In 2017, it’s not enough to solely utilize a desktop CRM tool for your business. With mobile as such huge part of everyone’s daily life and processes, it’s important that your business can access and update your business CRM while on the go using mobile.

By connecting with mobile devices, you’re also giving your sales team the ability to access customer data through a mobile CRM app or web-based browsers with cloud CRM. The biggest benefit of a mobile CRM system is its ability to allow your sales team to access data while out in the field meeting with prospects and customers. Essentially, this data is at the fingertips of you and all your employees, 24/7. In addition to equipping your sales team with the data they need to close more deals, there are numerous benefits for your organization to use a CRM system. Below are seven benefits unique to mobile CRMs.

#1. Increase in productivity

There are many time-saving, cost-effective features and functionalities to mobile CRM apps now. Apps can be used to schedule appointments, enter data, review notes, follow-ups and more. Having this all in one device is a lot less effort needed on your team’s end to focus on the paperwork and more task-driven part of their job. This gives them more time to sell. Which leads me to my next benefit…

#2. Increase in sales

Having the right information available, organized and easily accessible at the right time can mean a big difference in closing a deal (versus losing it!). The less time your sales team spends searching for information they need, the more time they can spend interacting with customers and building relationships. A study done by Innoppl Technologies shows that 65 percent of sales reps who work at companies that have implemented a mobile CRM system have achieved their sales quotas, as opposed to 22 percent of reps who work from traditional CRM systems.

#3. Shortening of the sales cycle

A mobile CRM allows the sales team to close deals with fewer interactions ultimately letting them being prospecting and working on new opportunities faster. While this is a benefit and can lead to higher earning potentials, we do caution one thing. Fewer interactions can take more “personal” time away from the customer, making them feel less important. Be sure your sales team compensates for that by inputting specific customer details into the CRM. Knowing more information about the customer will help them feel more valued.

#4. Improvement in data quality

When sales teams are using a CRM on their desktops, they often have to wait to get back to the office from a customer visit to enter meeting notes, change appointment times or dates, or update a customer’s contact information. This leaves a high probability that the salesperson forgets part of the data, or may not enter it at all. Having a CRM on mobile allows for real-time data entry. The customer could even have the chance to review and confirm the accuracy of their information.

#5. Flexibility to choose multiple devices

Most sales teams have a desktop, laptop, and smartphone device. Some may even have a tablet and smartphone in addition to their computers. Your mobile CRM system is designed to adapt to all of those devices, meaning screen sizes and data syncing. This makes transitioning on and off the field easier. If your organization is able, provide the sales team with the device you’d like them to work from, such as a smartphone or tablet.

#6. Increase CRM adoption rate

As with any new software or hardware introduction, the biggest challenge is always getting your team comfortable and on board with using these new systems. Similarly, if the sales teams can access the CRM through multiple devices, making it seamless for them to find and access what they need, they’re more likely to see the value, thus making them more likely to want to use a CRM in general.

#7. Increase in competitive advantage

Imagine the competitive advantages gained from giving your sales team the ability to update your CRM on-site in real-time? They can add notes and even automate essential workflow notifications such as client approvals. A customer may prefer to do business with an organization that is more responsive and knows more about them. It comes across more personal.

All of these benefits lead to a strong sales and service team, and a smarter business when it comes to serving your customers. However, before implementing the use of mobile in your CRM strategy, you must get internal buy-in from your sales team. Mobile CRM will not work if your sales team doesn’t buy into this approach. Your sales team are the ones that will be using the device applications daily, so to get their buy-in, you’ll need to share the strategy to ensure it aligns with theirs.

Author Bio

Jeanna Barrett is the Founder & Chief Strategist of First Page, an award-winning online marketer and an expat entrepreneur. Through content, social media and SEO, Jeanna uses the power of words and data to drive growth in brand awareness, organic traffic, leads, revenue and customer loyalty. She has a combined 12 years of inbound marketing experience at venture-backed startups, digital agencies and Fortune 500 companies, with an expertise focus on small business and technology. She’s been named ‘Top 40 Under 40’ of brand marketers and ‘Best in the West’ for financial technology marketing. In 2016, Jeanna left the U.S. to lay roots and build her business in Belize.