Tag Archive for: Zoho CRM

Beyond the Numbers: Advanced Data Insights with Zoho

You’ve got data – loads of it. It’s tucked away in spreadsheets, emails, and software you use every day. That’s a lot like having seeds; they could grow into something great, but only if you plant and tend to them right.

Now, think about the last time you tried to make sense of all that information. Frustrating, wasn’t it?


And it turns out, this flood of information can be overwhelming not just for you but for most people. Especially when each bit of data seemed to be speaking a different language. A study by Forrester and Airtable actually puts a number on it: 68% of people struggle because they can’t see how pieces of their work fit with others.

What if you could easily have all of it cleaned up and lined up, ready to tell you exactly what you need to know to make smart moves in your business?

That’s where Zoho One steps in. Picture it as your go-to tool for tidying up the clutter. It takes those jumbled pieces of data from different places and turns them into a neat picture that can actually help you with your next big decision.

No fuss, no tech headaches. Zoho One with its Zoho Analytics is all about giving you a straightforward way to get your data in shape. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into making your data work for you – it’s easier than you might think.

The Challenges of Data Silos

In the hustle of running your business, data silos do more than just slow you down; they’re walls blocking your path to success. Think about this typical situation:

  • Your marketing team has its own software for tracking campaigns.
  • You have a separate system for managing your inventory.
  • Your customer service team uses a different platform for support tickets.

Let’s look at the ripple effect in this setup:

Your marketing doesn’t see the customer’s ongoing support issues, leading to promotional emails that could add salt to the wound. You, eager to close the next sale, are unaware of these service snags and can’t adjust your approach, potentially missing cues for an upsell or timely service recovery.

Meanwhile, your customer service, working in isolation, can’t tap into the customer’s full history — like their responses to marketing efforts or notes from sales interactions — missing chances to provide a cohesive experience.

Here’s the direct of impact all these data silos on you:

  • Your customers are dealing with a choppy and frustrating journey.
  • You’re missing out on chances for personalized service and sales.
  • You and your teams are putting in effort that isn’t hitting the mark.

Realizing the true cost of data silos is the first step — they lead to a fractured customer experience and a business running in circles. By integrating your data with software like Commercient SYNC and Zoho One, you can:

  • Synchronize your efforts, cutting out wasted time.
  • Weave together a seamless customer experience.
  • Draw on collective insights for smarter, more strategic decisions.

Your aim is straightforward: To make sure a smooth flow of information for a healthier business operation. Transitioning from isolated data islands to a connected information ecosystem isn’t just smart data handling; it’s about transforming your business into a responsive, customer-centric powerhouse.

The Power of Zoho Analytics in Zoho One for Advanced Data Transformation

In the world of data, Zoho One stands out for its ability to simplify complex processes. It’s like having a personal assistant for your data, one that helps you make sense of numbers and charts. But before you even get to the analysis part, there’s a critical step: getting your data in shape. That’s where data integration platforms from companies like Commercient, step in.

Imagine you’re pulling together all sorts of information – sales figures, customer feedback, and email campaigns. Data integration tools act like the hub in a wheel, bringing everything together. They’re the behind-the-scenes workers that take care of the tedious tasks. Here’s how they help:

  • Data Collection and Connection: First up, data integration platforms, like Commercient SYNC for example, pull in the data you need. They act as bridges connecting islands of data from sales, customer service, marketing, and more.
  • Cleaning Up: Next, they sift through the data. This is where duplicates are spotted and corrected, errors are fixed, and your data starts to look clean. Think of them as your data’s quality control.
  • Synchronization: It doesn’t stop there. As your business evolves, so does your data. These tools ensure that every change is recorded and updated in real-time, so your insights are always based on the latest information.

With your data now clean and organized, Zoho Analytics comes into the picture. It doesn’t have to deal with messy, scattered information. Instead, it’s able to:

  • Analyze: take a close look into your data and work on identifying trends, patterns and crunching numbers.

  • Visualize: Through reports and dashboards, Zoho Analytics presents the data in a form that’s easy to understand and act upon. All in all, helping you in data-driven decision making.

At every step, data integration tools like Commercient SYNC are there, quietly making sure that the data doesn’t just flow smoothly, but also that it’s accurate and up-to-date. No stage is left to chance, and you get to stay focused on the insights, not the process.

Now, with your data neatly laid out and insights at your fingertips, your focus can stay on making the decisions that drive your business forward.

And if you’re looking to understand how this streamlined process can be tailored for your unique situation, I’m here to guide you through every step.

Using an Example to Understand how all of this integrated data works

Let’s talk about a typical manufacturing company, which we’ll call ‘Efficient Widgets Inc.’ They make widgets and have a lot going on behind the scenes – orders to fill, machines to maintain, and customers to keep happy.

Stage 1: Collection
Efficient Widgets Inc. collects data from different sources. The production line sensors record machine performance, the sales team inputs order details, and customer service logs feedback on a CRM platform. Initially, all this data is separate, sitting in different systems.

Stage 2: Cleansing
Here’s where things get interesting. They use a data integration tool like Commercient SYNC, not part of Zoho One, to merge and clean their data. This tool acts like a filter, removing errors and inconsistencies from data gathered across all sources, leaving behind only useful, accurate information.

Stage 3: Analysis
With clean data at hand stored in the Single Source of Truth (the central data storage), the company turns to Zoho Analytics. The tool analyzes data patterns, such as which machines are most efficient and which products are selling the fastest. It’s a deep dive into the data, extracting valuable information without getting bogged down by the irrelevant bits.

Stage 4: Insights
Now comes the crucial part – turning analysis into insights. Efficient Widgets Inc. learns that two machines are due for maintenance before they break down, which products are in high demand, and where they need to improve customer satisfaction. These insights are direct, actionable, and critical for decision-making.

Throughout this process, the data integration platform, Commercient SYNC works in harmony with Zoho Analytics, ensuring that at each stage, data moves seamlessly and intelligently. 

They make sure the data is reliable, setting the stage for insights that can significantly improve operations and strategy for Efficient Widgets Inc.

For companies like Efficient Widgets Inc., understanding each step of their data’s journey is crucial. And for anyone looking to streamline their own processes, remember, the story of your company’s data can be clear and compelling, with the right tools and guidance.

