email and text message marketing options.
• Native billing software for invoicing and payment processing.

Cons

• Prices are relatively higher than similar transportation and logistics CRMs.
• Text marketing is an add-on feature (extra costs).
• Customer support quality can be improved.
• Repeated issues with email deliverability.

Pricing

Keap offers three pricing plans. The prices are for an annual subscription.

• Pro: $249 per month – for 2 users and 1500 contacts.
• Max: $329 per month – for 3 users and 2500 contacts.
• Ultimate: $499 per month – for 3 users and 2500 contacts.

3. Salesforce

Salesforce offers a unique proposition for logistics companies looking for a Salesmate CRM alternative. While it still provides CRM functionality, it also offers special solutions for shippers and consignees. For instance, you can recruit shippers, identify upsell and cross-sell opportunities, and offer transparency throughout the shipment lifecycle by giving them access to quotes, pricing, fulfillment, and shipment tracking.

These unique features may benefit large-scale transportation and logistics companies but are likely an overkill for small to medium-sized businesses. Additionally, setting the system up can be daunting, and extensive customization options can become a double-edged sword, leading to a complex system that is too difficult to navigate.

This review directly addresses this issue:

“I have used Salesforce for 5 months, and during that period, what I felt is Salesforce needs numerous windows for a short workflow! […] They should make it simple and sorted for users to understand and use it on a daily basis.”

Pros

• A 360 degree into sales pipelines.
• Centralized database for customer and shipment information (cargo status, vehicle details, payments, offers, and estimations).
• Seamless communication between teams with Salesforce’s ‘Chatter’ tool.
• Smart lead timing tracker, as well as order and delivery schedule management. 

Cons

• The system often glitches, blocking users from being productive.
• A steep learning curve in navigating and mastering the CRM.
• Pricing is not transparent and can come with costly add-ons.
• Complex integration with other platforms.

Pricing

Salesforce offers several modules at different prices. The following is for the Sales Cloud solution, billed annually.

• Starter Suite: $25 per user per month – basic CRM solutions.
• Professional: $80 per user per month – essential sales CRM solutions.
• Enterprise: $165 per user per month – intermediate sales CRM solutions.
• Unlimited: $25 per user per month – advanced sales CRM solutions.
• Einstein 1 Sales: $25 per user per month – AI-backed sales CRM solutions.

4. Close CRM

Although Close CRM doesn’t market itself as a transport and logistics CRM, it’s a CRM worth mentioning as a good contender for Salesmate CRM alternatives.

Like traditional CRMs, Close CRM focuses on three sales areas: communication, automation, and reporting. With Close, you can stay connected with leads through seamless email and calendar synchronization, easily assign tasks between your sales team, and gain actionable insights into sales performance and bottom-line metrics.

That said, the automation seems limited in handling outreach email campaigns and less on sales actions. A review from G2 explains the situation in more detail: 

“Yes, you can automate lots of things using Zapier, which seems to be their recommended way. While Zapier works well, it’s not the most cost-effective option. Close is on the higher end of the CRM price spectrum, so I’d expect to see more built-in automation than just the Workflows, which are primarily for outreach drip campaigns.”

Pros

• Create multiple sales pipelines.
• Engage prospects with emails, calls, and SMS.
• Automatic call transcription.
• Leaderboards feature to track sales reps’ skills.
• Contact filtering for customized data view and segmentation.

Cons

• More expensive than similar CRM solutions.
• Some users reported email deliverability issues.
• Lack of advanced marketing features.
• Customer support response time can be improved.

Pricing

Close CRM offers three paid plans with a 14-day free trial offer. The prices are based on annual billing.

• Startup: $49 per user per month.
• Professional: $99 per user per month.
• Enterprise: $139 per user per month.

5. ClickUp

ClickUp might not be your conventional CRM software, but for logistics companies seeking to streamline operations beyond just sales, it offers a compelling CRM alternative to Salesmate. 

ClickUp’s strength lies in its robust project and team management features. It lets you organize projects, tasks, communication, and even document sharing. This centralization can significantly improve efficiency and transparency compared to juggling separate tools.

That said, a dedicated transportation and logistics CRM offers more comprehensive sales pipeline management and contact nurturing features. So, if your primary goal is streamlining deal-closing processes, a logistics CRM specializing in those areas might be a better fit.

Pros

• Advanced project management to easily assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress.
• Features like comments and mentions fostering transparent team communication.
• Customizable views to show the most important data.

Cons

• Lack of dedicated CRM features, such as contact management, deal tracking, and sales forecasting.
• Requires extensive configuration to support CRM use cases.

Pricing

ClickUp offers free and three paid plans. Prices are for monthly fees.

• Free: forever free – best for personal use.
• Unlimited: $7 – best for small teams.
• Business: $12 – best for mid-sized teams.
• Enterprise: custom pricing – best for large teams.

Comparison of Salesmate CRM Alternatives for Logistics Companies

Our verdict: Pipeline CRM is the best CRM alternative to Salesmate. Compared to other logistics CRMs, Pipeline offers advanced solutions that help you automate your sales process while also allowing you to tailor the CRM software to match your logistics company’s needs. 

Furthermore, through the many integration options available, Pipeline CRM can match other CRMs’ key features. For instance, with QuickBooks integration, you can two-way sync your accounting and CRM data in real time. You can also choose a dialer integration, such as RingCentral and CallRail, to streamline your lead nurturing efforts. And the best thing? Using Pipeline CRM only costs you $25 per month!

Learn more about how Pipeline CRM and QuickBooks CRM integration work, as well as the benefits of using Pipeline’s dialer integration CRM.

What’s The Best Alternative to Salesmate CRM? Pipeline CRM

If you’re shopping for the best alternative to Salesmate CRM, Pipeline CRM should be your first choice. Our simple and fully customizable logistics CRM is easy to implement and it’s cost-effective. It has every logistics CRM feature you need to close more deals and grow your business.

Try Pipeline CRM for free today, and see the impact on your business! 

FAQs on Pipeline CRM—The Best Salesmate Alternative

1. What’s the Best CRM for Logistics Companies?

Thanks to its simple but powerful features and rich customization options, Pipeline CRM is one of the best CRMs for logistics companies. Here are some of the key features of Pipeline’s logistics CRM:

• Custom deal stages tailored to the unique needs of logistics companies
• Advanced automation in creating repeat orders, gathering shipping information, collecting payment details, and more
• Track, record, and notify bid progress in real-time
• Accurate sales forecasting and sales performance report
• Vast integration options with Google apps, QuickBooks, Zapier, Mailchimp, Asana, and more

2. What Are Some CRM Alternatives to Salesmate CRM?

Pipeline CRM is a great alternative to Salesmate CRM. This is because Pipeline CRM offers:

• Streamlined sales process: a simple sales pipeline management for maximum efficiency
• Enhanced usability: a user-friendly interface and an easy-to-setup platform to guarantee short onboarding time
• Smart automation: sleek sales automation features (e.g., for sending follow-ups, creating sales tasks, and generating recurring deals) to streamline workflows
• Robust communication: advanced email and call functionalities within the platform
• Cost-effective solution: affordable subscription price at just $49 per user per month vs. Salesmate CRM’s $63 per user per month (both for the highest-tier plan)

3. How Much Does Pipeline CRM Cost?

Pipeline CRM’s pricing is as follows: $25 for the Start plan, $33 for the Develop plan, and $49 for the Grow plan. We also offer a 14-day free trial to test our CRM software before committing. There are no hidden costs or surprise add-on fees. See Pipeline CRM pricing details here.

When it comes to old economy sectors, most people are looking for the best solution for their specific circumstances, such as manufacturing lead generation or logistics sales automation.

Today, we’ll cover the five CRM alternatives to Salesforce that can get up and running quickly, with minimal transitional pain and none of the headaches that often come with Salesforce.

What are Old Economy Sectors?

Here’s how Investopedia defines old economy sectors.

“Old economy refers to industries that have not changed significantly despite advances in technology. Climate change and new technologies impact the old economy, but most of the processes have been the same for hundreds of years.”

Based on the definition, we can say the following industries are parts of old economy sectors: 

• Transportation
• Shipping and Logistics 
• Manufacturing
• Agriculture
• Breweries
• Oil and gas
• Mining 
• Automotive
• Chemicals

Old economy industries have established processes. Typically, companies in these sectors are looking for a tool that (a.) works with their existing processes and (b.) gets their team up and running quickly. If you have similar expectations, Salesforce may not be a good fit.

What’s Wrong With Salesforce CRM?

A quick scan of issues.salesforce.com lists 38,424 software problems across 40+ categories. Keep in mind that these are just known issues. 

Here’s an overview of some of the most common problems found in the list. Salesforce is…

• Very expensive: their pricing structure can be complex. There are lots of hidden fees—API calls, data storage, and third-party integrations add up quickly. 

“As you start using the Salesforce platform for your business operations, you will quickly find that many of the advanced options you seek are not included in the standard plan. You’ll need to start expanding to other clouds or apps available on the AppExchange. […] It is vital to anticipate and budget for the extra costs associated with each of these tools.” — an independent product reviewer.

• Very complex: Salesforce has a steep learning curve. The complexity of their product means their apps are difficult to learn, especially for those who don’t have a technical background. 

“It is highly complex, and it doesn’t come with out-of-box customization. For every single feature implementation, u will need a. Consultant. It is only suitable for big call centers provided if they maintain a Salesforce engineering team to create and implement all the features as per the Support department’s requirements.” — a user review on Capterra.

