The typical 9 to 5 ‘cubicle time’ structure is vanishing faster than ever, as an increasing number of businesses emerge with unorthodox office locations, remote work, and flexible hours. Perhaps the startup boom heralds the development of the mobile CRM application, or perhaps mobile CRM exists to boost sales rep productivity by offering simple access to real-time data on prospects and customers.
Regardless of the rationale, mobile versions of high-quality CRM software are an emerging competitor in the future of work. When it comes to observing businesses continue to expand, a mobile customer relationship management solution may well be the new norm.
We explain all of the critical parameters to consider and our best mobile CRM options for iOS and Android smartphones.
Mobile Usage Growth
In 2009, mobile devices accounted for less than 1% of all internet traffic worldwide. One could be forgiven for believing that smartphones and tablets were a minor problem for business at the time.
Naturally, this is no longer the case. Mobile now accounts for nearly 50% of all website traffic, a proportion that is only increasing.
Many of us now spend a significant portion of our waking hours on our phones, whether it’s checking email and social media, shopping, consuming material, or streaming films. We’ve become accustomed to having real-time access to services regardless of our location, and this includes customer support and sales employees for businesses whose goods and services we use.
Each month, the average American using a smartphone consumes 5.1 GB of data. Meanwhile, mobile data usage is expected to expand at a 45 percent annual pace, indicating that by 2022, mobile data consumption would have climbed tenfold since 2016.
When you consider that mobile traffic is growing quickly and that 50% (or more) of your potential clients will interact with your business via mobile, the importance of having a mobile strategy for your business becomes rather evident.
And, in any case, if consumer internet usage has surpassed desktop usage, shouldn’t the same be true for the work economy?
Mobile CRM adoption rates
While CRM mobile app usage rates remain modest, the overall trend is upward. The uberization of CRM software has resulted in quicker setup, improved user experience, and hence increased acceptance and decreased churn.
According to Salesforce data, the overall adoption rate for CRM software is around 26%. While detailed numbers on mobile CRM usage are difficult to come by, the mobile CRM industry was predicted to expand at an 11% compound annual growth rate in 2019 (reaching a market capitalization of $15 billion USD). This entails widespread adoption.
Additionally, the market for mobile CRM software is expected to increase at a 13% annual rate over the next decade (from 2019 to 2029).
All of this is quite reasonable. Having contact management, sales management, and sales pipeline elements always available on your phone is a compelling prospect. According to one survey conducted by Atlanta-based software developer Innoppl, 65 percent of sales professionals who use mobile CRM complete their sales quota, compared to only 22 percent who do not use mobile CRM.
Another study conducted by Nucleus Research discovered that mobile CRM increased productivity by 14.6%. That makes sense; after all, you can now conclude a sale or diffuse a potentially explosive situation in-app, on the morning train, or in the park, supported by access to detailed information saved in the Cloud.
Advantages Of Mobile CRM
Access Data Everywhere
Obviously, the ultimate advantage of a mobile CRM application is its capacity to give data independent of a desktop. You’ll receive real-time access to client data, pipeline analytics, a dashboard showcasing key performance indicators, a comprehensive contact list, and calendar integrations.
Respond To Customers Faster And Better
Mobile CRM software enables you to quickly track, manage, and respond to specific customer care instances. The ability to access real-time data on-the-fly enables sales team members to leave the office and go into the field, enhancing reaction times and developing connections with customers and prospects. Additionally, you may utilize GPS and geotagging to determine the location of your clients and punch in their addresses for an in-person visit.
Track And Complete Tasks
Being able to accomplish everyday chores on your platform, such as writing and sending emails, organizing meetings, and updating contact information may be freeing.
Connect And Collaborate
Mobile CRMs provide greater connectivity both within and externally. Maintain communication with your team by accessing and sharing documents and client data. Certain platforms even enable users to phone in to meetings from any Cloud-connected location.
