Manufacturing – Pipeline https://pipelinecrm.com Pipeline - Supercharge your sales Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:46:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://pipelinecrm.com/favicon.png Manufacturing – Pipeline https://pipelinecrm.com 32 32 Salesforce Alternatives for Old Economy Sectors https://pipelinecrm.com/blog/salesforce-alternatives-old-economy-sectors/ Fri, 30 Aug 2024 04:36:38 +0000 https://pipelinecrm.com/?p=3634 Continue reading Salesforce Alternatives for Old Economy Sectors]]> Are you looking for a Salesforce alternative? 

 

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

 

Salesforce Alternatives for Old Economy Sectors- Pipeline CRM

 

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.

 

Pipeline CRM review from G2

 

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

 

 

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

 

Salesforce Alternatives for Old Economy Sectors- Syspro CRM

 

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

 

 

Syspro CRM Pricing

 

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

 

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

 

Salesforce Alternatives for Old Economy Sectors- Easi’r

 

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

 

 

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

 

Salesforce Alternatives for Old Economy Sectors- Oracle Netsuite

 

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

 

 

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

 

Salesforce Alternatives for Old Economy Sectors- Keap

 

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

 

 

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.

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CRM Strategies to Reduce Churn in Manufacturing https://pipelinecrm.com/blog/crm-strategies-reduce-customer-churn/ Fri, 17 May 2024 06:56:59 +0000 https://pipelinecrm.com/?p=3344 Continue reading CRM Strategies to Reduce Churn in Manufacturing]]> Every customer leaving your manufacturing business means lost sales. If you don’t proactively reduce customer churn, it can hit your revenue hard.

 

That said, preventing every client from leaving is almost impossible—but proper application of manufacturing sales CRM software and implementing churn management strategies can help reduce customer attrition. 

 

A dedicated CRM for manufacturing companies offers real-time insights into what’s causing your clients to bail out on their contracts. This way, you can eliminate bumps in the customer journey, turn unhappy customers into loyal clients, and reduce customer churn.

 

In today’s article, we help you craft some CRM strategies that reduce customer churn rates and keep the profit scale high for the long run.

 

What is Customer Churn? 

 

Customer churn measures the percentage of customers who stopped using your service in a given period. 

 

Let’s say you start the quarter of your manufacturing business with 500 customers and have 440 by the end of it. Your churn rate for the said quarter is 12%, meaning you lost 12% of your total customers.

 

If losing some customers is almost impossible to avoid, why are we giving it so much priority in the first place? 

 

Because acquiring new customers is far more difficult and expensive than retaining existing ones. Plus, with more ex-customers switching to your competitors, you’ll lose your market share. 

 

6 CRM Strategies to Minimize Customer Churn 

 

Delivering high-quality products isn’t enough for a manufacturer who wants to retain customers. Improving service efficiency and maintaining healthy customer relationships are just as crucial. They reflect customer appreciation, foster loyalty, and convince them to have a long-lasting business relationship. 

 

But how to do it properly? Here are some customer relationship management strategies that will help you reduce churn.

 

1. Analyze the Root Cause of Customer Churn

 

If your customers are considering leaving, there has to be some issue with your service. So, the first thing you must do to reduce customer churn is to find out what’s causing it. 

 

Be diligent in measuring customer turnover by gathering relevant sales data from your manufacturing sales CRM software. This includes past interactions, complaints, support requests, purchase history, etc.

 

Then, pinpoint patterns, such as reduced purchasing frequency, increased customer complaints, or declining engagement, and monitor customer journeys regularly. Set up analytics that delivers real-time reports on customer retention and business health. 

 

Additionally, set up exit surveys. As shown below, personally contact the churned customers to find out what made them leave your company. 

 

Analyze the Root Cause of Customer Churn

 

Some common causes of customer churn in manufacturing include:

 

  • Delayed delivery
  • Better offers from competition
  • Poor onboarding 
  • Lack of quick customer service

 

Knowing the most prevalent reasons behind the churn will help you craft strategies targeting those issues and improving customer retention. 

 

2. Identify Customers at Risk of Churning

 

Don’t wait for customers to leave, but be proactive in identifying those considering exiting. In fact, this strategy is the most popular churn reduction tactic used by 85% of B2B businesses. That’s why some CRMs for manufacturing companies offer high-risk customer tracking features, including Pipeline CRM.

