Zoho CRM Review – Everything You Need to Know
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is an essential part of any business, especially for those that specialize in customer interactions. Managing customer relations can be difficult as there are so many things to keep track of, such as complaints, emails, shipments, and more. That’s why many businesses make use of CRM software, which helps organize and manage CRM processes.
What is Zoho CRM?
Zoho CRM is a free CRM software made for small or mid-sized businesses. It offers an extensive range of features that help you keep track of workflows, data, and customer support. The interface is clean and simple to navigate, and they even have a mobile app for easy access.
You can use Zoho CRM to monitor customer complaints, review performance data, and quickly locate information with their AI assistant. Key features include analytics, workflow automation, customer support, AI assistant, app integrations, and inventory management.
How much is Zoho CRM?
Zoho CRM has quite a few paid plans as well as a completely free plan, so both small and larger businesses can use the software.
Zoho CRM has five different plans:
The Free Plan
The Free Plan is available for 1-3 users. There’s no trial or money involved. You can use the Free Plan forever. You can sign up for free and skip adding your payment details.
The Free Plan includes the following.
- Sales Force Automation
- CRM Analytics
- Marketing Automation
- Data Administration
- Security Management
- Product Customization
- Workflow Automation
- Webforms
- Developer Tools
- Zoho Integration
The Standard Plan
Every paid plan offers both monthly billings and annual billings. You can save up to 34% with yearly payments. Each plan also requires you to pay a set fee for every user.
The Standard Plan offers a 15-day free trial. It provides more detailed analytics, larger storage, and customer support features.
The Standard Plan starts at $14/user/month on the yearly plan. It includes all features from the Free Plan along with the following.
- Customer Support
- Google Workspace Support
- Advanced Analytics
- Larger Storage Capacity
- Import History
- Third-party Integration
The Professional Plan
The Professional Plan offers a 15-day free trial. It provides a lot of unlimited features as well as inventory and process management options.
The Professional Plan starts at $23/user/month on the yearly plan. It includes all features from the Standard Plan along with the following.
- Unlimited Custom Reports
- Unlimited Custom Dashboards
- Unlimited Custom Email Templates
- Inventory Management
- Advanced Customer Support
- Process Management
The Enterprise Plan
The Enterprise plan offers a 15-day free trial. It provides some new features, such as Zia, along with more advanced analytics and customization options.
The Enterprise Plan starts at $40/user/month on the yearly plan. It includes all features from the Professional Plan along with the following.
- Zia
- Anomaly Detector
- Cohort Analysis
- Quadrant Analysis
- Autoresponders
- Advanced Product Customization
The Ultimate Plan
The Ultimate Plan offers a 30-day free trial. It provides some unlimited developer tool features as well as more advanced security options.
The Ultimate Plan starts at $52/user/month on the yearly plan. It includes all features from the Enterprise Plan along with the following.
- Advanced Security Management
- Unlimited APIs
- Unlimited Functions
How to use Zoho CRM
Create a Zoho account
Start by signing up for an account. You can do this for free or choose a paid plan. Link an account, such as Google or Microsoft, or use your email to create your Zoho account.
Configure settings
If you’re the creator of the CRM, you are treated as the admin and are in charge of configuring the settings.
Go to the Personal settings, and set the language and time zone. Then, create your company profile using the Company Details setting. Add details about your business, such as work hours and currency.
Set up the CRM system
Set up your CRM system by customizing the layout. Add modules, templates, pipelines, and fields. Use the customization options to organize the interface.
Integrate apps
Integrate any apps that are relevant to your company. These can be external apps, such as Slack or Google Workspace, or Zoho extensions. Depending on the type of app you’re integrating, the method changes slightly.
For Zoho apps, integrate them using the Zoho setting. Go to Setup>Marketplace>Zoho. Then, choose which software to add, and click ‘get started’ to begin the integration process.
For external apps, use the Marketplace setting. Go to Setup>Marketplace. Find the software you want to add by browsing the Marketplace page. Each software has their own integration process. Select the apps you want to integrate and follow the instructions shown.
Import data
Import all necessary data into Zoho CRM. These can be stored in files or other data systems. Import data using the Import option in the Data Administration setting.