Boost The Value Of Your Desktop CRM
It’s all about the link between the native mobile application and the desktop version hosted on the server. A good mobile app provides access to all CRM data as well as the flexibility to enter new data at any time and from any location.
Things to consider when choosing Mobile CRM
Ability To Manage Contacts, Tasks, And Deals
Simply because your CRM is on a small screen does not mean it cannot do complex tasks. On-the-go CRM features should continue to fulfill your business needs, such as keeping you on track and telling you when it’s time to follow up on sales, as well as offering instant access to contacts and critical information.
Simplicity
An app is only as good as its level of adoption, which may suffer if the user experience is subpar or if the feature set is excessively complex. When selecting a mobile CRM application, it’s a good idea to limit the number of functions to those that are genuinely important “on the road,” while keeping some of the more technical functionality for the office.
Streamlined Integration With Other Communications Tools
Your mobile CRM solution should integrate seamlessly with all other communication and productivity tools that you already use. Given that you’re presumably already using your mobile device to make calls, it’s quite convenient to be able to automatically log information about phone conversations in-app, such as the date/time and who you spoke with.
Buy-in Cost And Ease Of Scaling Up Your Plan
Cost is always an issue, even more so if you own a small business. Your CRM solution should not break the bank, and the vendor should provide sensible tiered pricing plans; you don’t want to be trapped in a scenario where you rely on a free (or inexpensive) software and then discover you need to pay a lot of money to scale up to the next plan.
Security
Our mobile devices are more likely to be lost than our laptops. Because a mobile CRM holds a wealth of information about your business and customers, a hacked smartphone may result in a significant data breach, not to mention a loss of trust. As a result, strong app security/encryption is a critical characteristic to look for.
Quality Of Activity Tracking
Effective monitoring and management of company operations is the foundation of strong CRM. Maintaining detailed records of who did what gives you complete visibility into sales and management. Your mobile app should enable you to observe all conversations between your business and customers, ensuring that no interactions are duplicated.
Calendar Integration
Your mobile CRM should have a calendar that can sync information about meetings, appointments, deadlines, and anything else from your email platform of choice, whether it’s Outlook, Gmail, or anything else. This will save you considerable time when it comes to data entry and guarantee that you never miss critical events or opportunities.
Works Offline
When you’re on the go, whether it’s a plane, train, or trip outside the nation, you may periodically be without Wi-Fi or data. This does not have to be “downtime”; a mobile CRM with offline mode enables you to interact with your CRM data, seek up information, and be productive from any location. When you reconnect to the Internet, your work will be preserved.
16 Best mobile CRM tools (2022)
HubSpot CRM
Benefits:
Mobile CRM capabilities that are robust, including complete deal and contact management. Create and organize task lists, follow-up reminders, and other reminders. A simple user interface and a minimal learning curve.
Drawbacks:
Customization options are restricted, and workflow reporting tools may not be enough for highly customized business processes.
Pricing:
- HubSpot CRM is a free service with an unlimited number of users.
- Add-on packages for Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, and Service Hub cost $50 per user/per month, payable monthly.
- HubSpot CMS pricing begins at $300 per month, invoiced on a monthly basis.
- The all-inclusive Starter Growth Suite is available starting at $113 per user/per month, payable monthly.
Agile CRM
Benefits:
A simple dashboard that provides quick access to recently seen contacts, tasks to-do, deal tracking, and Google Calendar integration.
Drawbacks:
Customization choices are limited. The price differential between variants is substantial.
Pricing:
- The free version supports up to ten users.
- The starter edition costs $8.99 per month per user (billed every two years)
- The standard edition costs $29.99 per user/per month (billed every two years)
- The enterprise edition is $47.99 per user/month (billed every two years)
SugarCRM
Benefits:
Utilize rapid search, summary, and filter options to manage sales, marketing, and support in the field. Native mobile device integrations for click-to-call, click-to-text, and GPS. Offline sync for when you’re not connected to the internet.