So, what are you waiting for? Talk to Us to not only use your data to inform but transform your business, day by day, in real-time.


If you want to start your journey through CRM/ERP integration success with SYNC, click here to contact us to schedule a free demo.

The Future is Here: Exploring AI in HubSpot, Salesforce, and Zoho CRM Systems

Welcome to the future, where AI doesn’t just organize your data – it knows your customer better than you do!

In the dynamic landscape of modern business operations, the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has proven to be transformative. Its integration into numerous domains has reshaped the conventional methods of operation, particularly within the realm of Customer Relationship Management (CRM).

AI within CRM does not merely serve as an automated system for data organization.

Instead, it acts as an intelligent agent capable of predicting customer needs, providing real-time insights, and conducting tedious tasks automatically, all while operating tirelessly round-the-clock.

Notably, not all AI integrations are identical – the implementation, capabilities, and impact differ based on various factors such as the underlying technology, application context, and the specific CRM platform.

The AI Realm

Understanding AI and CRM

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, refers to computer systems or machines that mimic human intelligence. This includes learning (the acquisition of information and rules for using the information), reasoning (using the rules to reach approximate or definite conclusions), and self-correction.

When AI intersects with Customer Relationship Management (CRM), we’re dealing with systems that don’t just passively store and manage customer data but actively analyze, learn from, and utilize this information to improve business operations.

In essence, AI-enabled CRM systems can comprehend complex data, learn patterns, predict trends, and make decisions, much like a human brain would, albeit at a much faster rate and with potentially higher accuracy.

The AI Revolution in CRM

The impact of AI on CRM has been nothing short of revolutionary. Let’s consider its influence across two key areas: customer service and marketing strategies.

In the sphere of customer service, AI allows for a more personalized approach. By analyzing a customer’s interaction history, AI can predict their needs, preferences, and potential problems before they even surface. This can translate to customized recommendations, proactive service, and a smoother customer experience. Think of it as having a personal assistant for each of your customers, one that knows what they want before they even do.

Meanwhile, in the realm of marketing strategies, AI opens the door to advanced data analysis and prediction models. It can process vast amounts of data to uncover trends and patterns that would be impossible for humans to discern manually.

This empowers businesses to fine-tune their marketing efforts, optimize their sales process, and make more informed decisions. In other words, AI can turn a mountain of seemingly random data into a roadmap towards successful marketing campaigns and sales strategies.

Unveiling the AI Troika – HubSpot, Salesforce, and Zoho

A. Journey to the Hub of Success – HubSpot

Content Assistant: HubSpot’s AI-powered Content Assistant offers an advanced way to generate impactful content.

This intelligent tool integrates with HubSpot’s product suite, enabling users to switch between manual and AI-led content creation.

With the capability to produce copy for various content types – from blogs and social media posts to marketing emails – the Content Assistant enhances both content quality and creation efficiency.

ChatSpot: The ChatSpot bot represents another significant AI integration within HubSpot’s CRM system.

This conversational bot is designed to maximize productivity for sales, marketing, and service professionals. With chat-based commands, users can rapidly execute tasks in HubSpot.

From creating new contacts to bypassing the need for manual data entry, ChatSpot transforms the CRM experience, delivering speed, convenience, and increased operational efficiency.

B. Sailing with the Force – Salesforce

Einstein GPT: Salesforce enhances its CRM capabilities with the innovative Einstein GPT.

As an embedded intelligence layer within the Lightning Platform, Einstein GPT brings AI technologies to every workspace, empowering users with smart tools right where they work. It provides a robust set of platform services, allowing admins and developers to build smarter apps and customize AI to meet unique business needs.

By enabling customization, Salesforce ensures that its AI tool is adaptable, personalized, and responsive to individual business requirements.

C. Zooming Past with Zoho

Zia: Zoho’s Zia is an AI companion that redefines CRM management.

Equipped with advanced AI capabilities, Zia performs a multitude of tasks intelligently. These include retrieving necessary information, taking dictated notes, predicting the outcome of sales activities, identifying anomalies, and automating mundane tasks.

By managing these tasks, Zia frees up time for users to concentrate on strategic decision-making and customer engagement.

This multifaceted functionality transforms Zoho’s CRM from a simple management tool into a powerful operational asset.

The Ultimate Showdown – HubSpot, Salesforce, or Zoho?

CriteriaHubSpotSalesforceZoho
Ease of UseHubSpot’s AI tools are seamlessly integrated and intuitive, requiring a minimal learning curve.Einstein GPT is accessible within the usual workspace, but may require technical knowledge for advanced use.Zia is designed as a user-friendly companion that helps manage CRM tasks with minimal technical expertise.
CustomizationHubSpot offers some flexibility (i.e., toggling between manual and AI content creation) but lacks extensive customization.Salesforce’s Einstein GPT allows high-level customization aligning AI functionalities with unique business needs.Zia provides a wide array of functionalities but lacks the extensive customization options seen in Salesforce.
Predictive AnalysisHubSpot’s AI contribution to predictive analysis is not as significant as Zoho or Salesforce.Einstein GPT leverages vast data sets for predictive analysis, providing valuable business insights.Zia stands out with its ability to predict sales activities’ outcomes and detect anomalies, aiding in trend anticipation and pre-emptive issue resolution.

The Takeaway

The incorporation of AI into CRM is not just an upgrade – it is a fundamental shift in how businesses interact with and understand their customers.

  • Making the Choice

Selecting the right AI-enhanced CRM is a task that should be rooted in your company’s unique needs. Understanding the requirements, technical capabilities, and strategic objectives of your organization is critical to making an informed decision.

  • Future Gazing

    As we delve deeper into the digital era, the question no longer revolves around whether AI will revolutionize CRM. That revolution is already underway. The real question is whether your business is prepared to embrace this change.

As AI continues to permeate CRM, its ability to predict trends, personalize customer interactions, and automate tasks will only become more sophisticated and integral to business operations.

As this digital revolution accelerates, we find ourselves not at the end, but at the very beginning of an exciting journey. So, fasten your seat belts, because the race into the AI-driven future of CRM is on!

We encourage you to add your insights to this conversation.

