Mobile CRM

CRM going mobile? Is it really possible? Well, according to some studies being conducted, it is not really as outlandish a notion as you might believe at first. Of course, the idea has been around for some time, but is it really a viable one? Many specialists say that it is, as do many mobile technology firms. One example came just a short while back.

A company that hauled medical supplies went from manual sheets to laptops with data entry software installed on them. But what were the results? How about faster delivery times, shorter billing cycles, better-kept inventory, and a general overall increase in productivity and accuracy. Before, the company would have orders come in, pile up, and sometimes sit for weeks… even months… before they could be processed.

Now, processing is easy and automated. Of course, mobile CRM of this nature is not cheap. It is estimated that, per user, this type of CRM could run $4,500. This does include software, hardware, networking, and everything… but still, it is a lot of money.

Is it too much money? Well, a lack of demand and a seemingly imminent lack of need on the part of the consumer public seems to chant wait for it, but many mobile technology developers say that the turn is right around the bend, so to speak. If companies would start going mobile with their CRM, they would see a dramatic increase in not only productivity, but in their accuracy, their growth, and finally… in their revenue.

But what does it mean now? Well, it means that mobile technology developers might have a hefty paycheck waiting around the corner, but not until consumers feel the need to access their CRM databases away from the oh-so-holy desktop. It seems that a change like this is immanent… and many believe that it is. Still, it is taking it’s own sweet time about it. By the way cell phones are increasing in popularity, it is a wonder that CRM hasn’t converged on them yet… but don’t worry, it won’t take long.