Should I Create My Own CRM?

The advantages that customer relationship management (CRM) solutions provide firms are widely recognized to all. Many firms, particularly those that are just beginning to use CRM solutions, experience difficulties. One of the most frequently asked questions they receive is whether or not they should develop their own customer relationship management (CRM) application. This is a question on which executives and employees frequently have differing perspectives. We recognize the intricacy of this issue, as well as the impact it has on the operation and expense of running a business. In this piece, we will attempt to simplify the complexity of this subject and demystify everything there is to know about whether or not you should construct your own CRM. By the end of this essay, you will have gathered more than enough information to make an informed decision about your company’s marketing strategy.

What does it mean to create your own customer relationship management system (CRM)?

Typically, many firms purchase a license to use already developed CRM solutions from a third-party or pay a monthly membership fee to a CRM service provider. Building your own CRM is the polar opposite of this, and it entails completely rewriting the software product from the bottom up. This means that you will be in charge of designing the program and selecting the features and functionalities that will be included in the CRM solution. You also gain exclusive ownership of the program and are responsible for all of the expenditures associated with it.

In the following section, we will discuss the advantages and downsides of developing your own CRM software as compared to licensing a pre-made solution.

Advantages of developing your own customer relationship management system

Competitive advantage

Developing your own CRM software provides you with a competitive edge because you may include features that distinguish you from your competitors in the market place. Instead of adopting generic software that everyone in your industry has access to, you can customize software specifically for your company.

Adaptability

Sometimes third-party software does not provide the features that your company requires or that are specific to your industry. In these cases, customization is required. When creating your own CRM software, you have complete control over how it is configured to work with your company’s processes. You may incorporate your company’s organizational structure into your design, providing you with a plethora of personalization options.

Security

Some industries, such as financial services, deal with very sensitive consumer information that must be protected. Frequently, your CRM will be managing sensitive information that you do not want third parties to have access to, and a custom-built CRM can assist you in resolving this issue.

Integration with other company applications

Many firms find it beneficial to integrate all of their software in order to improve communication and collaboration among their employees. Many third-party software providers provide only a bare minimum of integration capabilities, which can be insufficient in some situations. If you already have other custom-built tools and want to link them all together, then developing your own custom CRM software is a distinct advantage.

No reliance on third-party companies

Any third-party firm has the potential to go out of business at any time, and you do not want your company to be at the mercy of another company. As a result, custom-built CRM technologies provide this independence and independence from third parties.

The disadvantages of creating your own customer relationship management system

Spending is prohibitively expensive.

The cost of building and implementing custom-built CRM software is nearly always larger than the cost of subscriptions, which is a significant disadvantage. In terms of time to market, subscribing to a third-party provider just takes a few minutes. Building custom software, on the other hand, might take months or even years, lengthening the time it takes to get a product to market.

Maintenance Burden

Subscribing to a CRM service relieves your company of any maintenance responsibilities; but, if you develop a bespoke CRM, you will be responsible for maintaining the program throughout its existence. This results in additional post-development costs and technological requirements.

Scalability

Custom-built CRM software, as opposed to subscription services, is difficult to grow, which is a significant downside of developing your own CRM.

Conclusion

There you have it: the advantages and disadvantages of building your own customer relationship management system. Primarily, building your own software is recommended if you require a crucial function that is not supplied by other parties, you require the security of personal information about clients, or you wish to combine the custom CRM software with other company tools, amongst other reasons. However, it is critical to consider the drawbacks of developing a bespoke CRM software, so carefully consider your options before proceeding. The final decision on whether or not to construct a custom CRM should be based on the current and future state of your company’s performance.