The manufacturing industry has witnessed a dramatic transformation over the years. Previously, a manufacturing company responded to whatever a customer required. It has now evolved and become more customer-centric. Instead of waiting for the customers to tell them what they need, companies are now forecasting what will be in demand in the coming months and make use of techniques like lean production and automation to meet that demand. In these dynamic times, the role of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) has never been more important. Here we list five reasons how a CRM with the quintessential manufacturing features can add value by creating a leaner organization that anticipates customer demand and meets it quickly and efficiently.
1. Accurate Demand Forecasting
This feature is extremely useful for firms operating in fast-changing industries such as high-tech, electronics, retail etc. CRM Solution can help manufacturers cut the time required to develop a product from the concept phase to market delivery by enabling more accurate demand forecasting along with improved production information. By adapting faster and acting smarter, companies can get products to market before their competitors and gain a competitive edge.
2. Improve Product Quality
To stay in business, a manufacturing company has to keep producing high-quality products consistently and efficiently. Faulty or defective products will not only tarnish the brand image but also result in unhappy and unsatisfied customers, leading to the reduction in sales and revenue. With a CRM in place, a company can gather and analyze data from multiple sources and figure out process errors in real-time that contribute to product defects.
3. Intelligent Supply Chain
Failing to simplify and optimize business operations can result in overly complex and costly implementations which can have a detrimental effect on the company’s desired ROI. Deploying a CRM can give manufacturers detailed and useful insights about operations, inventory management, order processing, warehousing and distribution chains. Having an intelligent supply chain can deliver phenomenal results as it empowers firms to manage production schedules, maintain materials supply and move products quickly from the site of production to the market.
4. Enrich Customer Relationships
Safe delivery of a product and after sales service are as important for a manufacturing company as closing a new deal. A CRM system will help keep track of any warranty, repair, or service issues and manage day-to- day questions, inquiries and service calls. This will result in fewer delays and penalties and more follow-on sales.
5. Win More Business
CRM software is a valuable marketing tool to gain followers and customers. It enables marketing and selling departments to make detailed reports taking into consideration customers’ behavior. It lets the customer support staff help the customer immediately and provides valuable insights that help improve product quality and operation processes over time. This streamlines business operations, lowers costs and increases profits.
How we have helped manufacturing businesses overcome diverse challenges over the years? A few Case Studies
1. Inhance Technologies
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Inhance Technologies specializes in transforming conventional plastics into high-performance materials. The company provides customized plastic solutions to various industries such as automotive, construction, industrial, healthcare to name a few across the United States. Since Inhance Technologies had a nationwide presence with a highly diversified product portfolio, it realized the need for customizing Sugar in order to have a centralized system through which it could conveniently manage its sales pipeline, accommodate diverse sales channels and generate custom reports for the senior management.
Read the complete Inhance Technologies case study.
2. WK Marble and Granite Pty Ltd
Established in 1989, WK Marble and Granite Pty Ltd is a leading distributor of engineered and natural stone. It operates under two brand names: WK Stone and Quantum Quartz and distributes its premium range of products across Australia. WK’s management was using Sugar but needed something more visual to see the performance of its sales offices across regions. WK wanted its salespeople to see their respective accounts on Google Maps inside Sugar and also wanted to show their scheduled meetings with the vendors on Google Maps.
Read the complete WK Marble and Granite case study.
3. WM Printing
WM Printing is a company based in Boca Raton, Florida. The company was launched to cater massive printing orders for brochures, T-shirts and other goods. The business processes at WM Printing were being carried out with inefficient tools. The company wanted to manage its expanding customer base and the growing demands, whilst making sure that the highest quality of customer service was proffered.
Read the complete WM Printing case study.
