Tips For Building A Successful Custom CRM

  • Sundew
    Sundew
  • sundew
    6 min.read
  • sundew
    February 2nd, 2023
  • Technology
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CRM System Introduction 

A CRM or Customer Relationship Management System is a software that connects all client-related Data and helps businesses keep track of their communications with Leads and Clients. The main purpose of a CRM is to make Organizations more efficient in communications, save time and handle all the client tasks smoothly so that positive feedback is received from them and all client requirements are delivered. 

A CRM system collects data from different sources like communication services to documents, expenditure invoices, quotations from all the clients and leads, etc., and keeps it organized in a single place that can be accessed at any required time. A seamless customer management system is beneficial for all businesses. 

Benefits of CRM

  • Collection of a wide range of Client data, from static info to historical data of communications, documents, and activities regarding a project
  • Contacts are automatically updated
  • Automated lead scoring, task reminders, and Data flow from CRM to automation engine 
  • Organizes Data 

The CRM software market is likely to become $35 billion worth by 2023. (Both Custom and Non-Custom) -Lanars.com 

Why you need a Custom CRM 

While a CRM is essential for your business, all enterprises differ. Even the ones dealing with the same services have different teams revolving around different organizational patterns. Customizing a CRM makes it more effective than using a Universal one, which sometimes fails to fit the organization's needs. 

With the Digital Market booming and Modernization trends spreading across the globe, unique companies are emerging that are unconventional to the core and thus require an unorthodox approach to CRM. A custom-made CRM makes data collection and integration easy and beneficial, fulfilling all necessary automation requirements. 

Moreover, the scaling aspect of a tailored CRM is more profitable to a business, as the feature-packed CRM software might not be all functional to an organization. Picking and paying for only the functions used by a Company saves money and is more convenient.

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Benefits of a Custom CRM

  • Manage time while collecting and sorting the right Data
  • More secure while dealing with sensitive Data, rather than Commercial CRM options
  • Saves money and ensures proper functionality 
  • Can be scaled with new demands 
  • Enhances sales through proper Data Analysis
  • Flexible solutions that can be easily adapted by your team

We will be discussing tips that will help you create a custom CRM that will work by favoring your Sales team, bringing maximum benefits to your enterprise and delivering high-end client satisfaction. 

CRM Features to Consider

There are numerous features that can be found in CRM services, but while developing a tailored one, it is important to include the inevitable features. The following are the basic features that should be incorporated into a custom CRM software to make it influential. 

  • Leads Management- Converting leads into clients is what makes a business grow. A custom CRM software must have the ability to manage Lead interactions successfully so that no possible opportunities are missed. Also, managing tasks like sending follow-up emails and taking appointments through a CRM software saves time and checks for any missed opportunity.  
  • Email Integration- Email Integration is an essential part of any CRM. By linking your Email account to your CRM, it becomes easy to track customer interactions and draw out reports. Handling customer relationships becomes easy, and client details can be easily viewed by anyone within the organization without wasting any time. 
  • Task Control- With so much going around in an organization, missing deadlines can be a possibility. Thus to manage tasks, an Alerting System that notifies the team about upcoming events or overdues by notification and reminders is inevitable in a Custom CRM. 
  • Data Reporting and analytics- Data Reporting and Analytics, if done properly, can bring tremendous benefits to your organization. By understanding the patterns of the collected Data, you can work more efficiently to serve customer requirements and generate their satisfaction, upgrade your Company's reputation, and bring in more new clients. 
  • Customer Support- This feature helps to alert the concerned members of your team in case of any customer complaints or interactions. A quick redressal of problems generates positive feedback.
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Define Your Goals And Budget

Start with studying your present situation and understand your requirements for a Custom CRM. Look at the different aspects of your business and point out if you need a CRM to enhance organizational efficiency, harness the power of Data to gain better customer feedback and insights, or improve company-wide communications regarding client Data. 

Once you figure out your goals and necessities, you need to estimate your budget. Custom CRMs can be pricey according to the features you pick. Make sure about the amount that you want to invest initially into your CRM software.

