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.

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. 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

• 4.4/5 star rating on G2 (928 reviews) 
• 4.4/5 star rating on Capterra (622 reviews)
• 8.6/10 score on TrustRadius (18 reviews and ratings)
• 4.2 star rating on Gartner (40 reviews)

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!

After all, 43% of buyers think impression matters, and you get only one chance to make a memorable first sales impression. You must do it right, but how?

Two common outbound sales methods are calls and emails—and they both work wonders for sales outreach. However, each has pros and cons, and it’s your job to frame a strategy that balances these out. 

You must determine which outreach channels your leads will respond to and approach your sales prospecting tactics accordingly. But for that, familiarizing your sales team with the differences between cold emailing and cold calling is essential. 

That’s why we break down what cold calling and cold emailing are, comparing their sales outreach characteristics and benefits and how custom CRM software can help your sales team be effective in both. 

Cold Calling vs. Cold Emailing for Sales Outreach

If done right, cold calling and cold email marketing can drive results. They can establish strong industry relationships, spread brand awareness, and get quality leads into the pipeline. The difference between them is in the volume, convenience, and directness.

Now we know their major differences, let’s break it down further.

Pros of Cold Calling

Cold calls are more personal than sales email outreach. It lets you engage with a prospect directly and answer their queries in real time. Your sales reps can gauge the lead’s needs and adjust their conversation strategy accordingly. 

Reports even show that, as phone calls are more personal, it’s still the “preferred communication channel” for 41% of the population. People prefer voice for interactions with 31% of financial services, 41% of insurance services, 33% of healthcare services, and 35% of retail services. 

That’s why Pipeline CRM, a custom CRM software, recently enriched its dialer CRM integrations with business phone and communication platforms like JustCall, RingCentral, and AirCall. All you need to do is set up a cloud-based call center through one of the above tools, and you can make calls directly from your Pipeline CRM software.

Cons of Cold Calling

While cold calling offers a more direct and personalized approach to sales outreach, it can be quite intrusive. Frequent sales calls can annoy some leads. They may even get frustrated, and your lead nurturing efforts will go down the drain. 

There is also a high chance of the call going poorly, and constant rejections may stress out your sales reps. For an extensive lead repository, cold calls are more expensive and less efficient than sales email outreach. Above all, perfecting the timing of your sales calls is also tricky. Missteps here can compromise your efforts and your company’s image. 

Pros of Cold Emailing

Unlike cold calls, sales email templates are much more scalable and cost-efficient. With email drip campaigns, you can send several personalized emails across all your customer segments in the time it takes to make one cold call. 

Emails are also more customizable. They give you enough time to analyze customer needs and tailor your email copy beforehand. You can attach attention-grabbing headlines and visuals to make it more appealing and shareable for the recipients. 

Cold emails also eliminate the intrusiveness of sales calls since leads can open the emails at their convenience. They are easy to track, letting you keep constant tabs on their performance and adjust your sales outreach strategy accordingly.

Reports state that emails have been critical to the success of 87% of marketers. It also shows that sales/revenue growth has been one of the three KPIs in email marketing in 2023 at 41%.

Acknowledging the effectiveness of email outreach, Pipeline also offers CRM integrations with a popular email marketing tool, MailChimp. It lets you craft email messages with a built-in AI email assistant and set automated email campaigns to reach your leads in bulk and nurture them with regular communication. 

Cons of Cold Emailing

The biggest downside of cold emailing is that they are easy to ignore. Your leads probably get hundreds of marketing emails weekly and may ignore yours. They can delete, unsubscribe, and even block your email communications. 

How to Be Effective with Cold Calling 

Does cold calling sound like a long shot? You can drive tangible sales results with these sales prospecting tips: 

1. Know Your Prospects 

Start by learning about your prospects:

• What are their needs and pain points? 

• Which services or products of yours can solve their challenges accurately? 

The key here is to offer something your lead truly cares about, overcoming the initial obtrusiveness of a sales call.

Use your custom CRM software to view patterns of successful deals and pinpoint their traits. Combine this data with your buyer persona and identify each lead’s unique characteristics. 

2. Create a Strong First Impression

Your goal here is to let them know you understand their problem and have something valuable to offer. Your opening line can be a compliment, a question that makes them think, or even a fun fact about their interest. 