• Unresponsive: When it comes to customer service, customers have stated that Salesforce is unresponsive and unavailable. It’s not uncommon for support requests to go unanswered for weeks or months. 
• Difficult to manage: users have reported that they attempted to update a record only to find that their co-worker was updating the same record. Naturally, this creates conflicts and data inconsistencies.
• Difficult to migrate: Salesforce’s platform is proprietary, so migrating to a new CRM can be very difficult, especially once you’ve added all the customizations, add-ons, service packages, and extras. 

5 CRM Alternatives to Salesforce

With the frequent hiccups and challenges many businesses have to tackle when using Salesforce, it’s worth considering adopting a better sales CRM solution that offers similar features to Salesforce but without complications. Below, you can find five CRM alternatives to Salesforce.

1. Pipeline CRM: Best CRM for Manufacturing Lead Generation

Pipeline CRM is great sales CRM software if you’re looking to replace Salesforce, as it solves the common problems old economy businesses face.

Let’s take manufacturing companies as an example. They’re struggling to retrain an aging workforce and teach them how to use new technology, let alone a complex sales CRM for manufacturing like Salesforce. Additionally, manufacturers must chase down new opportunities, generate leads, and close deals. They’ll need to do this while keeping razor-thin margins in mind, doing what’s necessary to turn a profit. 

Have you had a similar experience? If your situation sounds similar, you’ll need:

• A CRM that’s designed for manufacturing lead generation 
• Action plans and reminders to chase down new opportunities 
• Assistance to build a virtual bench of reliable employees-in-waiting (walk-offs and no-shows are always an issue)
• A CRM system in place that identifies customers who are a fit for your business and are willing to work with your already razor-thin margins
• A platform that shows you why you’re winning or losing deals, opportunities, and people. 

Pipeline CRM can deliver them all and more. 

Salesforce vs. Pipeline CRM

Designed specifically for old economy sectors, Pipeline CRM is a powerful tool that prioritizes sales acceleration. If your goal is to start winning deals and recruiting top talent quickly, Pipeline CRM is the ideal choice.

Unlike the more general-purpose Salesforce, Pipeline CRM is streamlined for simplicity and automation. This means your sales team can be up and running in minimal time, allowing you to focus on closing deals.

See how Pipeline CRM stacks up against Salesforce in this Pipeline CRM vs. Salesforce comparison page.

Pros and Cons

• Pipeline CRM is scalable yet very affordable
• Heavily oriented toward selling with extensive sales management automation 
• Integrates with a large list of software (e.g., Microsoft, QuickBooks, Google Apps, Zapier, Paycove, CallRail, etc.)
• Best-in-class, industry-leading customer support 
• Best for small-to-medium organizations 

Reviews

• 4.4/5 star rating on G2 (904 reviews total) 
• 4.4/5 star rating on Capterra (616 reviews total)
• 9.8/10 score via TrustRadius 
• 4.2/5 star rating via Gartner (41 reviews total)

Pipeline CRM Pricing

• Start plan: $29 per user per month
• Develop plan: $39 per user per month
• Grow plan: $59 per user per month

Related: Managing a logistics business? See some of the best CRM for logistics companies.

2. Syspro CRM: Best for Manufacturers and Distributors

According to their website, Syspro CRM is “built for manufacturers and distributors who rely on loyal relationships up and down the supply chain, efficiency, and quality to be competitive.”

Syspro is a fantastic Salesforce alternative if you’re looking for an end-to-end solution that manages your CRM and other portions of your business (e.g., finance, project management, procurement, etc.). However, if your organization already has a software stack that works for your business and you don’t want to risk changing anything, Syspro may not be a good fit. 

Syspro has all of the standard CRM features, but it’s also …

• Designed to manage product recalls for both lotted and serialized products
• Able to handle various types of warranty contracts
• Created for in-house complaint handling, repair, and preventative maintenance sales and support
• Great for managing customer support and automated case management

Pros and Cons

• Syspro is known for its attentive support and regular software updates
• The learning curve can be overwhelming, especially for their navigation. It’s often a challenge for users to get to where they want to go

Reviews

• 4.1/5 star rating on G2 (224 reviews total) 

• 4.2/5 star rating on Capterra (101 reviews total)

• 4.2/5 star rating via Gartner (48 reviews total)

• 6.8/10 score via TrustRadius (29 reviews total)

Syspro CRM Pricing

• You’ll need to contact Syspro for a quote.

3. Easi’r: Best for Automotive Manufacturers and Dealers

EASI’R is promoted as a “customer relations platform” for the automotive industry. According to its website, it helps automotive manufacturers and dealers close more deals by focusing on “selling-by-winning behavior.” It states that its platform is a sales enablement platform empowering sales teams to do the right things at the right time. 

EASI’R breaks its feature set down into six areas: 

1. Playbook: steps to create a repeatable process manufacturers and dealerships can use to sell more vehicles and services.
2. Coaching: sales training, techniques, tips, and tricks to help sales reps stay on track, meet their quotas, and close more deals. 
3. Conversations: this enables sales reps to build meaningful relationships. They prioritize sharing value and never approach prospects from a purely self-serving attitude. 
4. Productivity: prioritize the actions, activities, and follow-up sequences sales reps need to close sales. 
5. Insights: spot trends, forecast activity accurately, and identify the most profitable playbooks. 
6. Integrations: use their API to create a custom integration that works how you need it, when you need it.  

Pros and Cons

• EASI’R  is focused on a single industry (automotive)
• Their feature set is optimized around generating leads and closing deals
• Customizable sales processes to optimize sales performance
• Robust performance analytics that specially cater to automotive manufacturers and dealerships
• Integrations require custom coding. No native or ready-made third-party integrations are available
• No on-premise options
• There is no free trial, no free user tier

Reviews

• 5/5 star rating on App Store (3 reviews total) 
• –/5-star rating on Capterra 
• -/10 score via TrustRadius 

EASI’R CRM Pricing

• You’ll need to contact the EASI’R team for a quote.

4. Oracle Netsuite: Best for Medium To Enterprise-Sized Manufacturing Generalists

Oracle’s NetSuite claims to be the only end-to-end SaaS ERP for manufacturing companies. With NetSuite, manufacturers can manage all facets of their manufacturing business from A to Z, going beyond the end-to-end management that other ERPs provide. NetSuite is designed for companies that do business internationally. Their platform manages core aspects of manufacturing, including order management and fulfillment, inventory management, demand management, and financial management.

Pro Tip: Not sure what the difference between CRM and ERP is? This CRM vs. ERP blog has the answers.

As a Salesforce alternative, NetSuite might be overkill for small-to-medium companies, but it’s perfect for manufacturing companies looking to scale and grow internationally. Additionally, it could be a great fit for your business if you sell in multiple markets or languages. 

Pros and Cons

• NetSuite moves in lockstep with your business, easily scaling up or down as needed
• Heavily oriented towards management. The NetSuite platform operates as a complete solution
• The platform is mature and integrated with a variety of tools (e.g., CRM, financials, inventory, ecommerce, fulfillment, etc.). However, integration with third-party applications can be messy, challenging, and difficult
• Comprehensive customization that enables you to modify the platform to meet your needs
• The cost can be prohibitive for small manufacturers
• Limited support with long wait times before receiving assistance

Reviews

• 4/5 star rating on G2 (3,204 reviews total) 
• 4.2/5 star rating on GetApp (616 reviews total)
• 4.1/10 score via Capterra (1,542 reviews total) 
• 4/5 star rating via Gartner (41 reviews total)

NetSuite CRM Pricing

NetSuite doesn’t disclose its pricing on its website, but we found the following pricing estimations.

• Average cost per user can range from $100–$300 per month
• NetSuite implementation costs can range from $25,000–$300,000

5. Keap: Best for Direct Response Oriented Logistics Companies

Keap is an all-in-one sales and marketing automation solution for small and medium-sized manufacturers. Keap is a direct response solution that you can use to handle the heavy lifting of sales and marketing. 

Keap mentions that their “features combine CRM, marketing automation, sales automation, payments, and much more in a single, integrated platform, so you can consistently convert more clients and grow your business.”

Here’s a really important detail about Keap: Their platform works best if you’re willing to stick with them over the long term. Getting consistent value takes a lot of upfront onboarding, testing, and education. It’s a lot of work initially, but Keap’s platform produces results once you’re set. 

Pros and Cons

• Automation, triggers, and autoresponder sequences
• Trigger automated follow-ups
• Monitoring prospects and customers through the sales and fulfillment lifecycle
• Highly customizable
• Robust reporting with various reporting options
• Relatively on the high-end CRM pricing spectrum
• Portions of their platform are still outdated
• Buggy or inconsistent performance

Reviews

• 4.2/5 star rating on G2 (1,527 reviews total) 
• 4.1/5 star rating on GetApp (1,276 reviews total)
• 4.1/5 star rating via Capterra (1,276 reviews total)
• 8/10 score via TrustRadius (378)
• 4.4/5 star rating via Gartner (148 reviews total)

Keap Pricing

• Pro: $199 per month (2 users, 1,500 contacts)
• Max: $299 per month (3 users, 2,500 contacts)
• Ultimate: $359 per month (3 users, 2,500 contacts)

What is the Best Salesforce Alternative? Pipeline CRM Sales CRM Software

Old-economy industries have remained mostly unchanged despite rapid technological advances. Some processes have remained the same for years. This is why Salesforce isn’t always a good fit for old-economy brands; they tend to be too expensive, complex, and difficult to manage. 