Feel free to share this post within your network. Your perspective is a crucial part of this ongoing discourse and we’re excited to hear from you!


Riding the Wave of AI Disruption: Key Takeaways from ZOHOLICS 2023

The much-anticipated ZOHOLICS 2023 was an enthralling two-day journey that unraveled how Zoho, a global leader in software development and cloud computing, is bracing itself for the future of business and technology. 

Gathered from comprehensive notes shared by our seasoned experts who attended the event, here are some insights on the highlights, key discussions, and strategic direction unveiled at the conference.

Macro Factors and the Role of AI: Day 1 Highlights

Embracing Change, Bracing for the Future

Vijay Sundaram, in his inaugural speech, served a sobering reminder of how macro factors, like economic uncertainty and technological disruption, are currently steering the course of businesses globally. 

Understanding the need for a futuristic vision and robust preparation, Sundaram urged the audience to envisage scenarios they haven’t faced before.

The Future of Tech: Disruption and Innovation

During ZOHOLICS 2023, it became abundantly clear that technological disruption is the new norm. With economic uncertainties on one side and technological breakthroughs on the other, the tech landscape is continuously shifting and evolving.

The most striking development is the emergence of generative AI, which is now posing a challenge to the technology industry itself. 

As we ponder the implications, we find ourselves in a paradox where the very tool that was supposed to facilitate and streamline operations now seems to be a potential disruptor.

AI as the Disruptor and Savior

An intriguing question that surfaced during the event was whether AI would become a threat or an opportunity. 

While the potential of AI to automate various roles and tasks is undeniable, the ethical considerations, including bias, transparency, and potential for misuse, cannot be ignored.

AI’s evolution from a demonstrable tool to an explainable one marks an important shift in the tech narrative. As businesses and consumers, we must ensure that our trust in AI is grounded and that its use is responsible and ethical.

Generative AI, Sundaram stressed, is not just a disruption; it’s a threat to the technology industry itself. 

Yet, it is through this disruption that opportunities arise – for business risk containment, anomaly detection, service automation, and role automation. Sundaram accentuated the shift from demonstrable AI to explainable AI.

The shift is a strategic approach to address AI-associated challenges such as bias, ethics, transparency, and deep fakes.

Zoho’s Strategic Maneuvering

To navigate these choppy waters of global disruption, Zoho outlined a multi-pronged strategy. The firm is determined to focus on investing in new skills, maintaining a no-layoff policy, building a local presence while maintaining a global outlook, and accelerating innovation through more products, integrated suites, and AI enablement.

Embracing the Power of AI: Zoho’s Approach

In this landscape of uncertainty and disruption, Zoho stands as a testament to resilience and innovation.

Echoing Sundaram’s perspective on AI as an opportunity, Raju Vegesna, in his keynote address, introduced ZIA – Zoho’s AI power tool. By integrating AI with Zoho apps, the firm aims to drive innovation across all organizational functions. Keeping user privacy at the forefront, Zoho aims to run the in-house developed AI on Zoho’s cloud.

By embedding AI in its operations and introducing AI-powered apps like ZIA, Zoho is demonstrating how to leverage AI’s transformative potential while mitigating its challenges.

Humanizing Digital Connections and the Role of AI: Day 2 Highlights

Emphasizing Human Connections

Ramon Ray stressed the importance of nurturing human connections even in a highly digitalized world. He reminded the audience not to overlook the serendipity that these connections offer.

The Role of Human Connections in a Digital World

Despite technological advancements, the importance of human connections and experiences in a digital world was emphasized throughout the conference. With increased digitization, we must not overlook the serendipity that comes with human interaction and the role it plays in innovation and creativity.

Nurturing a Better Employee Experience

One of the major takeaways from the conference was Zoho’s emphasis on a better employee experience translating to a better customer experience.

And drawing this direct correlation between better employee experience and improved customer experience, Zoho seeks to provide businesses with tools to create better experiences for employees, thereby enhancing their overall performance.

Zoho’s suite of HR tools and their commitment to an employee-centric approach signify their belief in the importance of nurturing human resources.

Business Intelligence and the Role of AI

Zoho’s approach towards simplifying data management and governance was commended. By offering machine learning intelligence, Zoho aims to enhance business performance and eliminate unnecessary friction.

Diving Deeper into the Zoho Ecosystem

ZIA – The Power Tool

ZIA, Zoho’s in-house AI, showcased how intelligence could be embedded in daily business operations. ZIA’s capabilities to enhance documents, spreadsheets, and CRM are revolutionizing how businesses operate. Furthermore, ZIA’s deployment within the Zoho cloud aims to provide best-in-class services without compromising user privacy.

The Unveiling of ULAA

Another exciting reveal was a secret product code-named ULAA. The details of ULAA remain under wraps, but its promise to save time and offer convenience and flexibility is already creating waves of anticipation.

Zoho’s Marketing Plus

Zoho’s Marketing Plus was a shining beacon of how an integrated marketing suite can drastically enhance business operations. The suite offers businesses the ability to create and customize landing pages, access a heat map to track potential clients’ clicks, and view all analytics in one spot.

The Power of Zoho’s Finance Suite

Designed to enable businesses to focus on their core operations instead of accounting, Zoho’s finance suite was showcased as a system that is intuitive, promotes contextual collaboration, connects multiple functionalities, and puts the customer first.

Data Integration and the Future of Business Intelligence

Zoho’s focus on seamless data integration across various platforms is a step towards creating a frictionless data management experience.

With integrated data management and governance, Zoho strives to provide businesses with the tools to manage and utilize data more efficiently. Zoho’s advancements in AI are setting the pace for businesses to leverage AI for improved performance and insights.

This seamless data integration can be achieved with powerful tools like Commercient SYNC through which you can integrate your Zoho CRM and your ERP software with ease.

Conclusion

Despite the uncertainties and disruptions in the business environment, Zoho’s strategic focus on its people, innovation, customer value, and resilience paints an optimistic future. Its extensive product portfolio, cutting-edge AI applications, and commitment to privacy and user experience provide a blueprint for navigating the uncharted terrains of tomorrow’s business landscape.

The company plans to invest more locally, double down on its workforce, accelerate innovation, focus on delivering customer value, and build resilience.

