- LET’S CUT TO THE CHASE!
- NOW, LET’S DETAIL THINGS FOR YOU
- WHAT’S THE CATCH WITH SALESFORCE CRM?
- WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- WHAT ARE SALESFORCE CRM’S COMPETITORS OFFERING?
- WHAT AFFECTS SALESFORCE CRM’S PRICES?
- WHAT AFFECTS PRICES IN THE INDUSTRY OVERALL?
- HOW TO GET THE BEST DEAL WITH SALESFORCE CRM?
- CAN YOU AFFORD SALESFORCE CRM’S PRICES?
- FINALLY: SHOULD YOU BUY SALESFORCE CRM OR NOT?
Use Salesforce CRM if you want a cloud-based software that helps you manage and grow your customer relationships across marketing, sales, commerce, service, and IT. Salesforce CRM is part of Salesforce Customer 360, the world’s number 1 CRM platform that connects all your data and apps in one place. With Salesforce CRM, you can find more prospects and close more deals with powerful sales tools and analytics.
You can deliver personalized and engaging experiences to your customers across every channel and device. Furthermore, you may want to streamline your operations and optimize your workflows with automation and integration. However, this article wants to answer the question: SHOULD YOU BUY A SALESFORCE CRM OR NOT?
>>> MORE: How to Sell Through Sales Funnels
LET’S CUT TO THE CHASE!
BUY IT IF
- You want to increase your sales revenue and boost your conversion rates with a comprehensive and customizable sales solution.
- You want to enhance your customer loyalty and reduce your churn rate with a personalized and omnichannel service solution.
- You want to grow your customer base and improve your brand awareness with a powerful and integrated marketing solution.
- You want to streamline your business processes and optimize your resource utilization with a flexible and scalable platform solution.
- You want to leverage your data and make smarter decisions with an intelligent and insightful analytics solution.
DON’T BUY IT IF
- You are looking for a free or low-cost CRM solution. Know that Salesforce CRM does not offer a free plan, and its pricing is higher than some of its competitors.
- You prefer a simple and easy-to-use CRM solution. Salesforce CRM is very complex and customizable, which means it can be difficult to set up, learn, and maintain.
- You do not need a comprehensive and integrated CRM solution. Salesforce CRM offers a lot of features and integrations, but you might not need or use all of them for your business.
- You are concerned about the negative growth outlook of Salesforce CRM. Salesforce CRM has been facing some challenges in its core business, such as slowing revenue growth, rising costs, and increasing competition.
- You don’t have satisfaction with the customer service and support of Salesforce CRM. Salesforce CRM has received some complaints and criticisms from its customers, such as poor response time, lack of transparency, and technical issues.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The bottom line is that Salesforce CRM is a powerful and versatile CRM solution that can help you manage and grow your customer relationships, but it also comes with some drawbacks, such as its high cost, complexity, and negative growth outlook. Nevertheless, weigh the pros and cons of Salesforce CRM carefully and compare it with other CRM options before making a final decision.
NOW, LET’S DETAIL THINGS FOR YOU
Understand that Salesforce stands out from its competitors because it offers a complete and integrated CRM solution that covers every aspect of your customer journey, from marketing to sales to service to IT. Salesforce is also the world’s foremost CRM platform, with over 150,000 customers and a 20% market share. Salesforce is unique because with it, you can get:
- Extensive customization options that allow you to tailor your CRM to your specific business needs and preferences.
- Artificial intelligence and business intelligence provide actionable insights and recommendations that help you make smarter decisions and optimize your performance.
- Innovation and collaboration by connecting data and apps from any source, automating workflows, and creating new solutions on a flexible and scalable platform.
- Support your growth and success by offering a free trial, easy setup, integrations with over 1,000 other platforms, and a trusted and secure cloud infrastructure.
Therefore, if you want CRM software that can support you with all-around services and give you the chance to test the waters, go for Salesforce CRM.
WHAT’S THE CATCH WITH SALESFORCE CRM?
As you already know, Salesforce can be a great solution to your business. The most important thing about Salesforce CRM is that you can manage and grow your customer relationships across marketing, sales, commerce, service, and IT. Do not forget that Salesforce CRM is part of Salesforce Customer 360, the CRM platform that connects all your data and apps in one place.
