Mobile CRM: boost your field sales with the best CRM tools
In the field, your sales staff don't have time to "go back to the office" to update a customer file or check on an ongoing opportunity. And they shouldn't need to. Thanks to mobile CRM, all strategic information is accessible in real time, from their smartphone.
The result? More responsive prospecting, more targeted follow-ups, and above all... sales that no longer slip through the net!
In this article, we explain what a mobile CRM is, why its benefits have made it indispensable for your mobile teams, and which tools you should choose to boost your sales performance.
What is a mobile CRM? Definition
CRM (an acronym for customer relationship management) is a strategy and a set of processes designed to optimise customer relations. But that's not all it is: a CRM tool can be defined as a device for managing this relationship with customers and prospects, using a multi-channel approach.
This is why marketing tools, particularly marketing automation, can be integrated into CRM software.
📱 What about mobile, then? Also known as M-CRM, mobile CRM is therefore characterised as all the applications and tools developed for a mobile terminal (tablet or smartphone) and designed to manage CRM activity.
This focus on mobile implies specific functionalities and ergonomics, taking into account, for example, the use of SMS or the responsive nature of the interface.
What are the 6 advantages of a mobile CRM?
1- The rise of the mobile
Today, using a smartphone to connect to the Internet has become the norm. By 2024, over 98% of Internet users worldwide will be accessing the Internet via their mobile phone, according to DataReportal's Digital 2024 report. A statistic that reflects a lasting shift in usage, including in the workplace.
The adoption of mobile CRM is part of this trend. These applications enable users to switch seamlessly from mobile to desktop, depending on their context:
- travel
- customer meetings
- working remotely, etc.
Most CRM solutions now offer a mobile application directly connected to the main version of the software.
An example of an application: in just a few clicks, a B2B sales rep can retrieve a prospect's history before a customer meeting, even in areas with limited coverage, thanks to the offline mode. Practical!
2- Team mobility
M-CRM has one major advantage, particularly for sales staff: it allows them to work in mobile situations .
Whether they're in a hotel, on a train or waiting for an appointment, with mobile CRM, teams can access customer data and company data from anywhere. What's more, most applications work offline.
What's more, most applications work offline, providing teams with features that are useful in mobile situations. For example
- the collaborative personal diary: wherever they are, mobile employees can easily organise their appointments and their day, in line with the company's needs;
- the click-to-call function: often integrated into appointment management, this saves precious time when a customer or prospect needs to be contacted.
Result: optimised working time.
Example of application: after a trade show, scanned leads can be integrated directly into the CRM, with an initial status and a note for follow-up.
3- Actions in real time
Another advantage: thanks to mobile CRM, information is up to date and available at the speed of a click. Teams can consult all the CRM data in real time and respond more quickly to customer needs.
Sales staff, meanwhile, can secure additional sales opportunities by prioritising their actions more intelligently when they're out in the field. At the same time, they can improve customer follow-up by rapidly transmitting key information to the sales teams.
Example of application: an area manager can allocate a hot lead to a nearby sales rep, just a few minutes after qualifying it. Time savings guaranteed. 💪
4- Customer satisfaction
The success of a CRM strategy is largely based on optimising the customer experience. And customers are becoming increasingly sensitive to the speed with which their requirements are met.
Thanks to the responsiveness and flexibility of mobile CRM, customers can easily access the information and services they need. Sales staff are better able to offer products that meet their needs (and the company's profits). At the same time, any problems encountered by customers are passed on in real time to the in-house support teams.
Example of application: a technical sales representative can send an updated quotation in a few minutes during an appointment, without having to "validate it later".
5- Geolocation
Because they are constantly visiting customers, sales reps don't always know the easiest way to get to their appointments.
Many mobile CRM applications offer quick access to Google Maps in their interface.
By entering a destination, the software can also suggest the various contacts nearby or on the route, as well as the most appropriate itinerary.
A mobile CRM with geolocation capabilities means that sales reps can :
- bounce back more flexibly if an appointment lasts less time than planned, or if another is rescheduled at the last minute ;
- cover their sector more effectively. Using queries, they segment the data according to their criteria. In this way, dots - or push pins - appear on the map in distinct colours: a colour to distinguish hot prospects from current customers, or a symbol to represent the time elapsed since the last contact was made.
Here 's an example of how this can be used: when planning their visits, a sales representative can see which prospects in their area have not been contacted, and intelligently fill any free slots.