It’s so important to choose the sales CRM for manufacturing that best aligns with your goals. If your goal is manufacturing lead generation, choose a CRM that’s oriented around driving sales. Looking for an end-to-end solution that handles the ins and outs of global commerce? Choose a CRM that moves in that direction. Salesforce is the 800 lbs gorilla, but as we’ve seen, it’s not always the best for old economy sectors.

Consider Pipeline CRM as the number one alternative to Salesforce. Our sales CRM software has all the sales features your old economy business need, without the complex interface or technological hiccups that Salesforce often shows. Check out the industries we support, and once you’re ready tom try Pipeline CRM, sign up here to get started.

Pipedrive is a strong contender, but it’s not for everyone. Reviewers mentioned its limited (or missing) feature set, issues with integration, and high cost. 

The good news is that some powerful logistics CRM software is on the market, making it a great Pipedrive CRM alternative for logistics companies. We’ll compare five logistics CRMs, looking at their features, pros and cons, reviews, and pricing. Keep reading to find which Pipedrive alternatives are the best for your logistics company.

Why Do You Need Logistics CRM Software?

It’s an uphill battle for logistics companies to generate sales. They struggle with a variety of factors that are much more difficult to overcome. The ongoing struggle against these challenges puts many logistics companies out of business. 

Which factors are we talking about?

• Razor-thin margins: High operating costs—fuel, labor, and fleet maintenance erode profits—and supply chain disruptions.

• Service commoditization: Logistics are often treated as a commodity, like steel or lumber. This creates more downward pressure on already thin margins.  

• No differentiation: It’s common for logistics companies to position themselves as the cheaper, faster, or easier option. This can work, but it’s typically a disaster for your margins since customers have no real reason to choose you over a competitor other than price, speed, or ease of use. 

• Long sales cycles: Our industry relies heavily on strong, trusting relationships, which take time to build. Many organizations lack the tools or processes to build, nurture, and maintain these relationships. 

While logistics CRMs can’t fix your margins, they can help you with the other three items. Let’s start the list of CRM alternatives for logistics companies with Pipeline CRM vs. Pipedrive.

1. Pipeline CRM: One of the Best Alternatives to Pipedrive

Pipeline CRM is one of the best CRM software for logistics and excellent contender for Pipedrive CRM alternatives. This sales-driven CRM focuses on one thing: closing deals. They are perfect for organizations looking for an affordable and customizable option that can scale up or down with their business. 

Besides its simple yet powerful sales management features, another factor that separates Pipeline CRM from its competitors is its world-class customer service. They offer best-in-class email and chat support, and they’re even willing to onboard and train your team. Other providers outsource onboarding, and some logistics CRM software limits their customer service to specific high-tier plans only.

Key Features of Pipeline CRM – a Pipedrive Alternative

• Built-in email drip campaign and AI email writing assistant
• Smart agendas (automatically build to-dos as you work)
• Easy integrations with a large list of software and providers, including QuickBooks, CallRail, and Gravity Forms
• Sales forecasting and analytics
• Custom sales processes, including custom deal stages and custom fields
• Deal Insights (to identify the likelihood of success or failure) 

Pipeline CRM Pros

• Pipeline CRM is scalable yet very affordable
• Heavily oriented toward selling with extensive sales management automation 
• Best-in-class, industry-leading customer support 
• Best for small-to-medium organizations 

Pipeline CRM Cons

• Limited enterprise options 
• No on-premise options

Pipeline CRM App Support

• Support: Email or live chat.  
• Onboarding services: Personalized training and guidance to ensure a successful CRM implementation
• Knowledge base: Get started documents, FAQs, and troubleshooting guide.
• Status updates: Consistent service uptime across platforms

Pipeline CRM Reviews

• 4.4/5 star rating on G2 (928 reviews total) 
• 4.4/5 star rating on Capterra (623 reviews total)
• 4.2/5 star rating via Gartner (41 reviews total)

Pipeline CRM Pricing

Pipeline CRM offers three paid plans. There’s also a free 14-day trial to test this Pipeline’s logistics CRM.

• Start plan: $29 per user per month
• Develop plan: $39 per user per month
• Grow plan: $59 per user per month

Go to the Pipeline CRM pricing page to learn the features of each plan.

2. CargoWise

The next on our list of Pipedrive CRM alternatives for logistics companies is CargoWise. CargoWise is a cloud-based CRM platform providing end-to-end support for logistics companies. They manage everything from global trade changes (e.g., increased taxes, regulation, and tariffs) to sudden spikes in ecommerce volumes.

If your logistics company handles intermodal transportation or you plan on expanding nationally or internationally, CargoWise CRM may be a good fit. They offer many solutions, such as forwarding, customs, warehouse, and carriers, among others.

CargoWise Features

• Centralized database
• Opportunity and campaign manager 
• Real-time performance analytics
• Track calls, meetings, and plans made with every customer
• Build detailed portfolios on key opportunities 

CargoWise Pros

• Great for enterprises 
• It integrates with a large list of software and providers (e.g., Microsoft, Google Apps, Zapier, etc.).
• 24/7 international support

CargoWise Cons

• High cost; pricing options often range from $500 to $10,000+ per month
• No on-premise options

CargoWise App Support

• 24/7 support: help desk, chat, phone, or email   

CargoWise Reviews

• 2.9/5 star rating on Software Advice (32 reviews total) 
• 2.8/5 star rating on Capterra (32 reviews total)
• 3.2/5 star rating via Gartner 

CargoWise Pricing

CargoWise doesn’t disclose its pricing. You need to contact them for a quote.

3. Keap

Previously Infusionsoft, Keap is another Pipedrive CRM alternative for logistics companies. Keap is an all-in-one sales and marketing automation solution for small and medium-sized businesses.

If you’re looking for a well-established CRM generalist, Keap is a great candidate. Keap helps you to create web forms, run fully automated campaigns, track ROI, follow up with customers, and even process payments. However, if you already have payment processing, landing pages, or other tools in place, getting your tools to cooperate with Keap may be a challenge. 

Additionally, Keap works best if you’re willing to commit to the long term. While their product is mature, it seems to require extensive onboarding, training, and education. 

Keap Features

• Sales and marketing automation
• Payment processing
• Appointment setting
• Lead source attribution

Keap Pros

• Automated follow-ups
• Close monitoring of leads through the sales and fulfillment lifecycle
• Highly customizable
• Robust reporting

Keap Cons

• High cost
• Not user-friendly
• Portions of their platform are still outdated, causing inconsistent performance

Keap App Support

• Support: email
• Documentation

Keap Reviews

• 4.2/5 star rating on G2 (1,527 reviews total) 
• 4.1/5 star rating via Capterra (1,271 reviews total)
• 8.2/10 score via TrustRadius (378)

Keap Pricing

• Pro: $199 per month (2 users, 1,500 contacts)
• Max: $299 per month (3 users, 2,500 contacts)
• Ultimate: $359 per month (3 users, 2,500 contacts)

4. Magaya

Another CRM alternative for logistics companies is Magaya Supply Chain. Magaya is designed for freight forwarders, NVOCCs, customs brokers, warehouse operators, and logistics services providers. Their platform functions as a single source of truth managing operations, accounting, sales and marketing, tracking, and compliance.

One nice thing about their platform is that it’s usable right out of the box. It is loaded with hundreds of industry-specific document templates and freight-forwarding workflows for domestic and cross-border logistics. It also includes advanced WMS with eCommerce connections to major retailers and couriers. You can use them to automate and optimize your logistics business, with the ability to add more functions as your organization scales up.

If you’re consistently entering, re-entering, and updating customer details, quotes, and contracts across multiple platforms and tools, Magaya may be for you. According to their description, “Magaya automates the tedious and repetitive tasks that slow down shipments, waste time, cost money, and allow errors to slip in.” 

Magaya Features

• Supply network coordination
• Automation of warehouse operations
• Manage leads, contacts, and accounts alongside relevant account data (e.g., quotes, interactions, data, etc.)
• Data sync between Magaya Supply Chain and Magaya CRM
• Create mass marketing campaigns, qualify and rank leads, and integrate with mail providers directly

Magaya Pros

• Provides end-to-end tracking across multiple applications
• Information is shared across all of Magaya’s services and products, so double entry isn’t an issue
• Centralized data management for warehouse, quotes, invoices, and operations

Magaya Cons

• Poor integrations 
• Steep learning curve
• Issues with user rights and permissions (sharing data with the wrong people)

Magaya App Support

• Support: email and WhatsApp
• Help desk

Magaya Reviews

• 4.5/5 star rating on G2 (108 reviews total) 
• 4.4/5 star rating on Capterra (46 reviews total)
• 9/10 score via TrustRadius 

Magaya Pricing

You need to contact the Magaya team to ask for the tool price.

5. Logitude

The last of our Pipedrive CRM alternatives for logistics CRM is Logitude. While other end-to-end providers bundle their services together, Logitude doesn’t require customers to be freight forwarding users to use their logistics CRM. Their services are affordably priced with solo and small business logistics companies in mind. 