Related: Explore 10 sales qualification questions recommended by sales experts to ask during sales outreach for better results.

3. Communicate What’s in It for Them

Don’t wait too long to get to the point. Share the services you offer and their benefits. Promptly address how your product can help overcome their unique challenges and simplify their life using simple and easy-to-understand language.  

4. Notice Their Tone

The best part about cold calling is it lets you adjust your approach in real time. So, train your sales reps to pay attention to the prospect’s tone during conversations. If they sound bored, it may be time to change to an approach to match their mood.

5. Ask Questions and Don’t Be Pushy

After communicating your proposition, encourage questions from the prospect’s end. This gives you clarity on their thoughts and lets you frame the next line of conversation accordingly. 

Don’t nag if the prospect seems reluctant or says no. Instead, ask for a follow-up call. If the answer is still no, thank them for their time and move on to the next lead. This shows you respect your customer’s wishes and elevates your brand image. They may even reach out to you if the requirement arises.  

How to Be Effective with Cold Emailing

Here is how you can improve your cold email’s impact on your bottom line.

Related: Discover how to use AI in writing sales outreach emails.

1. Segment Your Prospect List

Emails have to reach the right people if you want results. For that, analyze your customer patterns and define buyer personas based on demographics, needs, and challenges. This helps categorize your leads accordingly and target every prospect with tailor-made email sequences.  

2. Keep It Brief and Personalized

No one likes reading lengthy email copies, no matter how informational they are. So, keep it short and straightforward and add visuals to make it more engaging. 

The subject line nudges the recipient to open the email, so make it click-worthy. Mention the lead’s first name or highlight some valuable information. 

Address the prospect by their first name in the email copy. Ensure the content aligns with each customer segment’s interest. 

We suggest offering tailored rewards to encourage clicks on the email’s CTA. This can be early access to your newly launched products, a welcome discount, or reward points.  

3. Automate the Frequency

You can use your customer data to decide the optimum time and frequency for email outreach. Then, set up trigger-based and personalized email sequences and follow-ups using your CRM integrations. This will ensure that the right email reaches the right person at the right time. 

4. Track KPIs and Adjust Strategy

Use your custom CRM software to monitor the performance of your email outreach. Here are some notable email outreach metrics you should track: 

• Delivery rate
• Open rate
• Click-through rate
• Email conversions 

Learn how to calculate these sales email marketing metrics in this guide.

We offer sales team management features with comprehensive performance reports you can use to benchmark your sales outreach and improve your approach accordingly. 

Combine Cold Calls and Cold Emails in Custom CRM Software

Cold calling and cold emailing have their strengths and weaknesses. However, both can help you achieve an upward sales graph if you maximize their functions.

So, here’s a rundown of our sales prospecting tips: 

• Ensure your cold calls and cold emails are personalized
• While cold calling, adjust your communication on the go according to the prospect’s tone
• Get to the point quickly 
• Segment your prospect list according to buyer personas 
• Offer tailored incentives to encourage conversions
• Set up email drip campaigns
• Track performance KPIs and tweak your strategy 

Do you want a custom CRM software with both calling and emailing integrations? Look no further than Pipeline CRM. 

You can save time with automated email outreach and track your sales calls with easy third-party integrations. 

To get the best out of your cold calling and cold email marketing, sign up for a free trial today!

You need a game plan, or in this case, a solid CRM strategy. From our sales experts’ experience, adjusting sales approaches as you go won’t give you the best ROI for your efforts. You will easily get lost or distracted, moving away from your sales targets.

This blog will show you how to create a robust and holistic CRM strategy framework that can be applied to any CRM for sales teams. Let’s get right in!

What is a CRM Strategy?

A customer relationship management (CRM) strategy is the blueprint that outlines how you’ll achieve specific organizational goals. These goals can be broken down into four groups. 

• Enable clear communication with your sales, marketing, customer support, and accounting teams.

• Improving the quality of day-to-day relationships with ideal prospects and customers willing and able to buy. 

• Generate more sales-qualified leads (SQLs) across all lead sources at a low cost per lead. 

• Increase sales revenue year-over-year. Generate sales with strong profit margins consistently. 