Fit it with your Business

A software can be used in hundreds of ways, but to master it, you should craft it according to your style. Make sure that your CRM is polished with seamless UX that smoothly carries out its functionality. If your teammates find it difficult to operate the CRM, no features will work out to their full potential. 

Hire skilled professionals who can shape it according to your business aesthetics and designs, making it truly custom and unique. After your CRM is programmed and launched, your first step is to teach your team about its overall aspects and help them master it. 

After that, observe if your CRM is working with other systems of your organization and not against them. Any gaps can lead to inefficiency and Data mismanagement, which can be detrimental to the growth of your business. Updates and tech support like Cloud storage and other innovations can help your CRM work more robustly. Proper Security Shielding is also necessary so that sensitive data can be safeguarded by proactively plugging loopholes.

A CRM can therefore help your organization grow and make the flow of communications within it more smooth. These tips will help you pick your tailored CRM with more care so that you can reap the maximum benefits.

For further information about a Custom CRM for your business, connect with Sundew.

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UX Research Strategy: How to Build User Experiences That Truly Click

As designers and developers, it is easy to often free-fall into assuming that your own preferences will mirror those of your audience. The key to avoiding this assumption is a well-established UX research strategy.Aesthetic appeal, undoubtedly, is an unavoidable pillar of good user experience. But the design that truly resonates shouldn’t just look good. It should work just as good for the people who will actually use it. An efficient strategy for UX research provides a clear roadmap to keep designs grounded in reality. It ensures that real user insights rather than assumptions drive every decision.So, how do you get there?And why is it so important?Let’s find out!Why Do You Need a UX Research Strategy?So, why does this matter? Without a clear research strategy, your project risks veering off course. Think of it as your North Star, offering a clear direction and aligning your team with shared goals and best practices. Here's why it's essential:Aligns Teams and Stakeholders: A solid strategy helps bring stakeholders on board, emphasizing the importance of research and securing their involvement in the process.Guides Research Projects: It provides a roadmap for individual initiatives, laying out clear goals, checkpoints, and methods to ensure the research is focused and purposeful.Helps You Be Proactive: Without a strategy, it’s easy to become reactive and overwhelmed by incoming requests. A well-defined UX research strategy shifts the focus to proactive planning, anticipating needs and opportunities before they arise.Ensures Resource Efficiency: When the right data is collected at the right time, teams can avoid wasting resources on irrelevant research and get meaningful insights.By taking a thoughtful, structured approach to UX research, organizations can ensure that every initiative contributes to an overarching goal, streamlining processes and driving impactful results.Who Are You Building a UX Research Strategy For?More than just collecting user insights, a well-planned UX research strategy depends on understanding who will use those insights to make key decisions. Research impacts various teams across an organization. From top-level executives to hands-on developers, each stakeholder has different expectations. So, aligning your UX research and strategy with the needs of ‘who’ you are targeting ensures its success.Leaders: VPs, Heads of Marketing, and Senior Engineers use UX research to align product development with business goals, validate strategies, and minimize risks.Implementers: Designers, engineers, and product teams translate research insights into user-friendly designs, ensuring functionality and usability.Executives: Overseeing company vision, executives approve funding and UX research, and strategy. Framing research in terms of business impact, growth, competitive edge, and retention secures their buy-in.UX Research Methods: Frameworks and ImplementationA well-structured UX research strategy involves choosing the right methods to gather insights, improve usability, and enhance user experience. Below are key UX research methods, along with their explanations, execution steps, and practical applications.Personas and Empathy MapsBefore designing a seamless user experience, it’s essential to know who you’re designing for. Personas and empathy maps bring users to life by illustrating their behaviors, frustrations, and aspirations. It helps teams step into the users’ shoes, ensuring design decisions aren’t based on assumptions but on real user insights.Best Practices:Gather user data through research methods like interviews and surveys.Identify patterns and segment users into personas.Create empathy maps to visualize user thoughts, feelings, and actions.Practical Applications:Enhancing AI-Driven Personalization: Personas help refine AI-driven recommendation engines by tailoring user experiences based on behavioral insights. An effective UX research strategy example is designing for an "impatient/busy" persona by implementing one-click checkout or predictive search. This streamlines the user journey, enabling faster and more efficient interactions.Aligning Cross-Functional Teams: This ensures that product, engineering, marketing, and