Plus The Top Four Latest Management Issues Reported To Us

One Single Repository For Data

Knowing all your information can be stored in one place and can be password protected is extremely beneficial, especially with the bad press associated with lost information in numerous high profile cases.

Protecting your valuable data from others, including your own company leavers is a very current issue. This can be avoided by having a password protected data source, that can be backed up automatically on a regular basis will be able to prevent this type of event from happening.

In our day to day implementation of CRM systems we regularly deal with organisations who are looking to improve business processes through the introduction of systems.

These systems are designed to reduce administration and enable individuals to prioritise tasks that focus on making business critical decisions at the correct times.

Top Four Management Issues Raised Over The Last 12 Months:

• Time Management - Not enough time to achieve everything that has to be completed.
• Forecasting/Reporting - The pulling of information in from different applications, is usually through different members of staff, not straight forward.
• Account history - Preparation for meetings with key clients ie. Who has done what ? Open issues ? opportunities ?
• Single repository for account data - Security of knowing that data is held in one place and is backed up.

"Without my CRM system I wouldn't get half the things done that I need to do!" Colin Smith from J.S.M.Kitting LLP.

Time Management

By centralising your company diary to include tasks and meetings, team members can schedule in meetings, enter diary reminders, prompt users to carry out tasks and avoid the frustration of being double booked.

The way to encourage greater contact management is to store information against the relevant person in the database as soon as the task has been completed. In this way any employee can see a trail of information that will assist in giving a full picture.

Forecasting and Reporting

Keeping all your information in various data stores, Excel, Word, Access and Outlook, can lead to the flow of information being very disjointed. This can mean managers being unable to report on information with ease as it requires other staff members to submit information - doubling the amount of administrative work involved, plus involving IT staff to draw up reports.

A centralised data source will reduce everyone's administration time significantly. This can produce reports in various styles and formats to present the results for others.

Sales opportunities ? Forecasting for company board meetings ? When you keep all your sales information in a CRM solution, each relevant staff member can carry out the reports and forecasts at the touch of a button. Then each report can be produced in the required format to present at meetings. Saving time and effort as these reports/charts can be created on the fly or amended on the go.

Good Preparations Means Better Account Management

When you are dealing with high priority clients and accounts, it's critical that you are able to view all the account information and are prepared for any account management call or project management meeting. When you contain information within a CRM system, this information can be viewed on the go through a PDA or printed with one click. Or if you use a centralised CRM system, you can view the whole picture of a company immediately - crucial for total preparation for key meetings.

If any of these points feel familiar to you now or highlight other issues that you are currently facing, please contact, Mark Green, Centurion Management Systems to discuss your contact management concerns.

Mark Green

01306 621062

Mark.Green@Centurion-ms.co.uk