For part two of our Salesforce and Microsoft video comparison, we’ll be taking a look at some of the functionality used to import and organize leads.
In part one of our series, we looked at logging a call and scheduling a follow up in a lead record, but before that can happen, leads first have to get into the system. To do that, there are a number of options, including manually inputting lead data by hand, automatically transferring leads into the system via marketing automation software, or directly importing a list of leads from an external spreadsheet or database file.
In our first video, we’ll look at the last option, directly importing a list of leads from a spreadsheet or database file into both Salesforce and Microsoft CRM.
Importing A List Of Leads
As you can see, the process in both CRM systems is similar, and both take roughly the same amount of time to complete, especially once data field mapping has been set up after the first import.
Once leads have been imported into a system, it’s important to be able to find and organize them quickly and easily. One of the best ways to do this is to create a custom view that filters leads by one or more specific attributes, such as the state they’re located in, lead score, product interest, etc.
Creating A Custom Lead View
As in the videos from the first part of our series, the most noticeable difference is in the workflow steps needed to create the desired view.
Leads are often the lifeblood of an organization’s sales department. Being able to easily get new leads into the sales team’s hands, and then manage them efficiently, can mean the difference between an effective sales team and one that struggles. CRM can help facilitate the process in a variety of ways, but just as important are the users and managers of the system and their ability to make it do what’s needed.
When planning for, and evaluating a new CRM solution, it’s always a good idea to make sure that users from all parts of the organization are given a chance to test, evaluate, and provide feedback for each system under consideration. If an often-used feature is too slow, confusing, or cumbersome, it may end up hampering users rather than enabling them to do their jobs more effectively.
On the other hand, if the system is carefully planned and executed, and user feedback has been taken into account, than the ultimate goal of implementing CRM–increased efficiency, higher sales, and better customer support and retention–can be realized for any business.