 

Identify Customers at Risk of Churning

 

Pipeline’s CRM for manufacturing companies lets you set up filters to track clients at risk of churning. By monitoring their sales and communication activities, you’ll be notified about those who remain in the high-risk category for more than seven days. 

 

You can add the following fields in the filter to make the identification process more efficient: 

 

  • Days since the last activity
  • Total Pipeline or Won Deals value
  • Next Milestone Due or Next Milestone Status
  • Other custom fields

 

Consider using the same field in the deal list view. It will help your team detect underlying customer health issues and contact them before they churn. 

 

3. Standardize the Customer Journey for Each Lead

 

The first step is to map out the entire customer journey, from the moment they discover your website to after-sales support. This map should detail all touchpoints, such as website visits, inquiries, quotes, order placement, production updates, and customer support requests.

 

Once you understand the customer journey, identify key activity patterns at each stage. Leverage your manufacturing sales CRM to set up automated triggers that deliver personalized communication based on the customer’s needs and progress. This ensures timely engagement and tailors the experience for each individual.

 

For instance, you can leverage the email drip campaigns within your manufacturing CRM to deliver relevant resources based on customer queries or their position in the sales pipeline. This keeps them informed and engaged throughout the process.

 

Additionally, you can ​​automate data entry to quickly and accurately capture customer contact information, requirements, order size, and timeline, as well as automate contract and invoice delivery. This way, you save time and ensure efficiency throughout the customer journey.

 

Pro tip: Check out Pipeline CRM and QuickBooks two-way data sync to help you convert proposals to invoices in just one click!

 

4. Personalized Onboarding 

 

A customized onboarding experience makes your customers feel valuable, helps them achieve their goals with your manufacturing services, and sets them up for success. It improves their experience, leading to loyalty and enhanced customer lifetime value—all essential elements to reduce customer churn.

 

Use your CRM for manufacturing companies to analyze client data and understand their needs and pain points. Segment your leads based on factors like industry, company size, or specific challenges. The CRM’s contact management features become even more valuable, allowing you to attach personalized notes like special requests and deadlines for each client.

 

Now, leverage your manufacturing sales CRM’s automation power. Create customized onboarding workflows for each customer segment, ensuring a targeted and efficient experience. But don’t stop there! Use the CRM’s automation features to send out onboarding surveys, collecting valuable feedback from your clients.

 

Asking clients for feedback shows your commitment to their success. By understanding “what could have been better” (and acting on it!), you demonstrate a genuine willingness to go the extra mile for their satisfaction. This feedback loop strengthens your relationships with clients and positions you as a service provider truly invested in their success.

 

5. Offer Incentives

 

Have you ever received “We Miss You” messages from brands you have stopped purchasing from? If yes, you know most of them are likely ignored. 

 

But do you know what customers notice? Rewards. It shows you value them, making your customers feel appreciated and boosting their loyalty. 

 

Keep in mind that the incentives don’t have to be grand, but they should be personalized enough to entice customers to stay.

 

Therefore, offer incentives that align with your customer’s current stage. For example, if your contract with one of your customers is about to end, you can offer a discounted deal renewal rate to prevent that client from moving to another manufacturer. 

 

Set up different triggers in your CRM for manufacturing companies so that you get real-time notifications when a client moves from one stage to another in their customer journey.

 

Add notes to each contact to keep track of their personal details and use them to customize incentives. A small discount for placing the first order with your manufacturing company or a gift voucher on your client’s birthday can go a long way. It’s the thought that counts!

 

6. Stay Competitive

 

One reason customers may want to part ways with you is that they get better offers from your competitors. So, always strive to promote your unique selling points (USPs) to existing and potential customers. 

 

That said, don’t just talk about how you are different. Instead, show customers your services can evolve according to their changing needs. Analyze competitors, tally their offerings with yours, and see where you are lacking. This will uncover what can detract your customers from their brand and let you add that competitive advantage to your service before the customer churns. 

 

Choose a sales CRM software that sends real-time customer analytics data. Figure out your USPs, and change your offerings and charges to stay competitive. Subtly mention your competitors on sales calls and show what your clients will miss out on if they decide to end their journey with you. 

 

Top tip: Learn how to appropriately compare your offerings with your competitors without talking bad about them in this sales guide.