Logitude Features

• Opportunity management
• Contact management
• Sales funnel overview
• Sales performance reporting
• Account permission settings

Logitude Pros

• Fast and effective quote creation process
• View and analyze customer performance via built-in CRM dashboards and reports
• File Outlook messages and attachments directly within the platform

Logitude Cons

• API is available at an additional cost
• Some systems are complex and difficult to use

Logitude App Support

• Support: contact or email

Logitude Reviews

• 4.5/5 star rating on Capterra (40 reviews total) 
• 4.4/5 star rating on G2 (14 reviews total)
• 4.5/5 star rating via Software Advice (40 reviews total)

Logitude Pricing

• $35 per user per month

What to Consider When Choosing CRM Software for Logistics Companies

What specifically do logistics companies need from their CRM systems? Key features include:

• Scheduling: Your logistics CRM should provide custom scheduling options to optimize your collection and scheduling for first and third-party inventory and assets.

• Monitoring deal flow: Tracking prospects and customers through your sales and fulfillment pipelines is a must-have. This allows logistics companies to provide employees and customers with real-time, company-wide status updates.

• Integration with route optimization: Your logistics CRM must integrate with route planning software. When route optimization is disconnected from your CRM, streamlining deliveries, minimizing fuel costs, and improving efficiency become uphill battles. 

• Integrating with inventory management: Can your inventory management tools automatically share your inventory levels and order notifications with your logistics CRM software? Having this feature keeps your sales, marketing, customer service, and accounting teams in the loop. 

• Centralized communication: You’ll need a centralized logistics CRM tool to manage internal (e.g., milestones, deliverables, forecasting) and external (e.g., customer inquiries, reviews, and complaints) communication via a suite of tools. More importantly, you’ll need open internal and external communication channels. 

• Performance analysis: Unlock hidden insights with historical data! Your logistics CRM reveals shipping patterns & trends, helping you optimize operations, identify bottlenecks, and seize growth opportunities.

• Mobility: Empower all teams (sales, marketing, support, fulfillment) with real-time access & mobile-first CRM.  One platform, one truth.

• Scalability: The ability to scale up (and down), handle sudden spikes in activity, and accommodate a steady growth in demand over time without sacrificing performance or functionality.

• Integration capabilities: Integration with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, transportation management systems, and accounting software is ideal as this makes process automation smooth. 

Related: What is ERP, and how does it differ from CRM? Find the answers here.

The Best Pipedrive CRM Alternative for Logistics Companies is Pipeline CRM

Pipedrive is a well-known option, but for a more affordable alternative with similar powerful features, consider Pipeline’s robust, customizable logistics CRM.

This powerful solution can help you better manage your sales pipelines, leverage sales automation solutions, and generate accurate sales reports to close more deals and streamline your operations. Like our happy logistics company clients, GlobalTranz achieved a 63% increase in partnerships with revenue-generating agents after using Pipeline CRM.

Try Pipeline CRM today, and experience a similar growth to your logistics company! Sign up for a 14-day free trial.

Why is this important? Well, the easier it is to get your manufacturing sales CRM up and running, the more likely your employees will use the platform. This focus means more deals won, more talent recruited and retained, and greater stability for your manufacturing firm. So, if you’re looking to choose the right CRM for your manufacturing company, here are five of the best alternatives to Nutshell CRM for manufacturing.

Pipeline: Best Nutshell Sales CRM Alternative to Drive Revenue

There’s a lot of pressure in manufacturing—you’re competing with other firms to attract new customers, working hard to support and retain current customers, and doing all this without the workforce needed. 

You could use an assistant that covers: 

• Action plans and reminders to chase down new opportunities 
• Assistance to build a virtual bench of reliable employees-in-waiting (walk-offs and no-shows are always an issue)
• A system in place that identifies customers who are a fit for your business and are willing to work with your already razor-thin margins
• A platform that shows you why you’re winning or losing deals, opportunities, and people.  

Running a successful manufacturing business is challenging. Supply chain headwinds, labor shortages, intense competition, and emerging tech trends make it difficult to choose the best CRM for sales. Pipeline CRM is a sales-driven, easy-to-use, automated, and uncomplicated platform that can be up and running in less than a day. 

Is Pipeline Right for You?

Pipeline CRM may be a fit if you need an immediate option to start winning deals. Pipeline’s manufacturing sales CRM is simple, automated, and customizable. Your sales team can be up and running in less than a day. 

The platform is optimized around a single goal—driving sales. Many other CRMs focus on secondary details like project management or collaboration (which we have), but the aim is to keep the focus on selling. 

This sales CRM solution provides customization where it matters most, for example, actioning items in your workflow—updates and notifications, tasks, recurring deals, next-step recommendations, essential activities (e.g., emails), sales automation, workflows, and more. It’s a valuable tool that makes attracting A-player talent easier, winning and retaining new customers. 

Pros and Cons

• Pipeline is scalable yet very affordable

• Heavily oriented toward selling with extensive sales management automation 

• Integrates with a large list of software (e.g., Microsoft, QuickBooks, Google Apps, Zapier, Paycove, CallRail, etc.)

• Best-in-class, industry-leading customer support 

• Best for small-to-medium organizations 

• Limited enterprise options 
• No on-premise options
• Moderate amount of integrations
• 14-day free trial, no free user tier

Reviews

• 4.4/5 star rating on G2 (904 reviews total) 
• 4.4/5 star rating on Capterra (616 reviews total)
• 9.8/10 score via TrustRadius 
• 4.2/5 star rating via Gartner (41 reviews total)

Pipeline CRM Pricing

• Start plan: $29 per user per month
• Develop plan: $39 per user per month
• Grow plan: $59 per user per month

Zoho CRM: Best NutShell Alternative for Manufacturing Teams that Need Complete Customization

Zoho’s platform depends on its software ecosystem. 

They’ve built 55+ apps and serve more than 100 million customers worldwide. Their CRM tool is designed for solo, small, and medium-sized companies, and their products also integrate with more than 800+ commonly used apps.

Their CRM focuses heavily on collaboration and analytics, which makes sense for CRM software. 

Is Zoho CRM Right for You? 

Zoho’s CRM is geared toward collaboration, analytics, and heavy customization. 

So, if you need a CRM to help you manage and expand your existing operations, Zoho is ideal. However, if we’re focusing mainly on manufacturing sales as the key purpose for needing a CRM, this may not be the best fit. 

Pros and Cons

• Zoho is very affordable

• All plans include automation 

• A low to moderate number of integrations are available

• Money-back guarantee

• AI features are only available on top-tier plans 
• Limited customization options are available
• No integrations are available for users on the free plan
• Limited email options 

Reviews

• 4.1/5 star rating on G2 (2,596 reviews total) 
• 4.3/5 star rating on Capterra (6,672 reviews total)
• 8.3/10 score via TrustRadius 
• 4.3/5 star rating via Gartner (41 reviews total)

Zoho CRM Pricing

• Standard: $20 per user per month
• Professional: $35 per user per month
• Enterprise: $50 per user per month
• Ultimate: $65 per user per month

Thryv CRM: Best for Manufacturing Generalists

Thryv is another all-in-one solution. 

Two Yellow page publishers, Dex Media and YP Holdings, merged in an effort to create a viable business post-bankruptcy. The merger enabled their combined business (now Thryv) to pivot to a new business. Their CRM is sold as part of their Business Center, a SaaS offering that includes:

• CRM 
• Estimates and invoices
• Social media management
• Online reputation management
• Email and SMS marketing
• Digital payments 
• Client portals 

Thryv is especially useful for manufacturers who are interested in setting appointments or bookings with prospects and customers. 

Is Thryv Right for You? 

While Pipeline CRM, for example, is oriented towards selling and closing deals, Thryv is heavily oriented towards marketing and promotion. If your manufacturing firm needs help generating the marketing-qualified leads needed to grow, or your organization needs support managing its online reputation, Thryv may be a good fit.

However, the ease of use, 24/7 support, and all-in-one software suite make it an excellent value for brands—if you need all the tools they include. If these tools were purchased individually, they would be much more expensive. 

Thryv’s CRM is simple; it doesn’t have most of the bells and whistles other platforms have. 

Pros and Cons

• 24/7 support 

• Easy to use (once trained)

• Exceptional customer support 

• Part of an all-in-one suite of software

• Low to moderate issues with integration 
• More expensive than comparable options
• Higher learning curve
• Part of an all-in-one suite of software

Reviews

• 4.6/5 star rating on G2 (367 reviews total) 
• 4.2/5 star rating on Capterra (495 reviews total)
• 4.2/5 rating via GetApp
• 4.4/5 star rating via Product Reviews (161 reviews total)

Thryv CRM Pricing

• Plus: $199 per month per location
• Professional: $349 per month per location
• Unlimited: $499 per month per location

Sugar CRM: Best for Smart Manufacturing and Technology-Driven Companies

SugarCRM offers a variety of sales force automation (SFA) solutions, including Sugar Sell, Professional, and Enterprise. Sugar also provides multiple add-ons to extend the performance of its CRM, which is wonderful news if you know what you need ahead of time. However, prospects who are unsure of their needs struggle to identify which add-ons they need to boost performance.

That said, SugarCRM offers the customization, control, deep reporting, security, and access to data that bigger players like Microsoft or Salesforce do for a fraction of the price. If you’re looking for a comprehensive solution and you have a team that’s willing to invest in the training needed to maximize value, SugarCRM could be just the right option for your organization. 

Is SugarCRM Right for You? 

If you’re looking for high data granularity, heavy-duty customization, and marketing and sales automation, SugarCRM is what you need. Their slogan, “Let the platform do the work,” emphasizes their focus on automation and their platform’s ability to fill in the blanks for organizations. 

