Most firms choose a CRM system that is easy to set up and use. What could be simpler than integrating a CRM with Gmail? Unfortunately, even though it might seem difficult to set up a CRM as a small business owner, it isn’t. In reality, you can create a CRM system faster than you can say “Gmail CRM” with a simple Gmail account.

This article will explain what customer relationship management (CRM) is, how it works, why businesses use it when it’s appropriate to implement it, and which CRMs work best with Gmail.

What is CRM?

Customer relationship management is referred to as CRM. CRM software is a system for managing client interactions, as the name implies. CRM software allows you to record communications with potential clients and information about them. Multiple individuals within an organization have access to the data, which is kept in a centralized database.

For growing businesses, a CRM helps to streamline sales, marketing initiatives, customer support, accounting, and management. The details of a specific client’s customer journey are accessible to and editable by multiple parties.

A customer might initially access your CRM by completing a demo or contact form on your website. After exchanging a few follow-up emails with a sales representative, you can edit the customer’s information to reflect what you’ve discovered about their company. Then, marketing can decide how to best appeal to their client’s demands.

While some of these actions are logged automatically, some information might need to be manually entered. Everything is available through one system, which reduces unneeded paperwork and clutter, speeds up communication, and raises customer satisfaction.

Why do companies use customer relationship management software?

Although there are numerous reasons businesses adopt customer relationship management, the main objectives are enhancing the customer experience and boosting sales.

A CRM typically works best for service providers or potential purchases. A solid CRM can help fine jewellers, landscapers, real estate agencies, law businesses, and accountants. Another advantage of technology streamlining any procedures is that it benefits B2B businesses, particularly those with longer sales cycles like SaaS.

When is the right time to adopt a CRM?

You may have concluded that a CRM system is probably in your company’s future now that you know what a CRM is. The reasonable follow-up query is when.

Many small businesses and startups begin by just keeping track of their leads in an email marketing platform and their client list in a spreadsheet. That works fine for a while, but things start to fall apart. It can be difficult to keep track of everything, particularly for businesses seeking to expand.

There may be inconsistencies across various databases if your data is stored in various locations. Your team’s ability to condense everything can be slowed down by something as basic as someone forgetting to update one spreadsheet.

Understanding how various connections or businesses are connected when critical information is separated might be challenging. With conventional software, you cannot track customer interactions with your website, interface with your preferred apps, or update content in real-time. You can check with a CRM.

A CRM is useful for HR problems like employee departures. Without a CRM, you rely on salespeople to close open deals and update verbal communications. By saving everything and enabling the incoming team member to join in without losing ground, a CRM eliminates the element of guesswork from this process. This saves everyone time.

Best Gmail CRMs

Every internet user appreciates Google’s emphasis on user experience and straightforward design. The user advantages of a CRM system for Gmail include a low learning curve and well-designed, user-friendly productivity tools (such as G Suite and Google Drive). Gmail is our home, whether we like it or not.

We use it to communicate, schedule appointments, plan meetings, keep track of contacts and relationships, create opportunities, create upcoming projects, and set reminders for all the various tasks associated with daily life and business. Additionally, having well-integrated CRM apps in your Gmail makes using the software easier because it feels more natural.

You may get the goods from the following CRM tools in the convenience of your Gmail inbox.

Streak (Full Gmail Integration)

Streak is designed to be a natural extension of your current workflow. Streak still includes all the juicy CRM information like pipeline and lead generation features, even if it is a more lightweight solution. The software offers easily customized workflows with search, filter, group, and sorting tools, as well as automatic data collection, tracking, and easy-view pipeline details next to your emails.

Agile CRM (Chrome extension)

The CRM platform and your Gmail inbox communicate more easily, thanks to Agile CRM’s Chrome add-on for Gmail. You may access contacts from both systems via two-way contact sync, which can be set up to sync automatically at predetermined intervals.

Agile CRM’s contact timeline lets you quickly see a chronological list of all emails that have ever been sent to a contact using the platform’s comprehensive 360-degree contact view.

HubSpot CRM (Gmail Sidebar Integration)

Given that HubSpot is a well-known brand in the CRM space (on par with Salesforce), it makes sense that it would provide a Chrome extension for Gmail to facilitate workflow for its users. The Gmail connection includes configurable email templates, automated outreach, an easy-to-use meeting planner, a sales funnel, and mobile access to optimize email tracking and sales (iPhone and Android).

FollowUp Personal CRM (Gmail Sidebar Integration)

This CRM provides a Chrome plugin for Gmail to manage your personal or professional network right from the comfort of your inbox. FollowUp Personal helps you maximize your relationships with cutting-edge features like reminders for chats, projects, or events and sophisticated note-taking abilities if all of your contacts are already in Gmail.

Capsule CRM (Gmail Sidebar Integration)

Capsule offers a Gmail add-on integration that enables you to access various useful functions from an inbox sidebar, including the ability to link sales possibilities and cases with cases, store discussion threads and client information, and create follow-up activities. The capsule is incredibly approachable, especially for those new to CRM, thanks to its straightforward platform, customizable features, and mobile-friendly layout.

Nimble (Gmail Sidebar Integration)

NimbleMail is also for G Suite, which means that all Google apps, including Calendar, Contacts, Docs, and Google Drive, are seamlessly integrated. Thanks to the sidebar integration, it is simple to manage contacts, organize deals, sync calendar appointments, send trackable template emails, and manage deals. Cross-channel contact and lead information are combined into a single, unified profile via Nimble’s Contact Record function.

Salesmate (Gmail Sidebar Integration)

You can examine contacts/companies, timeline activity, and sale opportunities with Salesmate’s Chrome plugin, which integrates with the Gmail sidebar. You can enter notes, view sales history, and create emails and contacts that will be updated immediately on the Salesmate platform in the sidebar. Each workday may be more productive by automating data entry and categorizing records.

Conclusion

An email is opened and read, an opportunity is found, an action item is assigned, a follow-up is made, and a client connection is nurtured. A customer relationship management system designed for Gmail allows users to keep up with their workflow naturally (sometimes even in a single tab). Since Gmail emails are the most common place for everything, you might as well get started with your own CRM integration for Gmail.

FAQ

Can I use Gmail as a CRM?

Another function that transforms Gmail into a CRM system is its labelling system. Users can categorize prospects, clients, and business partners based on pre-defined criteria or their unique criteria.

Is there a CRM in Google?

Google doesn’t have a customer relationship management (CRM) product. Still, because many company processes rely on Google products, many professionals want a CRM that seamlessly connects with Google’s technologies.

Can you use G Suite as a CRM?

You can set up reminders to schedule a meeting with a customer with G Suite / Google Workspace just as easily as with a CRM. Once that’s done, you may email them, schedule a meeting on their Google calendar, or directly from your email inbox.