 

Decrease Customer Churn Rates with Robust Manufacturing Sales CRM Software

 

Retaining every customer you have ever had is unrealistic. But with solid, data-driven CRM strategies, you can retain your most valuable clients and cultivate life-long customer relationships. 

 

Before we conclude, here is a TL;DR version of the most important CRM strategies to reduce customer churn: 

 

  • Assess the root cause behind the churns 
  • See which customers are about to cancel their deal with your manufacturing business
  • Follow a standardized process for every customer’s journey 
  • Offer personalized onboarding to start the partnership on the right foot
  • Start an incentive program 
  • Flaunt your USPs and maintain your competitive edge

 

If you’re looking for a manufacturing sales CRM that can streamline your customer churn management strategies, Pipeline CRM is an excellent choice.

 

As one of the best manufacturing CRMs, Pipeline CRM has everything you need to retain your customers. Get real-time customer data to monitor client health, access past sales communication records to analyze what made customers leave, and automate email campaigns to re-engage disinterested customers, among other things. 

 

Want to reduce the customer churn for your manufacturing company to close to zero? Choose your Pipeline CRM package today!

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Nutshell CRM Alternatives for Manufacturing Businesses https://pipelinecrm.com/blog/nutshell-alternatives-manufacturing/ Thu, 18 Apr 2024 08:12:06 +0000 https://pipelinecrm.com/?p=3267 Continue reading Nutshell CRM Alternatives for Manufacturing Businesses]]> Are you looking for top-rated Nutshell CRM alternative? In this article, we’ll examine a few alternatives—some of the best CRM software for manufacturing companies. Generally, we’re looking for CRMs that can be up and running quickly, meaning minimal downtime and transitional pain. 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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 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

 

 

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 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

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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.

]]>
How 3 Manufacturing Companies Use Pipeline CRM https://pipelinecrm.com/blog/manufacturing-crm-case-studies/ Wed, 03 Apr 2024 07:19:00 +0000 https://pipelinecrm.com/?p=3228 Continue reading How 3 Manufacturing Companies Use Pipeline CRM]]> Manufacturing companies endure many challenges, from insufficient supply chain management to gauging demand for better preparation. One little slip — and your reputation gets compromised. 

 

If you are facing the same problems, Pipeline’s custom CRM solutions are what you need. This tool is built by salespeople for salespeople, just like you. We know your frustrations when it comes to increasing pipeline and streamlining communication. 

 

Here are how 3 manufacturing companies used Pipeline to do just that:

 

1. TENMAT

 

TENMAT is a Manchester-based manufacturing company that develops advanced materials and components for industrial applications. Their product range includes high-performance wear parts and bearings, hard metals, passive fire protection solutions, engineering ceramics, and other high-temperature-resistant materials.

 

Pre Pipeline CRM Challenges

 

Firstly, TENMAT needed help scaling its revenue in North America with the same-sized sales team. Then, another challenge was maintaining customer relationships across the entire sales cycle, varying from a few months to up to two years. 

 

To streamline all that while maintaining a competitive edge, TENMAT was looking for a CRM for manufacturing companies to automate their operation. Marco Kristen, Marketing Director at TENMAT, said they tried to explore Salesforce as an option. However, the platform was “too overwhelming” for them. 

 

Pipeline CRM Features Used

 

In their search for a tool with a proven record in the manufacturing industry, the marketing director came across Pipeline. The company hasn’t looked back since. 

 

Our sales team management feature lets them optimize their sales operations without spending extra cash or manpower on scaling resources. Each sales rep logs in to Pipeline daily to organize tasks, deals, and contacts to stay on track. Our powerful reporting lets them pull up advanced and visual insights as per their needs.

 

In no time, the TENMAT team could:

 

  • Compare sales performance
  • Predict future deals
  • Check the progress in hitting the targeted quota
  • Identify patterns of successful deals

 

The team also uses our extensive account customization, which makes our services fit the company’s needs like a glove. Their tech team also has access to Pipeline to generate instant reports on any account they require.

 

Results 

 

Adopting our CRM software paid off for TENMAT exponentially. 

 

The company drove a 20% increase in revenue and a 30% increase in sales through its operations in North America. Besides meeting the sales goals, TENMAT improved its conversion rate by 20% with the same manpower and resources.

