What is CRM Consulting?
CRM (Customer Relationship Management) consulting helps companies optimize their CRM systems and processes to improve customer relationships and drive growth.
CRM consultants are experts who provide strategic guidance and hands-on implementation support to get the most value from CRM software like Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP C/4HANA, and others.
There are several types of CRM consulting services:
- CRM Strategy Consulting – Developing plans to align CRM with overall business goals and objectives. Consultants help define CRM vision, requirements, processes, and metrics.
- CRM Implementation Consulting – Assisting with the technical implementation, customization, integration, data migration, and rollout of new CRM systems.
- CRM Optimization Consulting – Reviewing existing CRM usage and making recommendations to improve adoption, processes, reporting, and ROI.
The benefits of engaging CRM consultants include:
- Expert guidance from specialists with deep CRM knowledge
- Faster and smoother CRM deployments
- Increased CRM adoption and utilization
- Optimized CRM processes aligned to business needs
- Improved data quality and reporting from CRM system
- Enhanced customer insights and relationships
- Higher ROI from CRM investment
By leveraging CRM consulting services, companies can maximize their CRM investment and create better customer experiences.
How to Select a CRM Consulting Firm
Selecting the right CRM consulting firm is crucial for the success of your CRM implementation or optimization project. Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating CRM consultants:
Industry Experience
Look for a firm with extensive experience in your specific industry. They will understand your business needs better and customize the CRM to support your sales, marketing and customer service processes. Experienced consultants can provide best practices based on past clients in your vertical.
Technical Expertise
The consulting firm should have experts across major CRM platforms like Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle Siebel etc. They should be able to guide you on the pros and cons of different systems. Also ensure they are updated on the latest features and can do customizations as per your requirements.
Customer Service
The consulting firm should be responsive to your requirements and provide ongoing support during and after implementation. They should have a structured methodology for project management and communication.
Pricing and Billing Structure
Evaluate the project cost and billing structure carefully. Some consultants charge a flat fee while others bill hourly. See if they can provide a fixed bid for a defined scope. Also consider post-implementation support pricing.
Certifications and Partnerships
Look for consultants certified as experts in the CRM platform you plan to implement. Certified consultants are best positioned to configure and customize the platform as per your needs. Also see if the firm has direct partnerships with the CRM vendor.
The Ideal Fit for your Business
Most importantly, the partner should understand your business goals and be able to translate those into an effective CRM solution. Ensure your partner listens to your needs and you feel confident in their recommendations. The ideal partner acts as a trusted advisor that gets to know your business inside and out.
SingleStone Consulting
SingleStone is a leading CRM consulting firm founded in 1997 that specializes in helping enterprises transform their customer engagement through CRM implementation and optimization.
Overview
SingleStone takes a personalized and holistic approach to CRM consulting, covering strategy, implementation, adoption, analytics, and ongoing optimization. Their team of CRM experts has experience across all major CRM platforms and specializes in Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics.
SingleStone begins every engagement with a deep discovery of the client’s business objectives, customer journey, and sales and marketing processes to design tailored CRM solutions. Their experienced team recognizes the central role of this software in business, enabling them to deliver top-tier solutions swiftly. By asking the right questions, SingleStone ensures their clients not only comprehend but also maximize the value of their CRM solutions in order to stay ahead of the competition.
Services Offered
- Microsoft Dynamics Consulting
- Salesforce Consulting
- CRM Strategy Consulting
- CRM Implementation
- CRM Adoption Services
- Ongoing CRM Optimization
- CRM Integrations
Industries Served
SingleStone has experience implementing CRM solutions across many industries including:
- Energy
- Financial Services
- Government
- Healthcare
- Insurance
Case Studies
- Migrated the Virginia Department of Transportation’s CRM system to a cloud-based environment for Microsoft Dynamics, enhancing data accessibility and operational efficiency for improved service delivery.
- Facilitated the migration of the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff from a legacy system to Microsoft Dynamics 365, streamlining processes and improving data management capabilities.
- Implemented Microsoft Dynamics 365 for a large nonprofit organization, optimizing workflows and significantly enhancing operational efficiency.
- Optimized a Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) Salesforce solution for a regional charity, enhancing data analytics and improving tracking of donation and volunteering metrics.