One of their relationship products, Sugar Hint, searches the web for additional user information. You give Sugar some information on your prospects, and Sugar will do the rest, provided that the data Hint finds is accurate and up-to-date. SugarCRM is a more expensive option, but it’s a bargain compared to SaaS products like Microsoft Dynamics and Salesforce. Their platform also has both cloud-based and on-premise options for users.       

Pros and Cons

• Highly customizable—change views, fields, data, 
• On-premise and cloud options are available
• Integrates with hardware (e.g., clicking buttons on office phones while on a call opens up lead contact cards)

• Scalable, made for businesses of all sizes

• Easily handles the heavy lifting required by enterprises  

• Complex, can be difficult to learn/use
• Low data granularity
• Learning curve and transitional pain is high
• Portions of SugarCRM are very difficult to use
• Best for small-to-medium organizations 
• More expensive than other CRMs in their category
• Minimum user requirements, no monthly payment options 

Reviews

• 3.9/5 star rating on G2 (904 reviews total) 
• 3.8/5 star rating on Capterra (406 reviews total)
• 7.9/10 score via TrustRadius (245 reviews total)
• 4/5 star rating via Gartner (241 reviews total)

Sugar CRM Pricing

• Essentials: $49 per user per month (3 users minimum, 5 maximum, billed annually)
• Advanced: $85 per user per month (3 users minimum, billed annually)
• Premier: $135per user per month (10 users minimum, billed annually)
• Add-ons are extra

ClickUp CRM: Best for Manufacturing Teams and Project Management

The team behind ClickUp views their offering as productivity software. To quote their about page, ClickUp was created “first [as] an internal tool, now as a way to fulfill our vision of making the world more productive.” While Microsoft Project requires a literal college course to learn, ClickUp is an intuitive platform you can use to get up and running quickly.

Use ClickUp to manage your internal communication, training, and updates. 

Is ClickUp CRM Right for You?

ClickUp’s feature set further emphasizes its focus on collaboration and internal communication. Tasks, Docs, Whiteboards, Goals, Dashboards, and Chat (internal) all prioritize internal communication. If your manufacturing firm needs better team communication and consistent project management, ClickUp is a great option to consider. 

Pros and Cons

• 24/7 support

• App part of an all-in-one suite of tools

• Heavily focused on project management 

• View all activity in a single dashboard

• Helpful automation 

• Affordable for both entry-level and power users

• Robust API interface

• Their mobile interface doesn’t match the desktop or web browser versions, creating challenges for users
• Heavy limits on the free tier; unlimited plans are not unlimited
• Advanced features require upgrades 
• Heavily focused on project management 
• Data glitches (e.g., tasks report the incorrect status, values in fields randomly are missing occasionally, users sometimes disappear, etc.)
• Cluttered UI can be difficult to read/understand

Reviews

• 4.7/5 star rating on G2 (9,428 reviews total) 
• 4.7/5 star rating on Capterra (4,034 reviews total)
• 8.5/10 score via TrustRadius (1,194 reviews total)
• 4.3/5 star rating via Gartner (139 reviews total)

ClickUp CRM Pricing

• Free: $0 
• Unlimited: $7 per user per month
• Business: $12 per user per month
• Enterprise: Call for quote

These Are the Top-Rated CRM Alternatives to Nutshell 

Take some time to evaluate these options for yourself. 

Find the areas that matter most to your business—sales, collaboration, analysis, or customization; and choose the CRM that best aligns with your goals and objectives for your manufacturing firm. The easier it is to get your sales CRM software up and running, the easier it will be for your employees to use the platform. More user adoption means more deals won and greater stability for your manufacturing firm, with no transitional pain required. 

Pipeline helps 18,000+ companies like yours decrease time-to-close, increase productivity by 50% or more, and 10x sales. Let us show you how Pipeline can help you win more customers and deals. 

View plans and pricing.

This means that in today’s manufacturing landscape, excellent customer service is no longer an option but a must-have. Those offering VIP customer support will attract and retain customers more easily.

One smart way to improve the customer service quality of your manufacturing business is by adopting CRM software for manufacturing companies. It enables you to increase the speed to lead and speed to respond—two vital keys to enhancing service efficiency and standing out from the competition. 

But how exactly can a manufacturing CRM help you achieve that? Read on to find out.

What’s the Relationship between Manufacturing CRM and Service Efficiency?

Many manufacturing companies pride themselves on producing a superior product and believe their customers are happy with the service. However, they need to do more than that. Manufacturers must bridge the ‘experience gap’ and achieve true customer satisfaction.

Clients want speed, flexibility, and streamlined communication. This means high-quality standards and efficiency may be vital, but simply relying on these factors won’t help you boost your service efficiency.

The good news is you can achieve this by adopting a well-built manufacturing CRM that caters to your customer’s needs and the company’s goals. Let’s discuss this further by understanding why service efficiency matters for manufacturing companies.

Why Is Service Efficiency Important in the Manufacturing Industry?

The importance of service efficiency lies in how it directly impacts customers’ spend. 

A Harvard Business Review article shows that customers with a great experience spend 140% more than those with a bad experience. In other words, operational efficiency is just one side of the coin; your bottom line is also influenced by service performance.

Here are three other key reasons why service efficiency is crucial for manufacturing businesses.

1. Increased Manufacturing Productivity

If your customer service is streamlined, you spend less time, money, and labor on fixing avoidable problems or hiccups. This also means that any new process you implement, or new products you manufacture is processed according to the standards, making your manufacturing business workflow lean and more productive while keeping your customers happy.

2. Better Resource Optimization

Service performance can be measured by resource optimization, for instance, how fast an issue is resolved with the least effort involved. 

Say you need to communicate an important service update for your hardware unit. If you have an automated email system, you can save manual time and resources while ensuring your clients get the necessary information timely. 

Related: Learn how to personalize an automated sales process in a CRM using these four smart tips.

3. Bigger Returns on Customer Relations

Sending holiday greetings and updating clients on new offers and products helps cement long-term relationships. 

For example, you can use the contact management feature in your CRM to help group the recipients based on industry, bought products, or other categories. Or use this to give customers the latest updates, greet them on holidays, and notify them of changes in working hours, among others. This helps you give your customers the par-excellence experience they’re looking for. 

For manufacturing teams looking to organize their sales efforts early, our free sales CRM Excel template offers a straightforward and customizable solution to build a solid sales pipeline foundation.

How Can Manufacturing CRM Software Improve Service Efficiency?

Only the best manufacturing sales CRM software will be tailored to your industry will bring all your data management, customer communication, scheduling and collaboration, and problem-solving tools under one roof. 

It also serves as a powerhouse from which you can smoothly coordinate and carry out operations, maintenance requests, updates, and fixes, thus furthering your service efficiency.

What’s more, good manufacturing pipeline software will not merely help you resolve client needs and better your service but will also help you grow your business and take on more customers.

Let’s look at some specific features and functions you could leverage from a CRM:

1. Speed to Lead

An excellent manufacturing CRM can be set up based on the industry, size, and client’s needs. This will offer much flexibility in how you run the manufacturing business. A key benefit of CRM adoption is tracking lead progress and addressing it immediately as soon as there’s a development, allowing you to get cracking on the next steps ASAP. 

This speedy and individual attention will set the tone for what your clients can expect from you down the road.

2. Speed to Response

One common issue that negatively impacts customer service quality is the delayed response to emails or open queries. When customers ask for help, they need the solution immediately. Even if the actual solution were to take longer, a timely affirmation of their messages goes a long way in preserving the relationship, as proven in this study.

When you use manufacturing sales software like Pipeline CRM, you can easily see and manage your client emails and tickets, leaving no tickets unread or untreated. You can also assign them to your teams based on their workload and availability.

3. Data Centralization

Your CRM can serve as the repository for all customer-related data. For example, having all the communication exchanges in one place helps keep track of the issue, prevent misunderstanding or gaps in knowledge, and accelerate the steps taken to resolve it.

4. Customized Solutions

An integral part of service performance is how well you can adapt to the customer’s unique requirements. Variability is frowned upon in manufacturing and production. But with customer service, this becomes a much sought-after benefit. You can optimize manufacturing pipeline software to accommodate diverse client needs using customizable templates and workflows or multiple pipelines.

See how you can customize Pipeline CRM software to support the unique needs of your manufacturing business in this interactive demo.

5. Ease of Access

Nothing speaks to overall client experience like user experience (UX). Having a CRM that is user-friendly and accessible via mobile phones (or tablets) elevates service performance for customers, making it easier for your team to connect and collaborate, especially those who work on the field or the client-facing staff. Additionally, it chalks up to a lovely value-add in your customer service endeavors.

Enhance Service Efficiency with Manufacturing CRM Software

High standards, diversity in offerings, and product superiority are the keys to excel in manufacturing businesses. However, if you ignore the quality of service, you may lose your customers’ trust. Principally, the smoother your service and problem resolution are, the happier your customers are, and the faster your manufacturing business will grow. 

To ensure every customer is satisfied with your service, adopt manufacturing CRM software such as Pipeline CRM. With Pipeline’s manufacturing CRM, every customer communication and transaction is automatically recorded, allowing your team to solve problems faster and more effectively. Not only that, you’ll be instantly notified of the changes in your sales pipeline, customer ticketing, and other project progress. This enables your team to work collaboratively to improve your manufacturing business’s customer service area.

Get started with Pipeline CRM with a 14-day free trial. See all the features you’ll get here.

Scott Edinger also claims a similar result in Harvard Business Review: “In my work with clients, when I ask executives if the CRM system is helping their business to grow, the failure rate is closer to 90%.” 