Drawbacks:
Inconvenient for independent contractors and small teams of less than ten workers. Because it has a reasonable learning curve, you’ll need to schedule time for teaching your employees on how to utilize it.
Pricing:
- Sugar Professional costs $40 per user/per month (minimum of ten users), and is invoiced annually.
- Sugar Enterprise costs $65 per user/per month (minimum of ten users) and is invoiced annually.
- Sugar Serve plans start at $80 per user/per month (minimum of ten users), and are invoiced annually.
- Sugar Sell costs $80 per user/per month (minimum of ten users), and is invoiced annually.
- The Sugar Market package costs $1,000 per year (unlimited users, 10,000 contacts per month).
- All options include a 14-day free trial. After completing a few questions on the vendor’s website, you’ll be allocated the SugarCRM version that is most appropriate for your organization.
Zoho
Benefits:
On-the-go recording of client visits, the addition of voice notes, and offline access and updating of information. Instantly locate contact information and start calls within the app. Zoho offers a free CRM version for up to three users.
Drawbacks:
Absence of individual email monitoring; add-on modules are paid separately from the CRM solution, which means that the cost of usage might skyrocket as you expand up.
Pricing:
- The free version supports up to three users and is geared at small enterprises.
- The standard edition costs $12 per user/per month, payable on a yearly basis.
- The enterprise edition is $35 per user/per month, invoiced on a yearly basis.
PipelineDeals
Benefits:
In the field, the mobile app enables excellent account and deal management. PipelineDeals deserves praise for its superior customer service.
Drawbacks:
Integrations between the app and third-party applications such as support desk software are restricted.
Pricing:
- The starter package is $25 per month per user, payable yearly.
- The Develop plan costs $33 per user, per month, and is invoiced yearly.
- Grow is a monthly fee of $49 per user, invoiced yearly.
- There is a 14-day trial period available. It incorporates all of the Grow plan’s features.
Gro CRM
Benefits:
Gro CRM was built from the ground up as a mobile CRM, and as a result, it boasts superb, desktop-level mobile capabilities and a UI. The integrated email app automatically converts prospects to leads and customer contact lists, saving you time and increasing exposure.
Drawbacks:
A desktop application is being developed but is not yet available. This may be a deal-breaker for teams who require both an out-of-field and an in-office solution.
Pricing:
- The solo plan is $14.99 per seat/per month for a single user, payable annually or monthly.
- The basic team CRM package is $19.99 per seat/month billed yearly, or $24.99 per seat/month billed monthly.
- Pro plans start at $39.99 per seat/per month paid yearly and $49.99 per seat/per month billed monthly for core CRM.
- A 14-day free trial is provided, which includes all of the Pro plan’s features.
Capsule
Benefits:
Remote task management, opportunity spotting, and offline sync with the desktop application are all included. Within the app, you may make calls, send messages, and create emails. There is a free version with a two-user limit.
Drawbacks:
While the app allows you to examine your recent activities, notification functions are limited.
Pricing:
- Capsule offers a free, basic version for up to two users.
- The professional version is priced at $18 per user/month and invoiced on a monthly basis.
- Teams are priced at $36 per user/per month, payable on a monthly basis.
- For the Professional and Teams editions, a 30-day free trial is provided.
Streak
Benefits:
Access data and tasks, record conversations automatically, and sync contacts from your pipeline to your phone. It is integrated with G Suite and instals as an add-on to the Gmail iOS and Android apps.
Drawbacks:
For some people, the mobile application may be too simplistic. The mobile app’s contact management functions are restricted.
Pricing:
Individual users are not charged for the personal plan.
Professional plans start at $49 per user/per month when paid annually, and $59 per user/per month when billed monthly.
Enterprise plans start at $129 per user/per month for yearly billing and $159 per user/per month for monthly billing.
Nimble
Benefits:
Maintain track of opportunities and deals, as well as detailed customer and prospect profiles. Utilize Office 365 and Gmail to send customised email messages using templated, monitored emails.