Additionally, the discussions and insights from ZOHOLICS 2023 prompt us to reflect on our relationship with technology and how we can navigate the disruptive landscape of the future.

As we continue to explore the potentials and pitfalls of technologies like AI, it is crucial to remain anchored in our core values of trust, transparency, and human connection.

While we look forward to the exciting possibilities that tools like AI offer, we must also be mindful of their implications and strive for a future where technology serves humanity, not the other way around.

This balance will be the key to harnessing the transformative power of technology while ensuring a sustainable and inclusive future.

In sum, ZOHOLICS 2023 was a beacon of inspiration, signaling the dawn of a new era in business technology. As we continue to explore and integrate these insights into our practices, we are excited about the vast potential that lies ahead with Zoho.


Ultimate CRM Guide 2023: Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Pipedrive, Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Having data stored in different systems is not enough; the real power lies on the efficient use of data to streamline processes, better serve customers, and make smarter business decisions based on what’s going on now. 

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems are an essential tool for businesses of all sizes, as they help companies to streamline their customer interactions and improve their relationships with prospects and clients. It also provides key data for decision makers so crucial decisions are made, and plans adjusted, with real-time information. 

How to choose the right CRM for your business? Here’s a blog post about it you may want to read.

In this blog, we’ll take a look at five of the top CRM systems on the market: Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Pipedrive, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM. We’ll delve into their key strengths and discuss which industries and company sizes they’re most suitable for, as well as their suitability for different processes, complexity levels, and reporting needs.

Salesforce

Salesforce is a robust, comprehensive CRM platform that offers a wide range of features, including sales force automation, customer service and support, marketing automation, and analytics. 

With a 360 view approach, it’s particularly well-suited for enterprise-level businesses, as it can support large amounts of data and users, allowing a full view of sales, marketing, service, etc. Salesforce is also highly customizable, so it can be tailored to fit the needs of businesses in a wide variety of industries, such as manufacturing, automotive, retail, distribution, and businesses with branches across the US and worldwide.

Salesforce offers a wide range of trainings and certifications that help companies’ staff and partners/consultants to know more about how to use Salesforce, how to customize it according to the business needs, so they can get the most out of their investment.

Salesforce product suite includes: Sales Cloud, Marketing Cloud (formerly known as Pardot), Commerce Cloud, Manufacturing Cloud, CPQ, Field Service Management, Tableau, and more.

With Commercient SYNC data integration, you can connect Salesforce with your ERP or Accounting system. Click here to see our Salesforce case studies.

HubSpot

HubSpot is a CRM platform particularly geared toward small and medium-sized businesses. It offers a wide range of tools for marketing, sales, and customer service, as well as integrations with other popular business apps. 

HubSpot’s strengths include its user-friendly interface, which makes it easy for non-technical users to set it up and start running quickly. Strongly focused on inbound marketing, HubSpot strives to offer segmentation options so companies can ensure their contacts, regardless of their buying stage, receive information that is relevant for them.

Their educational platform offers certifications and trainings on marketing, inbound marketing, content marketing, copywriting, social media, digital marketing, and how to use their products for better results. They also offer training courses to use their Marketing, Sales, and Service software, providing certifications for each.

HubSpot product suite includes: Sales Hub, Marketing Hub, Service Hub, CMS Hub, Operations Hub.

With Commercient SYNC data integration, you can connect HubSpot with your ERP or Accounting system. Click here to see our HubSpot case studies.

Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is a feature-rich CRM platform that offers a wide range of tools for sales, marketing, and customer support. It’s particularly well-suited for small and medium-sized businesses, as it’s affordable and scalable. 

Zoho is also highly customizable, so it can be tailored to fit the needs of businesses in various industries. The interface is simple, which makes it easy to set up and start using. 

Zoho product suite includes: Zoho CRM, Zoho Analytics, Zoho Marketing, and more.  
With Commercient SYNC data integration, you can connect Zoho CRM with your ERP or Accounting system.

Click here to see our Zoho CRM case studies.

Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a CRM platform specifically designed for sales teams. Created by salespeople for salespeople, it offers a range of sales-focused features, including lead and opportunity management, email integration, and a visual sales pipeline. 

This CRM offers features such as customizable sales funnels, segmentation, contacts history, teamwork, reminders, web forms, financial forecasting, and reporting.

Pipedrive is well-suited for small and medium-sized businesses, particularly those in the B2B space.

With Commercient SYNC data integration, you can connect Pipedrive with your ERP or Accounting system. 

Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Changing work scenarios and modernizing the workforce requires CRM software to adapt to these and go beyond traditional capabilities.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM is a comprehensive CRM platform that offers a wide range of features, including sales force automation, customer service and support, marketing automation, and analytics. 

It’s particularly well-suited for enterprise-level businesses, as it can support large amounts of data and users. Microsoft Dynamics CRM is also highly customizable, so it can be tailored to fit the needs of businesses in a wide variety of industries. Using other products of Microsoft product suite (Outlook, Teams, etc.) can make user adoption easier.

Click here to see our Microsoft Dynamics CRM case studies.

Choosing the right CRM

In conclusion, all five of these CRM systems are strong contenders in the market, each with their own unique strengths and capabilities. When choosing the right CRM for your business, it’s important to consider your specific needs, including your industry, company size, processes, complexity levels, and reporting requirements.

Click here to ask how SYNC can connect your CRM with your ERP or accounting system.

Commercient Attended Zoholics 2022 in Mexico

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Zoho customers and partners gathered in Mexico City in November 2022, and as Zoho Partner, Commercient had to be there, too! Our solutions engineer Rebeca Oliva assisted #ZoholicsMX2022 in Mexico City. She met many amazing people, made valuable #connections, and learned a lot about what’s new and coming for Zoho in 2023.

Zoholics is Zoho’s conference series, where they share product updates, educate customers, and announce game-changing new product releases. It also allows attendees to meet Zoho’s team face-to-face and learn directly from the staff behind their apps. Zoholics offers:

-Informative Product Briefings 

-Personal 1-on-1 Sessions 

-Networking & Fun

So we interviewed Rebeca Oliva about her experience at this event, and here’s what she has to say about Zoho and the integration apps Commercient develops to connect our client’s Zoho CRM with their ERP accounting system:

Learn more about the Zoho and ERP integration

Click here to see the Zoho CRM integrations.

