At first thought, CRM and project management may seem like completely unrelated businesses functions. CRM systems and processes are focused on the customer.
Project management processes and tools dictate how and when critical elements of work get done. In this article, we will talk you through the differences and the surprising similarities between CRM and project management. We will also look at the benefits of integrating these two tools for a great business outcome.
CRM is an ongoing business process that is improved and enhanced over time. Project Management is all about delivering a project on time and within the proposed guidelines of budget, outcome, and targets.
The overarching intent of CRM is to handle information about customers for the purpose of being able to provide cohesive, coordinated and targeted customer service.
The focus of a CRM is the customers and potential customers for a business. CRM systems and programmes enable a business to:
On the other hand, Project management processes are finite because projects have timelines, with a specific start and end date.
Project management is focused on key stakeholders, employees, leaders, and contractors who are involved in project milestones. Project management requires the project manager to:
All projects have stakeholders. We often think of them as the people responsible for delivering critical tasks and milestones. But as projects like new products are designed and developed, or launching a new ecommerce site, or carrying out a brand review and update, understanding what customers are thinking and feeling can shine an important light on how decisions are made and what steps are carried out.
CRM can help you manage a project by giving you real-time insight into the hearts and minds of current stakeholders and current and future customers.
There are different types of CRM systems, but there are three main categories related to how the CRM functions.
Many CRM systems enable tasks, such as responding to emails, and complaints or scheduling customer interactions to be built up with a workflow. Workflows can trigger certain actions or act as reminders. Tasks can be created, forwarded, shared and allocated. You can break down larger projects into smaller tasks which are assigned to different responsible officers.
Work can be presented across an activity time, making it easy to schedule a workday, week or month. Email integration enables easy access to information and interaction history. Reminders and approvals can be flagged across all members of the team.
Choosing a cohesive and extensive software system to support a project is critical. There are plenty of project management tools on the market- software review website G2 details more than 400 systems that can be used across small, medium and enterprise businesses. Some of the most commonly used and highest rated enterprise solutions include:
The benefits of using a PIM for project management are wide-ranging. When a PIM is used for project management, it enables you to:
PIMs like Pimcore also offer exceptional data handling and information management, not only for sales and correspondence, but other files associated with project delivery. These project resources could include:
A PIM system will create a centralised repository for all of the information you and the project participants could need. It can be shared, updated, distributed and accessed by anyone with authority to do so. Having a central repository for project files reduces the chance of missing information and saves effort duplication when information needs to be recreated. A single point of storage for project files enables better version control and data integrity. This gives you access to information that enables the efficient delivery of project goals.
Using a PIM as a project management software tool places information, sharing and collaboration at the heart of the project approach. So often, project stakeholders will be working on different parts of projects, at different times and from different locations. Now more than ever, workers are working on projects remotely and at a time that suits them. Stakeholders can be in different locations like in other states and in different countries.
The key to creating a successful contemporary project is sharing information effectively and easily.
Project stakeholders can:
This allows you to establish:
PIM makes project manager’s dreams come true by managing all the components of a project-timelines, stakeholders and, most importantly, information.
By using a PIM for project management, you can:
During project planning, a PIM can help assist organise work and tasks, and create a schedule. The PIM acts as a central repository for updates, tasks, and data during project implementation. Many PIMs can enable the comparisons of data sets and information, assisting decision-making. Budgeting and other financial information can also be handled inside a PIM. Reports and update to-date status information can be accessed at any time.
The project manager has access to the tools and processed they need to create and distribution information to all of the stakeholders and agents. This access to information equips the project manager with what they need to ensure consistency and support process at critical moments during project delivery. High-quality data sets also assist in project review and evaluation.
Pimcore is a piece of software that combines what are traditionally separate technological systems:
It should be considered for project management because it has the capacity to:
If you are about to embark on a project with multiple stakeholders, bring CRM and project management together with a comprehensive PIM like Pimcore.