In other words, a CRM strategy is a data-driven approach that takes you from the start to the finish line, where you’ll achieve your sales goals.

What Are The Benefits of Having a CRM Strategy?

Besides having the drivers that push your organization forward and getting the most out of your sales CRM adoption, what other benefits do you get from having a CRM strategy?

Here are 5 more other reasons:

• Unity: your sales, marketing, and customer service teams will all be on the same page, no more departmental silos. 

• Clarity: your sales team will know what needs to be done. They’ll understand the why behind each task and what the company will achieve if they support your CRM strategy to the letter.

• A reference point: imagine executives demanding that you close 37% more deals in Q4. Using simple math and the CRM strategy as a reference, you can show them that this outcome will require improving one of the following: traffic, leads, offers, or conversion rate.

That also means you’ll be in a stronger position to request support you’ll need, such as a higher budget, more time, extra hands, and tools to get the results they want. 

• Increased productivity: you’ll be able to

• Identify profitable and unprofitable lead sources
• Quickly disqualify prospects who aren’t a fit for your offer
• Track your prospects as they move through your sales pipeline
• Create personalized and targeted offers that are highly relevant to individual prospects
• Close with confidence, knowing that your customers are willing and able to buy

• Data-driven decision-making: your CRM strategy will show you which levers you should pull to improve performance.

For example:

• Imagine that customers share a complaint with support teams that are logged in your CRM. You now have actionable data you can use to make adjustments.
• If prospects from a particular lead source convert poorly, that’s data that marketing teams can use to improve marketing content.
• If one sales rep runs into a new objection, the team can work together to defuse that objection, improving the organization’s close ratio overall.

Any problem or opportunity your team runs into can be used to generate more revenue and profit. 

• Better foresight: as you collect more CRM data, your organization’s ability to make accurate predictions about key events will also improve. And the more data your CRM collects, the more precise your CRM strategy will be. This means you’ll be able to identify the levers you need to pull to generate more sales, revenue, and profit. 

Why Do You Need a CRM Strategy Framework?

Before we go to how to plan a CRM strategy, there’s another component that you need to know: the framework. A strategy without a solid framework is just a wish. You’ll need actionable goals and a clear plan of action to achieve those goals.

So, what should be included in your CRM strategy framework?

• Specific goals: the more detailed your goals are, the easier it is for you to create the right framework. Therefore, specify your goals. They can be qualitative (e.g., improve the day-to-day relationship between sales and marketing) or quantitative (e.g., increase the close rate from 5% to 6%). 

• Action steps: you’ll want to look forward and reason backward. Start with the goal and work back to the beginning. For example, if you aim to increase the close rate from 5% to 6%, ask yourself: Do you need to disqualify more leads? Where can you get new lead sources? How to effectively nurture leads? 

• Stakeholders: who are the individuals, groups, or teams responsible for these action steps? What do they need to get the job done? What sort of dependencies, rights, and permissions will they need? 

• Metrics: how will you measure success? Your chosen metrics must be directly relevant to your goals and action steps. It’s important that you assign ownership of key metrics to stakeholders.

5 Basic Types of CRM Strategies

A successful CRM strategy begins with a question: who is your ideal customer? 

Based on the answer, identify the sales, marketing, and customer service strategies that work best to attract those target groups. 

Then, decide which of the following CRM strategy types work best to lock them in. 

• Content that drives conversions: this is search-optimized content that boosts rankings, traffic, and leads, which are turned over to sales. Primary channels like local search, organic, voice, and universal search optimization are all part of this strategy. The secondary options are joint venture campaigns, content syndication, and partnerships.

• Purposeful relationship building: with this strategy, you use your CRM software to encourage and nurture relationship building. This could be a loyalty program, events you’d like prospects to attend, or specific actions you want. 

• Personalized customer communication: if you’re in an industry that requires a significant amount of customization (e.g., roofing, landscaping, or general contracting), your CRM strategy should facilitate creating personalized messages and content. 

• Task and workflow automation: the various teams in your organization use a low-to-no-touch approach to move customers through the sales funnel. They’re either not closing the sales directly (i.e., SaaS businesses), or they’re dealing with low-touch industries like retail storefronts with very short sales cycles.

• Sales conversion framework: you’re using CRM to optimize your team’s workflow and shepherd prospects through the sales funnel. This is the plan that the sales teams would use. 