Why did Commercient attend Zoholics?

We are expanding our strategic partnership with Zoho LATAM, so when they invited us to Zoholics, we decided it was time to go. We also wanted more information about what’s new with Zoho and their plans for the future.

We wanted to connect with Zoho implementation partners and users from Mexico and Latin America. As part of the Commercient Sales team, the goal was to bring all the knowledge we could to use as a sales tool as part of our data integration services. For example, Zoho Analytics allows data analysis, showing data on reports and dashboards that as of now, come from different sources (both internal and external).

Any takeaways you’d like to share?

Many partners are committed to Zoho and looking for ways to enhance growth together.

Zoho’s interface is intuitive and robust, as it has access to more than 50 apps within the Zoho ecosystem.

The Zoho team was kind, friendly, and respectful. All attendants could see how passionate Zoho’s staff is regarding the solutions they provide for their clients and the plans ahead.

Many were pioneers when Zoho decided to break into the Latin American market.

Learnings 

News on Marketing, Sales, Customer Service, Development, Operations, Productivity, and Collaboration.

What’s coming in 2023.

Zoho’s Values and how they strengthen their work in terms of investment, security, innovation, privacy, and an ecosystem that includes clients, partners, and employees.

Investments so they develop or improve the best apps in the market.

Opportunities

We connected with Zoho partners in Mexico and other countries that may be interested in partnering with Commercient to offer an integration between Zoho and more than 110 ERPs.

There were in-person meetings with Commercient partners before the event.

We received the recommendation to integrate Aspel SAE and Contpaq in Mexico. 

They also recommended working on an integration for Zoho Books Mexico, one of their newest products.

I met with the Zoho LATAM team and discussed how to strengthen our partnership in Mexico and Latin America to help more companies that need to connect Zoho CRM and the different apps in Zoho One.

We planned Business Development strategies to bring Zoho and Commercient SYNC in front of more potential customers in a more effective way.

Questions about how you can connect Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, Zoho Analytics and more to +110 ERP accounting systems? Contact us today to discuss your data integration needs.

Enhancing Customer Relationships with AI and CRM

Businesses are finding it hard to keep up with the shift in consumer demand. With the advancement of technology, customers have increased their expectations for personalization, service, responsiveness, and delivery. For your business to be successful, you need to build strong relationships with your customers. But how do you do that? The obvious answer is by using a customer relationship management (CRM) system.

A traditional CRM database was used to achieve goals more straightforwardly. Initially, it was only used for gathering, storing, and structuring data for easy access. It didn’t play any role in the process of analysis and interpretation of data to provide meaningful insight.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a vital requirement for large and growing businesses operating in a competitive market. A variety of tools and software enables the sales and marketing department to build and strengthen customer relationships. 

Artificial Intelligence has made it easier to predict user behavior and needs. AI combined with CRM enable businesses to enhance their customer relationships. Artificial intelligence, or AI, refers to the ability of machines to think and understand like humans. We have now provided machines with some capabilities that can do much more than just collecting and storing of data. With the help of AI, a system can process a huge chunk of data, analyze it and detect patterns to predict behavior, and also use the same insight to calculate risk.

AI has great potential to boost the output of CRM tools. AI can provide a clear view of the customer’s entire journey from the prospect stage to retention. Artificial Intelligence is steadily redefining the future of CRM systems. With the advancement in Artificial Intelligence, the field of automation is becoming broader. It prompts customer relationship stakeholders to focus on more pressing issues. In short, it will elevate the customer experience from the first touchpoint to after-sales service.

How AI is Redefining the Future of Customer Service

Intelligent Automation: AI coupled with CRM will enable organizations to restructure their workflow and automate manual processes intelligently. It can be used to evaluate sales funnels, predict customer behavior, and predict ROI with maximum accuracy. With predictive analysis, AI can enable businesses to use historical data to make predictions about the future and take relevant actions.

As mentioned before, AI can help predict customers’ behavior based on past interactions. It uses the same insights to evaluate the sales funnels and forecast market dynamics with maximum accuracy, allowing businesses to take relevant actions that will have a positive impact, restructuring, and automating the workflow, depending on the insights. For instance, it can help with lead scoring and assist in lead segmentation based on demographics, sales records, and more. 

Efficient Management of Data: Nowadays, a vast amount of information is generated every hour by interactions with consumers. This data can be used to gain insights into predicting buyer’s behavior and formulate your business strategies accordingly.

Artificial intelligence is a useful resource when it comes to collecting and processing a massive amount of data. AI can help centralize all data from different social channels and digital interfaces into a single platform — CRM. It can then easily interpret and analyze them and provide value to the company’s objective. 

In essence, it will help effortlessly manage the marketing department by enabling them to respond to customers more quickly and efficiently. 

Advanced Customer Service Capabilities with NLP: Natural Language Processing is defined as a type of machine learning. It understands words, sentences, and the context of your customer care queries. As a subset of artificial intelligence, Natural Language Processing interprets and analyzes customer’s verbal statements. When it’s done, it provides them with an answer without any human intervention.

Natural language processing in Artificial Intelligence is an essential speech recognition capability that can read, convert, and make sense of human languages. NLP can help the CRM system to meaningfully analyze the textual context of customer emails and send them a precise response and it can also provide real-time advice for sales pitches. NLP combined with CRM tools can help businesses to reveal their brand sentiments accurately, which will ultimately affect marketing efforts. 

Transform your Business with Our Artificial Intelligence and CRM Expertise

Commercient provides CRM and ERP software integration solutions. We integrate +85 ERPs with Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Sugar CRM, Zoho CRM, and HubSpot CRM.

Commercient’s out-of-the-box “SYNC app”  is so easy to install. There’s no coding, no mapping, and no servers to manage on your end. Just download and go with easy access to sales and customer data when and where you need it.

Commercient SYNC can be set up to synchronize your ERP and CRM data as frequently as your business requires, once a day, every hour, or in real-time. SYNC is configurable to your company’s unique needs.