 

Following this success, TENMAT’s Europe branches have also started using Pipeline as their end-to-end CRM solution. Kristen also pointed out how Pipeline CRM made their limited resources more efficient, “As a manager, I see the individual performance, forecasting, and get a quick snapshot of the business including success rates. That helps us make the best business decisions about our data.”

 

2. Vermeer Southeast

 

Based in Orlando, Florida, Vermeer Southeast has made its name as a heavy equipment supplier for underground construction as well as in tree care, rental, and landscape industries. Besides covering 10+ locations in the US, this manufacturing company also offers services in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Cambodia. 

 

Pre Pipeline CRM Challenges 

 

After becoming the IT Director of Vermeer Southeast a decade ago, James Jeffcoat found their customer database management system to be chaotic. There was no central repository for him to track all the operations across teams. Every time a local machine faced a glitch, all the customer information got erased. To avoid that, the teams had to back up the data separately, which left a lot of room for error. 

 

Jeffcoat also stated how they lost years of data for an entire market several times. Plus, the CRM they used charged extra to export data beyond a few limited reports.

 

Pipeline CRM Features Used

 

To solve these problems, Jeffcoat needed agile CRM software capable of handling operations across multiple locations under the same platform. He ran an extensive survey among Vermeer managers to see what features they needed. Then, he tested ten different products and chose us due to the functionality under a very affordable Pipeline CRM pricing.  

 

Vermeer Southeast started using our centralized customer data repository to keep client information organized and accessible across the company. The teams can now handle their deals and enter data on the go using our lead management feature. They can note and prioritize each item in the pipeline, track their daily agenda, and make smarter decisions. Our comprehensive reports let managers stay on top of every sales activity and lead progress in real time without going through the earlier complications. 

 

Results

 

Before choosing Pipeline, Jeffcoat spent 25% to 50% time troubleshooting or fixing the old CRM tool. He was either trying to recover lost data or writing custom scripts to export the data without spending extra money. Now, the IT director of Vermeer Southeast spends less than 30 minutes a week accessing any data he needs! 

 

Our real-time sales insights have significantly reduced the company’s deal closing time. The sales reps can generate reports, identify and call potential customers, and line up appointments in a jiffy.

 

According to Jeffcoat, Pipeline CRM for manufacturing companies has also helped his team build stronger customer relationships- “We’re not the cheapest option in the market, so we have to give people a reason to go with us.” 

 

With all the necessary information at their fingertips, Vermeer’s sales team appeals to the customer’s needs and closes deals quickly. 

 

3. Cornerstone Flooring

 

Cornerstone Flooring is the United States’ largest single-source high-performance resinous flooring manufacturer and installer. In the 33 years of its operations, the company has earned a solid reputation in the manufacturing industry in the US and Canada. 

 

Challenges they faced

 

Cornerstone Flooring was using a Microsoft Dynamics CRM system without proper customizations. Stuck with many unnecessary features, the platform was difficult to navigate, making the operations a “jumbled mess.” 

 

Pre-Pipeline CRM Challenges 

 

They needed CRM software that could be customized to their specific needs and fit their budget. So, the company researched different CRM options, finally settling on Pipeline. Our full-service onboarding package cost them less in the first year than they would have spent in a quarter to customize their existing system. 

 

By using our sales team management feature, they know exactly where they stand and where they need to improve. In addition, automated lead management also enables the sales team to send notes on any areas of improvement, which the team can immediately follow up on. 

 

The sales team also stated how our reporting feature generates detailed insights, empowering the company’s owner to coach the sales teams more effectively.

 

Results

 

Since adopting Pipeline CRM, Cornerstone can now monitor every aspect of sales performance, reporting a 100% increase in data trackability. They also reduced the average time-to-close from 42 days to 24 days. 