If the failure rate is that high, how can businesses achieve any return on investment (ROI) of their CRM?

This blog will answer this question along with some other topics about CRM ROI, namely how to calculate the ROI, some basic sales and marketing KPIs to consider, and three effective ways to maximize your CRM return. 

How Much Can a CRM Increase Revenue?

Contrary to the previous statistics, Nucleus Research claimed that CRM implementation can result in positive ROI, “For every dollar a company spends on CRM, it gets back $8.71 – 1.5 times more than the $5.60 they got just three years prior.” So, which data is true?  One important thing about statistics is that they are a generalization.

In this case, the high numbers of CRM failures in the previous stats (and the positive CRM ROI above) represent hundreds of thousands of businesses. They are diverse in size, industry, products or services sold, and the CRM implementation (how the team uses it), among other conditions that can affect the ROI of a CRM adoption.

Therefore, to ensure an objective analysis in an isolated environment (controlled variables of industries and the CRM software), we’ll take a look at some of Pipeline CRM’s case studies. We’ll put their before and after performance under the loop to see if implementing a customizable Pipeline CRM software is worth the investment.

Here are some of the results of Pipeline CRM implementation after a few months of adoption, you can find the full stories here.

The data above shows that Pipeline CRM’s clients experienced positive changes in their sales books. This gives us a solid foundation to say that after Pipeline CRM implementation, you can expect a 20% sales gain and other growing metrics, including faster time-to-close, better contact management, and an increased number of leads.

If you’re curious about the ROI of your CRM, the following section will help you.

How to Calculate the ROI of CRM

Principally, calculating the ROI of CRM means analyzing the investment vs. gained profit. 

Here is the formula to calculate it:

If we put this in an example, the calculation goes like this.

Let’s say you’re the owner of a small contracting company and have a five-person team that needs construction CRM software. 

• CRM cost: $39 per user/month x 5 users = $195 per month.
  This means the total cost of ownership (TCO) is $2,340 annually, and you add a $1,500 one-time premium onboarding to get the CRM system and your team up to speed.
• Benchmarking: Sales before CRM 3-4 new customers per month. After CRM implementation, 15 new customers per month. 

Next, you’ll need to calculate your before and after results. 

If you have a 40% profit margin, this means from the $225,000 in sales, you earn $90,000 in profit per month or $1.8 million annually. 

Now, we plug these figures into our formula, and we get 28.125% as the CRM ROI.

But, let’s not stop here. If we dig deeper into this example, we see other amazing growth happening to your business:

• You’re closing 275% more customers after CRM implementation.
• Your team maintains average order values of $15,000.
• You’ve got a pretty reasonable profit margin.

In this example, it is clear that a CRM implementation is worth every penny. For a $3,840 CRM adoption cost, you’ll earn $1,800,000 back, a 28.125% ROI.

Important Metrics to Calculate CRM Return on Investment

In the example above, we use net profit as the metric to calculate the CRM ROI. 

This isn’t a set-in-stone rule. You can use other metrics that matter to your business to calculate the CRM ROI.

Related: A-Z Glossary of Sales Terminology

Below are some parameters that you can choose from based on the type of CRM you implement in your business. If you aren’t sure what your CRM type is, this blog will help you decide- what are the types of CRM?

Obviously, the metrics and KPIs you’re focused on will vary by business and industry. That said, if you want to maximize your CRM return on investment, you will need a clear idea of the specific goals you’re trying to accomplish and the metrics that determine or define a successful outcome. 

How to Maximize CRM Return on Investment (In Half the Time)

The key to maximizing your CRM ROI is in the CRM implementation. 

The more you utilize it, the more benefits you’ll gain. Likewise, the less you use it, the less you’ll gain. For instance, if you adopt an expensive CRM tool but don’t use it properly, you’ll get a low or even negative return on investment. This also applies to how loved the CRM is among your salespeople.

We know that some sales professionals still prefer using spreadsheets instead of CRM. This not only causes a negative ROI but also scattered data and siloed team collaboration, blocking your business from reaching its true potential.

Therefore, the goal here isn’t just about your sales reps using the CRM tool. It’s much more than that. If we’re going to maximize the value we receive from our CRM, we’ll need each employee to make practical and effective use of it. 

So, how do you get your team to take the time to go through the transitional period and learn to use the selected CRM? It’s a three-step process. 

Step 1: Give Your Team a Chance to Weigh in

If you expect your sales, marketing, and customer service teams to use the CRM in a way that maximizes your ROI, you’ll need to give them the chance to weigh in on key issues. If there’s no weigh-in, there’s no buy-in.

You have to get your team’s real thoughts and feelings on the matter out into the open. This doesn’t mean everyone has to agree, be happy, or be supportive of the decision. It simply means they need a chance to be heard. 

Step 2: Choose a CRM, Then Onboard Your Team

Onboarding is a must-have. It’s the only way to overcome the inevitable transitional friction that comes with switching to something new.

Here are some onboarding checklists to maximize your return on investment:

• A customized training plan designed specifically for your business and your team
• A 30-minute kick-off call
• Schedule several training sessions within 30 days of the CRM implementation
• A dedicated one-on-one training with an Onboarding Manager
• Data analysis and import assistance
• 3 custom automation/task templates

Step 3: Offer Incentives and Decide on Consequences

Your CRM functions as your eyes and ears. If you’re going to maximize your CRM return on investment, you’re going to need consistently high utilization rates. 

This outcome means you’ll need to offer incentives and decide on consequences.  

The incentives should be something valuable to your sales reps, such as gift cards, bonuses, certificates, or recognition. As for the consequences, you may want to consider zero or fewer commissions for sales reps who don’t use CRM in their daily jobs.

This may sound strict and cruel, but if your employees aren’t using your CRM system, you’re flying blind. You’re spending money on sales and marketing efforts with no way to measure the results.

CRM Implementation is the First Step to Maximizing Your CRM ROI

CRM is a powerful tool that can bring your sales game to the next level. With the right implementation, gaining a positive ROI is not impossible, and it is proven by the stellar results Pipeline CRM’s users experience in their businesses.

After all, the high failure rate of CRM adoption mentioned in the beginning is statistical data—a generalization of hundreds of thousands of businesses. We’ve demonstrated that the stats aren’t universally applicable.

Moreover, checking the return on investment of your ROI can give you an overview of how well your sales reps utilize the CRM and whether the CRM is the right solution for you.

If you want to adopt customizable CRM software that is proven to grow sales revenues, try Pipeline CRM. 

Pipeline CRM helps companies like yours decrease time-to-close, increase productivity by 50% or more, and boost sales by as much as 10x. Don’t take our word for it; let us show you how Pipeline can help you attract, win, and retain customers. 

See how it works.

This comparison blog will walk you through the key differences between spreadsheet CRM and CRM, their pros and cons, and why CRM software is the ideal tool to manage your sales pipelines for growing businesses. Check out our CRM Excel Template for a ready-to-use model that’s more scalable than a spreadsheet.

What is CRM?

CRM software is a solution that helps businesses manage all sales-related activities in a single place. This includes customer data, lead management, sales forecasting, and email marketing.

Unlike Spreadsheet which is designed to process numbers, the goal of CRM adoption is to accelerate and improve deal-closing rates by fostering trustworthy relationships with leads. For example, CRM allows you to add custom notes about prospects, enabling you to personalize your outreach efforts and connect with them on a deeper level. 

In addition, by tracking sales performance data, CRM empowers you to analyze trends and develop winning sales strategies tailored to specific customer profiles. These are just a few of the differences between CRM and spreadsheets in managing sales.

Pro tip: Learn more about the role of CRM for your business and sales teams here.

What is a Spreadsheet CRM?

A spreadsheet CRM or Excel CRM is a customer relationship management system built on spreadsheets, often using a pre-designed CRM template in Excel or Google Sheets. Many sales reps and small business owners choose this approach because it feels familiar, is easy to set up, and offers a basic level of customization within the spreadsheet format.

However, as sales data grows, managing a spreadsheet CRM becomes increasingly difficult. Too many open tabs, complex formulas, and the lack of workflow automation quickly turn into major pain points. These limitations are why growth-focused businesses often outgrow spreadsheet CRMs and move to dedicated CRM software that offers scalability, automation, and streamlined sales management.

Pros of Using Spreadsheet CRMs To Manage Sales Pipelines

1. Easy to Set Up with CRM Templates

With a ready-made CRM template in Excel or Google Sheets, you can get started quickly without needing technical setup or software training.

2. Familiar and Accessible

Most sales reps are already comfortable with spreadsheets, making a spreadsheet CRM simple to adopt across teams without a steep learning curve.

3. Low-Cost Solution for Small Teams

For startups or small businesses, managing sales pipelines in spreadsheets is a budget-friendly option before upgrading to more advanced CRM software.

Cons of Using Spreadsheet CRMs to Manage Sales Pipelines

Switching from using a CRM spreadsheet template on Excel to CRM software initially seems like a time-wasting venture. After all, the last thing you want to deal with is learning how a new tool works instead of focusing on your business. 

But relying on the limited capabilities of spreadsheets to manage prospects leads to long-term problems like:  

1. Loss of Business Opportunities

When tracking customers and deals over multiple spreadsheets, it’s easy to miss important information.  You end up losing valuable clients, which will hinder revenue growth. 

2. Lack of Tracking Features

To scale your business, you must know what’s working for your company and what’s not. Even if you successfully close deals using spreadsheets, there is no concrete way to know what made the client choose you.

