Top CRM Tools and How to Pick the Best CRM for Your Team

Safalta Expert Published by: Samyak Jain Updated Tue, 10 Sep 2024 08:11 PM IST

Highlights

If you are running a small company or a large one the choice of the correct type of CRM tool could easily alter the dynamics of your organization as well as how your clients feel. In this article we will show you the pros and cons of these CRM companies, and how to choose what you really need.

Do you now have difficulties in organizing your customer deals and activities as well as your sales funnel? Organizing and keeping up relationships with clients is one of the most important parts of success in any business today. This is where Customer Relationship Management systems come handy by transforming the interaction of businesses with their potential and already existing customers. 

There are several CRM sector companies such as Salesforce and HubSpot and they have amazing features’ performance and design. If you are running a small company or a large one the choice of the correct type of CRM tool could easily alter the dynamics of your organization as well as how your clients feel. In this article, we will show you the pros and cons of these CRM companies, and how to choose what you need. So, fasten your seatbelts, and let's open the opportunities for using the CRM systems to a whole new level to improve customer relations.  

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CRM Systems Tools 

Defining CRM and giving the significance of CRM 

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools are a category of software solutions to assist companies in managing, tracking and assessing customer engagements within the customer lifecycle. These systems store all customer data, reduce the gaps in processes, and help enhance customer satisfaction towards business performance. 

Benefits for businesses' operations irrespective of their sizes 

There are several benefits of organizing the business Organizations from the small scale to large-scale that are: 

  1. Better customer service 
  2. Advanced customer loyalty 
  3. Higher productivity in sales 
  4. Easier and better data ownership 
  5. More effective internal processes 
  6. Quick task delegation 

What are the modern CRM solutions Features  

Every modern CRM solution is equipped with various options that help businesses handle customer relationship management as follows: 

  1. Managing contacts to optimize sales 
  2. Managing deals 
  3. Business process automation 
  4. Business analytics and reporting 
  5. Confederation 
  6. Any online rage 

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Overview of Salesforce 

Now that I have explained to you the role and the importance of what a CRM tool is, we shall shift to one of the most used tools, Salesforce. This robust platform has several Features that help businesses handle their operations and manage interactions with customers effectively. 

What is Salesforce all about 

Salesforce is a cloud-based software that provides CRM solutions regardless of the size of the company. It is a single repository of customer information, sales activities, and marketing actions. Because of its ease of use and multifaceted capabilities, this platform ranks among the best in the market where companies are looking to woo their customers. 

Core Functionalities and Modules 

Salesforce caters to various business aspects by bringing to the users different modules and functionalities. 

  1. Sales Cloud: processes practices for handling a platform of sales leads, opportunities, and customer accounts management. 
  2. Service Cloud: manages the delivery of customer service and management of related functions. 
  3. Marketing Cloud: implements marketing campaigns to the desired audience 
  4. Commerce Cloud: builds and maintains e-commerce services 
  5. Analytics Cloud: for reporting and data presentation purposes to users. 

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Pricing Structure 

Salesforce has developed different plans and prices in India that typically aligns with global rates 

1.  Sales Cloud   

                                                                Sales Cloud                                                                      

Essentials 

₹1,875 month 

Professional 

₹5,625 month 

Enterprise 

₹11,250 month 

Unlimited 

₹22,500 month 

 

2. Service Cloud 

                                                                 Service Cloud                                                                         

Essentials 

₹1,875 month 

Professional 

₹5,625 month 

Enterprise 

₹11,250 month 

Unlimited 

₹22,500 month 

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3. Marketing Cloud (Pardot) 

                                                                 Marketing Cloud (Pardot)                                                                                    

Growth 

₹93,750 month 

Plus 

₹1,87,500 month 

Advanced 

₹3,00,000 month 

 

4. Platform 

                                                                 Platform                                                                                                                   

Starter

₹1,875 month 

 

Plus

₹7,500 month 

 

 

Charges are billed annually and include an 18% GST. 

Exploring HubSpot 

 
Previously we covered Salesforce and now we are going to discuss another popular CRM tool which is HubSpot. This capable application provides many services for various types of companies. 
 

Free vs. Paid Versions 

HubSpot stands out by offering both free and paid versions of its CRM: 

Free Version 

Basic contact management 

Paid Versions 

Marketing Hub 

Email marketing tools 

Sales Hub 

Live chat functionality 

Service Hub 

CMS Hub 

 

Feature 

 

Free 

 

Starter 

 

Professional 

Enterprise 

 

Contacts 

 

Unlimited 

 

Unlimited 

 

Unlimited 

 

Unlimited 

 

Users 

 

Unlimited 

 

  2 

  5 

 10 

Custom Reports 

 

 3 

 10 

 100 

 500 

Revenue Attribution 

 

 No 

 No 

 Yes 

 Yes 

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User Friendly and Interface 

HubSpot is renowned for its user-friendly interface 

Intuitive dashboard 

Drag-and-drop functionality 

Easy to use for mobile application access 

A large amount of materials and tutorials 

 

Key Features and Tools 

HubSpot offers a comprehensive suite of tools 

Contact and company insights 

Email tracking and notifications 

Meeting scheduling 

Pipeline management 

Reporting and analytics 

Marketing automation 

Social media management 

 

Comparing Salesforce and HubSpot 

 
That’s why we decided to compare Salesforce and HubSpot – two of the most popular CRM tools on the market today, so you can make an informed decision for your business. 
 