 

An Overview of Pipeline CRM for Manufacturing Companies

 

The customer stories are testaments to Pipeline’s reliability as an end-to-end CRM for manufacturing companies

 

The customer stories are testaments to Pipeline’s reliability as an end-to-end CRM for manufacturing companies. But what more does it offer? And what does the pricing look like? To give you a better understanding, here is an overview of our custom CRM solutions for manufacturing companies: 

 

Pipeline CRM features

 

  • Multiple sales workflow tracking
  • Automatic recurring deals 
  • Automated task allocation and real-time status update
  • Automated email drip campaigns
  • Automated project scheduling and follow-up reminders
  • Task prioritization and next-step suggestions
  • Performance tracking for the sales team
  • AI-powered analytics and reporting 
  • Integrations with popular productivity tools, dialers, and more

 

Pipeline CRM Pricing

 

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

 

Pipeline CRM Ratings

 

 

Impress Customers and Drive Profits with Pipeline CRM

 

Be it a lack of data organization, inefficient performance monitoring, or customization issues, the above three manufacturing companies were facing challenges despite their years of experience in the field. Opting for Pipeline CRM lets them: 

 

  • Overcome roadblocks
  • Improve sales teams’ performance
  • Create strong client relationships
  • Grow sales 

 

Want the same for your business? Start your free trial and enjoy the benefits of CRM today!

]]>
How Manufacturing Companies Can Improve Service Efficiency https://pipelinecrm.com/blog/manufacturing-companies-improve-efficiency/ Thu, 18 Jan 2024 08:06:22 +0000 https://pipelinecrm.com/?p=3040 Continue reading How Manufacturing Companies Can Improve Service Efficiency]]> Around 35% of customers are willing to spend 5% more of their budget for a company that provides excellent customer service.

 

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.

]]>
Best CRMs for Manufacturing Contractors https://pipelinecrm.com/blog/best-crms-manufacturing-contractors/ Thu, 14 Dec 2023 12:45:38 +0000 https://pipelinecrm.com/?p=2938 Continue reading Best CRMs for Manufacturing Contractors]]> According to Deloitte, there are five important aspects to consider in manufacturing industry playbooks for the next few years. One of them is investing in advanced technologies, such as manufacturing CRM software.

 

Companies implementing sales CRM software are predicted to be more resilient in facing industry challenges. This is logical since a CRM for manufacturing empowers you to forecast business growth and overcome potential challenges.

 

In this blog, we’ll compare the features, pros and cons, reviews, and pricing of the best CRMs for manufacturing, helping you choose the most suitable CRM software for your business.

 

Why CRM Software Is Essential for Manufacturing Contractors

 

Manufacturing is a capital-intensive business that cannot easily pivot to meet the fast-changing customer demands. Generally, here are some roadblocks in the manufacturing industry:

 

  • High overhead costs
  • Communication breakdowns (internally and externally, e.g., suppliers and distributors)
  • Lack of clear quality standards
  • Managing bulk and multiple orders simultaneously
  • Supply chain issues, such as sourcing bottlenecks, global logistics backlogs, and costs pressure

 

Considering all these challenges, adopting an all-in-one solution like manufacturing CRM software becomes crucial to mitigate the risks, as it can help you to:

 

  • Have a consistent workforce and supply chain management
  • Conduct efficient assessments of plant-demand capacity 
  • Generate accurate sales analytics, forecasts, and reporting
  • Maintain seamless communication with clients and suppliers 
  • Automate contract preparation and repetitive data-entry tasks
  • Centralize team collaboration and data sharing
  • Automate sales enablement
  • Accurately track order progress 

 

Now that you know why manufacturing companies need CRM software, let’s find out the best manufacturing CRMs in the market. 

 

1. Pipeline CRM: Best Manufacturing CRM for Sales-focused Contractors

 

1. Pipeline CRM- Best Manufacturing CRM for Sales-focused Contractors

 

A smooth supply chain and effective production are two key characteristics of a successful manufacturing company. However, achieving them isn’t easy, as manufacturing is a multi-dimensional operation prone to delays and miscommunication.

 

Pipeline’s manufacturing CRM can help eliminate these problems. With automated workflows and excellent lead management features, Pipeline CRM improves operational efficiency.

 

For instance, the multiple sales pipeline solution allows you to manage different orders based on various factors such as products, production time, and volumes. And since Pipeline CRM employs automated next-step suggestions and automatic recurring deals in its lead management (and in other solutions), you can easily focus on one sales pipeline at a time while still monitoring all orders in the background.

 

Related: Discover 5 scenarios when to adopt multiple sales pipelines to your business.