Examples of AI and CRM

Salesforce Einstein: Salesforce Einstein is the first comprehensive AI for CRM that is designed for business to be smarter and more predictive about potential customers. Einstein is powered by deep learning, Machine Learning, Predictive Analytics, and Data Mining.

Zoho: Zoho has a conversational AI assistant called Zia. It assists customers with everything from simple responses to complex analytics. We at Commercient integrate Zoho products with CRM systems to manage products, sales, marketing, recruitment, social media, and more.

Sugar CRM: Sugar CRM has recently launched an AI product called Hint. It automatically searches, tunes, and inputs personal and corporate profile details of prospective customers.

Conclusion

A CRM is considered as the backbone of any business organization. In the end, you will see a vast improvement in the company’s bottom line. Investing in AI can help your business optimize various back-office processes –  your business will improve customer service, improve customer engagement, and increase retention rates. Artificial intelligence will help create a better experience for both customers and sales representatives. The combination of AI and customer relationship management is a gateway to a profitable business. 

The 3 Most Popular CRM’s To Boost Sales Productivity

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software is a system used by businesses to store and analyze prospect and customer data and interactions. Popular CRM systems use this data to understand prospect and customer behavior in order to turn leads into sales, improve customer relationships, and increase customer retention.

Benefits of Using a CRM System in Your Business

Tracking leads and forging good relationships with customers is key for customer acquisition and retention. Using a popular CRM system allows you to see all your customer data in one place. This 360-degree view of your customers has many benefits for your business. Here are a few of them:

  • Improved customer relationships
  • Improved customer service
  • Enhanced contact management
  • Accurate sales forecasting
  • Customer analysis and reporting
  • Reduced data entry
  • One central point for customer data
  • Improved internal processes
  • Improved communication between departments
  • Effortless team collaboration
  • Automation of everyday tasks

Three of the Most Popular CRM’s

To help you choose the best software that meets your specific business requirements, we have listed three of the most popular CRM systems, together with their core features and pricing plans.

1. Salesforce

Overview

Salesforce is an award-winning and world’s top CRM solution that is designed to help businesses of all sizes to nurture leads by tracking customer details from a single interface. The cloud-based application is flexible and highly customizable, and has a user-friendly interface.

Core Features

  • Account and Contact Management
  • Campaign Management
  • Case Management
  • Lead Management
  • Customer Engagement Tools
  • Workflow Creation
  • Task Management
  • Opportunity Tracking
  • Collaboration Tools
  • Analytics
  • Mobile Platform
  • Marketing Leads Monitoring
  • Social Media Integration
  • Email Integration
  • Sales Leads Monitoring
  • Communities for Sales
  • Sales Forecasting

Integrations

  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Desk.com
  • TeamSupport
  • LeadExec
  • FinancialForce ERP
  • Ambassador
  • Zuora
  • Zendesk
  • Google Apps
  • And many more

Pricing Plans

  • Free Trial: 30 days
  • Salesforce Essentials: $25/user/month
  • Lightning Professional: $75/user/month
  • Lightning Enterprise: $150/user/month
  • Lightning Unlimited: $300/user/month

2. HubSpot CRM

Overview

HubSpot CRM is a free, user-friendly popular CRM software that has all the necessary standard features of a CRM platform. It is easy to use and provides unlimited storage. Because HubSpot CRM is free, it allows you to add an unlimited number of members to your account. However, other services that can be added to HubSpot CRM do carry fees, such as Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, etc.

Aimed at startups and small businesses, its scalability offers room for growth with upgrade options to add on more tools to help your business grow.

Core Features

  • Account and Contact Management
  • Email, Phone and Website Integrations
  • Email Templates, Scheduling and Tracking
  • Deal and Task Board
  • Lead Analytics Dashboard
  • Documents
  • Calling
  • Meetings
  • Social Media
  • Mobile Platform

Integrations

  • Salesforce
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Zapier
  • Shopify
  • MailChimp
  • SurveyMonkey
  • ZenDesk
  • Twitter
  • And many more

Pricing Plans

  • 100% Free

3. Zoho CRM

Overview

Zoho CRM is an affordable cloud-based solution suitable for small, mid-sized and large businesses, and is easy to use and highly customizable. With Zoho CRM, you can generate leads, gather insights and manage your customer relationships effectively.

Core Features

  • Sales Automation
  • Lead Management
  • Account Management
  • Pipeline Management
  • Activity Management
  • Website Integration with Forms
  • Sales Tracking
  • Sales Forecasting
  • Productivity
  • MailMagnet
  • Document Library
  • Mobile Platform

Integrations

  • MailChimp
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • QuickBooks
  • Sage
  • SYSPRO
  • Google Apps
  • And many more

Pricing Plans

  • Free trial – 15 days
  • Free Edition – free for up to 3 users
  • Standard – $12/user/month
  • Professional – $20/user/month
  • Enterprise – $35/user/month
  • Ultimate – $100/user/month

Benefits of Integrating CRM and ERP Systems for Your Business

To offer exceptional service, businesses need to have easy access to customer and sales information. Challenges arise when customer data is isolated in several different systems that don’t communicate with each other, or when data is complicated by duplicate or outdated information.

Integrating your ERP system with your CRM system provides a central point of storage for all data from any department. This negates the need for employees to manually share data, as it can be viewed by any department in your organization. Having one system to give you with a complete view of your customer’s life cycle will greatly benefit your sales and marketing efforts.

If you’ve leveraged an ERP system, Commercient SYNC can expertly integrate your sales and accounting systems. It’s the #1 data integration platform for sales, and can connect important ERP data to your CRM, such as customer information, sales history, invoices, serial numbers, inventory, terms, and more. From CRM to ERP, you can SYNC new and updated customers and new orders. Click this video to watch how the integration works.

Using one system for all your customer data will improve employee efficiency and ultimately enhance the level of customer service and customer satisfaction. SYNC supports over 85 ERPs and CRMs, including Salesforce and Zoho CRM.

To find out more about data integration and help give your business a 360-degree view of sales, customers and marketing, please contact Commercient today! If you’d like to learn more about these popular CRM’s, please visit our partner Edgeware.

About the Author

Anna Kinnear is a Sage Financials Consultant at Edgeware, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting Science from the University of South Africa. She has always had a passion for reading and writing.