A. Growth curve and enactment 

 
Both Salesforce and HubSpot have different learning curves and implementation processes: 
 

Salesforce: 

Steeper learning curve 

HubSpot

More user-friendly interface 

 

Requires more technical expertise 

 

The other benefits are that PPM solutions are easier to set up and use than other project and portfolio management solutions. 

 

Longer implementation time 

 

Quicker implementation 

 

B. Cost, fee, and affordability 

Aspect 

Salesforce 

HubSpot 

Pricing model 

Complex, tiered pricing 

Simpler, bundle-based pricing 

Entry-level cost 

Higher 

Lower 

Enterprise-level cost 

It can be more expensive 

Generally, more affordable 

Free plan 

Limited free trial 

Robust free plan is available 

 

C. Feature set comparison 

Salesforce: 

Extensive customization options 

HubSpot: 

 

Spare – all-in-one software for efficient marketing, selling, and providing services 
 

Advanced analytics and reporting 

Content management system (CMS) integrated 

Robust third-party integrations 

Emphasis on inbound marketing as the major strategy of attracting customers 
 

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D. Consumers / ‘the audience’ and growth or expansion 
 

Salesforce is typically better suited for: 

Large enterprises 

HubSpot is often preferred by: 

 

Small to medium-sized businesses 

The last situation depicted a scenario whereby several companies engaged in a numerous and integrate Selling process. 

Some of the firms that are involved in the inbound marketing business 

Businesses requiring extensive customization 

Teams that might need all these features or a single easy-to-look that can offer all these functionalities. 

 

 
Both present the scalability feature; however, Salesforce offers some more opportunities for increasing possibilities of circulation for the clients and extra opportunities for organizational-technological improvement. 

 
Now, allow us to present you the factors when it comes to selecting the right CRM tool that institutions should take into consideration. 
 

Choosing the Right CRM Tool 

The need to agree on the proper CRM tool that will suit your enterprise is important in the progress of the enterprise. It is important to examine the main aspects that must be taken into consideration when making such a decision. 

 

A. Preparing for expansion 

 
While considering which CRM tool to opt for, one should always look at the company’s development since it’s crucial to select a tool for the future, not just for now. Consider the following: 
 
1. Scalability 
2. Customization options 
3. Integration capabilities 
 

B. Considering budget constraints 

 
Another key decision criteria is the budget that has a direct impact on the choice of the right CRM tool. Evaluate the following aspects: 
 
1. Upfront costs 
2. Ongoing subscription fees 
3. Extra costs for learning and roll out 

C. Assessing number of personnel in the team and their competency. 

 
Your team's size and technical proficiency should influence your CRM choice: 
 

Team Size 

Recommended CRM Complexity 

Small 

User-friendly, simple 

Medium 

Moderate complexity 

Large 

Advanced features 

 
 

D. Determination of the requirements of your business 

 
Identify your specific business requirements to ensure the CRM aligns with your goals: 
 
1. Sales pipeline management 
2. Customer support features 
3. Marketing automation capabilities 
4. Reporting and analytics tools 
 

 

Modern tools such as Salesforce and HubSpot in the field of CRM have changed significantly the handling of relations with customers and sales cycles. These superb tools comprise of contact management and lead capture to marketing automation and analytics. Salesforce has been traditionally distinguished for its implementation of customization and the title of enterprise platform, whereas HubSpot is appreciated for its ease of use and strong focus on neat-integrated marketing solutions. 
 
The kind of CRM tool that suits your business ends, budget, and aspirations is what should guide you as you make the selection. Regardless of whether you go with Salesforce, HubSpot, or any other of the numerous CRM solutions available, CRM can enhance the work of your team, the satisfaction of your customers, and the revenue increase. Do not rush into deciding without reading this guide and taking some time to make the right choices and invest in a CRM tool that will help your business prosper in the future. 

1. How can you define Customer Relationship Management tool in simple words?

CRM tools are software that are used by the different companies for managing, tracking and assessing customer engagements within the customer lifecycle. These systems store all customer data, reduce the gaps in processes, and help enhance customer satisfaction towards business performance.  
 
 

2. What are the differences between HubSpot and SalesForce ?

Currently, the Salesforce is highly customizable and can be scaled depending on the need of the business organization, hence it is ideal for large business organizations. While other software is somewhat complex, HubSpot is easier to use, centered mainly on inbound marketing technologies and has a free version, which is perfect for SME companies.

3.Which CRM is better for small businesses?

HubSpot is the better solution for small businesses because HubSpot is very easy to use, and it also have free versions to use. However, if a business plans to scale rapidly and needs more customization, Salesforce might be a better long-term solution.

4. Is HubSpot free?

Indeed , HubSpot has a free CRM plan with core functionalities; however, organizations can add paid plans to unlock further features for marketing, selling, and servicing customers.

5. Which CRM tool is better for marketing automation, HubSpot or Salesforce?

Marketing automation is an area where HubSpot has a great deal of focus and their products and services include features such as email marketing, lead nurturing and social media marketing. SFMC has a very good marketing automation but it’s also in Salesforce and mostly it’s embedded in an add-on or a linked integrated tool in some other Salesforce tool such as Salesforce Marketing Cloud.

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