As a business analyst who has implemented CRM systems for companies of all sizes, I‘ve seen firsthand the power of going mobile. Equipping your teams with on-the-go access to customer data and insights can have a tremendous impact on sales, productivity, and CX.
But not all mobile CRM apps are created equal. Some are more specialized for sales teams while others excel at marketing automation or support. And you‘ll want to consider factors like offline access, security, custom reporting, and ease of use.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share my perspective as an experienced CRM expert on:
- The benefits of mobile CRM
- How to select the right platform for your needs
- An in-depth look at 7 top mobile CRM tools
Why Mobile CRM Should Be a Top Priority
Imagine this common scenario:
A sales rep meets with a prospect at their office. The prospect asks about pricing options that the rep doesn‘t have handy. They also request a sample case study for a company in a similar industry, but the rep doesn‘t have one available to share.
The sales rep takes some notes and promises to follow up with quotes and content via email later. But by the time they get back to the office, pull the relevant info, and send it over, the prospect has already moved forward with another vendor.
Frustrating, right? Now consider the difference mobile CRM could make:
With pricing, discounts, and assets at their fingertips, the rep could instantly provide the prospect with specifics right then and there. Mobile CRM empowers teams to deliver an on-the-spot, personalized buying experience.
More broadly, mobile CRM helps your business:
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Close deals faster – Shorten sales cycles by enabling reps to send quotes, obtain approvals, and finalize contracts without delay.
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Improve productivity – Let teams accomplish key tasks like updating records, logging calls, and managing workflows wherever they are.
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Deliver excellent CX – Staff can access full customer histories and quickly address questions or issues.
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Go remote – Mobile CRM facilitates collaboration and engagement for remote employees and field teams.
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Make smarter choices – Analytics and notifications provide real-time insights teams can act on.
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Work offline – Apps that store data locally allow productivity with or without connectivity.
According to Salesforce‘s latest State of Sales report, sales teams that use mobile CRM raise productivity by 34%. Clearly, a mobile-first approach to CRM boosts sales and CX.
But how do you determine the right solution for your business? Let‘s explore what to look for in a mobile CRM platform.
6 Must-Have Features in a Mobile CRM App
Mobile CRM tools range from pared down apps with basic features to sophisticated platforms rivaling desktop capabilities. Defining your must-haves will help you zero in on the best choice.
Here are 6 essential features to look for:
1. Offline access
Spotty cell service and WiFi dead zones are a fact of life for field teams. Your mobile CRM should allow users to enter new data and access existing records without an internet connection. The information will sync automatically when service resumes.
Benefit: Avoid productivity disruptions and keep momentum going.
2. Powerful mobile analytics
Making data-driven decisions on the go is a huge advantage. Prioritize apps with mobile-optimized, interactive reporting and dashboards. Real-time visibility into KPIs like sales pipeline and CSAT helps your teams excel.
Benefit: Gain insights to drive growth and improve CX faster.
3. Automation capabilities
The right mobile workflows eliminate repetitive manual processes. Key features include task assignment, field/form automation, approval routing, and notifications based on triggers.
Benefit: Let your team focus on high-value activities instead of admin work.
4. Contact and data access
At minimum, easily view and edit existing records like accounts, leads, and contacts. Bonus points if you can create new records and integrate with tools like email and calendars.
Benefit: Manage relationships seamlessly from anywhere.
5. Security controls
Mobile access requires rigorous controls like permissions, device management, app passwords, and data encryption. Don‘t compromise on safeguarding customer data.
Benefit: Prevent breaches and unauthorized access.
6. Sales features
For sales teams, must-haves include pipeline visualization, lead assignment, order/contract handling, and communications like email and SMS.
Benefit: Empower your team to progress deals quickly and independently.
Prioritizing these features will help you identify the mobile CRM that best supports your team‘s needs and processes. Let‘s explore top options on the market.
7 Top Mobile CRM Apps to Consider
With the wide range of solutions available, narrowing down your choices can be tricky. Based on the criteria above and firsthand experience implementing CRM systems, I recommend exploring these top platforms:
1. Salesforce Mobile
As the world‘s #1 CRM, it‘s no surprise Salesforce offers full-featured iOS and Android apps included with its products. You get complete access to contacts, accounts, leads, opportunities, and more.
Sales teams can manage pipelines and forecasts, generate quotes, and handle contracts. Automations and productivity tools help streamline workflows. Robust analytics deliver real-time insights. Tight security protects sensitive data.
With 150,000+ customers globally, Salesforce Mobile provides proven CRM capabilities optimized for smaller screens. It‘s a seamless experience across devices.
Ideal for: Large enterprises that want a complete, integrated mobile CRM.
2. HubSpot Mobile
HubSpot‘s mobile apps help you execute marketing, sales, and service on the go. Available for iOS and Android, they integrate tightly with HubSpot‘s CRM and marketing platform.
You can access activity feeds, contact records, meetings, and email. Sales teams get notifications, alerts, and lead updates. Notes, call logs, file attachments, and Quick Replies make everyone more productive. Helpdesk staffers can manage tickets and knowledge bases.