customer support have a shared understanding of user needs, leading to more cohesive user experiences.Guiding UX Design and Ideation: Personas and empathy maps support experience mapping, storyboarding, and usability testing, ensuring design choices resonate with real user pain points.SurveysWhen you need insights from a large audience without breaking the bank, surveys are the go-to method. They offer a quick and scalable way to gather feedback, whether you’re validating an idea, measuring satisfaction, or uncovering patterns in user behavior. The key is crafting the right questions because the quality of responses depends on how well you ask.Best Practices:Prepare a discussion guide: Develop a structured script to ensure all critical topics are addressed. Design clear, unbiased questions.Ask open-ended questions: Encourage in-depth responses rather than simple yes/no answers.Build focus groups: Bring together small, diverse groups of users matching established personas to discuss their perceptions, beliefs, and opinions.Use digital tools: Researchers can use tools like Google Forms to distribute and analyze responses.Segment Responses: Analyze data by demographics, usage behavior, or other relevant factors.Practical Applications:Validating Product-Market Fit: Before investing in full-scale development, surveys can gauge interest in new features, such as a car-buying app integrating real-time insurance rate calculations.Combining Surveys with Behavioral Analytics: Surveys complement tools like heatmaps or session recordings by revealing the why behind user actions. An effective UX strategy example uses heatmaps to identify low-engagement areas on a page. Pairing this with user surveys helps uncover whether the issue stems from poor content, confusing navigation, or a lack of user interest.Optimizing Digital Interfaces: By analyzing user preferences and feedback at scale, surveys help refine UI elements such as navigation menus, checkout flows, or mobile app layouts for enhanced usability.User InterviewsProbably, the best UX research strategy to understand users is by talking to them directly. User interviews provide firsthand insights into their needs, pain points, and expectations. Whether conducted in person or remotely, these conversations uncover the ‘why’ behind user behaviors, helping designers create solutions that truly resonate.Best Practices:Start with the context: Avoid diving straight into your product. Begin by understanding users' broader needs and the tasks they aim to accomplish.Ask thoughtful questions: Focus on how users approach their goals and the challenges they face.Invest in analysis: Record and transcribe sessions to extract actionable insights that can be shared with your team.Define goals and assumptions: Establish clear research objectives and internal assumptions to guide your inquiry.Practical Applications:Identifying Key Usability Challenges: By analyzing user feedback, teams can pinpoint usability issues in applications or digital platforms before full-scale development. For instance, interviews may reveal the need for customizable dashboards in an analytics tool.Data-Driven Feature Development: User interviews often uncover patterns through thematic analysis, helping prioritize features like personalization, automation, or accessibility improvements.Refining AI-Powered Interfaces: Insights from interviews can improve AI chatbots and voice assistants by identifying common user frustrations and expectations, leading to better conversational flow and response accuracy.Five-Second TestingFive-second testing gauges the immediate impact of a design by exposing users to a design or interface for just five seconds. This UX research strategy helps capture initial impressions and determines whether key messages and visual elements are effectively communicated at a glance.Best Practices:Use High-Impact Visuals: Choose images or screens that are representative of the overall design to ensure consistency in messaging.Follow Up Quickly: Ask targeted questions immediately after the exposure to capture fresh and unbiased impressions.Focus on Key Elements: Identify standout elements such as headlines, imagery, or call-to-actions to determine what captures users' attention.Compare Iterations: Utilize the results to refine designs and, if necessary, run additional tests to validate improvements.Practical Applications:Optimizing Visual Hierarchy: Use insights from five-second tests to adjust visual elements, ensuring that the most important information is immediately noticeable.Improving First Impressions: Refine the landing page or initial screens based on rapid feedback, which can be critical for retaining new users.Guiding Iterative Design: Apply the data to iteratively enhance design elements, ensuring that each version communicates the core message more effectively.Validating Marketing Collateral: Test advertising visuals and key messaging to ensure that campaign assets resonate with the audience at first glance.Concept TestingConcept testing evaluates the feasibility and appeal of new product ideas before significant resources are invested in development. This method is great for checking the efficacy of a process based on the latest design trends before implementation. It gathers feedback through surveys, interviews, or focus groups to validate user interest and refine the concept.Best Practices:Clarify the Concept: Clearly articulate the idea or feature being tested to ensure participants understand it.Mix Methods: Use a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to gather a comprehensive view.Seek Diverse Feedback: Include a variety of user segments to