SYNC ERP and CRM

Factors To Consider When Choosing A CRM

A quality CRM is designed to efficiently manage data across varied customer profiles, while also giving you the confidence to relate to each in an organized and professional manner. When choosing a CRM (Customer Relationship Management), consider that is the number one tool in the arsenal of the sales team, and will enable building and maintaining long-term relationships with contacts and customers.

Managing customers means a greater ability for businesses to win more deals, ensure higher lead generation, and boost overall sales.

When a company does decide to invest in a CRM system, it is prudent to ascertain it’s the right one for their business needs. To begin with, it’s better when choosing a CRM to consider that it provides an ideal match with your daily business practices. It should have all the right solutions to daily problems and hiccups which you face, or are likely to face along the way.

Seamless Accessibility and Scalability

Convenience to the user is a given necessity with every product, and CRM system is no exception. Apart from multiple platform accessibility, the ideal CRM should be cloud-friendly, giving access wherever and whenever you wish, and low overhead costs compared to on-premise solutions.

The most popular CRM companies enable access to the cloud when needed apart from phone, desktop and any smart device. Not only does this enhance connectivity and ease of use, but also efficiency and productivity; users can then have the freedom to choose the platform which they find most convenient at any given time. Another item to consider is scalability; will you be able to easily add users as your company grows?

Market leading CRM companies such as Salesforce, Zoho CRM, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 offer the most relevant features, vital to businesses with multi-platform accessibility. Other options include SugarCRM, HubSpot CRM, Daylite, and many others.

Not Limited to Sales

There are many CRM’s in the marketplace, but the one that is a perfect fit for you is the one that complements how you work. It will work with your team through every step of the sales process, from receiving a lead to closing a deal.

It should come with built-in flexibility to customize and make any changes that may happen in the future. And most importantly, it should extend its benefits across teams, and enhance every aspect of the business process, be it sales, customer accounts, marketing, or customer service.

A powerful CRM solution should build a strong inbound strategy to convert any leads into potential customers. Combining smart features and functionality, it will close many gaps across departments, and boost productivity across the user base.

Customization and Reporting

Within each business, departmental procedures can vary greatly. Therefore a quality CRM should be highly customizable to suit every company’s needs.

If the sales system can be customized right down to the level of every user, it can prove an invaluable asset to the company. You do need software that can give you insights into your data through reporting that happens across the board, allowing you to raise your profitability.

Zoho CRM is an excellent example of extremely adaptable software that is equally easy to use for small and medium businesses, as well as large-scale, multi-stage operations. Apart from customization, it also integrates easily with other Zoho and third-party products to give you complete control over your sales pipeline.

Ease of Use

As most businesses know, getting employees to adapt to any new system is a herculean task. An easy-to-use CRM is much more likely to be accepted and used, creating better value for you and your team.

When the design is easy to understand and use, analyze and interpret with simple analytics, and to report, most employees are happy to experiment. It is also easier to train users on such a simple system as a successfully implemented system must enhance productivity and not vice-versa.

Salesforce is an excellent option for businesses of all sizes that offers all the benefits for a well-managed and integrated CRM, along with the most user-friendly interface. It is currently the most popular and widely adopted CRM in the world, and is also competitively priced.

It Supports Integration with ERP and Other Apps

Seamless connectivity is the essential any business, due to its impact on the cost. To help give a 360-degree view of sales and marketing, companies use a variety of solutions, and therefore, integration with ERP is a vital aspect of modern CRM software.

Seamless integration allows you the freedom to better communicate with customers and peers by reducing time and effort. It also gives a better view of the customer data to enable challenges and better handle customers. The better CRM’s will sync all tools or allow effortless integration with social media platforms, as well as third-party software.

CRM’s such as Zoho and Salesforce allows easy synchronization with ERP’s through Commercient SYNC, the #1 data integration platform for sales, which merges your ERP data into the CRM, enhancing the efficiency of your sale system.

Customer information, terms, serial numbers, inventory, bill to and ship to addresses, invoicing, branch / division details, and more, are just some of the ERP data you’ll be able to access directly in your sales system. New orders and new and updated customers are SYNC’d from CRM to ERP.

Another integration option is Commercient’s IoT Pulse, which connects your ERP to over 815 apps, such as HubSpot CRM, eCommerce solutions, marketing programs and more. It is a great way to streamline and automate certain processes in your business.

The Reputation of the Provider

There are plenty of CRM options available in the market today, it is little doubt that buyers are confused and overwhelmed. Research and reviews indicate that bigger may not always be better, neither can the price be a deciding factor to reliability. However, reputation or stability of a brand or provider does indicate that your investment is safe.

You can be certain that good software providers back up their products with excellent service, training and tools that may be needed for seamless use of their product. Choosing a company with a proven track record vs. a newer one always works to advantage by assuring all your data is safe in the present and the future.

A case in point is Microsoft Dynamics 365, which is backed by a certified provider whose name is all you need for peace of mind. Besides, it gives you all the benefits of a modern-day CRM with proactive features geared towards ensuring business success through better insights into all aspects of customer behavior.

Support

Even the best software solutions need support services from time to time. After-Sales support may be included together with the license or separately, depending on the CRM provider or the package. Also, all leading CRM providers have a database of certified developers, making it easy for organizations to find independent consultants, apart from their own support teams, to solve any issues when they come up.

In-house training can be easily sorted when expertise is easily available in the market. These consultants usually have a sound relationship with the CRM software company, and can offer solutions at a fraction of the cost. Therefore, work goes on without significant interruptions.

One such company that can help implement your CRM, plus provide proper training, is our partner Edgeware. With many years experience, Edgeware is a Salesforce Silver Consulting Partner who has had many successful Salesforce implementations for a variety of businesses. Please contact them today to learn more about CRM implementation.

Cost of the CRM

As we know, everything comes with a budget and small, and medium-size companies do have to weigh the pros and cons of pricing when choosing a CRM.

Companies must carefully review what features the cost will cover, and what may need additional investment. The budget must take into account training, after-sales service, future upgrades and should be accounted for along with the initial payment. Any necessary integration, customization or any new equipment that may be required, and come with a price tag.