 

Moreover, Pipeline CRM keeps all the team members on the same page. The SuperShare lets you easily share documents with internal and external partners, manage team tasks, and get instant updates on deal status changes. Pipeline is all you need to build a data-driven production plan

 

Features

 

  • Customizable deal stage names and data fields (up to 25 custom fields) 
  • Automated email drip campaigns with tracking
  • AI email writing assistance
  • Powerful reporting to track sales performance and identify bottlenecks
  • Extensive integrations with sales and marketing tools (e.g., Asana, Paycove, QuickBooks, and Zapier) 

 

Pros

 

  • A centralized dashboard for handling multiple orders efficiently
  • Streamlined lead management, ensuring orders meet quality standards and deadlines
  • Vast customization options for creating an on-brand experience
  • Advanced analytics for operational enhancements
  • Improved data quality with conditional field feature
  • Automatic task allocations for productive workflow
  • Short learning curve and quick setup (Pipeline CRM is ready in 48 hours)

 

Reviews

 

 

Pricing 

 

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

You can view the latest Pipeline CRM features here.

2. Salesforce: Best CRM for Large-scale Manufacturers

 

2. Salesforce - Best CRM for Large-scale Manufacturers

 

Next up on our list is Salesforce, one of the most popular custom CRM software in the market. The platform offers a Manufacturing Cloud solution that leverages data and analytics to generate operational insights. 

 

This manufacturing CRM allows you to add details to your CRM sales pipelines, such as pricing, volumes, and order realization data. Salesforce also provides sales forecasting that can help you better plan your manufacturing processes (e.g., scheduling, arranging transportation, and calculating deadlines.) Moreover, you get actionable AI insights and guided quoting to accelerate cost estimations. 

 

Features

 

  • Customizable sales agreements
  • Demand and opportunity forecasts 
  • Generate estimates for products and services
  • Service automation for customer support complaints and product issues

 

Pros

 

  • The Communities feature enables seamless collaboration between contractors (manufacturers) and partner vendors
  • A centralized hub allows everyone involved to collaborate and negotiate easily
  • AI insights for greater precision in operations

 

Cons

 

  • No calling feature within the CRM software
  • The frequent updates can sometimes lead to compatibility issues with other applications
  • High learning curve
  • Lack of customization

 

Reviews

 

 

Pricing 

 

  • Sales: $250 per month
  • Service: $250 per month
  • Sales and Service: $275 per month

 

3. SugarCRM: Best CRM for Small to Medium-sized Manufacturers

 

3. SugarCRM - Best CRM for Small to Medium-sized Manufacturers

 

If you struggle to connect sales to customer service, SugarCRM may be a manufacturing CRM worth considering. 

 

With SugarCRM, you can get a complete picture of each customer’s journey. So, every time a customer inquires, your customer service team can respond promptly based on the shared customer order information.

 

Additionally, this manufacturing CRM also offers a smart integration that enables you to connect voice and chat communications into the CRM system. This will free your salespeople from manually inputting the meeting minutes and help them keep track of lead progress easily.

 

Features

 

  • Records of customer journey
  • Omnichannel communication (voice and chat integrations)
  • AI-powered predictions
  • Comprehensive configuration and APIs
  • Cloud infrastructure for remote partnerships

 

Pros

 

  • Automation in data capture and maintenance
  • Built-in quotes generation
  • Extensive integration options (e.g., with G Suite and Office 365 apps)

 

Cons

 

  • Poor sales forecasting and trend projections
  • Outdated and often slow user interface

 

Reviews

 

 

Pricing 

 

  • Starting at $49 per user/month

 

4. Freshworks: Best CRM to Simplify Intricate Sales Cycles

 

4. Freshworks - Best CRM to Simplify Intricate Sales Cycles

 

Freshworks is a CRM for manufacturing contractors recently reinforced with AI. 

 

This custom CRM software offers various sales solutions, including customer service, marketing campaigns, and data analysis. Freshsales unifies all sales-related data in one place, allowing your team to quickly solve customer inquiries, create targeted email campaigns, and generate reports.

 

You can capitalize on this data to monitor order status, streamline supply chain management, and spot any other roadblocks that may delay order completions.