ensure broad appeal.Iterate Based on Feedback: Refine the concept based on user insights before moving forward with development.Practical Applications:Early Market Validation: Determine whether a new product or feature resonates with your target audience before investing in full-scale development.Feature Prioritization: Identify which aspects of a concept have the strongest appeal and should be prioritized in development.Marketing Strategy Alignment: Use feedback to shape marketing messaging and positioning strategies, ensuring that the product's benefits are clearly communicated to potential users.Risk Mitigation: Reduce the risk of product failure by testing assumptions early and making necessary adjustments based on user insights.A/B TestingSometimes, the smallest design tweaks make the biggest difference in a UX research strategy. A/B testing removes the guesswork by pitting two versions of a design against each other to see which one performs better. Whether it’s a call-to-action button, a landing page layout, or a checkout flow, this method ensures that design decisions are backed by real user behavior—not just intuition.Best Practices:Define Clear Metrics: Identify the specific metrics (e.g., conversion rates, click-through rates) to compare performance.Control Variables: Ensure that only one element varies between the two versions to isolate its impact.Randomize User Assignment: Use random assignment to reduce bias in test groups.Iterate Based on Data: Use test results to inform continuous improvements and further testing.Practical Applications:Optimizing Digital Experiences with Data: A/B testing provides quantitative data that directly influences UI/UX improvements, such as tweaking CTA button placements to maximize conversions.Refining AI and Personalization Algorithms: Platforms like Spotify use A/B testing to fine-tune user interfaces—such as switching from a hamburger menu to a tab bar, improving engagement, and reducing churn.Reducing Friction in E-commerce and SaaS Products: Testing checkout flows, landing page variations, and pricing models ensures that businesses make decisions based on user behavior, not assumptions.Usability TestingA great design isn’t just about looking good; it’s about working seamlessly. Usability testing puts designs to the test by watching real users interact with a product. From subtle hesitations to major roadblocks, every user action tells a story, helping researchers uncover what works, what doesn’t, and what needs improvement.Best Practices:Use Realistic Scenarios: Craft tasks that mimic actual user interactions without overly guiding them.Iterate Frequently: Conduct multiple rounds of testing to refine the product continuously.Encourage Honest Feedback: Create an environment where users feel comfortable sharing their genuine thoughts.Document Observations: Record both qualitative observations and quantitative metrics to guide design decisions.Practical Applications:Improving Digital Accessibility: Identifies barriers for users with disabilities, allowing companies to enhance their platforms with WCAG-compliant design principles.Validating MVPs and Prototypes: Before launching a product, usability tests reveal gaps in user flows, helping refine navigation and task completion processes.Enhancing E-commerce and App Retention: By analyzing friction points, such as abandoned shopping carts or failed form submissions, teams can identify areas that need improvement. With these insights, they can make data-backed changes to boost engagement and increase conversion rates.How to Choose the Right UX Research and Strategy Method?Selecting the right UX research strategy method depends on your goals, available resources, and the stage of product development. While using multiple research methods provides the most comprehensive insights, constraints like time, budget, and stakeholder buy-in often dictate what’s feasible. The key is to choose a method that aligns with your needs while keeping the user at the center of your UX design process. To select the right approach, consider these key factors:Define Your Goals and ChallengesStart by clarifying what you need to learn. Ask the following questions:What do users need?What are their pain points?How can we improve their experience?Exploring UX research templates and case studies can also help refine your approach.Align with Your Design StageThe right research method depends on where you are in the product development cycle:Early-stage research: Use generative methods like field studies to gather broad insights.Mid-stage testing: Apply evaluative methods like usability testing to refine prototypes.Post-launch research: Focus on continuous feedback through surveys and analytics.Choose the Right Type of DataBalancing qualitative and quantitative research ensures a well-rounded UX strategy that keeps users at the heart of your design decisions.For deep qualitative insights (user motivations, behaviors, and emotions), use interviews, field studies, or contextual inquiries.For measurable, quantitative data (satisfaction scores, design comparisons). Use surveys, A/B testing, or analytics tools.Beyond Launch: A Continuous JourneyA strong UX research process doesn’t stop when a product goes live; it evolves with user needs. Post-launch research helps bridge qualitative insights with real-world data, ensuring the product delivers on its intended goals. Leading teams embrace continuous research, making user feedback a regular practice rather than a one-time event. By integrating ongoing discovery into the UX research strategy, businesses can refine experiences, adapt to changing demands, and stay ahead of the curve.