You can’t track strategic flaws, which makes constant improvements impossible. Calculating metrics is also tricky since you have to be proficient in different Excel formulas and data manipulations. 

3. No Support for Scalability

Spreadsheets are not built for scalability. You can store and track bits and pieces of data in them. But when you scale to managing large data sets, they fall short and start to break. 

Growing a business is hard work. With a spreadsheet as your data management solution, the process becomes even more complicated and error-prone.

4. Poor Sales Performance Monitoring

Regular performance evaluation of your sales team is critical to building and sustaining a profitable business. But with spreadsheets, you can’t monitor how your sales reps interact with customers. 

You enter data manually to record how many calls and deals each sales rep has made. There is no way for you to identify your team’s strengths and weaknesses. Task delegation also becomes difficult. 

How Pipeline CRM Compares to Spreadsheets

Many businesses understand the benefits of CRM software, but transitioning from familiar spreadsheets can be daunting. Pipeline CRM bridges this gap by offering a CRM experience modeled after Excel sheets. This allows you to leverage the power of CRM with the comfort and ease of use you’re accustomed to.

Here’s how Pipeline CRM replicates the functionality you’re familiar with:

• Intuitive drag and drop: effortlessly rearrange data fields in your tables using a simple drag-and-drop motion.

• Seamless sorting: sort your data instantly to find the information you need in a flash.

• Powerful filtering: quickly narrow your data view by filtering out irrelevant information and focusing on what matters most.

💡 Watch this demo video to see Pipeline CRM’s spreadsheet-like interface in action! 

What Makes Dedicated CRM Software Better than Spreadsheet CRMs?

Here’s why you should choose CRMs over traditional spreadsheets or Excel CRMs for your business: 

Customization Options

CRM tools offer a range of customization options that allow you to set up your dashboard to suit your business needs. For example, Pipeline CRM lets you add up to twenty-five custom fields to capture granular data from your customers—including industry and currency type. 

Customizable CRM tools also offer better customer segmentations, enabling you to choose different demographics according to your business needs. Spreadsheets don’t support such personalization features. 

Easy Integrations

There’s only so much you can do with traditional spreadsheets. For example, while Excel spreadsheets might integrate with specific platforms, you can’t schedule a follow-up call via a spreadsheet. Google Sheets, however, is easier if you’re integrating with Google Workspace—but this solution still comes with its challenges. 

CRM tools work seamlessly with other productivity platforms. For example, calendar integration makes it easier to keep track of scheduled appointments. Some sales pipeline tools offer direct accounting integrations. 

Analytics and Reporting

Spreadsheets have limited capabilities when it comes to really analyzing customer data and metrics. You have to put hours of manual effort into processing spreadsheet data. 

However, CRM platforms offer various data analytics features that generate accurate reports on your team’s performance. In Pipeline CRM, for example, you can track your sales reps’ activities and deal insights in one central hub.  

Centralized Data

Companies need to keep several spreadsheets. So, accessing specific information becomes tedious and chaotic. CRM software lets you operate and access customer information from a single window. 

For example, Pipeline CRM brings all of your sales activities — online and offline — and shared data into one central hub place. It gives shared visibility into an otherwise offline sales process. With this setup, you can avoid shuffling through multiple spreadsheets to find what you need. 

Automation

Manual customer relationship management is time-consuming. Analyzing spreadsheets, creating relevant marketing campaigns for each customer segment, and manually sending them follow-up emails and offers is a lot of work. 

CRM tools eliminate repetitive tasks and let your team focus on the customers. Your marketing department can qualify leads and automate email drip campaigns without investing a significant chunk of their day. 

Improved Customer Relationship Management

CRM tools help you understand customers better. Businesses can track consumers’ purchase patterns, pain points, and requirements based on different demographics like age, gender, location, etc. This empowers them to create an accurate buyer persona and tailor customer experience accordingly. CRM tools also offer sales funnel templates to help you nurture leads effectively. 

The absence of redundant manual labor frees up the team’s time to focus on customer interactions. This way, they engage customers better and create meaningful relationships with them.

Targeted Campaigns

Customizable CRM facilitates better lead segmentation. You get a precise idea of what diverse customers want and design campaigns accordingly. Targeted marketing lets you tap into the unique desires of different audience segments with tailored content, relevant offers, and customized pitches. 

You can create appealing promotional messages, detect suitable marketing channels, and reach new audiences quicker. This way, CRM systems keep your sales and marketing team on the same page and increase your conversion rate. 

Data Security

Spreadsheets store customer data locally in your system. This poses several data risks including: 

• Loss of data due to malware attacks
• Manual data theft 

CRM software keeps your data safe by storing backups on the cloud. So, even if your system faces a data breach or an internal failure, your valuable data is safely backed up on remote servers.

Spreadsheet CRMs vs. CRM: Benefit and Feature Comparison

Grow Your Business with Pipeline CRM Software

Growing a small business takes time, diligence, and the capability to keep up with constant shifts. Spreadsheets offer a single source of truth, which isn’t enough to sustain startups and scaleups growing aggressively. 

CRM tools fill that gap with better efficiency and data accuracy. They eliminate redundant tasks like data entry, automate marketing campaigns, and keep track of our team’s performance. 

You understand which customer segments have the most promise, leading to better targeting and conversion. This empowers you to create lasting customer relationships and bring positive outcomes. 

Pipeline offers a powerful end-to-end CRM solution with an easy setup, a centralized dashboard, and seamless integrations. Equip your team with the best data management system, accelerate growth, and turn your small business into a notable brand. 

Ditch spreadsheets and start your free trial with Pipeline today!

FAQs – CRM vs. Spreadsheet CRM: Why CRM Wins

1. What Are the Benefits of Using CRM Over Excel?

There are several benefits of using CRM over spreadsheets:

• Centralized data – CRM: one source for contacts, leads, and activity vs. Spreadsheets: scattered data.

• Seamless integrations – CRM: connects with sales, marketing, and accounting tools for seamless workflow vs. Spreadsheets: constant switching when using multiple tools.

• Scalable growth- CRM: provides comprehensive sales with features like email reminders, deal tracking, and sales forecasting vs. Spreadsheets: limited to manipulating numbers.

2. What Are the Major Differences Between CRM and CRM Excel?

The major differences between CRM and spreadsheets are as follows:

• Data type: spreadsheets are primarily designed to process numerical data; CRM can handle numbers, text, and even document storage.
  
• Data interface: spreadsheets offer a basic table-based interface; CRMs provide various interface options, e.g., customizable dashboards, reporting tools, and data visualization.
• Functions: spreadsheets mainly focus on calculations and data processing; CRMs offer a wider range of functionalities, e.g., pipeline management, task automation, and communication tracking.
• Customization: spreadsheets offer limited customization options; CRMs allow for extensive dashboard and workflow customization.
• Integration with other apps: spreadsheets have very limited integration options; CRMs can integrate seamlessly with other software, e.g., email campaigns, autodialer, and lead generation forms.

3. Why Using Excel CRM Isn’t Ideal for Businesses?

Using spreadsheets isn’t ideal for businesses because their function and integration options limit their growth. For instance, with CRM, you’ll be notified when a lead opens your proposal, allowing you to pursue it while it is still hot. You can also set reminders to follow up with cold leads. Some CRM offers sales automation, allowing you to run drip email campaigns, create new deals for recurring deals, and more. These sales functions aren’t offered by spreadsheets.

4. How To Make Your Team Switch From Spreadsheets to CRM?

Encouraging your team to switch from spreadsheets to CRM can be challenging. To ensure the change stays permanent, follow these tips:

• Get buy-in: involve your team in choosing a CRM & highlight benefits.
• Train practically: use real data during onboarding to show the CRM’s value.
  
• Wean off spreadsheets: gradually phase out spreadsheets as comfort with CRM grows.
  
• Celebrate success: share improvements to show the positive impact of CRM adoption.
  

5. What Can CRM Do and Spreadsheets Can’t?

Some sales activities that CRM can offer but spreadsheets can’t are:

• Building relationships: CRM focuses on nurturing relationships (through interaction history and communication tracking features). Spreadsheets are for generic data/number storage.
• Sales automation: CRMs can automate tasks like email follow-ups and data entry, saving time. Spreadsheets don’t offer automation.
• Built-in data analytics: CRM can generate sales reports with a few clicks. Spreadsheets demand you to analyze the data yourself.
• Centralized data hub: CRM collects all your sales-related data in one place, simplifying data management and analysis. Spreadsheet data are siloed and need manual synchronization.

The same applies to CRM software. 

If you’re like most businesses, you’re (a.) looking for a CRM that qualifies as the best, or (b.) you’re unhappy with your current CRM provider and you’re looking to make a change. Here’s a breakdown of small business CRMs. 

To get started, we will use the criteria McKinsey laid out.

• Value

• Convenience 

• Availability

We’ll use these three factors to identify CRMs that are “the best” in their respective categories. 

Here’s a quick snapshot of the companies we’ll be taking a look at today. 

Let’s take a closer look at these companies. 

Pipeline CRM: The Best CRM for Winning and Closing Deals

According to G2, Pipeline is the 12th easiest CRM to use. 

This detail is significant for one simple reason: The easier your CRM is to use, the easier it will be to get your sales team to use it. Get your sales team on the same page, and it’s easier to close sales consistently over time. 

Pipeline is a CRM that’s made by salespeople, for salespeople.

