Hello folks- looking for some input regarding a business problem I’m facing. My client operates an HR shared services center and they do not have a crm system. All work is via email, so outlook is used as a work management tool. We know that the long term solution is to implement a crm solution, but I’m trying to think of ideas i could implement in the interim to provide some respite to the team. Would welcome any suggestions.
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Shane DrummDigital Product Person| Journey OnePerth, Australia
What problem are you trying to solve for the team? Saving Changes...
CRM tools aggregate customer data and provide additional functionality based off of that data. To provide a better interim solution, you need to identify the additional functionality that would help your customer, and what current capabilities you have to provide those functions.
If you don't have an integrated data system, you will have to create your own apps and widgets in federated systems, and how to manually or automatically integrate what you can to perform the same functions. If you have someone with programming skills, you can point design some custom applications pretty easily. If that isn't an option, then you need to look for commercial off the shelf (COTS) solutions that can help address specific needs with specific tools. The collection of tools becomes your temporary CRM tool suite.
Spreadsheets can store a lot of basic data, and a skilled user can build in macros to make that more user friendly. Rules can be created in Outlook to automatically sort and store customer data. Read receipts and whether customers clicked on links in emails can track customer engagement. Both Microsoft and Google have applications to create forms for basic data that might assist you. Form follows function though, so you need to know what you want to do with the tools before you select them.
The typical engineering formula is to a) define your needed functions, b) document your options to performing those functions, and then c) performing a trade-off analysis to determine which options best fit your own situation. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
If you have access to a collaboration tool such as Confluence or SharePoint, you might find it a good way to tide you over until you have a full-service solution. It is also be a good way for you to flesh out your requirements: what you want, what you need, what you like, what you don't like. Saving Changes...