 

Features

 

  • Sales pipelines that can be grouped based on regions, projects, and products
  • Automated and personalized campaigns
  • Partner nurturing for distributors and dealers
  • Easy-to-build chatbots 
  • Exclusive AI system
  • Abandoned cart reminders and automated follow-ups

 

Pros

 

  • User-friendly and intuitive interface
  • Easily turning data into visuals for clarity
  • On-demand pricing model (only pay for used features)

 

Cons

 

  • Lack of accuracy in the reporting system
  • The sales management process is relatively weaker than other CRM software 

 

Reviews

 

 

Pricing 

 

  • Available on contact

 

5. Optessa: Best CRM for Scheduling Manufacturing Projects

 

5. Optessa - Best CRM for Scheduling Manufacturing Projects

 

If you need help with scheduling manufacturing projects, Optessa is the solution for you. This manufacturing sales CRM helps you streamline project and workforce scheduling processes, improve task distribution, and ensure timely delivery.

 

Optessa adapts quickly to your existing system, simplifies supply chain management, and accommodates unplanned changes. For example, you can manage the procurement process and transportation costs to optimize the supply chain network. It also enables you to match manufacturing plants with the product demand to avoid over- or underproduction scenarios. 

 

Features

 

  • Assembly line sequence with manual and automatic operations
  • Schedule molding lines to enhance production capacity
  • Workforce management with automatic scheduling feature

 

Pros

 

  • User-friendly navigation system
  • Attribute-based sequencing maximizes production with minimal cost
  • Effective scheduling ensures timely completion without overloading your team

 

Cons

 

  • Lack of sales-focused features

 

Reviews

 

 

Pricing 

 

  • Available on contact 

 

Increase Operation Efficiency with CRM for Manufacturing

 

From sales to supply chain and production, manufacturing is a complex process that demands meticulous attention and close tracking. Each step is crucial, and any disruption can trigger a chain reaction of delays, compromising product quality, and disappointing customers. To avoid these from happening, adopt a manufacturing CRM like Pipeline CRM.

 

As custom CRM software, you can tailor the system to fit your manufacturing process. You can deploy multiple sales pipelines, add custom fields to contacts, set up automation, and more. With Pipeline’s manufacturing CRM, you guarantee that every intricate manufacturing component is met, resulting in effective operations.

 

See how we helped a UK-based manufacturing company boost sales by 30% and conversion rate by 20%.

 

And when you’re ready to try Pipeline CRM, get in touch with our experts for a free demo.

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How CRM Software Is Improving Manufacturing Sales Pipelines https://pipelinecrm.com/blog/how-crm-software-for-manufacturing-improves-your-sales-pipeline/ Mon, 08 Nov 2021 21:20:53 +0000 https://pipelinecrm.com/?p=1275 Continue reading How CRM Software Is Improving Manufacturing Sales Pipelines]]>
Competition in the dynamic manufacturing space is getting stiffer and businesses need the right solutions to streamline customer relations and improve the sales pipeline. Here’s what you can do.

How CRM Software for Manufacturing Can Foster Growth

In this post, we delve into the key ways in which CRM software for manufacturing can improve sales processes and foster consistent growth.

First, let’s take a look at the bigger picture. Over the past few years, a lot has changed in the manufacturing industry. Back in the day, the scene only had a handful of key players.

 

Customers would attend conferences to get information about products and set agreements. However, the barriers to entry have dropped already and there are lots of smaller players fighting for the market share. They are challenging the status quo and getting a piece of the action as a result.

Regardless of the business size, it is now becoming more crucial than ever to find ways to connect with the customer or risk losing to the competition. Instead of touching base with clients during events, successful manufacturers now need to be in constant touch 24/7.

 

Not only does CRM software for manufacturing make that possible but it also gives empowers you to make progress in the sales pipeline and convert that into great performance. How? Let us find out.

Ways in Which CRM Software for Manufacturing Enhances the Sales Pipeline

There are many ways in which CRM software for manufacturing can improve your sales pipeline. Take a look at the topmost benefits it can yield:

Better Customer Service

As the name suggests, the key purpose for the existence of CRM software is improving customer relations. For a business to retain its customers, the fundamental rule is to keep them consistently satisfied. The rule applies regardless of the industry in which a business operates, and the manufacturing space is no exception.

 

From time to time, customers will be dissatisfied, and every successful manufacturer needs a strategy to restore their confidence. CRM software contributes significantly in this regard. It helps you know exactly who your customers are, their current situation as well as where they are headed.

 

With this information, it is possible to anticipate their needs and respond promptly to their issues. In turn, this amplifies the chances of customer retention for the long haul.