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E-commerce solutions in the COVID19 World – How they will re-shape industries

Coupled with the vulnerable condition of our health, COVID 19 has also hit the world economy hard. Production has slowed down due to the unavailability of raw materials, the absence of labor and the companies are finding it extremely challenging to cope with the towering manufacturing price. In this ‘war-like economy’ how does one survive and sustain? Here, we have tried to highlight some methodical e-commerce solutions by which a business will be able to avoid extinction during this global crisis. Due to the declining demand for certain luxurious products, devastating supply chain, difficulties in getting inventory from the suppliers, and delivering it to the customers, many businesses have already stumbled, and some of them are tottering. As brick and mortar shops are rolling down their shutters due to the worldwide lockdown, the shop owners also have flocked online to continue their business. Are you focusing more on selling ‘need to use’ products than ‘good to use’ products?It is time to rethink these lines and how you position your product line. In this scenario, choosing a customized e-commerce solution for your brands and enterprises is crucial to reach out to your customers and ensure a faster ROI.Welcome the Novice shoppers with a Simplified E-commerce solution!As social distancing is the only effective master stroke one has, against the bio war, most of the customers would turn their heads from the physical grocery stores to online. The people, who have never been used to buying their essentials in the online cart, may find it difficult to perform their shopping. For the newbies and not so tech-savvy shoppers, simplifying the e-commerce solution is the one way or the highway to boost your sale! Top E-commerce giants are now focusing on speed and simplicity to drive mobile conversion. According to the experts interviewed by Business Insider Intelligence, it is becoming faster and easier in various facets of mobile checkouts. Make shopping easier for your buyers with Advisory Services and better information!With the evolution of AI, chatbots have made their way to e-commerce in recent years. Chatbots are primarily generated to respond to the customer’s queries about payment, delivery, and products.The chatbots now go beyond this limit by providing shoppers with a customized shopping experience. Would it not be amazing if customers could say, "Alexa, show me the shoe ideal for my morning jog."There must be many times when customers discover that they could get their favorite bag at almost half the price they invested. A virtual shopping assistant reflects shipping pop-ups and offers discount codes. So, if a customer always feels guilty about their impulsive shopping decision, they will get a shopping companion even at the wee hours.In the age of personalization and recommendations,  your e-commerce site should be “U-commerce” for the Customers. Many celebrated coffee companies are now leaning towards AI to track customers’ coffee preferences and sell the exact kind of coffee they love to taste.So, how can they sell coffee brewed by Artificial Intelligence?The buyers are instructed to scribble down his/her expectations and preference of coffee by filling a form reflected in the chatbot. Later, after having that coffee, they are also encouraged to provide feedback regarding the taste and flavor in another questionnaire. Launch a Sharing Economy Business Model: Give Access instead of OwnershipBecause of the vulnerable financial state of many of your buyers in Post-pandemic time, you may experience a noticeable decline in the business. With the access economy, your customers can access or use your products without owning it. It won’t also burn a hole in their pocket as they do not need to bear the high purchasing cost.A reputed company in the USA has launched a monthly vehicle subscription service to provide a daily commute opportunity and weekend driving thrills to the car lovers via mobile app. Also, a car company in Germany followed the footsteps which reflect their agenda, "Own the experience, not the car". Along with adopting innovative business models, using social media to promote your business post-COVID-19 can further help brands connect with cautious but digitally active customers.E-commerce as a Service in the New World! A leading American furniture company sells furniture as a renting service in workplaces. Instead of purchasing the office equipment and the ergonomic furniture, the clients can rent them against a monthly charge. This solution proves to be quite a convenient and cost-effective option now when the workplaces are shifting to home. You can rent a similar chair and desk which you were comfortable using in your office.  Provide a Brand New Shopping Experience to your Customers! Make it Fun with More Discounts and Surprises!Think about the Surprise Boxes for the subscribers available for quite a time already in the market! Those surprise boxes are packed with new stuff so that the customers explore something new every time.Regarding this, an excellent approach has been taken by a growing cosmetics e-commerce sector in the USA. They are now emphasizing more on giving discounts more on self-care products. Their monthly subscription boxes are adorned with wellness goodies that provide relaxation in the depressing lockdown. They arrange special gift coupons with interesting contests like: “Share a therapist-curated activity & get a product from us essential for your beauty regime at half price!” This sounds amazing! Isn’t it?Now, what makes a user-friendly robust, scalable, and also data-driven eCommerce solution?Custom E-commerce SuiteData-driven evaluation techniques for business insightsMultiple Device Responsiveness-Take your business at your Customer’s fingertipsIncorporate more mobile-friendly features in your e-commerceMake your site 100% compliant with Cybersecurity GuidelinesWe have tried to discuss ideas and directions to help you re-imagine the way you do business in the ‘New Normal’ scenario. If you are looking for more ideas for innovative solutions to be back in the game, Email us or talk to us at +91-98367-81929

