The Complete Guide to Finding the Right CRM Consultants

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Doing business was really complicated back in the day, especially when it came to communicating with customers and retaining them. Today, you could send hundreds of emails with one click, but back in the day, you’d have to print hundreds of flyers and drop them individually.

Thanks to customer relationship management (CRM) tools, managing relationships with customers is easier than ever. Not only can you communicate with them using technology, but you can also collect data, predict their behavior, and maintain a strong relationship with them—with just a few clicks.

But it’s not as easy as it sounds. CRM tools can be complicated to use, and that’s why you should always seek advice from a CRM consultant to get optimum results. In this article, we will discuss what CRM consultants do, what areas they specialize in, and where to find them.

So, let’s dive into it.

What Is a CRM Consultant?

As you may know, CRM stands for customer relationship management. And as the name suggests, CRM refers to the strategies and software that businesses use to manage interactions with customers. However, this is easier said than done. Establishing systems to manage customer interactions may be a daunting task, especially if your business has a lot of customers. This is when a CRM consultant comes into play.

A CRM consultant is an expert who can create customer relationship management systems within a business through strategic planning and the right technology. They can analyze a business’s current state to recommend the best CRM tools and incorporate the right processes to ensure customer satisfaction, retention, and repeat purchases.

Generally, CRM consultants already have experience in both marketing and technology. Meaning that they can create and implement marketing strategies and also efficiently use CRM tools like Zoho, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Oracle NetSuite, etc.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

A CRM consultant is an expert who can create customer relationship management systems within a business through strategic planning and the right technology.
These consultants can help you choose the right CRM software, set up CRM systems, train the team on how to use them, and constantly monitor the progress of CRM efforts.
Here are the 5 different types of CRM consultants you should know about: CRM software consultants, Salesforce consultants, customer retention consultants, email marketing specialists, and AI-driven customer service consultants.
It’s recommended that businesses hire a CRM consultant because CRM tools can be expensive and not using them the right way can cost money.
Online consulting platforms may be the easiest way to find freelance CRM consultants. This is because they can connect you with highly experienced consultants within a few hours and save you a lot of time and money.

Why You Should Hire a CRM Consultant

Now that you have a basic idea of a CRM consultant’s role, we should discuss what value they bring to the table when you hire them. Here’s why you should seek a freelance CRM consultant’s advice:

1. CRM software selection

This is usually the first task of any freelance CRM consultant. Every business needs different types of CRM software. For example, a small business can do just fine with Zoho or HubSpot, a medium-sized business may need something more sophisticated like Salesforce, and large corporations may require software that is a lot more powerful, for example, Oracle CX Cloud. There are so many choices out there, so it’s better to get a CRM consultant’s help to find the right one.

2. Setting up CRM systems

You see, CRM systems are software programs, just like, say MS Word. However, unlike MS Word, which is so straightforward that even a 10-year-old can use it, CRM systems may be a lot more complicated at first. But don’t worry, a freelance CRM consultant can help you set up and configure your chosen CRM tools. They will also ensure that you’re aware of all its features so that you can take full advantage of it. For example, CRM consultants can teach you how to set up workflows, automate repetitive tasks, integrate third-party tools like Gmail and Slack into your CRM software, etc.

3. Staff training

A consultant’s job is not done after setting up your chosen CRM tool. Usually, they stay with your team for a little longer and enable them to fully understand and use the CRM system. This part is really key because buying an expensive CRM tool is of no use if your team doesn’t know how to fully use it. It’s worth noting that consultants may provide on-site training or do it virtually through video conferencing. They could also offer individual coaching sessions to team leaders who can then share their knowledge with the rest of the team.

4. Ongoing monitoring and support

Basically, a CRM consultant’s journey with you continues as long as you use CRM software. They can constantly monitor your CRM efforts and measure the results. This is an important step as you need to know what’s working and what isn’t. Also, if your team needs ongoing support, like understanding new software updates or new add-ons and plugins, then a CRM consultant can guide you in the right direction.

5 Different Types of CRM Consultants

CRM consultants can handle a broad range of CRM-related tasks. However, some specialize in particular areas. To find the right CRM consultant, you should first know the different services they can offer. So, let’s understand the five different types of CRM consultants.

1. CRM software consultants

A CRM software consultant helps companies maximize the efficiency of the CRM system and improve customer experience. These consultants are well-versed in the CRM software of your choice and have a high level of technical expertise and experience. CRM platforms could be expensive, so it’s your duty to make sure you make the best out of them. Businesses can hire CRM software consultants for a specific time period during the initial implementation or on an ongoing basis to help employees become familiar with the software.

2. Salesforce consultants

Salesforce is a renowned customer relationship management (CRM) tool that is cloud-based and popular among some of the top businesses in the world. If you’re using Salesforce, a Salesforce consultant can be of great help. For instance, they can guide you through the entire project lifecycle to ensure that the money you spend on Salesforce is worth it. Furthermore, they could enhance Salesforce’s efficiency by deactivating dormant users and identifying recurring configuration errors. Many users make serious mistakes while using Salesforce automation. However, hiring a consultant can ensure that you have an extra pair of eyes looking for potential mistakes.

3. Customer retention consultants

Customer retention consultants work alongside employees, customers, suppliers, etc. to boost customer loyalty and retention. First, they collect a specific type of data, which includes customer complaints, suggestions, and expectations. Then, they can come up with possible solutions, like adding new features, adding support for specific functions, or enhancing customer training. These experts could also negotiate with customers who are planning to cancel their contracts, gain insights into their cancellation reasons, and even offer them options to prevent cancellation.

4. Email marketing specialists

Email marketing is an old, time-tested method of keeping in touch with customers and ensuring that they stay loyal to the brand. This is when email marketing specialists could be of significant assistance. Email marketing specialists can divide prospects and leads into different segment lists and then craft messages that align with their individual interests and goals. This can only be done efficiently using the right email marketing software. The specialist can draft emails with the help of copywriters and designers and send them in large numbers using CRM automation.

5. AI-driven customer service consultants

AI customer service consultants can use artificial intelligence to improve your customer service process. For example, they could implement chatbots, self-service support, and automated issue resolution to increase customer service efficiency. Most importantly, if AI can handle your customer service effectively, you would be able to cut costs by not needing human customer service representatives. Furthermore, they can incorporate surveys and customer feedback loops that can help you in gaining valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences. This is really essential if you want to constantly improve AI-powered customer service processes.

Where to Find a Top Freelance CRM Consultant

Alright, so we have discussed some categories of CRM consultants for you to choose from. Now, let’s understand where to find the best CRM consultants.

First of all, you already know about the common methods: LinkedIn, referrals, and online job boards. Well, these are all good ways of finding freelance CRM consultants, but they come with certain limitations. For one, it’s time-consuming. Going through dozens of profiles and CVs is a daunting and energy-draining experience. What’s more, if you hire the wrong consultant, you’ll have to go through the entire process again.

Here’s a simpler way: Reach out to an online consulting platform, state your needs, and voila! They’ll find the right consultant for you within hours. For example, here at Consultport, we have over 10,000 talented consultants in our network. All our consultants have worked with top consulting firms, renowned digital agencies, or blue-chip companies. Most importantly, we do the background checks ourselves, so you’ll only get the most experienced and skilled ones.

So, skip through stressful and money-wasting hiring processes, and get in touch with us directly. We will find a freelance CRM consultant for you and handle all the admin work, too, so that you can focus on important aspects of your business.

If that sounds interesting, get in touch with us now.

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