What are the disadvantages of a CRM?

So, you're thinking "I really need one of these whizz-bang CRM systems".

But it's not all glitter and rainbows. There's got to a downside too?

Of course there is.

The first one is the price. As we've mentioned before, these things can be expensive. Really expensive.

Luckily, that's not the case for all CRMs but, given the importance they have to large businesses, it's not surprising how much they can cost.

Then there's security. The big advantage of a CRM is you have all your important information in one place. But the disadvantage of a CRM is you have all your important information in one place. If someone breaks in, they've got it all, at their fingertips. So you need to be sure that your security policy is up to date and you've got contingency plans in place.

But the biggest disadvantage of a CRM is nothing technical. The fact is, a CRM is only valuable if it's being used. And a lot of people don't like computer systems. If your team are not prepared to put the effort in, to logging notes and calls into the database, to manage their diaries via the system, then the CRM will just be an expensive waste of money.

However, most people can get over that - if they can see the benefits that the CRM will bring to their lives.

Take action: Weigh it up - is a CRM right for you and your business at the moment?