There are many cost-effective CRM solutions available to suit every budget need. All you need to do is some research, and look for feedback from the listings, user databases or forums, so you can narrow down the right choice at your given budget. Other options include SugarCRM or NetSuite CRM that combine the best for both functionality and pricing.

To learn more about CRM for your business, such as Salesforce, please visit the site of our partner, Edgeware. If you’d like more information about integrating your CRM with your ERP with Commercient SYNC and IoT Pulse, please contact us today.

About the Author

Raj Adhi is a professional writer, editor and blogger. She has completed her Graduation in Chemistry and Masters in Journalism from University of Mumbai.

SYNC ERP and CRM

5 Great CRM Blogs To Consider Following In 2018

If you’re looking for some really good CRM blogs and don’t want to spend hours searching the Internet, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled a list some of the best CRM blogs to follow in 2018. Read on.

Commercient

At the Commercient blog, you’ll not only find CRM tips and tricks, but also topics related to sales, customer service, tips on how to grow your small business, and so much more. Check out one of our latest blog post on how you give your small business a makeover this spring.

Salesforce

If you like product information, leadership tips, and best practices for new sales reps, you can find it on the Salesforce CRM blog. It covers a number of different topics including Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, IT and Small Business and of course, everything you want to know about Salesforce.

In case you didn’t know, Commercient is a Trusted Salesforce Partner, and we have several SYNC integrations to connect your ERP system to Salesforce. Also, you can find Commercient SYNC on the Salesforce AppExchange.

Zoho CRM

Zoho also has a great CRM blog. Their CRM is for those who want a 360-degree view of their complete sales cycle and pipeline. The blog uncovers everything you want to know about the Zoho CRM, and gives you tips on how to get the best out of your Zoho CRM implementation.

You should also know that Zoho CRM can integrate seamlessly with your ERP system using Commercient SYNC app. Feel free to check out our SYNC integrations for Zoho. We’re also on the Zoho Marketplace.

Insightly

If you’re a small business owner, the Insightly CRM blog is geared more towards you. If you’re looking to understand the benefits of using a CRM platform, or want to learn more about the specifics on growing your business, or looking for ways to better connect with your customers.

One great thing about Insightly is that it can integrate with your other business applications using our Commercient IoT Pulse app. This allows you to connect your ERP to over 815 business applications and helps you automate tasks. Find your ERP to get started today.

HubSpot CRM

The HubSpot Sales and Marketing Blog focuses not only on CRM, but also covers topics on marketing, sales, agency, and customer success content. So, if you’re looking for a CRM blog that covers all things marketing and sales related, from the software to the industry at large, the HubSpot CRM might be one blog to add to your follow list.

Did you also know that HubSpot CRM is able to connect to your ERP system and all your other business applications using Commercient IoT Pulse? For a list of all the apps that you can connect to your ERP and HubSpot CRM, check out our IoT Pulse page.

To recap, we looked only a few of the best CRM blogs out there. Of course, there are many more great CRM blogs on the Web, including Microsoft Dynamics 365, CRM Daily, and many others.

If you’d like to keep up with our company, blog, and product updates, please feel free to subscribe to the Commercient Newsletter, and follow us on social media (Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn).

Disclosure: Commercient doesn’t recommend any particular CRM.

3 Great Mobile CRM Apps For Salespeople On The Go

Whether they are traveling to meet with clients or going to a team training, salespeople are constantly on the move. Therefore, they need the right tools which can help them sell and close deals faster, from virtually anywhere. This is why mobile access to sales systems has become a necessity; businesses today need CRM apps that are designed with mobile in mind. To help you and your business, we’ve created a list of three great mobile CRM apps that your salespeople can use while they are on the road.

#1 Salesforce

As the world’s number one CRM, Salesforce is no stranger to helping salespeople stay successful on the road. The Salesforce mobile CRM app allows your sales team to review and share data in real-time across your business, collaborate with team members instantly and manage leads, contacts, accounts and opportunities right from their mobile devices so they can be successful on the road. It keeps all your CRM data current from anywhere so that your salespeople can keep going, even while they’re offline.

The best part is that can easily integrate it with your ERP system using Commercient SYNC. It means that you can have the best of both worlds. With SYNC, your sales and customer service teams will always be kept in the loop on customer orders, invoices, sales, inventory, ship to and bill to addresses and more, between your ERP and Salesforce.

Additionally, it helps you prevent the duplication of data and handle custom objects in Salesforce. Check out a list of the ERP’s we connect with Salesforce on our SYNC Integrations for Salesforce page.

#2 Zoho CRM

Like Salesforce, Zoho is another great mobile CRM app that your salespeople who are always on the go can leverage. The app works for iPhone, iPad and Android devices, and allows your salespeople to immediately access data from Zoho CRM wherever they are.

A sales team member can make quick business and record-keeping decisions, and even team collaboration. It also allows you to work in the offline mode to add, modify, or delete records which will be saved locally and synchronized with your Online Account, when you connect to the network.

You can also integrate your Zoho CRM with your ERP system using Commercient SYNC. It allows you to streamline operations, while improving the visibility between your front and back office teams and gives your sales and customer service teams the ability to monitor and provide intelligent, informed, and real-time feedback through Zoho. Check out our SYNC integrations for Zoho.

#3 HubSpot CRM

Another great mobile CRM app that your salespeople can use while in the field is HubSpot CRM, and is available on tablets and on smartphones. It allows you to keep valuable information at your team’s fingertips, and tracks customer interactions automatically, providing valuable insights into customer behavior, and making it easier to know when to follow up.

Unlike a lot of other CRM systems, HubSpot is free. It also automatically logs emails with your contacts, and helps sales teams navigate and chart opportunities by tracking email conversations, contacts, companies, deals, and tasks — all in one seamless package.

You can connect it to your ERP system, including Sage Live, Acumatica, etc. using our IoT Pulse app, which helps you automate tasks between your ERP and HubSpot CRM. For instance, you’ll be able to send out emails instantly when customers input a new order, or generate a new invoice.

Interested in connecting your CRM to your ERP using Commercient SYNC data integration or IoT Pulse apps? Contact us today for a demo and take advantage of the premier support offered by our qualified specialists.

 

SYNC ERP and CRM