- Worked with a Fortune 100 company to increase Lightning adoption and migrate from Salesforce Classic to Lightning Web Components
Pricing
SingleStone offers flexible pricing models to meet the needs of different clients. Their typical project pricing starts at $25,000 for focused CRM initiatives and can scale up based on the scope and complexity of the engagement. They also offer ongoing managed services contracts to optimize CRM post-implementation.
Centric Consulting
Centric Consulting is a technology and management consulting firm that specializes in CRM implementations and integrations. With over 20 years of experience, they have helped implement CRM solutions for organizations across various industries.
Overview
Centric Consulting takes a holistic approach to CRM, focusing on people, processes and technology. They help clients align their business and IT strategies to get the most value from their CRM investments. Their consultants have extensive experience with leading CRM platforms like Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics and SAP.
Services Offered
- CRM Selection & Planning
- CRM Implementation
- Integration & Customization
- Change Management & Adoption
- Managed Services & Support
Centric Consulting offers end-to-end services for the entire CRM lifecycle. This includes assessing needs, selecting the right platform, deploying and configuring the software, integrating with other systems, custom development, user adoption and ongoing support.
Industries Served
Centric Consulting serves clients across many industries including:
- Financial Services
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
- Retail & Consumer Goods
- Technology
- Higher Education
Their consultants understand the unique needs of each industry and can configure the CRM platform accordingly.
Case Studies
- Implemented a Salesforce CRM for a Fortune 500 tech company, helping increase sales productivity by 25%.
- Deployed a customized Microsoft Dynamics CRM for a healthcare provider, improving patient satisfaction scores.
- Developed an integrated CRM solution for a major university, consolidating data across admissions, alumni and fundraising.
Pricing
As a premier consulting firm, Centric Consulting prices their services based on the scope and complexity of each engagement. They work with clients to develop a customized proposal with fixed-fee pricing to meet their specific needs and budget. Volume discounts may be available for large enterprise deals.
Ascendix
Overview
Founded in 2008, Ascendix is a leading CRM consulting firm headquartered in New Jersey. They focus on helping enterprise and mid-market clients get the most value from their CRM investments.
Services Offered
- CRM Selection & Planning
- CRM Implementation
- Integration & Customization
- Managed Services
- Training & Adoption
Ascendix has extensive experience with major CRM platforms like Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle CRM, and SAP C/4HANA.
Industries Served
Ascendix serves clients across many industries including:
- Financial Services
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
- Retail
- Technology
Case Studies
Some examples of Ascendix’s work:
- Implemented Salesforce for a national retailer, helping increase sales productivity by 15%.
- Customized Microsoft Dynamics 365 for a manufacturing company, improving lead conversion rates.
- Developed an Oracle CX solution for a hospital network, centralizing patient data.
Pricing
Pricing varies based on the scope and complexity of each client’s needs. Ascendix provides customized quotes for each engagement. Their services are competitively priced for the high level of expertise provided.
ScienceSoft
Overview
ScienceSoft is a leading CRM consulting company that has been helping enterprises successfully implement CRM systems for over 20 years. They have extensive experience across a wide range of CRM platforms including Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle CRM, and SAP C/4HANA.
ScienceSoft takes a consultative approach, seeking to deeply understand each client’s unique needs and challenges. They have over 1,000 CRM experts that can provide strategic guidance on CRM selection, implementation, integration, customization, and adoption.
Services Offered
- CRM Selection & Strategy
- CRM Implementation
- CRM Customization & Integration
- CRM Managed Services
- Salesforce Consulting
- Microsoft Dynamics Consulting
- Oracle CRM Consulting
- SAP C/4HANA Consulting
Industries Served
ScienceSoft serves clients across many industries including:
- Financial Services
- Healthcare
- Retail & eCommerce
- High Tech
- Manufacturing
- Media & Entertainment
- Telecom
Case Studies
ScienceSoft has extensive CRM success stories from clients like T-Mobile, eBay, and Vodafone. Some examples:
- Developed a custom Salesforce solution for a major US bank, helping improve sales productivity by 15%.
- Implemented Microsoft Dynamics CRM for a telecom provider, centralizing 30+ legacy systems into a single CRM platform.
- Completed global Oracle CRM rollout for a healthcare company across 20 countries in just 9 months.
