What can't you live without?
It is not only amazing how fast technology evolves, but also how quickly new technology influences so many lives.
For example, many have commented on the momentary panic they feel when they lose or forget their mobile phone. Something that less than 5% of the British population owned 15 years ago is now something that most simply cannot function without.
A number of people are even now unable to get through 24 hours without checking-up on what their friends, family and mild acquaintances are up-to via logging-on to Social Media websites.
It was recently revealed that over half of the UK owns a Facebook account. Most of us didn’t use Facebook until 2007 at the earliest – it wasn’t even invented until 2004 – and yet now it is so integral to so many lives. Marriages have ended because of Facebook.
All this serves as an example at how swiftly something can progress from being totally unknown, to a nice-to-have, to a must-have and, ultimately, to something you feel you just can’t do without.
As a provider of various CRM packages, I have seen this same pattern occur on countless occasions.
CRM is something that many smaller businesses are either initially unaware of or feel that they don’t need. But, following installation, there are countless cases where business – of all sizes – wonder how they ever coped without it.
For an example of this, you only need to read the recent piece by Lindsey Hall from Sentinel Business Solutions.
Microsoft CRM will never rival a mobile phone or even Facebook in the life-changing stakes, but, from a business perspective, it is a tool that, once you have it, you never want to have to go without it.
As part of a recent research task, I scoured the internet to see which business sectors were embracing CRM. The answer was pretty simple: Almost all of them.
Whether it be Safari Parks, Furniture Depots or Charities, businesses up and down the country had all implemented CRM systems that they were using regularly and were delighted with.
It goes to illustrate the importance that CRM now has for all kinds of modern-day businesses. Whether it be for its manageable databases, its marketing management tools – how many times have you been left unsure as to whether a marketing campaign really worked? – or its ability to help you nurture leads, CRM just makes life so much easier.
Like all good inventions, you'll wonder how you ever coped without it.
At Contact Edge CRM, we specialise in Microsoft CRM, which helps businesses find creative ways to engage with customers. And by accurately tracking how the first engagement was initiated, it is easy to determine which elements of your marketing strategy are working.
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