These CRM strategy types can be used interchangeably, mixed and matched, used exclusively, or implemented sequentially. It’s up to you to find the best combination for your needs. 

How Do You Create a CRM Strategy?

This eight-step framework is a straightforward process to create a successful CRM strategy: 

• Set goals 

• Define actions

• Choose stakeholders

• Set metrics

• Choose your audience

• Determine market positioning

• Set up your CRM software 

1. Set Goals 

First step: ask yourself: What are your sales goals? 

When creating goals, specificity is key. Think about Something that your team can rally behind. It should have all the usual ingredients of a good goal, measurable, timed, etc.

Here’s a list of common goals used as part of a comprehensive CRM strategy. 

Financial Goals

• Increase sales by ## %
• Increase profits per customer by ## %
• Increase purchase frequency by ## purchases per customer
• Increase customer lifetime value by ## %
• Increase upsell rate by ## %

Sales Performance Goals 

• Decrease first response time by ## %
• Decrease # of leads dropped by ## %
• Boost email open rates by ## %
• Improve quota attainment rate by ## %
• Decrease the number of 1, 2, and 3-star reviews by ## %

Marketing Goals

• Increase marketing qualified leads by ## %
• Increase conversion rates by ## %
• Decrease bounce rate by ## %
• Increase clickthrough (CTR) rates by ## %
• Increase return on ad spend (ROAS) by ## %

Customer Support Goals

• Decrease resolution time by ## %
• Improve customer satisfaction scores by ## %
• Decrease ticket reopens by ## %
• Decrease first reply time by ## %
• Increase the number of tickets solved by ## %

You’ll want to choose a manageable set of goals for your CRM strategy. Tackling all of them at once is simply too much. Choose a small, manageable amount of goals and pursue those. 

2. Define Actions

You’ve selected your goals. Now, it’s time to determine the actions you’ll need to get there. There’s a simple principle you can use to identify the steps you’ll need to take. 

Look forward, reason backward. 

Let’s take one of these goals. 

Increase purchase frequency by 50%. 

The 50% increased purchase is the endpoint. How do you get there? You reason backward. 

If the average purchase frequency is two services per month, you need to make one more monthly sale to hit the target. How do you get there? Which service complements the ones customers are already buying? What would make this offer irresistible? 

Answering these questions helps you identify the tasks that need to be done to reach the goals. 

3. Choose Stakeholders

Here are some questions you should answer:

• Who’s responsible for this goal or task?
• What are the roles and responsibilities involved in completing a specific goal?
• What sort of authority or permissions are needed to address the problem? 

Your stakeholders must have the authority, rights, and permissions to pursue a goal fully. For instance, it doesn’t make sense to hold customer support responsible for first reply time if they don’t have adequate control over support channels. 

4. Set Metrics

There are a variety of metrics embedded in a goal. For example, to increase the “conversion rate,” you must account for the following metrics:

• Impressions
• Clicks and clickthrough rates
• Bounce rate and dwell time
• Traffic sources

Make a list of the relevant metrics associated with your goals. Then, identify the tools and resources needed to track performance for each metric. This typically includes your CRM’s analytics, survey, and analysis tools. 

5. Choose Your Audience

You’ll want to identify your ideal customer. Find leads that are willing and able to buy by analyzing their behavioral and outcome markers. 

• Behavioral markers: engagement, admiration, relationships.

• Outcome markers: repeat sales, purchase frequency, monthly/annual spending, customer revenue, and average order values.

6. Determine Your Market Positioning

What’s your position in the market? Are you the market leader, a new startup, or a middle-market player? 

You’ll have to take an honest look at your current position. If the market has put you in last place, but you’ve decided to increase your prices to copy the market leader, it won’t go well. Conversely, if you’re the market leader and you decide to start discounting your products and services, you’ll do a considerable amount of damage to your business. 