Pricing
ScienceSoft provides flexible pricing models including fixed cost, time and material, and dedicated team. Contact them for a customized quote.
Intellectsoft
Intellectsoft is a global IT consultancy firm that provides end-to-end CRM consulting services. They have over 15 years of experience helping enterprises select, implement, integrate, and customize CRM software like Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle CX Cloud, and SAP C/4HANA.
Overview
Intellectsoft employs over 800 IT professionals and has delivery centers across Eastern Europe. They take a hands-on approach to CRM consulting, providing services like:
- CRM strategy and planning
- Systems integration and data migration
- Custom development and integrations
- Testing and QA
- Ongoing support and enhancement
Services Offered
Key services include:
- CRM implementation
- Custom CRM development
- CRM data migration
- CRM integration with ERP, marketing automation, etc.
- CRM mobile app development
- CRM testing services
Industries Served
Intellectsoft has CRM consulting experience across industries like:
- Financial services
- Retail and ecommerce
- High tech
- Media and publishing
- Travel and hospitality
Case Studies
Notable CRM projects include:
- Implementing and customizing Microsoft Dynamics 365 for a major financial services firm
- Migrating a retail company’s data and workflows from Siebel to Salesforce
- Building a custom Oracle CX solution for a manufacturing enterprise
Pricing
As an offshore IT consultancy, Intellectsoft offers very competitive pricing for CRM consulting and custom development services. They provide fixed-bid project pricing as well as time and material engagements.
Appinventiv
Overview
Appinventiv is a global mobile app development company headquartered in India with offices in the US and Middle East. Founded in 2014, Appinventiv has over 1000 employees and has delivered over 1000 mobile apps for startups and enterprises.
Appinventiv focuses on designing and building custom mobile apps, web apps, IoT solutions and other digital products. They have expertise in technologies like iOS, Android, React Native, Flutter, Node.js, MongoDB, AWS and more.
Services Offered
- Mobile App Development
- Native iOS, Android, Hybrid, React Native, Flutter
- Web Development
- Custom web apps, ecommerce sites, portals
- UI/UX Design
- Wireframing, prototyping, visual design
- Cloud & DevOps
- AWS, Azure, Docker, Kubernetes
- Internet of Things
- Connected devices, home automation, wearables
Industries Served
Appinventiv has served clients in industries like:
- Retail & Ecommerce
- Media & Entertainment
- Travel & Hospitality
- Healthcare & Fitness
- Education & E-Learning
- Logistics & Transportation
They have experience building apps for all types of businesses from startups to large enterprises.
Case Studies
Some example apps built by Appinventiv:
- Plantix – AI-powered crop disease detection app with over 5 million users
- Krisp – Noise cancellation app for calls with over 5 million downloads
- Educate Girls – Mobile app to improve education for girls in rural India
- Fortune 500 retailer – In-store shopping app with AR, AI product recommendations
Pricing
Appinventiv has not publicly listed their pricing, but as a benchmark, an average cost for a custom mobile app can range from $25,000 to $75,000+. Pricing varies based on project complexity, features, design, and integrations required.
Forvis
Overview
Forvis is a leading CRM consulting firm founded in 2008 and headquartered in San Francisco, CA. With over 100 employees, Forvis serves clients across industries like technology, manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, retail, and more.
Forvis specializes in providing end-to-end CRM consulting and implementation services for both Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics platforms. Their core services include:
- CRM strategy and roadmapping
- System evaluation and selection
- Implementation and integration
- Custom development
- Managed services
- Training and adoption
Forvis takes a customer-centric approach to CRM consulting. They start by deeply understanding a client’s business objectives, processes, and culture before designing a CRM solution tailored to their needs.
Services Offered
- Salesforce Implementation
- Microsoft Dynamics Implementation
- Ongoing Managed Services
- Change Management
- Custom Application Development
- CRM Strategy
Industries Served
Forvis has extensive experience across many industries, including:
- Technology
- Manufacturing
- Financial Services
- Healthcare
- Retail & CPG
Case Studies
- Implemented Salesforce CPQ for a B2B tech company, reducing their quote turnaround time by 50%.
- Developed a custom Microsoft Dynamics app for a manufacturing client to optimize their supply chain operations.
- Provided change management and training services for a healthcare provider’s Salesforce rollout, driving 90%+ adoption.
