Using the tagline, "sales software for non-sales people," Smibs released its small business CRM service Doorbell to the general public this week. The web-based CRM application addresses a few of the hot button issues on the minds of small business software users:
- scalability,
- security, and
- functionality for new users.
As Jason Kincaid points out in his feature on TechCrunch, Doorbell shares a development and marketing mindset with 37signals' Highrise application. Both hosted CRM systems allow users to work from anywhere by leveraging existing e-mail threads to customers and among team members. Using the "bcc:" field and a custom e-mail address allows teams to benefit from the knowledge generated from users that don't fail to log in to their companies' CRM systems. Implementation tends to be easier using platforms like these, since individual users have the ability to customize their own versions of the CRM software without restricting other users' actions.
Like other hosted CRM platforms, Doorbell offers its customers the ability to grow quickly. However, its pricing plans will appeal to small business CRM users more accustomed to paying one-time fees for desktop applications. Many businesses can qualify for pricing tiers under $50 per month, with one-or-two person shops permitted to use the service for free while their organizations grow.
Using a hosted CRM system like Doorbell also reduces some of the risk inherent in running desktop CRM applications. Since customer details are stored "on the cloud," only files on a user's hard drive are susceptible to identity theft in the event of a lost or stolen machine.
End users unaccustomed to CRM software will appreciate Doorbell's simplicity, especially compared to complex, legacy CRM applications. Tasks and events stream down the center of the user's window in a format familiar to Facebook users. Adding new events or attaching details to accounts and opportunities is as simple as sending an e-mail to the system.
As affordable, hosted CRM systems gain even more traction among small business owners, look for heightened competition to keep prices low and functionality high.
No comments:
Post a Comment