What is CRM software for architects?

CRM software is well-suited to meet the needs of every occupational field. It’s particularly relevant to architecture, a profession in which many CRMs are deployed every year. Indeed, every office needs to optimize their client relations. What are the features of a CRM for architects? Why choose to deploy this type of solution? We’ll answer these questions in the article below. But first, let’s learn about CRM software and the benefits it has to offer.

What’s a CRM?

Every business, corporation or organization now appreciates the key role that the customer relationship holds in the development of professional activities. While it’s crucial to have productive teams, the use of digital solutions is also recommended for numerous reasons.

A CRM (acronym for Customer Relationship Management) addresses numerous issues related to this invaluable customer relationship.

What are the main functionalities to look for?

CRM software comes with many useful tools. Regardless of the nature of your business, corporation or organization, some functionalities are more helpful than others for properly managing your customer relationship.

Marketing

CRM software allows you to create online campaigns to maximize your return on investment by:

• Identifying the best textual content while analyzing the ideal periods for sending messages
• Integrating sales and analyses to target and convert every prospect
• Assisting in the creation and sending of messages based on specific channels that track target customers

Sales-related functionalities

The centralization of data naturally allows crucial information to be shared. Sales team members can then benefit from a comprehensive overview of the performance of a business, corporation or organization. Additionally, CRM software makes it easier to identify “good buyers” (customer relationship development). Lastly, the integration of artificial intelligence within CRM software allows professionals to identify ideal strategies and to implement them during the sales process.

Optimizing customer service

CRM software also serves to optimize customer service. This is evident in the following characteristics:

• Establishment of contact via your clients’ preferred equipment and channel
• Presentation of detailed analyses where cost reduction and service optimization are visible
• Decisive visibility of the clientele to guide your staff during proposals (personalization of proposals)

Dispatch service

Organizing your technicians and distributing tasks are other sought-after functionalities in CRM software. Once again, the centralization of data in an online storage space allows employees to quickly access critical information. Improving services (deliveries) will inarguably strengthen clients’ trust.

Furthermore, the automation that comes with a CRM allows you to effectively match the skills of each technician depending on your needs. Lastly, geolocalization and live dissemination of information during an intervention strengthen the internal organization of a business, corporation or organization.

Optimal project management

To maximize the results of a business, corporation or organization, it’s essential to choose a CRM that includes project management functionalities. This way, you’ll be able to:

• Efficiently plan your projects and allocate resources
• Determine how time will be managed for each task
• Track billing and spending
• Generate reports
• Access a portal for collaborative purposes

Other equally essential functionalities

Besides the above-mentioned functionalities, CRMs offer other digital tools that are useful for professionals.

The automation of manual and repetitive tasks is a perfect example. This functionality offers convenience while also limiting entry errors and improving the reliability of analyses for each department (this is especially true for the sales team).

Intelligent management of sensitive data is another functionality offered by some CRM software. The identification of critical information allows customized strategies to be reviewed and applied.

Depending on their profile, a business, corporation or organization may prioritize other functionalities. Again, choosing CRM software is a crucial step towards guaranteeing optimal results.

How can I benefit from using a CRM?

What can a CRM bring to my business, corporation or organization? This most pertinent question has many answers. The following is a non-exhaustive list of benefits linked to digital solutions that are now considered essential.

Better client management with CRM software

Your relationships with your prospects and clients are optimized thanks to information provided every time a client is contacted. By displaying complementary data, a CRM allows you to personalize your clientele and gain their trust, all while giving them greater responsibility during buying decisions.

A CRM centralizes your data and makes it easier to access information

The centralization of pertinent data naturally makes it easier to access this information. With a few clicks, each department can quickly find accurate data that’s updated in real-time.

Optimized overall management

Functionalities related to marketing, customer insight, field service and sales, as well as other essential elements for every business, corporation or organization improve your sales and your brand image.

An ideal solution for increasing productivity and agility

Besides the many functionalities previously discussed in this article, you could also ask yourself the following relevant question: What are the concrete benefits of a CRM for my business, corporation or organization? Again, several answers may be noted:

• Better communication between each department and your prospects/clients
• Significant amount of time saved thanks to the automation of repetitive tasks
• More efficient employees

Maximize your sales figures and benefits

As you can see, the many features of CRM software offer significant benefits. Deploying Customer Relationship Management software will quickly boost sales while ensuring that costs are properly managed.

What is CRM software for architects?