Effective Lead Management

One of the unique aspects of the manufacturing sales cycle is that it is notoriously long. It could take months to successfully convert a lead and make a new customer. The longer a sales cycle is, the higher the possibility of losing leads along the way.

 

This is where CRM software for manufacturing comes in. Such software offers clarity on the steps you need to take at any point to edge leads further on into the cycle. More importantly, it makes it possible to identify high quality leads (HQLs) and focus more attention on them.

 

Focusing efforts on a lead who has a high likelihood of conversion often pays off more than simply aiming wide and hoping for the best. CRM tools track lead interactions and responses and pinpoint those who hold promise. It could be based on the number of emails they open or the number of positive calls made.

 

Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that the sales team targets this group and turns them into customers.

Improved Market Segmentation

Marketing in the modern day starts with scanning the general public to identify potential buyers and take note of their use cases for a product. Customer segmentation essentially involves categorizing customers in small groups on the basis of shared characteristics.

 

After placing target customers into such chunks, you can better target each group with tailored marketing materials for best results. CRM software collects all customer data, analyzing it for trends and patterns. Thus, it allows you to segment leads without any guesswork.

 

At the same time, when leads convert, it lets you calculate the lifetime value of each group. Knowing which groups have the highest lifetime value is a great resource in determining how you relate with them. Similarly, it becomes possible to identify low-value groups and work on improving this.

Improving Deals Won Numbers

The most effective way to keep improving the sales pipeline is to find best fit clients. And that is yet another way in which CRM software for manufacturing can help. With such tools, you will get insight into the data you need to determine if a customer is yielding revenue or racking up overheads.

 

You will also be better able to get your timing right, which makes a world of difference in closing and losing deals. CRM tools will let you know the position of a lead in relation to the eventual sale and this will determine how to engage different leads.

 

While some are possibly just gathering information and making comparisons, others could be set to get a quote and sign a contract. The right tool will help sales reps to avoid being too eager or hesitant when developing leads.

Higher Accuracy in Sales Forecasting

In the manufacturing business, sales forecasting plays a more fundamental role than in most others. Forecasting accuracy goes hand in hand with identifying and optimizing new opportunities to enhance the supply chain. In turn, this can make a difference in savings, possibly in millions.

 

Every successful manufacturer bases the production on sales. Without accurate information on sales projections, planning production becomes like firing shots in the dark. The benefits of planning production efficiently trickle down into budgeting. And having an accurate budget to work with is central to the success of any enterprise.

A second way in which sales projections assist in improving the sales pipeline has to do with customer buying patterns. When you recognize each of your customer’s peak and downtimes, you are better able to tailor efforts accordingly.

 

During a customer’s peak order time for instance, it is easier to cross-sell and up-sell than it would be at any other time. Additionally, during low season, you can reach out more so as to try and increase their odds of ordering. Probably, all they need is a discount to boost morale and get the wheels turning.

Sales Pipeline Visualization

We cannot overstate the importance of being able to visualize the sales pipeline from end to end. Manufacturers require a highly detailed and clearly defined pipeline and CRM software for manufacturing offers.

 

Not only can you codify the sales process so as to ensure maximum productivity from each sales rep but you can also take note of and plug holes before you lose your customers to the competition.

Going Mobile

The world is going mobile and the manufacturing industry cannot dare to remain behind. Sales reps are out in the field and spend minimal time behind their desks. While out there, they need tools to allow them to reach optimal productivity and CRM software can offer plenty of that.

 

Mobile-friendly CRM tools make it possible for a rep to approach a lead armed with full information. They are thus better able to complete deals while at the same time enhancing relationships with customers.

 

With these tools, they also enjoy flexibility as they can quote on site and access all kinds of information from the database on the go.

Drive Your Sales Pipeline to New Highs with CRM Software

CRM tools have what it takes to help you retain existing customers as well as attract and convert more prospects than ever before. It brings out the best in your relationship with customers and gives your reps higher odds of success.

Notably too, the value of these tools does not end when you make a sale. Rather, they play out throughout the sales pipeline, enhancing performance and driving gains. In the long run, the simple advantages they give can turn into the competitive differentiator you need to stay ahead of your rivals.

Regardless of the scale at which you operate, getting the right CRM software for manufacturing holds the potential to create a world of difference.

 

Not sure where to start? Read our Best CRMs for Manufacturers guide to help you make the right choice.

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