7. Set up Your CRM Software

With your CRM strategy in place, you have a clear idea of the work that needs to be done, namely: 

• The goals you’re pursuing (and why): you’ll have specificity and clarity about your focus areas. There won’t be confusion about what needs to be done. 
• Actions you’ll need to take to achieve these goals: there’s no confusion about the steps that need to be followed to achieve results. You’ve reasoned backward, and you’ve produced an actionable plan you can use to produce the outcomes you want. 
• Key stakeholders: if you’re responsible for a specific goal, the success or failure depends on you. 
• Important metrics you’ll use to track performance: there’s no hiding behind vanity metrics if performance is tied to a specific outcome or result. 
• The customers you’re targeting: this is important because it eliminates arguments over lead quality. 

At this point, you’ve done the work. 

If you’ve selected the right CRM, you should be able to add your goals, to-dos (actions), and users (stakeholders) to your CRM software. Your CRM software should track many of these goals and metrics natively. Still, you can use other types of CRM tools and performance management apps (e.g., Google Analytics, Google Search Console, HelpScout, etc.) to measure performance metrics across specific domains. 

Amplify Your Sales CRM Performance with a Solid CRM Strategy

Your CRM strategy is a data-driven A to Z approach that explains your why and outlines the drivers that will move your organization forward. The right strategy enables clear team communication, improves the quality of day-to-day relationships, generates more sales-qualified leads, and increases sales revenue. With the right approach and a clear focus, you’ll find CRM success is all but guaranteed. 

If you’re searching for sales-focused CRM software that can be tailored to support your CRM strategies, check out Pipeline CRM.

More than 18,000 businesses from various industries have used Pipeline CRM and experienced an improvement in their lead management, team workflow, and sales performance. See what our happy customers say about Pipeline CRM in these success stories.

And when you’re ready to try Pipeline CRM, simply sign up for a 14-day FREE trial.

To help you stay ahead in 2025, we’ve compiled 16 key CRM statistics and facts backed by reliable sources that highlight the latest trends shaping the industry.

General CRM Statistics and Facts

1) CRM Adoption Continues to Grow at a 14.6% CAGR

Gartner reported that CRM became the largest software market in the world in 2018. As one of the fastest-growing software categories, CRM saw a 16% growth rate that year and continues its upward trajectory. From 2025 to 2030, the CRM software market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.6%, reaching an estimated $163.16 billion by 2030.

This substantial growth is not without reason. More and more start-ups emerge every year, filling the market with new players and bolder products/services; sales teams need a reliable sales hub that can sync all sales touch points wherever they are. 

2) 44% of Buyers Reject Sales Pitches from Unprepared Reps

Sales teams aren’t the only ones navigating an increasingly competitive market—buyers are feeling the pressure, too. They are more discerning than ever, with 60% saying they reject a pitch at least four times before considering a “yes.”

Being unprepared is a deal-breaker. A staggering 82% of B2B decision-makers believe sales representatives lack proper preparation in meetings, and 44% of buyers say they will immediately dismiss a sales call if the salesperson hasn’t researched their company and needs. With information overload, personalized, well-informed outreach is essential to winning deals.

3) 86% of B2B Marketers Say Personalized Content Is Key to Success

First impressions matter—a lot. People form judgments within seconds of meeting someone, and those impressions tend to stick.

But it’s not just about looking the part. Personalization is what really gets buyers to engage. A massive 86% of B2B marketers agree that personalized content is key to success.

43% of the respondents say they will likely select a sales professional’s company as a vendor if they have a favorable impression when meeting with the sales reps. Another study claims that 59% of customers consider tailored engagement as the key to gaining their attention. 

This means salespeople need to do their homework before a meeting, such as finding the prospect’s pain points, knowing which features of their products/services are effective in solving their problems, and anticipating any issues that may arise during the negotiations.

This shift in the buyer’s behavior pushes businesses to implement a sales tool like CRM into their daily work—helping them put buyer satisfaction above anything else. 

AI CRM Statistics

4) 28% Increase in CAGR for AI CRM

The global AI in CRM market is expected to expand to USD 48.4 billion by 2033 with a CAGR of 28% from 2024 to 2033, probably because of:

• Rising demand for personalization
• Need for faster decision-making
• Automation of repetitive tasks

Even the term “AI CRM” has shown steady growth on Google Trends in the past year.

… and it shows no signs of stopping.

5) G2 Listed 794 CRM Software

In fact, G2 currently has 794 listings of CRM available. 

Source

6) Lead Generation and Customer Retention are the Most Used CRM Functions

The top use case? Lead generation and customer retention.