6- Profitability for the company
Finally, by giving employees the opportunity to work using mobile phones, companies can be sure of "losing" fewer working hours.
67% of companies are seeing productivity gains thanks to the use of mobile devices.
cegid.com
As we have seen, thanks to the remote connection, teams on the move can continue to work even when they are in transit between appointments. This increase in productivity, combined with greater customer satisfaction, is a valuable asset for your company's profitability, and therefore sales.
Are you attracted by the many advantages of M-CRM and the business opportunities it opens up?
Find the mobile CRM application that will serve your professional ambitions from the following selection.
Which is the most widely used mobile CRM? Comparison of CRM solutions
Choosing a free mobile CRM
Before taking the plunge, perhaps you're considering free mobile CRM solutions?
The good news is that this type of tool does exist, although being free implies a limit in terms of functionality and/or number of users. Zoho CRM, for example, offers a free version for up to three users.
In addition, companies looking for a free mobile CRM can turn to open source CRMs, such as Crème CRM, a complete free software package developed in Marseille.
Finally, note that you can try out the M-CRMs listed in the following comparison free of charge.
Divalto weavy
Divalto weavy is a CRM offering all the tools needed for complete customer relationship management, from prospecting to after-sales service, even on the move. Its leitmotiv: to give salespeople back the time to sell and reduce time-consuming tasks.
Some of the advantages of Divalto weavy :
- the tool connects to all ERP systems on the market and enables sales KPIs to be tracked for 360° sales management;
- It provides mobile access to all essential data (customer files, order history, stocks, catalogues, etc.);
- it enables orders to be taken, visit reports and sales action plans to be produced from the field, as well as electronic signatures.
Who it's for: SMEs and SMBs, with 15 or more users.
Demonstration on request.
divalto weavy
Kizeo Forms
A mobile application that complements your CRM, Kizeo Forms is a practical solution for creating all kinds of customised forms, particularly for customer visit reports. Thanks to its API, you can transfer all the information collected in the field to your CRM.
Some of the advantages of Kizeo Forms :
- the creation of personalised contact sheets, reports and minutes by simply dragging and dropping, with mandatory fields defined ;
- Gather rich and varied information thanks to geolocation and the possibility of adding files such as photos;
- easier data entry and feedback, with an application designed for users in the field.
Who it's for: any type of company with field operations.
Free 15-day trial.
Kizeo Forms
Oryanoo CRM
Oryanoo CRM is a tool dedicated to customer relations and sales force efficiency, particularly suited to multi-site and international companies. It enables the management of sales and marketing actions, and offers teams a collaborative environment thanks to the forum and document sharing.
Some of the advantages of Oryanoo CRM :
- very broad functional coverage, including stock management, customer support and finance, at an affordable price ;
- it is directly connected to a Web Map Services (WMS) editor for exporting and displaying both the itinerary and useful information: contact details, contact sheets, etc. ;
- it includes calendar sharing, a useful gateway for optimising your own actions and adapting them to those of your colleagues.
For whom: large organisations with several entities.
Free 30-day trial.
Oryanoo CRM
Pipedrive
Pipedrive CRM for sales and sales pipeline management offers a mobile version. This means that sales reps can monitor and develop their opportunities wherever they are.
Some of the advantages of Pipedrive :
- possible integration with a number of mobile applications (Google and Microsoft calendars, Slack, Asana, etc.) optimises the work of teams;
- the user-friendly interface highlights the activities and messages that need to be dealt with first, so it's easy to organise working time when you're on the move;
- the "Nearby" function displays the nearest contacts, so sales staff can seize business opportunities by arranging spontaneous meetings.
Who it's for: all types of businesses.
14-day free trial.
Pipedrive
Salesforce
The Salesforce suite of solutions is a powerful CRM with features such as contact management, sales opportunities and mass emailing. Take advantage on the move with the mobile application.
Some of the advantages of Salesforce :
- mobile employees can manage their business thanks to access to all types of dashboard (customer service, marketing, sales, etc.);
- The tool offers a high degree of customisation: you can add your own business applications, customised actions or even Salesforce AppExchange applications;
- the ability to open, edit and share Office documents from the mobile application.
Who it's for: all types of businesses.
Free 30-day trial.