The HubSpot keyboard lets you quickly share assets from any app. With over 135,000 customers, HubSpot Mobile brings powerful CRM and marketing automation to your fingertips.
Ideal for: SaaS companies that want integrated mobile CRM + marketing.
3. Zoho CRM
Zoho offers full-featured, affordable mobile apps for sales, marketing and support. You get real-time dashboards, contact and account management, sales pipeline visualization, call logging, reminders, and email integration.
The apps work offline and sync automatically when back online. Custom reporting and tight security controls safeguard your data. Over 250,000 businesses worldwide use Zoho Mobile CRM to streamline workflows and make smarter decisions on the go.
Ideal for: Growing SMBs that want sophisticated mobile CRM at a low cost.
4. Pipedrive
Pipedrive specializes in sales pipeline tools and forecasting for small businesses. Its iOS and Android apps provide activity and deal monitoring, contact relationship management, call logging, and email.
Users praise the simple, intuitive interface tailored to sales teams. All customizations made on the web app also appear in the mobile experience. Over 100,000 small businesses use Pipedrive mobile to advance deals faster.
Ideal for: Early-stage startups that want basic sales mobility.
5. monday.com
The monday.com mobile app brings the platform‘s popular project management and automation capabilities to your phone. You can build custom CRM processes and track contacts, deals, tasks, and projects on the go.
Other features include lead pipelines, quote generation, calendar integration, notifications, charts/dashboards, and offline accessibility. Over 152,000 organizations use monday.com Mobile to manage CRM on the move.
Ideal for: Teams that want easy mobile customization without extensive coding.
6. Agile CRM
Agile CRM delivers strong sales, marketing, and service functionality through native mobile apps. It‘s affordable yet packed with features like contact management, interaction logging, pipeline tracking, reminders, email builders, and more.
The app also provides real-time analytics for data-driven decisions on the go. Over 10,000 growing businesses use Agile CRM Mobile for end-to-end CRM mobility on a budget.
Ideal for: Solopreneurs and lean teams that want feature-rich mobile CRM at low cost.
7. Freshsales Mobile
With Freshsales Mobile, sales teams get specialized CRM apps focused squarely on enabling productivity and closing more deals. You can manage contacts, track deal progression, log activities, and handle approvals.
Unique features like built-in phone, gamification, intelligent workflows, proposal generation, and partial offline support give salespeople an edge on the go. Over 50,000 businesses take advantage of Freshsales‘ sales-first mobile capabilities.
Ideal for: Sales teams wanting a mobile CRM optimized for winning more deals.
This covers a diverse selection of top platforms tailored to different needs and budgets. As you evaluate options, pay close attention to the 6 must-have capabilities I outlined earlier.
Prioritizing these mobile CRM features will ensure your teams get the on-the-go tools and intel they need to hit goals and delight customers – wherever work takes them.
Preparing Your Business for Mobile CRM Success
Selecting the right software is an important first step. But you’ll achieve the greatest impact by taking a holistic approach:
Get leadership buy-in
Demonstrate the hard ROI mobile CRM delivers through metrics like increased deal size, shorter sales cycles, and higher rep productivity. Chart a vision for an agile, customer-centric workforce.
Involve users early
Understand your teams’ challenges and workflows. Brainstorm how mobile capabilities can help them accomplish and improve specific tasks. Address concerns transparently.
Offer training
Ensure users are comfortable navigating and getting the most from the mobile apps. Record videos on common workflows they can reference on demand.
Plan the rollout
Will you start with sales then expand to service and marketing? Does everyone transition at once or is it phased by department or region? Details matter.
Communicate benefits
Keep the focus on how mobile CRM helps teams sell more, drive growth, and deliver 5-star CX. Share user stories and wins as you progress.
With the right prep work and buy-in, your company will be well positioned to realize the transformational benefits of mobile CRM. It takes some effort upfront, but the long-term rewards are well worth it.
Interested in digging deeper into finding the right CRM for your business? Check out my guide on the top CRM software platforms across all categories and budgets.
The Takeaway: Mobile CRM Brings Big Benefits
Let‘s recap the key points:
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Mobile CRM helps you close more deals faster. Equip your salespeople with instant access to the materials and approvals they need.
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Boost productivity from anywhere. Let employees accomplish key tasks without being chained to a desk.
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Improve CX on the move. Empower field teams to immediately address customer needs.
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Make data-driven choices. Mobile analytics provide real-time insights to capitalize on.
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Work offline. Choose a platform allowing productivity with or without internet access.
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Align to your needs. Look for must-haves like automation, security, and sales tools.
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Prepare for success. Get buy-in, provide training, and communicate benefits.
With the right mobile CRM, you can run your business from your pocket. Your team will be more efficient, customers happier, and revenue growth faster. The data shows it‘s a smart investment.
Hopefully this guide gives you clarity on finding a mobile CRM tailored exactly to your needs. I‘m passionate about leveraging technology to help companies succeed, so please reach out if I can help further as you transition to mobile CRM.
