Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is a online application which works on the principle of SaaS or Software as a Service . The major advantage of using Zoho CRM is the cost saving. One need not invest in a complete CRM suite in one go and can use the application to the extent desired with the option to expand and use the full service at a later date. Having said that, Zoho CRM is not a cost saver alone. It is a nifty piece of application which is suitable for first time CRM users who would like to experiment and explore the features offered by a CRM suite as well as for organizations who would like to deploy complete array of CRM features. Zoho CRM is built for ease of use and can be tailored to suit all requirements . The application can be mastered within a couple of days and does not require specialized training or previous software experience. The quick deployment of the CRM application is one of the major advantages of Zoho CRM . Zoho CRM has modules which can be used by the sales force, inventory management, customer support and service , reporting and dash boarding. It integrates sales with campaigns and helps monitor leads with the help of calendar and reminders. This feature comes in quite handy for salesmen to take decisions on the fly. The inventory management system is comprehensive and guides sales force in fulfilling client orders. The reporting module is comprehensive and assists in analyzing trends and monitor key CRM metrics. Overall Zoho CRM is an impressive application . If it were possible to fall for a piece of software, users are likely to fall in love with Zoho CRM. Zoho CRM seems to have grown rather organically and its history is short and patchy . Suffice to say that the appliaction has caught on like a house on fire( the simile seems a bit contrite but creates the right image in one’s mind) . Zoho CRM is used by thousands of small, medium and smart businesses. Zoho CRM belongs to a stable from which many other equally sensible applications have emerged. This means that one can take advantage of a host of other related applications like an online office suite which enhances user experience. The online market is filled with free and paid applications which address the CRM space. What marks this application as a clear winner is the ability to scale up from a free service to a full scale CRM application. The pricing format is extremely attractive and the user experience is fantastic as well as fulfilling. Feature by feature Zoho CRM steals a march over any other comparable online CRM suite. The user interface is simple and intuitive. Navigation between pages is fast and links are clear and visible. All in all a well designed web site with nothing left to the imagination. One can easily learn the ropes in a couple of hours and a demo is available for those who still cannot understand the navigation. Once again this application soars over others because of its understanding of user psychology. There is no need to disclose credit card details and yet one can use the three week trial for the enterprise as well as professional edition. Free edition anyway does not need any credit card information. The process of registration is simple and requires filling a handful of fields . Email confirmation and complications arising from such a system is totally avoided. What more can a user ask for? There are three levels of usage . The free edition is complete in all respects except for the scope of application . It is limited to three users. The next level is the professional edition which is $12/user/month with additional cost of $3/user/month for an optional Outlook Plug-in . The highest level is the Enterprise edition which comes for $25/user/month with $3/user/month for an optional Outlook Plug-in. Zoho CRM is suitable for entry level CRM users as well as heavy duty enterprise wide usage. It is ideal for small and medium businesses who would like to keep their expenses down while experiencing a high class, top of the shelf CRM application.