Salesforce Sales Cloud
Yuto
Yuto is a connected mobile CRM tailored to the needs of salespeople. Among other features, it includes quotation, order-taking and sales call reporting functions.
Some of the advantages of Yuto :
- the tool adapts to the time constraints of sales reps when prospecting, thanks, for example, to order taking in less than two minutes or voice note-taking;
- Yuto interfaces with the sales management system and replicates the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) environment;
- the application proactively solicits information from your sales force, leaving them to concentrate on their higher value-added tasks.
For whom: SMEs.
14-day free trial.
Yuto
Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is part of a complete software suite (professional e-mail, office tools, etc.). Available in a mobile version, it supports teams in managing prospects and offers in the sales pipeline.
Some of the benefits of Zoho CRM :
- Zia, the artificial intelligence solution, supports mobile teams: details of an appointment, changing the status of a transaction, calling a customer, adding notes, etc. ;
- the Flux module keeps everyone in the company informed in real time of the progress of all employees;
- Zoho's CRM application is easy and intuitive to use, and can be customised to give sales staff the clearest possible overview of the tasks ahead.
For whom: for all types of business.
Free 14-day trial. As mentioned above, you can also test the free edition for up to three users.
Zoho CRM
How to choose your mobile CRM?
Mobile CRM comparison: find the right tool for your team
Here's a comparison table of the main mobile CRM solutions, listed in alphabetical order, to help you identify the one that best suits your needs.
| Software | Who is it for? | Main benefits | 3 key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Divalto weavy | SMEs and SMIs with field sales forces | Complete, customisable French CRM | Mobile order taking, geolocation, customer portal |
| Kizeo Forms | VSEs, SMEs, craftsmen, local authorities | Digitalisation of forms in the field | Customised forms, offline data collection, report generation |
| Oryanoo CRM | Multi-site or international SMEs | All-in-one CRM with integrated ERP | Sales management, collaborative tools, online questionnaires |
| Pipedrive | Start-ups, sales-oriented SMEs | Intuitive interface with visual pipeline | Lead management, automation, multiple integrations |
| Salesforce | Large companies, structured sales teams | Market-leading CRM with complete ecosystem | Sales automation, advanced analytics, multi-channel integration |
| Yuto | Field sales forces, mobile sales representatives | Mobile application dedicated to sales staff | Offline quotes, automatic synchronisation, customer management |
| Zoho CRM | Companies of all sizes | Flexible, scalable solution | Sales automation, lead management, customised reports |
Tips for choosing your mobile CRM
Before committing yourself, ask yourself the right questions to select the mobile CRM best suited to your needs:
- What size is your business? Some CRMs are designed for very small businesses, others for large organisations.
- Are your teams often on the move? Choose a CRM with a robust mobile application and offline functionality.
- What are your main objectives? Increase sales, improve customer follow-up, automate tasks?
- What's your budget? Prices vary according to functionality and the number of users.
- Do you need specific integrations? Make sure that the CRM integrates well with your existing tools (ERP, messaging, etc.).
By answering these questions, you can refine your choice and opt for the mobile CRM that will really optimise your sales performance.
Manage your sales activity on the move
Proximity, efficiency and competitiveness: your mobile teams have to rise to this daily challenge if they are to attract new customers and continue to satisfy existing ones.
In this context, it's becoming essential to unite all your sales forces around a common tool capable of delivering the best possible service. And mobile CRM serves this ambition by enabling you to anticipate opportunities and draw on relevant information instantly.
There is a wide range of M-CRM products on offer, so it's up to you to choose the tool that best suits the size of your business and your budget. Your business needs obviously also come into the equation: ERP functionality, integration with other applications, marketing needs, focus on prospecting... there's a mobile CRM for every objective and business strategy!
What's yours? Share your experience with us in the comments.
Currently Editorial Manager, Jennifer Montérémal joined the Appvizer team in 2019. Since then, she's been putting her expertise in web copywriting, copywriting and SEO optimisation to work for the company, with her sights set on reader satisfaction 😀 !
A medievalist by training, Jennifer took a short break from fortified castles and other manuscripts to discover her passion for content marketing. She took away from her studies the skills expected of a good copywriter: understanding and analysing the subject, conveying the information, with a real mastery of the pen (without systematically resorting to a certain AI 🤫).
An anecdote about Jennifer? She stood out at Appvizer for her karaoke skills and her boundless knowledge of musical dreck 🎤.