4 Steps + (Bonus Tip) on How to Hunt for the ‘Just Right’ CRM Developer

A good Customer Relationship Management software is a complete toolkit in itself. You simply can’t over emphasize the value it can generate for any business. It helps you automate your processes and keeps you on top of your numbers concerning your clients. CRM software not only helps you collect and store crucial data but also can draw powerful reports out of it. Use it well, and you will know the next big strategy your business needs to execute for a hockey stick revenue graph. The glitch could be a CRM system that is not good enough to do good. It can happen if you pick any software off the shelf and push it. It looks natural and even cost-effective.

Nope, they are not!

A CRM software development from scratch is what any business person would recommend; especially those who already have burnt their fingers while using a boxed CRM. Readymade CRMs are too complex and bulky. They are challenging to train. Besides, you end up paying for a system in full, of which, you do not use almost 90% of the features. Nonetheless, when you choose to pick up on doing CRM development, it is inevitable that you are hiring a CRM developer who is skilled and has some real-world experience to display. Going forward, here you go with 4 steps that will sort your hunt for an efficient CRM development agency (Please read till the end to find the bonus tip):

1) Where to hunt?

The best places to hunt for skilled and affordable CRM Developers or CRM Development companies would be Upwork.com, Freelancer.com or Peopleperhour.com. However, if you are not comfortable with remote working search for them in the local directories or else just Google something like “CRM development agencies + your location.”

In seconds, you will have a list of potential candidates ready.

2) How to shortlist

Check out their portfolios, try to see if they have done any sample work (up-and-running CRM systems) in your industry. If yes, try and get in touch with that product owner to get a first-hand review of that agency or developer. Do not forget to check their reviews on the web like Google reviews, FB reviews, etc. In the end, you will have a sensible list of people with whom you would like to discuss further.

3) Explain what you want

Schedule interviews and start with explaining the features and processes you would want in your CRM. It is best if you already have a list ready for you. The person that best understands your requirement and has quoted with your budget is your man.

4) Read the contract

If you are hiring from platforms like upwork or freelancer, the contract is not a drill (duly taken care of by the platform itself). However, if are doing it with a local agency, read the agreement properly. Double check the delivery schedule of the beta version and live version. And other details like payment system and schedule, who will be the project manager, the channel of communication, post-deployment support and maintenance, etc.