Source

To stay competitive, you need more than just data; you need intelligence. 

An AI-powered CRM can come to the rescue since it analyzes, predicts, and prioritizes. The result? Faster response times, smarter routing decisions, and more meaningful customer relationships. 

CRM Adoption Statistics

7) 70% of Sales Reps Believe CRM Helps Close More Deals

Navigating the shift from in-person to online meetings has introduced new challenges for sales teams. Building trust and demonstrating a deep understanding of buyers’ needs within these constraints is crucial. It’s no surprise that 54% of sales professionals rely on tools like CRM systems to foster stronger relationships with buyers, leading to more closed deals.

8) More than 45% of CRM Usage is for Contact Management and Automation

Every sales professional knows the long and winding road it takes for a prospect to sign a deal. It demands a lot of research, approach attempts, negotiations, and follow-ups. This is where adopting a CRM becomes very helpful. With its many extensive functions (see the top CRM functions on the chart below), a CRM will help you accelerate and make the deal-closing journey less stressful. 

Based on a CRM buyer survey, the top three problems that most companies want to solve from a CRM adoption are contact management (50%), sales management (33%), and lead generation (33%).

Additionally, they are also interested in having CRM software that can automate specific sales tasks and processes (45%), have numerous integrations (36%), and can well support their on-field workers (20%).

9) 57% of CRM Automation is Dedicated to Lead Nurturing

Another study also suggests the importance of CRM automation in helping organizations in different areas of sales. They vary from lead nurturing (57%) to customer engagement (36%) to campaign reporting (28%). This is particularly important, considering more than eight of ten sellers claimed that they lost deals due to a key stakeholder leaving a prospect company.

10) 97% Increase in AI and Big Data Adoption in CRM by 2030

AI and big data are becoming essential in the SaaS and CRM industries, and the trend isn’t slowing down anytime soon. According to Statista, AI and big data adoption in these sectors is projected to skyrocket by 97% between 2025 and 2030. 

As businesses prioritize data-driven decision-making and automation, CRM platforms are evolving to offer smarter insights, predictive analytics, and enhanced customer interactions. This shift means that companies leveraging AI-powered CRMs will gain a major competitive edge in the years to come.

11) 32% of businesses that use CRM are from the service industry

Looking at the many hats a CRM solution wears, it’s clear that CRM is suitable for any kind and any size of business. As long as your business engages with customers, a CRM will give you the upper hand in improving your sales performance.

That said, the services industry (32%), such as real estate, agencies, and construction companies, contribute to the biggest users of CRM by industry, followed by manufacturing and IT businesses (both with 13% share).

CRM Users Statistics

12) 32% of Businesses Using CRM are from the Service Industry

CRM systems are versatile tools that can benefit businesses of all types and sizes. Any company that interacts with customers can leverage CRM software to enhance sales performance and streamline operations.

That said, the services industry (32%), such as real estate, agencies, and construction companies, contribute to the biggest users of CRM by industry, followed by manufacturing and IT businesses (both with 13% share).

13) 65% of SMB Businesses Adopt a CRM Within Their First Five Years

Recent data indicates that 65% of companies implement a CRM system within five years of starting their business. ​ 

According to Capterra, more than half of the companies that adopt a CRM started their business at least five years ago.

Furthermore, company size doesn’t dictate when a business adopts a CRM. The chart below shows that the employee count is fairly evenly distributed from companies with 2-9 employees to those with 100-499 employees.

These numbers are particularly interesting since many people believe that large companies benefit most from CRM adoption. In reality, a two-person company also receives a tremendous boost in its business growth. By using a CRM, they can handle hundreds of leads without feeling overwhelmed because everything is neatly organized and trackable on the CRM system. CRM acts as an extra help that many small to medium businesses (SMBs) need.

14) More than 45% of Marketing and Customer Service Teams Also Use CRM

CRM may be specifically designed to support sales activities and teams. However, its users aren’t only limited to sales but also to other departments, namely marketing (46%) and customer service (45%). 

That said, with more advancements in collaborative workflow, CRM users are no longer exclusive to front-office employees but also back-office teams. For example, the finance/accounting department can have one-stop access to the revenue reports. The legal team can directly help with contract drafting, and the human resources (HR) team can generate objective performance reports.