However, it also has some disadvantages, such as complexity, cost, clutter, and performance issues. Therefore, it may not be suitable for every business, especially small or simple ones. Consider your goals, needs, and preferences before choosing Salesforce CRM as your solution. You can also try it for free for 30 days and see if it meets your expectations.
By using Salesforce CRM, you can find more prospects and close more deals with powerful sales tools and analytics. Also, you can deliver personalized and engaging experiences to your customers across every channel and device. Do also forget that you can streamline your operations and optimize your workflows with automation and integration. Furthermore, you may gain insights and take action on your data with artificial intelligence and business intelligence.
Scale your business and innovate faster with a trusted and secure platform.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Know that Salesforce CRM is part of Salesforce Customer 360, the world’s no. 1 CRM platform that connects all your data and apps in one place. Be aware that it offers a range of products and features that cover every aspect of your customer journey, such as Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Commerce Cloud, Platform, and Analytics.
Salesforce CRM is highly customizable and scalable, allowing you to tailor your CRM to your specific business needs and preferences. You can also integrate Salesforce CRM with over 1,000 other platforms and applications.
Bear in mind that it uses artificial intelligence and business intelligence to provide actionable insights and recommendations that help you make smarter decisions and optimize your performance. Salesforce CRM is a trusted and secure cloud infrastructure that supports your growth and success.
You may also want to know about the Salesforce CRM pricing. Salesforce CRM has five main editions: Essentials, Professional, Enterprise, Unlimited, and Unlimited+.
Essentials is the simplest and cheapest edition, choose it if you have a small business with up to 10 users. It costs $25 per user per month (billed monthly or annually) and includes basic features such as lead, account, contact, and opportunity management, email integration, and automated activity capture.
Understand that Professional is the standard edition, suitable for you whether you have a small or mid-sized business with a single sales department. It costs $80 per user per month (billed annually) and includes additional features such as forecast management, customizable reports and dashboards, quoting and contracting, and lead registration.
Think of Enterprise, the advanced edition, if you have a large or complex business with multiple sales teams. It costs $165 per user per month (billed annually) and includes more features such as advanced pipeline management and deal insights, territory management and planning, workflow and approvals automation, and web API. On the other hand, choose Unlimited, which is the premium edition, as your perfect option if you want the best of Salesforce CRM with a full suite of AI, automation, and developer support. It costs $330 per user per month (billed annually) and includes everything in Enterprise plus advanced automation and sales engagement, predictive and generative AI, premier success plan, and full sandbox.
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WHAT ARE SALESFORCE CRM’S COMPETITORS OFFERING?
Salesforce CRM vs Microsoft Dynamics 365
This is a comprehensive CRM solution that integrates with other Microsoft products and services, such as Office 365, Azure, and Power BI. You can access features such as sales automation, customer service, marketing, field service, project service, and artificial intelligence. It also has a flexible and scalable platform that allows customization and development. Know that it costs $65 per user per month for the basic plan.
Salesforce CRM vs Zoho CRM
Pick this CRM solution if you are running a growing business, especially a small and medium-sized enterprise. It offers features such as lead management, deal management, contact management, email marketing, social media marketing, workflow automation, and analytics. It also has a user-friendly interface and a low-cost pricing model. Note that it costs $14 per user per month for the standard plan.
Salesforce CRM vs Monday.com
This is a CRM solution that uses a Kanban-style approach to manage and track customer interactions. It offers features such as pipeline management, task management, collaboration, communication, and reporting. It also has a simple and intuitive interface and a wide range of integrations with other tools. It costs $8 per user per month for the basic plan.
Salesforce CRM vs HubSpot Sales
This is a CRM solution that focuses on inbound sales and marketing. It offers features such as lead generation, email tracking, meeting scheduling, live chat, sales automation, and reporting. It also has a free plan that includes unlimited users and contacts, and a premium plan that costs $80 per user per month.
Salesforce CRM vs Pipedrive
This is a CRM solution for sales teams and salespeople. It offers features such as pipeline management, deal management, contact management, email integration, activity tracking, and reporting. It also has a simple and visual interface and a competitive pricing model. It costs $14.90 per user per month for the essential plan.
