Excel vs. CRM: Which is the best data tool for your business?

This may seem like an obvious question, but many people may assume that this question only affects small businesses. In reality, this is not the case; it is shocking how many medium-sized companies use Excel in their daily management.

Why? The reasons vary:

  • The system is outdated
  • The system is very rigid
  • It takes a long time to keep it updated
  • It was not adopted by the staff as they expected
  • They are developing a new business unit that does not yet have an assigned budget.

It’s also true that when it comes to managing customer data, people often still default to Excel. It’s simple, familiar, and sometimes sufficient for most small businesses. But if you’re in a hurry to get your team up and running quickly, or if you want to scale your business over time, you need a database application, in this case a CRM (Customer Relationship Management).

While Excel is great at what it does – it’s able to store large amounts of data in an easily accessible format – it doesn’t provide the kind of power that businesses with large volumes of data need. Even if your original needs aren’t very complex, as your business grows, you may find that you outgrow Excel when it comes to storing information. You’ll be held data tool back by the fact that Excel can only handle one task at a time, unlike a database’s ability to handle multiple tasks at once. You’ll also struggle with the amount of space available on a mobile phone or tablet when using Excel.

What is a CRM?

A CRM is a tool for tracking and managing customer interactions, for controlling the customer journey and lifecycle. It helps you connect with customers, nurture them throughout the buying cycle, increase their lifetime value, reduce ineffective channels belgium telemarketing and nurture potential customers.

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Below we will tell you the main differences between spreadsheets and CRM databases so you can decide which one is most suitable for your company.

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CRM databases are powerful

When it comes to data management, the reason businesses choose Excel is because it’s a familiar tool. The average office worker is more comfortable with Microsoft Office than they are with CRM databases. And unfortunately, many businesses don’t want to spend the time or money learning new skills , so they stick with what they know and understand.

While Excel can be effective for smaller businesses, it becomes unmanageable as soon as a business starts to grow. It also has limitations when you need the best artificial intelligence tools for marketing to share data between employees in different locations, which is why many Fortune 500 companies use relational databases that allow them to store and manage data in one central location.

A CRM database is a powerful tool that provides businesses with a number of benefits, including:

  • Allows you to store large volumes of data: Allows you to track information such as customer demographics and past purchases without having to worry about file size limits or running out of hard drive space.


  • Allows you to query data in seconds: for example, if your marketing department. Wants a list of all customers who have purchased. More data tool than 100 items from your website. This report could be generated in a matter of seconds by a database query.

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