CRM Benefit Statistics

15) 300% Increase in Lead Conversion Rate

36% of sales professionals feel that closing deals are the most difficult part of the sales process, but with CRM, you can overcome this obstacle and even achieve a 300% increase in conversion rate. How can this happen?

Primarily, CRM improves three main areas of your business: sales activity, team productivity, and company benefit.

• Sales activity: CRM allows salespeople to carefully classify and provide different sales treatments based on the value of the leads to the company, making every sales effort an effective one.
• Team productivity: as the team’s hub, CRM always puts every team member on the same page at every deal stage. Instead of working in silos, the team can share, add, and edit information in real-time. This will reduce internal communication and, in turn, accelerate sales.
• Company benefit: with more on-target sales and marketing tactics, the company will spend less time acquiring new customers. And with more tasks and workflows set on automation, businesses will need fewer employees to hire. A big saving in time and money.
• Data integrity: CRM that is equipped with conditional formatting features empowers you to maintain clean and accurate data. In fact, 45% of salespeople feel their biggest data challenge is incomplete data. As a result, your outreach campaigns can be more on-target, reducing the total costs and bounce rate.

Related: Learn more about how clean data can increase sales performance in this guide.

16) 47% Growth in Customer Retention and Satisfaction

CRM is useful for converting leads and critical for retaining existing customers. One survey found that companies that implemented CRM experienced a 47% growth in customer retention and satisfaction. 

Once a lead becomes a customer, all their purchase activity and buying behavior are recorded in the CRM. Salespeople can then use this data to be proactive in keeping customers loyal to the brand.

For instance, by analyzing the buying cycles, you can predict their next order and offer freebies or special discounts to turn them into repeat customers. You can also see the items customers often buy together and use this insight for cross-selling opportunities and new marketing ideas.

17) Better Data Access Boost Sales Cycles Efficiency by 8-14%

Although using spreadsheets and sticky notes come with many drawbacks, many sales reps are still stuck in this traditional method of data management, refusing to embrace a CRM. This approach may still work in managing small entries of customer data, but when you have hundreds of contacts, leads, and communication touchpoints that need to be updated daily, CRM is the tool you need. 

CRM simplifies data management, and the reasons are no-brainers. With CRM, information is no longer stored in separate spreadsheets scattered across team members. The data collections now have uniform metrics that can be customized and attached with links, documents, and other related data types directly to the entry. Some CRMs even support automatic contact import from emails and social media accounts for a smoother workflow.  

All these advanced contact and sales management features allow you to have an organized data management system that helps to minimize lost opportunities and shorten the sales cycles by 8-14%.

18)  65% of Sales Teams Achieve Quotas with Mobile CRM

Companies that implement mobile CRM solutions see a notable boost in performance. 

Specifically, 65% of sales teams using mobile CRM meet their sales quotas, compared to only 22% of those without such access. This underscores the importance of real-time data access in achieving sales targets.​

19) CRM Adoption Increases Sales Revenue by 21-30%

Beyond meeting quotas, CRM systems contribute to overall revenue growth. Most businesses experience a sales revenue increase of 21-30% after implementing a CRM platform. This boost is attributed to improved customer relationship management and streamlined sales processes.

20) $30.48 of Investment Payback for Every Dollar Spent

In terms of return on investment (ROI), when we forecast the 1.5 times CRM ROI rate, CRM will pay back $45.72 (or more) for every dollar spent by businesses (2024). And the more fantastic news is that this profitable investment can be recouped in just six months or less. 

CRM Statistics Prove It’s Your Secret Growth Weapon

The numbers don’t lie—whether it’s boosting productivity, increasing revenue, or delivering jaw-dropping ROI, CRM is doing the heavy lifting for businesses everywhere. It’s not just about organizing data; it’s about empowering your salespeople to work smarter, collaborate better, and keep your customers coming back for more.

Ready to see these CRM statistics come to life for your business? Try Pipeline CRM. 

From customizing your workflow to automating repetitive tasks, we’ve got the tools to help you turn one-time buyers into loyal customers. Experience Pipeline CRM today and watch your numbers soar.

More interesting CRM statistics and facts: 9 CRM Statistics That Matter For Sales Teams