WHAT AFFECTS SALESFORCE CRM’S PRICES?
The Edition and Features You Choose
Salesforce CRM has five main editions: Essentials, Professional, Enterprise, Unlimited, and Unlimited+. Each edition has different capabilities and costs, ranging from $25 to $330 per user per month. You can also add more features and functionalities by purchasing add-ons and integrations.
The Number of Users You Have
Beware that Salesforce CRM charges per user per month, so the more users you have, the higher your total cost becomes.
The Billing Cycle You Select
Know that Salesforce CRM offers monthly or annual billing options, depending on the edition you choose. Monthly billing is more flexible, but annual billing is more cost-effective, as you can get discounts and lock in your price for a year.
The Support and Guidance You Need
Salesforce CRM offers different levels of support and expert guidance, depending on the edition you choose. The higher the level, the more access you have to technical support, online resources, best practices, and success managers.
WHAT AFFECTS PRICES IN THE INDUSTRY OVERALL?
The Demand and Supply of CRM Software in the Market
The higher the demand and the lower the supply, the higher the prices become, and vice versa.
The Features and Functionality of CRM Software
The more features and functionality a CRM software offers, the higher the prices become, and vice versa.
The Quality and Reputation of CRM Software
The higher the quality and reputation of CRM software, the higher the prices are, and vice versa.
The Competition and Differentiation of CRM Software
The more competition and differentiation a CRM software faces, the lower the prices become, and vice versa.
The Branding and Marketing of CRM Software
The more branding and marketing a CRM software invests in, the higher the prices are, and vice versa.
HOW TO GET THE BEST DEAL WITH SALESFORCE CRM?
- Compare the editions and features of Salesforce CRM and choose the one that suits your requirements and budget. You can use the Salesforce pricing calculator or contact Salesforce for a personalized quote.
- Take advantage of the free trial of Salesforce CRM apps and services for 30 days, without any credit card or software installation. This helps you test the software and see if it meets your expectations and needs.
- Look for discounts and promotions that Salesforce CRM offers from time to time, such as seasonal offers, referral programs, loyalty rewards, and nonprofit discounts.
- Negotiate with Salesforce CRM sales representatives and ask for discounts, waivers, or incentives based on your business size, industry, location, and potential growth.
- Opt for annual billing instead of monthly billing, as you can get discounts and lock in your price for a year.
- Use only the features and integrations that you need and avoid paying for unnecessary add-ons and extras.
- Train your workforce well and ensure they use the CRM effectively and efficiently.
- Monitor your CRM usage and performance and adjust your plan accordingly.
CAN YOU AFFORD SALESFORCE CRM’S PRICES?
Answering this question depends on your business budget, needs, and goals.
Salesforce CRM pricing depends on the edition and features you choose. There are five main editions: Essentials, Professional, Enterprise, Unlimited, and Unlimited+. Each edition has different capabilities and costs, ranging from $25 to $330 per user per month. You can also add more features and functionalities by purchasing add-ons and integrations.
Some of the main competitors of Salesforce CRM are Microsoft Dynamics 365, Zoho CRM, monday.com, HubSpot Sales, Pipedrive, Freshsales, Zendesk Sell, ActiveCampaign, Less Annoying CRM, Neon CRM, Insightly, and Bitrix. These CRM solutions offer different features, pricing, and benefits, depending on your business size, industry, and preferences. You can compare the prices of these CRM solutions on their websites or online platforms such as Capterra, Software Advice, or G2.
>>> GET SMARTER: Less Annoying CRM: Buy or Not?
FINALLY: SHOULD YOU BUY SALESFORCE CRM OR NOT?
The decision to buy Salesforce CRM depends on how well it fits your business requirements and budget, and how it compares with other CRM solutions in the market, such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, Zoho CRM, monday.com, HubSpot Sales, Pipedrive, Freshsales, Zendesk Sell, ActiveCampaign, Less Annoying CRM, Neon CRM, Insightly, and Bitrix. In fact, instead of choosing Salesforce CRM, you may opt for one of the alternatives above which have better plans and offers than Salesforce CRM.
Ultimately, the best way to decide if Salesforce CRM is right for you is to try it for yourself. You can sign up for a free 30-day trial and see how it works for your business.
