Companies face many challenges that slow them down and reduce their efficiency. According to a 2019 study, almost 50% of companies use spreadsheets exclusively for auditing and risk assessment, and over 35% of finance and accounting departments depend on them for decision-making.

In addition, sales and marketing departments, see 31% reliance on spreadsheets, despite widespread awareness of the risks associated with data silos. However, the most impressive result is that companies know the risk and still 52% of respondents stated that their organisations have too many spreadsheets even to begin to manage them, even though they know the risks. Another study, of 2022 indicated that 82% of companies use outdated information.

Research shows that CRM plays an important role in addressing a multitude of issues that arise in business. But what are the main ones, and how can a company address them in order to grow with the help of Repath?

Challenges in Data Management and Decision-Making

1. Fragmented Data Management and Overreliance on Excel

Many companies struggle with the challenge of managing data across different departments, each using its own Excel spreadsheets. This lack of a centralised database system makes it difficult to compile all of a company’s information in one place.

Organisations undergoing mergers, such as ABL Group, which formed from the union of two similarly sized businesses, face the difficult task of synchronising vast amounts of data dispersed across various departments.

2. Outdated Systems, Time Consumption and Human Errors

The usage of these outdated systems results in departments handling customer data manually and inconsistently, which leads to increased error rates and inefficiencies. How?

The involvement of numerous staff members, combined with a lack of standardised procedures, access management, rules, permissions and layers in Excel, not only heightens the risk of mistakes but also consumes valuable time that could be better spent on other tasks.

3. Inconsistent pricing structures

Moreover, there are challenges point to inefficiencies in the financial management and customer billing practices within the organization.

In some situations, there are noticeable inconsistencies in pricing strategies due to the diverse factors that affect the final cost of products.

Other issues include the manual handling of invoices, challenges in associating customers with the appropriate bank accounts, and the lack of a systematic approach for payment reminders.

4. Segmentation Issues

The absence of a centralised database with comprehensive lead histories (personal  and contact information, relevant details about their business) greatly impedes strategic decision-making because it prevents the company from accurately segmenting its customer base.

Effective segmentation is essential for providing customised services and products that cater to the specific requirements and preferences of each customer. By adapting offerings to suit individual characteristics, a company can significantly improve customer satisfaction and elevate the overall customer experience.

5. Lack of communication and synergies 

Furthermore, there is a possibility that some leads documented by the sales department are not captured in the marketing department’s Excel spreadsheets. This oversight can result in missed opportunities, as these clients are excluded from targeted marketing efforts and campaigns.

Within this framework, the lack of a unified approach discourages organisation and diminishes communication and collaboration between departments. Thus, not sharing a common perspective on customer information, leads to operational inefficiencies and delays, often exacerbated by outdated data.

Streamlining Operations with Repath’s CRM Solutions

All these complexities that businesses face can be effectively addressed through the strategic implementation of a CRM system.

Recognising the unique requirements of businesses, Repath integrates Zoho CRM:

• with different widgets (existing tools and other programming languages) and
• a wide range of Zoho applications, to offer customised and dynamic solutions.

These tailored integrations resolve specific challenges, enabling effective customer relationships and workflow management, boosting efficiency and productivity.

Unified CRM: A Single Source of Truth

When faced with the issue of disjointed and scattered data across numerous outdated Excel files, Repath offers a solution through the implementation and design of a customised unified crm platform that can be connected with Zoho One suite, providing a single company-wide view of all contact and business information.

Automation: The Key to Efficiency

If your business goal is to reduce manual intervention, you can set user privileges according to roles, thus restricting access to sensitive data. In addition, Repath’s team uses Zoho CRM and zoho apps features, including workflow automation to manage repetitive tasks effortlessly, and Blueprints to establish and maintain consistent procedures across sales, support, marketing and operations.This not only reduces time spent on repetitive activities but also minimises human errors.

Streamlined Financial Management

To solve financial management and customer billing inefficiencies, Repath could integrate Zoho CRM with Zoho Books for financial management, automating invoicing and handling pricing strategies. Zoho Subscriptions could manage recurring payments and reminders, while Zoho Inventory could streamline product pricing and bank account associations.

A Strategic Approach to Centralised Data Management and Personalisation

To address the challenge of lacking a centralised database for comprehensive lead histories, which is crucial for effective segmentation and personalised customer services, Repath Solutions can implement:

Zoho CRM with one or multiple Zoho apps (Campaigns, Analytics, Desk, Forms) according to the company’s strategic goals, the specific challenges they face, and their capacity to manage and derive value from these integrated systems.

Harmonising Sales and Marketing

To bridge the gap between sales and marketing, Repath:

• would integrate the Zoho CRM with marketing automation tools. This ensures that leads captured by the sales team are automatically available for marketing campaigns, enabling targeted marketing efforts without manual data transfer.
• would implement systems that ensure data is synchronised in real-time across all platforms used by both departments, to ensure that any update by one team instantly.

Unlocking Business Potential: How Repath Elevates CRM Efficiency and Growth

These complexities and challenges are more than common in every business of every size and industry. Repath has already proved that it can simplify complex matters and stand next to companies in every step and phase during their digital journey.

Solutions for the mentioned problems do exist and Repath can help your company achieve its objectives for enhanced customer relationship management, operational efficiency, productivity and profit.

Contact our experts now for a personalised consultation or a demo.