This distinction isn’t nice; it’s necessary to generate consistent results from your team’s sales efforts. With Pipeline, you’ll be able to verify that each of your sales reps is on the same page and that your team is singing from the same song sheet. Each of your sales reps will use the same workflows to qualify, close, and onboard prospects, improving customer relationships over time. It’s the easiest path to consistent sales performance. 

Segment

Sales teams in small to medium-sized businesses 

Ratings

• 4.4/5 star rating on G2 (913 reviews total) 
• 4.4/5 star rating on Capterra (618 reviews total)
• 9.8/10 score via TrustRadius 
• 4.2/5 star rating via Gartner (41 reviews total)

Industries

• Small business
• Agencies
• Construction
• Contractors
• Manufacturing
• Professional services
• Wholesalers and distributors
• Transportation and logistics
• Real estate agents

Pricing

• Start plan: $29 per user per month
• Develop plan: $39 per user per month
• Grow plan: $59 per user per month 

Features

Here’s a short list of the features available in Pipeline. 

• Pipeline’s platform can be customized for the industry and size of your business
• Deal stages can also be customized to align with the unique steps in your small business
• Track and manage your email campaigns automatically via your account
• Pipeline integrates with the apps you’re already using and tools like Zapier to minimize transitional pain and customize integrations without developer or IT assistance
• Automations automatically prompt the next move on a deal, showing sales reps the best action to take at every stage in the process.
• Smart agendas that build themselves as your team works, so everyone knows what needs to be don.e SuperShare to send data to trusted contacts quickly and securely
• Open-source APIs to create Ad Hoc tools or integrate Pipeline into your existing platform

Pipeline in a Nutshell

Regarding CRMs, Pipeline is oriented around one thing: closing deals. 

If you need a CRM that optimizes sales performance, closes prospects, and consistently closes deals, Pipeline is the ideal tool. It’s made by salespeople, for salespeople, so everything about this app is optimized around generating revenue.

HubSpot Sales Hub: Best for Small Businesses with Big Budgets or Large Sales Teams

HubSpot is an all-in-one sales and marketing platform.  

If you’re looking for a comprehensive A-to-Z solution, HubSpot may be the right tool. HubSpot combines all the tools and resources you’ll need in a single solution. If budget is no option, and you’re looking for a tool that functions as a skilled generalist, HubSpot is the platform for you.

If you’re looking for a specialized tool that’s customized for your team, this may not be a fit. That said, HubSpot’s platform is built on the premise that your sales team should have everything under one roof. That works if you’re just starting your business. It can be difficult if you already have a suite of tools you rely on. 

Segment

Generalist focusing on small, medium, and enterprise businesses 

Ratings

• 4.4/5 star rating on G2 (10,314 reviews total) 
• 4.4/5 star rating on Capterra (419 reviews total)
• 8.6/10 score via TrustRadius (459)
• 4.4/5 star rating via Gartner (325 reviews total)

Industries

• General
• Software
• Healthcare
• Ecommerce
• Engineering
• Manufacturing
• Construction

Pricing

• Professional: $500 per month for 5 users, $100 per month for each additional user
• Enterprise: $1,200 per month for 10 users, $120 per month for each additional user

Features

Here’s a short list of the features available in HubSpot Sales Hub. 

• Beautiful, professional-looking email templates
• Tracking and analytics to understand the efficacy of your sales team’s work
• Document tracking to more easily generate purchase orders and sales collateral
• Call tracking and recording
• Contact management to keep your sales contacts organized within your CRM

HubSpot in a Nutshell

If you need an all-in-one solution that provides everything you need in a single platform, HubSpot is the best tool for the job. HubSpot is a huge value-add because it grows with you. If you’re willing to invest the time and resources into their platform, you’ll have a solution that continues to add value over the long term. 

There’s one glaring downside. 

The price. If you want premium features, expect to pay HubSpot a premium price. You’ll need to pay for onboarding and support. They offer a free-forever CRM but that’s pretty limited when compared to the other providers in our list. Even their starter plans for small teams is limited. 

ClickUp: Best Collaborative CRM for Small Business Teams

ClickUp tells you that their CRM is “Built for teams from 1 to 1,000+.”

Their tagline, “One app to replace them all,” tells you where their focus is. It’s productivity and connecting the various departments in your business – engineering, sales, marketing, product, design, finance, HR, and IT – together. ClickUp includes tasks, whiteboards, dashboards, chat, goals, and docs. These are the traditional CRM tools your sales team is used to. As a collaborative CRM, it’s closer to project management tools like Basecamp or Asana than it is to operational CRMs like Pipeline or HubSpot.

If you’re looking to help your teams work well together, ClickUp is a great place to start. 

Segment

Non-profits, startups, and enterprises 

Ratings

• 4.7/5 star rating on G2 (6,954 reviews total) 
• 4.47/5 star rating on Capterra (3,676 reviews total)
• 8.6/10 score via TrustRadius (1,024)
• 4.4/5 star rating via Gartner (104 reviews total)

Industries

• Software
• Technology
• Healthcare
• Real estate
• HR
• Manufacturing
• Construction

Pricing

• Unlimited: $5 per user, per month
• Business: $12 per user, per month
• Business Plus: $19 per user, per month
• Enterprise: $$$$

Features

• Sales pipelines
• Account management
• Communication tools
• Organize your accounts in a list, Kanban board, or tables for quick data entry
• Create high-level views to monitor customer lifetime value, average deal sizes, and more
• Create your ideal system to store and analyze contacts, customers, and deals

ClickUp in a Nutshell

ClickUp is the Jack of all trades but a master of none. If you’re looking for a collaborative CRM that allows the various departments in your organization to share information freely (without information silos), ClickUp is a great fit. However, this collaboration is an issue when you’re looking for an Operational CRM that generates sales revenue. 

How do I know?

Take a look at the head-to-head comparisons on the right side of their website footer. ClickUp lists head-to-head comparisons with Monday, Basecamp, Jira, Trello, Todoist, Notion, etc. All of these tools are project management and collaboration tools that are focused on productivity rather than CRM or selling. If that’s what you’re looking for, that’s great. If not, this isn’t for you. 

Bigin by Zoho CRM: Easiest CRM for Small Businesses

Bigin’s claim to fame is their ease of use. 

That’s an important detail when you’re a small business owner wearing multiple hats. “Sales deals, support tickets, customer onboarding, order delivery, customer testimonials, contracts, and everything in between—Bigin is all you need to streamline your customer operations in one platform. Get started in under 30 minutes.”

Bigin is designed for beginners. 

These are the small business owners who have outgrown Excel or Sheets. They’ve tried to manage their customer relationships with a spreadsheet, but they found that it didn’t work as well as they had hoped.

“Whether you’re ready to move beyond spreadsheets or simply replace legacy CRM tools, anyone can bigin their CRM journey and grow their business. Choose one of our pre-defined templates or simply get started by customizing the CRM for your business in no time.”

Segment

Solopreneurs, freelancers, small businesses 

Ratings

• 4.5/5 star rating on G2 (186 reviews total) 
• 4.6/5 star rating on Capterra (236 reviews total)
• 8/10 score via TrustRadius (77 reviews total)
• 4.4/5 star rating via Gartner (711 reviews total)

Industries

• Agriculture
• Automotive
• Business intelligence
• Consulting
• Design
• Ecommerce
• Education
• Event management
• Finance
• Hospitality 
• HR
• Insurance
• Legal
• Software
• Security

Pricing

• Free
• Express: $9 per user, per month
• Premier: $15 per user, per month

Features

• Team pipelines
• Sub pipelines
• Custom fields
• Customization (via unique fields)
• Automation (e.g., instant actions, workflows, scheduled actions, date/time-based triggers, etc.) 
• Advanced data administration
• Integrations with Zoho software suite, Google contacts, Microsoft 365, and MailChimp)
• Email 
• Analytics
• Developer tools

Bigin in a Nutshell

Bigin is designed for beginners. 

These are the businesses that are still using inefficient or outdated methods to manage their customer relationships. It’s easy to use because it’s focused on users who are new to the CRM game. If you’re an established business and you’re looking for a CRM with a specific focus area, you’ll want to verify that Bigin is what you’re looking for. 

If ease-of-use, flexibility, and minimal transitional pain are must-haves for you, Bigin is the CRM for you. If you’re looking for a CRM that’s designed to close deals and win customers, Bigin may not be the best tool for the job. It’s functional and helpful, but it’s designed for simplicity, not selling. 

Small Business CRMs are must-haves to maintain customer loyalty

Brand loyalty, the kind enjoyed by well-known and established companies, is in the past. As we’ve seen, customers today are primarily focused on value, convenience, and availability. 

Your CRM is a must-have. 

The right CRM is essential because it enables you to keep your finger on the pulse of your target audience. According to the Economist, “50% of senior executives want to engage better with customers, but market data shows companies struggling. Open innovation (by integrating customer opinion into product development) can help businesses to learn what customers want—and build trust.

Demographics are changing fast, and consumers increasingly want personalization. Responding quickly to changing customer needs is a real challenge—executives and market data agree.” 

CRM fit is key. 

The more you know about your customers and their rapidly shifting demands, the easier it will be to attract prospects, close deals, and maintain customer loyalty. Use your CRM to boost customer trust, and you’ll find it’s easy to keep the kind of loyalty your competitors struggle to find. 

To simplify your CRM adoption journey, try our sales CRM Excel template, an easy-to-use resource that helps small businesses organize their sales pipelines efficiently without complicated software.