CRM systems have become an essential element of the modern business environment. These powerful systems can be used to unify your business and streamline your workforce, allowing for increased productivity, connectivity, and efficiency.
CRM systems have been attracting the attention of many business executives over the past few years, but they are expensive. Some of the best CRMs on the market can cost your business thousands of dollars each month.
You might be wondering if there are any free CRM systems worth considering in South Africa. Options are slim because there are a few essential factors to keep in mind. However, you may be pleasantly surprised by our top recommended free CRM in South Africa.
What’s the value of free CRMs?
Cutting costs wherever possible is always a good idea. However, when it comes to CRM systems, it’s difficult to take shortcuts. These are the systems that you need to trust with your data and business operations. So, is it worth using free CRM systems?
The majority of free CRMs could be better. You will have several limitations that make them impossible for your business to use. The main goal of a free CRM is to lure you into buying a paid package. In other words, their goal is to frustrate you into giving them money — that’s why it’s often not worth considering free CRMs.
There are a few common limitations that you would find with a free CRM. The first is that they would restrict the number of users. Oftentimes free CRMs will limit the number of users to 20 or fewer. While this is fine for most businesses that have smaller teams, there are some CRMs that limit the number of users to just two. This is something to be mindful of when choosing your CRM system.
Another limitation that you may find with free CRMs is that you will be given a time trial offer. Many CRMs will let you use their system for free just for 14 days or 30 days. This is great if you want to give it a try and get a better idea of how the system works, but that’s not a truly free CRM.
Why Hubspot is Your Best Free CRM Option
If you’re looking for a free CRM, your best bet is HubSpot. Unlike other “free” CRMs, HubSpot offers unlimited users without time limits. This means that your business can use this fully functional CRM without worrying about the size of your team or the amount of time you have with the system in place.
HubSpot is also incredibly flexible when it comes to your budget. The CRM is split into three different branches: Sales Hub, Marketing Hub, and Service Hub. Each of these branches can be upgraded without having to take on the additional features of the other Hubs. For example, if you need to unlock additional premium sales features, you can upgrade your Sales Hub while keeping your other Hubs on their free versions. HubSpot has been praised for this feature as it allows you to grow the CRM alongside your business.
Oftentimes CRMs are offered as complete packages, which means that you will be given all of the features, whether you use them or not. If you’re not using features, or you’re not using the CRM to its full potential, then you’re wasting money.
In addition, HubSpot has an easier learning curve than most other CRMs, which is especially helpful to many businesses. Hubspot even has an online academy that will give your team video tutorials and lessons on how to get the most out of their system.
Choosing Your Perfect CRM Software
With hundreds of different CRMs on the market, you will need to make a decision on which one your business is going to use. It’s a tough decision, made even more difficult by the fact that it’s difficult to move from one CRM system to another due to the complex implementation process.
The first, and most important factor to keep in mind is the budget that your business has. You need to make sure that you can comfortably afford the monthly costs of the CRM. Keep in mind that many CRMs have additional costs when it comes to implementation and maintenance, so it’s always a good idea to over-budget for your CRM system.
You also need to make sure that the features offered by the CRM match your business’ needs and goals. Every CRM is unique and some may have more features than others. Make sure that the features you need are offered by the CRM of your choice.
Finally, it’s always a good idea to make sure that you have support for the CRM system when you need it. Whether that’s in the form of an agency or the CRM’s support team. Even the most user-friendly systems can sometimes be complex and you may run into problems every now and then, so make sure you have a reliable support system you can contact.
Conclusion
Choosing a free CRM software is not an easy task. There are several different CRMs on the market that claim to be free, but there’s always a catch. The closest you will get to a truly free CRM is HubSpot. As always though, make sure that the system aligns with your business requirements. Feel free to get in touch with a GoCRM expert if you need any assistance with CRM systems in South Africa.