Set up automations
Set up workflow automation in the CRM. This involves automating task-creations, notifications, and data updates. For example, you can set up a system where tasks are automatically created when certain conditions are met.
You can set up workflow automation using the Workflow Rules option, which can be found in the Automation settings. Choose a module, add relevant details, and set the automation triggers.
Send invites
Once you’ve finished setting up the CRM workspace, begin inviting other members. If you’re not the admin, wait for an invite or contact the admin.
You can invite users by going to the Users page, which is located in the Users & Control settings. For each user, add in their personal details, such as their email address and name. Then, assign them a role and profile.
Use Zoho CRM tools
After inviting your team members, begin using the tools available to familiarize yourself with the platform. Start with some basic features, such as inventory management and the AI assistant (Zia). Then, you can start experimenting with more advanced features, like sales forecasting and analytics.
You can use Zoho CRM’s tutorials if you’re struggling with the interface.
Performance management
Use AI forecasts to predict revenue and use that information to improve your marketing strategies. This can boost team performance and help you meet or exceed sales goals. You can also monitor customers, website traffic, leads, and more.
Analytics
Use analytics to view important company data, such as revenue, lead generation, performance, sales targets, and more. You can use this information to measure success and determine what areas need improvement.
Customization
Customize your workspace by adding or removing or rearranging sections, and altering the design. Make the interface aesthetically-pleasing and easy to navigate. You can change fonts and colors using Canvas, create custom templates, add buttons, and more.
Omnichannel
Keep track of customer conversations and requests, and receive notifications about your online engagement. For example, you will know when someone visits your site, mentions your brand, or reads your messages.
Zoho CRM pros and cons
Pros:
- Free Plan
- Free Trials For Every Paid Plan
- Cheap Prices
- Large Variety of Features
- Easy-to-Use Editor (Canvas)
- Lots of Customization Options
- AI Assistant (Zia)
- Detailed Analytics
- Extensive Automation Features
- Google Workspace Support
- App Integrations
- Mobile App
Cons:
- Steep Learning Curve
- Multiple Features Limited to High-Tier Plans
- Limited Users on Standard Plan
Zoho CRM alternatives
If Zoho CRM isn’t right for your business, here are some alternatives you can consider:
Salesforce
Salesforce is a CRM platform that’s great for fast-growing businesses. It’s a paid service, but you can get a 30-day free trial. Features include sales automation, customer tracking, pipeline management, and app integrations.
Hubspot
Hubspot is a free CRM software for enterprise businesses that focuses on helping customers. Features include marketing automation, lead generation, sales automation, customization, and two-way data sync.
SugarCRM
SugarCRM is a CRM software with AI support. It doesn’t offer any free plans or trials, but you can watch a 3-minute demo showcasing its service. Features include sales intelligence, marketing automation, sales automation, and predictive forecasting.
Zoho CRM FAQ
Is Zoho CRM free to use?
Zoho CRM offers a completely free plan, which includes a range of features, such as workflow automation and customization.
Is Zoho CRM pricey?
Zoho CRM is cheaply-priced compared to other CRM software, ranging from $14/month to $52/month.
What is CRM?
CRM refers to Customer Relationship Management, which is a platform that helps you track customer information. It allows teams to collectively manage customer data and communication.
Who can use CRM?
Any business with a customer or client base can use CRM. It improves business management by organizing and automating your workflow, sales, and data.
Who is Zoho CRM for?
Zoho CRM is aimed at smaller businesses, but its wide range of features makes them also suitable for larger businesses.
Useful Zoho CRM resources
Zoho provides many CRM resources for free.
- You can find links to all their CRM resources on one page for easy navigation.
- They have many tutorials and guides that help you learn the software.
- There’s an extensive FAQ section that answers common user queries.
Conclusion
Overall, Zoho CRM is a great free CRM platform for both small and large companies. Its wide array of features allows companies to fully customize and automate their CRM workspace as well as monitor performance. While the learning curve can be quite steep due to the numerous tools, Zoho CRM offers many tutorials and guides for new users.
If Zoho CRM doesn’t suit your company, search for alternatives using Findstack’s large library of resources. Visit Findstack today to view product comparisons and find the right software for your company.