Architecture involves many interactions with clients

Naturally, as an architect, you’re frequently interacting with clients; this is a crucial component of every project. That said, the efforts you invest in this communication may be of little benefit if you have a difficult time staying organized: repeated information, invoicing errors, inadequate work methods…there are often many issues that arise. Inevitably, sub-par operations will have repercussions for your office.

Many professionals have chosen to use a CRM for architects over the past several years. With this solution, they can address multiple issues and, in turn, foster the development of their office.

Compared to other occupational fields, a CRM for architects is not intended for a specific type of user. As such, the benefits of using a CRM have been widely noted, irrespective of the importance or volume of the orders in question.

What are the features of a CRM for architects?

While the main features of CRMs seem obvious for some occupational fields, several features are considered “formidable” by many architects.

Improve day-to-day organization to bolster performance

By deploying a CRM, architects can improve their day-to-day organization. Drawing up a clear, perfectly detailed plan will bolster your professional performance while optimizing communication within your team.

Simplify operations

Every architect will also appreciate the ability to simplify and rationalize their operations. Significantly improve work methods by dividing up projects consisting of a series of ordered tasks, and instantly sharing information. What’s more, a CRM for architects makes it easier to identify issues that arise during projects—and potential solutions can be reviewed in little to no time at all.

Fast progressive invoicing

For architects, invoicing is a progressive process, following a project’s progress. In this regard, some CRMs include functionalities with which you can create intelligent workflows dedicated to tracking this invoicing. You can get an overview of team progress thanks to project management functionalities—allowing you to validate billable tasks as they’re being completed.

Transform leads into projects

Thanks to an overview of your pipelines, you can manage leads, thereby boosting their conversion. Project tracking, efficient management of tasks and meetings, the ability to view news feeds and other benefits of CRMs for architects all play a role in this profitable transformation.

Foster team-building

Another major benefit of using a CRM for architects is the ability to create pipelines for business purposes. This allows teams to strategically target prospects during opportune periods. “Random” contacting becomes anecdotal.

Maximize client satisfaction

Creating a database from a portal is a great way to let a team know how a project is progressing. However, this digital space can also help you meet client expectations thanks to reliable real-time data. With this functionality, you’ll get beneficial, and often unexpected, results that will optimize your client relations.

Remote access to a CRM for architects

Naturally, every architect needs to be mobile in order to track the progress of construction sites or track meetings with their clients. A CRM will help you with this by centralizing your data, making them accessible from any location. All you need is a smartphone with an Internet connection to access all your critical information.

In-depth analysis and data-driven decision making

With a CRM for architects, you can also create useful reports for analyzing every gain, loss and trend in your clientele. Thanks to these reports and analyses, it’s easier to plan out the best solutions.

How can I choose the best CRM for my business, corporation or organization?

Without any specific knowledge, selecting CRM software that’s customized for a business, corporation or organization can turn into a complex process. Therefore, it’s worth highlighting several characteristics that will help you decide.

Personalization

To achieve the best results, you should have the option of personalizing every “detail” and feature of CRM software. While some solutions come with restrictive limitations, others properly fulfill this requirement (the Microsoft solution offered on our (Gestisoft’s) website is a perfect example).

Choose extensible CRM software

Dealing with deployments via the cloud or on-site can satisfy certain needs that are particular to a given business, corporation or organization. Additionally, a CRM must be compatible with other platforms and software, such as your architecture software, your ERP software, etc.

Set security levels for each user

An effective CRM system allows you to set security levels for each user. By assigning them a specific “role”, you are authorizing the user to access, integrate or modify centralized information, or denying them these permissions.

Choose a scalable solution

Expanding a business, corporation or organization is obviously a major priority for professionals. Your current needs may therefore change. Effective CRM software will assist you as you scale up your professional activities while also allowing you to streamline every process on a daily basis.

The CRM ecosystem

The CRM ecosystem (or stack) consists of the set of tools that are directly (or indirectly) connected. For optimal results, this set-up should evidently be constructed gradually. Safeguarding client data (and prospects’ data) is essential to fully benefit from a CRM stack. Again, a CRM ecosystem will be shaped by your choice of software.

Choose Gestisoft for your CRM implementation

When you’re ready to choose your CRM, keep in mind that you’re making a long-term investment for your office. Your choice of software needs to be a well-informed decision. At Gestisoft, we make this easy with our team of CRM and ERP experts who will guide you in making your purchase and support you in implementing your software. Contact us today to discuss your architecture needs, we’ll work together to find the solution that’s most suitable for your professional situation.