Both CRM and CMS software play a very important role in the operations of present-day businesses. While both of these softwares may sound similar, there are some major differences between CRM and CMS software. As a business owner, it is crucial for you to understand these differences so that you can choose the right one for your enterprise.
CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management while CMS refers to Content Management Systems. With all the Cs and Ms, they can appear to be the same, but they are meant for different purposes and perform different functions. However, if you are new to the corporate world, it’s easy to get confused between CRM and CMS. But don’t worry because we have you covered!
In this article, we will talk about what are CRM and CMS and the key differences between both these software. We will also help you understand what is more suitable for your business. So, let’s get started!
What exactly is Customer Relationship Management (CRM)?
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is one of the most important tools for modern-day businesses. Its fundamental function is to help business owners and managers in managing their sales-related operations.
A CRM software enables entrepreneurs or sales managers to keep track of customer data, manage leads, record customer interactions, and other such data. It makes the sales processes more streamlined and efficient.
A CRM tool automatically records and reports all the interactions your customers make with your website or your E-commerce store. In this way, you get well-organized reports about what your customers are doing on your website. It also helps you keep track of your sales goals, provides you with real-time reports, and gives you relevant business insights.
What exactly is Content Management System (CMS)?
A Content Management System (CMS) is an efficient tool that is necessary for setting up and managing websites. It helps you design, create, and update content for your website. A powerful CMS tool is essential for managing all of your digital content.
It comes with built-in templates and efficient content editors that make your work simpler. The best part about CMS software is that you do not need to be a tech wizard to use it. Anyone can build and manage a website with the help of a Content Management System without any coding skills.
With a CMS tool, you can publish content, add more features and plug-ins to your website, and schedule your posts for the future. As its name itself suggests, a Content Management System makes managing website content a breeze for business owners.
5 key differences between CRM and CMS
Understanding the difference between CRM and CMS is crucial for managing your business. It will help you figure out which tool will be more suitable for your enterprise’s needs. With this said, let’s talk about the major differences between a CRM software and a CMS software.
1. Primary function
The main function of CRM software is to help you store customer data including names, phone numbers, social media details, and email addresses. It also helps you track leads and generate real-time reports and sales analytics.
On the other hand, CMS software helps you create and manage your website. It provides you with a highly functional editor that lets you perform functions like SEO, digital content creation, website designing, post scheduling, and more.
2. Automation
A CRM tool provides a high level of automation. You can easily streamline and automate redundant tasks and free up a lot of your time. You can automatically log customer communications, reporting, emails, and more.
A CMS tool, on the other hand, doesn’t provide a high degree of automation. Its main objective is to enable you to create, update, and collaborate on content for your website.
3. Pricing
A CRM software is comparatively more expensive than a CMS software. Implementing CMS software is more budget-friendly and easy. In fact, some CMS software offers free functionalities and plug-ins.
4. Suitability
A CRM software is essential for all medium and large-sized organizations. It enables businesses to store and maintain customer accounts. On the contrary, a CMS software is more suitable for small-sized businesses that want to set up and manage websites.
5. Ease of use
A CMS software is very user-friendly. It comes with a simple interface and easy-to-understand features. You do not need to have any technical or coding knowledge to work on a CMS software.
On the other hand, a CRM software is more complex when compared with a CMS tool. As it has an extensive set of features and offers advanced functionalities, users need to possess some degree of technical knowledge to effectively use Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software.
The bottom line
So, that was all about CRM vs. CMS. We hope this article was able to answer your questions and resolve your doubts. Both CRM and CMS perform some significant functions in present-day organizations. They save a lot of your time by automating major tasks and reduce the need for manual work. They streamline business activities and improve your organization’s efficiency.
Ideally, both CRM and CMS software should work in tandem to generate the best results. However, if your business is still in the developing stage, and you want to pick up just one of these tools, here’s what you should do.
If your business is more sales-focused and heavily dependent on outbound sales, then you should go for a CRM software. It will allow you to keep track of your customer’s data, manage your leads, and provide relevant insights.
On the other hand, if you have a small business that relies on inbound marketing, CMS software would be enough for you. It will easily handle all your functions and fulfil your business requirements. Additionally, a Content Management System is also necessary if you want to perform functions like SEO, content planning, publishing, editing, and storing digital content.
Once you start experiencing growth, you should focus on building an efficient CRM-CMS integration to scale up your business and improve your operations.
