Popular CRM Integration Use Cases for Streamlined Operations

Businesses adopt CRMs to connect data for analysis and help consolidate information. An integrated CRM solution maximizes that investment by preventing duplicate data entry and increasing team productivity. Without CRM integration, teams end up having to switch between systems to piece together the information they need for reporting, sales activities, and other functions. In this blog, we’ll highlight some of the most popular CRM integration use cases for streamlining sales, accounting, CX, and marketing operations.  

Sales CRM Integrations:  

#1 Calendar Integration 

Staying on top of your schedule is important, especially in sales. Syncing Google or Outlook calendars with your CRM allows you to sync tasks so you know exactly how meetings and events align to your other commitments. You can log into a meeting, create meeting times, and send invites to intended guests all within one central location.  

#2 Phone & Video Integrations 

Sales teams spend most of their days on the phone. Having an integrated phone network that will automatically record a call can streamline their work so they can focus more of their efforts on important leads. A salesperson can dial, pick up a call, and record each conversation without having to think about it. This allows that data to be accessible at any point during the sales process and can keep teams organized as they switch between clients. 

#3 eCommerce 

Keeping customers informed about their orders is crucial for a positive eCommerce sales experience. Integrating your online carts with CRM improves customer accessibility to that information and builds a single source of truth for that customer’s data.  Teams can ensure shipping addresses are accurate, order cancellations are reflected in both systems, and inventory levels are correct.  

eCommerce solutions integrated with CRM not only provide deeper insights to internal teams, but they also help keep the customer happier with more efficient returns processing and an easier way to track their eCommerce purchases. The purchase history is in the CRM, so all the relevant data is there for sales to reference.  

Stripe is an example of an eCommerce platform that allows you to manage online payments. Integrating an eCommerce solution like Stripe with a CRM can benefit sales and boost your business relationships. Connected eCommerce data supports easy communication and better experiences for customers.  

#4 Document Management Integrations 

Document management allows you to keep track of contracts and other client paperwork and makes sharing those documents more convenient. Having your documents all in one spot makes it easier to sort and retrieve all your work.  

You can customize each document template to improve employee work efficiency, too. When you integrate your documents into a CRM system, you are also integrating the files to be shared amongst others in your team. These documents are secured, so crucial customer data will be safe.  

Accounting CRM Integrations: 

#1 Accounting & Billing Software 

Integrating an accounting software like QuickBooks with your CRM will simplify operations for each transaction. Every financial transaction automatically updates CRM accounts in real-time to keep records current and reduce data entry errors. As teams navigate multiple accounts at once, they won’t have to worry about manually entering information for each. 

#2 ERP and CRM for Accounting 

Integrating your CRM and ERP is a very common practice that can be extremely beneficial if done correctly. Combining these two solutions allows sales reps to access, view, and even order from bills of materials. Proposals generated in the CRM can be turned into actual orders using one system, and teams can track the status of orders more efficiently. The real-time data the integration provides improves forecasting capabilities across departments as well. Overall, this integration boosts productivity and improves access to critical billing information for a smoother sales process.  

CX Integrations: 

#1 Support Integrations  

Provide useful information for future customer interactions by connecting your support software to your CRM. This integration improves access to customer data and keep teams up to date on ticket status. Support software like Zendesk and HubSpot Service Hub are two popular examples of support solutions that are compatible with popular CRMs. 

Support integrations allow you to have real-time conversations, support your customers more efficiently on any platform, and close tickets out faster for a higher customer satisfaction rate. 

#2 Live Chat Integration 

Having a live chat connected to your CRM helps CX teams respond quickly and deliver one-on-one support to customers. Easily capture information and save conversations to the CRM to reference and learn from later.  

Whenever a visitor is using your live chat, asking for their name and email address first will determine if they have chatted with you before. If this is the case, that information can be pinned to previous interactions with the lead. It can automatically track previous conversations and will provide a timeline from everything that was discussed.  

Marketing CRM Integrations: 

#1 Email Integrations 

Integrating your email with CRM allows you to log all communications with a contact and view the associated activity. Tracking email metrics for automated messages reveals what people are clicking on and what is intriguing to your visitors. In addition, the ability to choose emails from premade templates makes creating targeted marketing emails easier. 

#2 Social Media 

Social media is an essential tool for every marketer. Integrating your social media accounts with CRM provides insight into your audience and can inform what type of content to post based on their interactions. Connect popular platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to your CRM to streamline analytics and stay on top of social media activity.  

#3 Marketing Automation 

Integrating marketing automation and CRM makes it easier for marketing teams to build and segment lists for more targeted marketing. It also helps track activities related to marketing so you can report on a broader set of data and learn what is working and what isn't working in your marketing approach.  

Concluding Thoughts  

Adopting CRM integrations helps streamline business activities in the long run. The biggest benefits of any CRM integration are the improves capabilities to track, manage, communicate, and report on your work from one central location. Achieve your business initiatives with the stronger team collaboration and more efficient customer experiences that result from CRM integrations. To find a connecting solution for your next CRM integration, view our Integration Connectors page.