Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is set to become the most significant feature in software purchase by local businesses according to new research.

Local business systems specialists K3 Panacea, based in Hook, believe many businesses are struggling with their current over-stretched software accounting systems, preventing them from focusing on growing revenue instead of just reducing costs.

The company says a straightforward and cost-effective upgrade to the more powerful Sage 200 system will shift more focus onto managing customer relations as well as providing efficiency improvements.

This view is backed up by technology research specialist, Gartner which says that the biggest spending increase of all the application software markets worldwide will be in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) which is a core module of Sage 200.

Another similar survey conducted by the UK’s Computing magazine showed that 80% of 130 business decision makers polled either already run a CRM system or plan to in the future, illustrating how CRM software has penetrated sales and marketing departments.

Zoe Bramble from local Sage experts, K3 Panacea said: “As these patterns emerge it illustrates how essential moving or upgrading to Sage 200 can be for businesses. The CRM aspect of the system allows businesses to manage customer and supplier relationships to a high standard. Marketing campaigns can be implemented effectively as well as providing a synchronisation platform with the back office.”

An analyst from Gartner, Hai Hong Swinehart, has outlined that buyers of CRM software are re-directing their attention to investments that promote customer retention and enhance the customer experience.

Following a series of recent acquisitions, K3 Business Technology Group has recently positioned itself as the UK leader for Sage software solutions. Hampshire-based K3 Panacea, a division of the company, provides Sage 200 software solutions to mid-market customers in the region ready to take their businesses to the next level.

Zoe Bramble added: “For companies that are looking to take the next step, Sage 200 offers an advanced solution combining financial management, customer relationship management and business intelligence software in one easy to use system.”

“The CRM facility really does help customers to boost sales revenues as well as saving costs through greater efficiencies. In this current economic climate, businesses need to establish and maintain strong customer relations. Sage 200 streamlines the processes necessary for this which makes any sales and marketing activity much easier, as well as being highly focused and targeted.”

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