Drawbacks:
Some people complain about the Android app, claiming it isn’t as feature-rich as the iOS version. Tracking concluded deals and removing correspondence is a fairly lengthy operation due to the fact that you can only work on one page at a time.
Pricing:
The Contact version is priced at $12 per user/per month, invoiced on a monthly basis.
Monthly billing is $25 per user/per month for the business edition.
You may sign up for a 14-day free trial without providing your credit card information. Annual prices are discounted.
Pipeliner
Benefits:
Pipeliner’s mobile version has a more polished appearance and feel, as well as several additional capabilities not available in the desktop version, most notably interaction with phone, email, and camera applications. It integrates well with Microsoft and Google suites.
Drawbacks:
People have complained about issues with the mobile app’s synchronising.
Pricing:
- The starter package is $25 per month per user, payable yearly.
- Monthly fees for the business plan are $65 per user/per month, invoiced yearly.
- Enterprise plans start at $85 per user/per month, invoiced on a yearly basis.
- All options include a 14-day free trial.
Monday.com
Benefits:
Project management that is adaptable and customizable. Easily track progress with vibrant, graphical displays such as Kanban, maps, timelines, files, charts, and calendars.
Drawbacks:
The mobile version is missing a few desktop functions, and the user interface is not as straightforward as other CRM solutions.
Pricing:
- The entry-level package is $25 per user/per month, payable annually.
- The standard plan is $39 per user/per month, invoiced on a yearly basis.
- The Pro plan is $59 per user/per month on a yearly basis.
- The enterprise plan necessitates communication with Monday.com.
- Without a credit card, a 14-day free trial is available.
Salesbox
Benefits:
Salesbox places a premium on ease of use and robust automatic data entry. Users of Apple’s iOS operating system can utilise the programme in combination with Siri.
Drawbacks:
The offered training/tutorials for the CRM are quite sparse, which may add to the time required to understand and apply efficiently. Certain users express dissatisfaction with website load times.
Pricing:
- Basic CRM is $7.75 per user/per month (paid as €7), invoiced yearly.
- Lead Clipper is $7.75 per user/per month (paid as €7), payable yearly.
- The Super plan is $33.20 per user/per month (paid as €30), invoiced yearly.
- The Ultra plan is $66.45 per user/per month (paid as €60), invoiced yearly.
- The Ultimate package is $99.70 per user/per month (paid as €90), invoiced annually.
HaystackCRM
Benefits:
Designed with the needs of small enterprises in mind. It has a straightforward full-view dashboard, email connectivity, and straightforward opportunity management. Haystack’s free edition is suitable for lone entrepreneurs.
Drawbacks:
It’s a really straightforward tool, and your organisation may ultimately outgrow it.
Pricing:
- A free version is available for one user.
- Monthly billing for the full-featured version is $29 per user/per month.
- The Full Featured version is available for a 30-day free trial.
Keap
Benefits:
Keap’s mobile CRM has a number of the same capabilities as the desktop version: From iOS and Android, you can add and manage contacts and tasks, scan business cards and save information automatically, and send messages.
Drawbacks:
It’s a little challenging to organise and manage campaigns using the mobile app.
Pricing:
- The Grow plan is $49 per user, per month, and is payable on a monthly basis.
- The Pro plan costs $149 per user, per month, and is payable on a monthly basis.
- The monthly fee for the Infusionsoft plan is $199 per user/per month.
- For the Grow and Pro programmes, a free trial is offered.
To be honest, there are a plethora of solutions available. At first look, it may appear to be a hopeless task to identify all the minute distinctions between providers.
Whether you’re looking to use this roving technology to connect a diverse range of staff to central command, to bolster the efforts of a solo entrepreneur, or to help a sparsely staffed, budding business startup punch above its weight—worth it’s exploring your options and desired features before settling on the ideal mobile CRM.