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Six Tips to drive traffic to your website

Every business, despite the sector they are into, needs a website to survive in the competitive environment to engage visitors and get them to carry out the desired action. However, the lack of website traffic is one of the biggest concerns among all business owners and marketers. So, in this article, we have curated a list of actionable, DIY ideas to help businesses see a huge inflow of traffic to their website.  While some of these ideas might not work overnight but implementing them over time can help businesses to increase brand awareness, drive revenue and educate consumers. Now, let’s go straight into the six actionable ideas for Driving Website Traffic1. Simplifying user navigationOne of the reasons why many companies fail to drive website traffic is bad user interface. Maybe your visitors are leaving because they are unable to find something they are looking for on your webpage. Simplify and re-organize your navigation structure so that users can find the page they need without much effort and focus on building responsive bespoke designs as more than half of the millennial search any website from their mobile devices.2. Reduce page load timeSometimes robust navigation can slow down your home page. So, make sure it is designed in a way that doesn’t affect the page load time. Probably each one of us has an experience with slow loading pages and research shows that if loading time is slower even just for one second, then the website can detect a 56% surge in their bounce rate.3. Focus on long tail keywordIt’s no more a secret that SEO is one of the best ways to drive the right traffic to your website. So, make sure that the posts include all the relevant terms and phrases related to the keyword. Make a list of related long tail search terms and check which one works best in your niche. Long-tail keywords account for a majority of web searches, if businesses are not targeting them, they are missing out a huge share of prospects.4. Include links to other relevant posts on your blogThe strength of your website isn’t solely measured by how many sites link back to you – it can also be affected by your internal linking structure. When developing and publishing content, be sure to keep an eye out for opportunities for internal links. This not only helps with SEO and conversion rates but also improves traffic volume by enticing users to click on other web pages.5. Optimize your existing postGo through the old posts to make sure they have unique and relevant title tags, URLs and Meta descriptions. This is essential for boosting your SEO ranking as it will generate more page views and decrease bounce rates. If your site has more relevant content and images, it will convince Google that the content is of higher quality and will rank better on the search engines while making the visitors revisit your site.6. Promote your content and optimize social media profilesBeing visible on all social media platforms helps to build a connection with audiences who are interested in what your business is offering and will follow up by checking out the profile. So, it’s important that you adjust your bios, display pictures, and links to convert these impromptu visitors into qualified leads. With user engagement being an essential part in determining the success of a business, one needs to make the most of the above tips. Run tests to scrutinize which works best for your web design instead of simply settling on one. Thus, the primary focus should be on making the website eye-catchy, interactive, and user-friendly!

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