3 Open-Source CRM Systems with Robust Marketing Features You Can Start Using Right Now
Today, organizations of all sizes take the plunge and start using open source software in their business activities. And here is one major reason for that: significant benefits for users of this software. The major advantages include:
Open source solutions are associated with higher reliability and stability. Their users rarely deal with bugs and severe defects. Any problems detected by users or technicians are addressed in a swift manner given the availability of the open source code. Such products are quickly fixed, updated and upgraded.
Open source products are flexible. They can be easily changed to meet specific business needs.
The cost is one more benefit. Many solutions are free, while proprietary software involves high expenses.
The open source community is strong, and it is easy to find all the necessary documentation, product forums, live chats, and more.
Businesses and individuals use different open source software solutions. For instance, there are general-purpose solutions (e.g. LibreOffice can be used by anyone within a company or even at home) and department-specific ones (e.g. OrangeHRM was created for HR Managers). Organizations pay much attention to customer data management, thus actively employing CRM software.
Many established products (e.g. Microsoft Dynamics CRM) do not have open source codes, but companies are increasingly opting for open source alternatives. Open-source solutions have many useful features that make them even smarter than conventional CRM systems.
The products that have robust marketing features are especially valuable, as they can help a business to take its marketing to a new level. Here are some open source CRM products with marketing capabilities you will love.
SugarCRM
This CRM solution is available in more than 30 languages. It supports multiple currencies. The solution contains real-time modules, such as Leads, Opportunities, and Accounts. Charts, reports, and homepages are customizable. Dashboards automatically consolidate data from different teams, and the management can access this data when needed. So, it is easy to monitor teams' performance (e.g. a sales team). The system can be integrated with complex data modeling tools, Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes. It works smoothly with leading email services (e.g. Microsoft Exchange).
But why is Sugar indispensable for marketers? First of all, it has good Google Apps integration. It can be integrated with Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Maps, Google Docs, and more. Social CRM solutions like Twitter can be accessed right from Sugar. This feature automatically generates leads from social media. Users can manage access permissions, thus reducing security risks. The product has powerful forecasting capabilities. For instance, Forecasts can give the company a helping hand in modeling the best case, likely/worst cases scenarios.
Campaign Management is one more great feature that helps to streamline the development, execution and monitoring of campaigns across multiple channels. All the campaigns can be measured, and users get real-time activity updates. Email delivery, a bounce rate, click-through, etc. can be easily tracked. Users can capture website visitors' information and store it among other Leads.
Complex business processes can be automated by using a special process automation engine via a visual design interface. SugarCRM has streamlined information sharing and case routing. Employees can access any case status, and that is why they are better prepared for engaging with customers. Emails are automatically routed to the customer support agent who handles the specific case. The system tracks and manages product-related problems. The Self-Service Portal is one more crucial feature that makes this solution distinct from others. Individuals are allowed to create cases by themselves, update account details, track bugs and take the advantage of the knowledge base.
OroCRM
This CRM system supports many languages, too. Translations are made by the translator community via CrowdIn. All available translations are shown in the system configuration (see below).
This product has all the features that successful CRM solutions have: accounts and contact management, sales performance dashboards, leads and opportunities management, Calendars, and more. It boasts a powerful reporting engine, and users can benefit from tracking website revenues, conversion rates, sales force pipelines, etc. Owners of the Enterprise Edition can share their records with other users. This system can be easily customized. For instance, users can create custom workflows. They can change languages, locales, display settings (e.g. menu bar location), and more. Workflows are easy to build, customize, and adapt to the needs of a business.
What are the benefits for marketers? OroCRM has the Forecast widget that displays data pertaining to future metrics (e.g. revenue forecasts). Marketing executives can use the Campaigns Leads dashboard to track marketing efforts, check campaign leads, etc. The system provides improved management of communications with customers and within the organization. All the emails are automatically processed. Users can utilize auto-responses, add and edit comments to emails, add tasks and create email templates.
Users can exploit the list of favorite and most viewed pages. They can pin different pages to the header: unfinished forms, frequently used search results and filtered grids, important records, and more. This system supports out-of-the-box integration with Magento. Users can load data from and to their Magento-based eCommerce stores and then process it in OroCRM (e.g. edit Magento customers from OroCRM). The RFM Analysis used to identify top customers is one more attractive feature available for Magento customers.
The product can be integrated with other solutions and websites used by marketers: MailChimp, eBay, Amazon, Zendesk, Sweet Tooth, Mandrill, Google Handouts, OroCommerce, etc. It has the Tracking Websites functionality that gives users a chance to find out how many people visited their websites by clicking links within a marketing campaign and track visitors' actions there. Users can also create Embedded Forms to add them to third-party websites in order to grant website visitors an opportunity to communicate with the OroCRM team.
EspoCRM
This web-based CRM solution supports 15 languages. It can be accessed from any devices connected to the Internet. Different businesses can relish on the system, and it has already proved its efficiency in wholesale and retail trade, ecommerce, insurance, banking, call centers, real estate, healthcare, and more. It has much in common with other CRM products: users can manage leads, contacts, accounts, add items to the Calendar, etc. It has the Social feature that represents a feed where users can see changes made by others and follow particular records right from the feed.
The solution shows currency rates and supports different themes. The workflow management is also available (for holders of the Advanced Pack).
The system has an array of vital marketing features. Users can create, edit, and manage campaigns. They can make target lists and synchronize them with reports if needed. Mass email sending required in the email marketing is enabled in the solution, too. EspoCRM allows using multiple email addresses per record, automatically archives emails from personal/group IMAP accounts, and automatically links incoming emails to the corresponding records.
Users can search through the knowledge base to find the information they need (e.g. cases), store documents, access customer portal and product records, etc. Birthday notifications are one more interesting feature of this product: the system can send notifications about birthdays of contacts, leads, and users. EspoCRM can be integrated with third-party solutions, such as MailChimp, Google Contacts, and VoIP, to name a few.
Furthermore, it is fully customizable. For instance, the layout for detailed and list views can be changed; custom entities, fields and relationships can be created. Users can also enjoy installable extensions. The product has many other features that are able bring a business to a new level by assisting employees in their activities like inventory management, quote and invoice management.
Conclusion
There are many CRM solutions that companies have used for years. But if organizations want to get their finger on the pulse of the most recent technology solutions, they should consider open source CRM systems as an alternative to the currently used ones. Open-source solutions have many advantages over conventional systems. They can not only manage customer data, but also assist a company in its marketing efforts thanks to features that CRM products have. If companies need any other feature, they can address experts specializing in the development of custom CRM solutions and open source CRM customization.
About the Author
Tatsiana Levdikova is an IT/Tech Journalist at EffectiveSoft, a custom software company that unites 250+ experts.