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When putting together a work project there are many steps that go into it. From conception of ideas, planning, delegating duties, setting deadlines and eventually having a finished product, projects can involve a lot of people and the range of time that they need to be completed in varies.
Just like in every department, every business project needs a manager or management plan, hence the term, project management. And even though projects can be completed with one person or multiple people, there still needs to be a plan in place on how to execute project goals and how to meet deadlines when creating a product or service meant for your audience. While it can be done alone, having additional help and intel can make the process easier, for example, using CRM software.
In today’s blog, we won’t talk exclusively about CRM and all of its abilities, rather how it can help assist in the realm of project management. Continue reading to learn more about project management, what it is and how CRM can help.
What is Project Management?
There is a difference between general management vs. project management. Management oversees departments of employees ensuring that work is being completed and everything moves with ease. There is a difference with project management. All businesses work on projects cross departments all for the purpose of helping their business create and release products and services to serve their customer base. Project management is the practice that involves initiating, planning and executing specific goals and criteria created when working on a business project. Project management also involves following processes, knowledge, methods, skills and experience in order to achieve specific project objectives. A project is a temporary or ongoing endeavor that is meant to result in some type of business product or service meant to help and serve a business and/or its clientele.
What is CRM?
We briefly mentioned what CRM is, also known as, customer relationship management, but let’s get a bit more in depth with its history and capabilities. Surely, you’ve heard of the motto that the customer always comes first, which is what CRM software embodies. Customer Relationship Management software is a technology meant to manage the interactions that a company has with its customers. In addition to strengthening that relationship, CRM also streamlines process, lightening the load of work across departments as well as improves profitability and work efficiency.
The beauty of CRM software is that it gives a business a better change of getting to know their customer base on a personal level. With that customer knowledge, businesses can then achieve another goal with the use of CRM, which is earning a profit.
What About CRM Can Project Managers Benefit From?
Customer relationship management software can assist with project management can help make project managers jobs easier to do. How?
- Customer and project information is in one central space: CRM gives the ability to store contacts, project data and accounts into one central database that can be accessed by those within your company who need it, when they need it. Employees working on a project can remain up to date with project tasks and deadlines. CRM also eliminates the possibility of duplicate data entry, which could prolong a project cycle and cause errors.
- Stay up to date with activities: the software allows you to view your list of outstanding project activities. Important things like duties that need to be completed and deadlines are also highlighted, which helps a team stay on track.
- Manage relationships formed during projects: the overall purpose of CRM is to improve the relationship between a business and their customers. During the process of a project, you can place information about your customers into the software. You never know when you will need that customer information in the future. Think of CRM as something that can help you now and later.
