The defintion of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) that I favor is "CRM is the business strategy that aims to understand Cheap Womens Jerseys , anticipate, manage and personalize the needs of an organization's current and potential customers"
From this we can learn that CRM is more than just a piece of software; CRM is a business strategy, one that puts the customer at the heart of the business.
?That's nothing new? I hear you say, and you would be right. Good business people have always understood the relationship between happy customers that come back again and again and creating long term Cheap Mens Jerseys , sustainable profitability.
You just have to think of the local shop owner who knew everyone of his customer's names, birthdays and particular ailments to prove that point. What is new is that there now exists the technology to enable this customer-centricity on a much larger scale.
It is said that a successful CRM implementation will allow your Customer Service, Sales and Marketing people (and anyone else in your organization) to have a holistic view of each and everyone of your customers. In theory this will enable them to make quick, informed decisions Cheap Jerseys Online , create cross selling and up selling opportunities, measure marketing effectiveness and deliver personalized Customer Care.
Sound's great doesn't it!
The History of CRM
Following on from Enterprise Resource Planning or ERP (the business strategy that promised to automate the ?back-office?), the term CRM was first coined in the mid-1990s. CRM in those days referred to the software used to help businesses manage their customer relationships. From sales force automation software (SFA) that focused on customer contact management to integrated knowledge management solutions, these were the early foundations of CRM.
The last couple of years have seen the term broaden to encompass a more strategic approach and the investment of billions of dollars worldwide into CRM solutions and services has followed.
First Things First
Successful CRM always starts with a business strategy Cheap Jerseys Wholesale , which drives change in the organization and work processes, enabled by technology. The reverse rarely works.
The key here is to create a truly Customer-Centric philosophy that touches every point and more importantly every person in the company. From CSR to CEO everyone must live and breathe customer focus for all of this to work.
At the same time you should look at your which processes could be re-engineered to make them more effective for your customers. Until you have done this, put away your chequebook!
The Right Technology
It is estimated that the global market for CRM services and solutions is currently worth $148 billion. That means a lot of choice when selecting your technology - from web-based solutions aimed at small businesses with less than 10 employees to solutions suitable for multi-national enterprises with millions of customers.
The Future
CRM has already made a big impact in the world of Customer Service and will continue to do so. As more and more companies become customer-centric those that fail to do so will lose competitive advantage. As technology increases to develop at a startling rate the key emphasis will be how we can fully utilise it within our business.
However let's not lose sight of the fact that Customer Relationship Management is about people first and and technology second. That's where the real value of CRM lies, harnessing the potential of people to create a greater customer experience Cheap Jerseys From China , using the technology of CRM as the enabler.
CRM may or may not prove to be the answer to providing excellent customer care, but the philosophy of putting customers at the heart of our business is definitely a step in the right direction. How A Home Business May Protect You From The Housing Bubble Posted by nick_niesen on October 28th, 2010
Not everyone agrees there is a housing bubble which will have an impact on the entire economy, but how about one that has an impact on you? If your home was devalued Cheap Jerseys China , even temporarily, do you have the cash flow to sustain your credit or allow you to sell your home without getting into debt? In the US today, many people live in homes which have positioned them in a loosing financial situation. How can a home business improve your financial position and protect you from the potential effects of a housing bubble?
First, many people have W-2 income as their only source of income. While a job is certainly a great way to trade your time for a consistent flow of money Cheap Jerseys , it also provides you with the fewest tax advantages which means you end up paying more to Uncle Sam than those who also run a home business on the side. For example, many CPAs and tax planning specialists can show you how to deduct part of your home expenses, your cell phone bill and even costs to maintain and operate your vehicle, legally Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys , if you are able to document that you actively work on your home business each day. This can turn expenses you are already paying for, into tax deductions. Thats money in your pocket! Money saved can be reinvested into growing your business or applied to paying off your mortgage more quickly.