Pricing
Forvis does not disclose exact pricing publicly but provides custom quotes based on the scope and complexity of each client engagement. Their services are competitively priced compared to similar tier CRM consulting firms.
BroadPoint Technologies
Overview
BroadPoint Technologies, founded in 2001, is a leading provider of business applications and IT consulting with a particular focus on CRM solutions. Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, BroadPoint has successfully implemented over 400 CRM projects, demonstrating a strong ability to understand and adapt to various industry requirements.
Services Offered
- Comprehensive CRM lifecycle management, from planning to maintenance.
- Expertise in advanced analytics and cloud solutions.
- Integration services for existing IT infrastructure.
Industries Served
- Government
- Nonprofit
- Professional services
Case Studies
- Nonprofit Organization: Implemented a customized Microsoft Dynamics CRM system that resulted in a 30% increase in donor engagement and streamlined fund management.
- Government Agency: Developed a comprehensive CRM solution that improved constituent service management, enhancing response times by 40%.
- Professional Services Firm: Deployed a cloud-based CRM that integrated with existing financial software, leading to a 25% improvement in project tracking and billing accuracy.
Pricing
Pricing varies based on the project scope and services required. BroadPoint typically offers a mix of fixed-bid and time-and-material pricing models to accommodate different client needs and project scales.
Signity Solutions
Overview
Signity Solutions is an innovative technology and consulting firm with expertise in CRM, Artificial Intelligence, and business process automation. Established in 2009, Signity has carved a niche in crafting custom CRM solutions that drive efficiency and profitability.
Services Offered
- Custom CRM solutions, including mobile CRM applications.
- Integration of AI with CRM systems for enhanced customer insights.
- Comprehensive service suite from strategy to post-implementation support.
Industries Served
- Technology
- Healthcare
- Retail
Case Studies
- Healthcare Provider: Developed a Zoho CRM integration that improved patient tracking and treatment outcomes, reducing administrative overhead by 20%.
- Retail Chain: Implemented a Salesforce solution that optimized customer loyalty programs and increased repeat customer sales by 15%.
- Technology Startup: Created a custom CRM system that streamlined lead management and boosted conversion rates by 30% through better sales funnel analytics.
Pricing
Signity Solutions adopts a project-based pricing model, with costs typically depending on the complexity and customization required. They also offer flexible payment plans to accommodate startups and small businesses.
Eide Bailly
Overview
Founded in 1917, Eide Bailly is a seasoned player in the field of business consulting and services, offering robust CRM solutions that focus on enhancing client engagement and operational efficiency. With a rich history in consulting, they bring deep industry insights and a pragmatic approach to digital transformation.
Services Offered
- Integration of CRM systems with enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions.
- Comprehensive CRM deployment from strategy to execution.
- In-depth training and support to ensure user adoption.
Industries Served
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
- Financial Services
Case Studies
- Manufacturing Company: Assisted with integrating their CRM with ERP systems, leading to a 20% increase in operational efficiency and a reduction in order duplication errors.
- Healthcare Organization: Implemented a CRM system that centralized patient records and appointment scheduling, improving patient experience and reducing wait times by 25%.
- Financial Services Firm: Deployed a CRM solution that enhanced client relationship management, increasing client retention rates by 18% and supporting compliance with financial regulations.
Pricing
Eide Bailly provides a variety of pricing options including flat-rate fees for certain services and customized quotes for more complex integrations or large-scale deployments.
Conclusion
Selecting the right CRM consulting company is crucial for leveraging technology to enhance customer relationships and achieve business goals. The ten companies reviewed here showcase a blend of industry expertise, technological proficiency, and client-centric services.
Each firm offers unique advantages. For instance, SingleStone excels at transforming customer engagement through tailored CRM strategies, making them an ideal choice for businesses looking to foster deep connections and drive growth.
As you consider your options, focus on your specific needs such as industry requirements, technological preferences, and budget. Engage with consultants who not only promise sophisticated technological solutions but also ensure these tools deliver substantial business benefits like enhanced efficiency, improved customer satisfaction, and solid financial performance.
Choose a CRM consultant who will act not only as a provider but also as a strategic partner in your digital transformation journey. With the right guidance, your investment in CRM technology will foster not only growth and customer engagement but also a significant competitive edge in an evolving marketplace.