Want to know more about the team here at OpenCRM? Read our insights and success stories to find out how our customers and we use the system, some favourite features, and tips for getting through your busy day.
20 Things We’ve Learned from Over 20 Years of CRM Implementations | OpenCRM On this page What CRM Has Taught Us People, Not Software Data, Fields and Reporting Getting a Project Live Playing the Long Game What We’d Tell Ourselves …
Configurable CRM Isn’t the Same as a CRM Built Around You | OpenCRM On this page Configurable vs a CRM Built Around You Three Levels of Fit You Don’t Have to Start at Level Three Where Configuration Runs Out When …
The Value of CRM Accountability in Software Projects | OpenCRM On this page The Question Nobody Asks The Typical Supplier Chain Where Problems Actually Live Who Owns the Outcome? The Hidden Cost Why the People Who Built It Matter Is …
10 Warning Signs Your CRM Is Holding Your Business Back | OpenCRM On this page The Review Nobody Books How CRM Drift Begins 1. Spreadsheets Are Back 2. Nobody Trusts the Reports 3. Data Quality Has Slipped 4. Processes Have …
The Real Cost of Tiered CRM Pricing | OpenCRM On this page When the Shortlist Looks Affordable The Rise of Tiered Pricing Businesses Don’t Grow in Tiers The Hidden Upgrade Cycle The Cost of Working Around It When Workarounds Become …
Outgrowing Spreadsheets, Outlook Folders and Memory | OpenCRM On this page How Businesses End Up Here A Familiar Situation The Real Problem Isn’t Excel Outgrowing Spreadsheets Outgrowing Outlook Folders Outgrowing Manual Tasks When Your Team Becomes the Database The Hidden …
Why Membership Organisations Need a Single View of Every Member | OpenCRM On this page Key Takeaways More Than Memberships The Engagement Challenge The Single View of the Member Every Enquiry Is a Case The Member Lifecycle Personalisation Spotting Disengagement …
Do You Really Need Case Management Software? | OpenCRM On this page Introduction The Cost of Searching What Others Call It The Case Journey A Case in Practice Why Support Teams Solved This The Real Problem Is Information Why Context …
How CRM Works in a Small Business: A Practical Guide for Growing Teams | OpenCRM On this page Introduction The CRM Tipping Point How CRM Works Who Uses CRM Before and After Typical Improvements Works With Your Tools What CRM …
GDPR in 2026: I Thought We’d Done All This Years Ago? | OpenCRM On this page Done All This Years Ago? The Fundamentals GDPR Didn’t Expect AI Good GDPR, Good Data Data Retention A Trust Issue Not a Paper Exercise …
Microsoft 365 CRM Integration: Bringing Your Customer Information Together | OpenCRM On this page Bringing Information Together Why Integrate? Outlook Email Contact Sync Calendar Sync Microsoft Bookings Planner & Teams Documents & Storage Word Document Generation Power BI & Copilot …
CRM Accounting Integration for UK Businesses | OpenCRM On this page Connect Sales & Finance Why Integrate? Bringing Sales & Finance Together Making Tax Digital What to Look For How OpenCRM Integrates Is It Worth It? FAQs CRM Accounting Integration …
OpenCRM — CRM for Manufacturing (preview) On this page Key Takeaways More Than a Standard CRM Common Challenges Sales & Production Projects & Orders Inventory Visibility Integrations & Security Why Choose OpenCRM FAQs CRM for Manufacturing: Bringing Sales, Production and …
OpenCRM — Zoho CRM Alternative (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Why Businesses Move Away Support Matters UK Data & GDPR What to Look For Why Choose OpenCRM Moving from Zoho FAQs Looking for a Zoho CRM Alternative? Here’s What …
OpenCRM — The Benefits of Using OpenCRM for Project Management (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Single Source of Truth Sales-to-Delivery Handover Real-Time Visibility Reduced Tool Fatigue Communication & Accountability Improved Profitability Final Thoughts At its core, OpenCRM connects your …
OpenCRM — Avoiding Common CRM Project Management Mistakes (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Why CRM PM Fails No Clear Objectives Just a Sales Tool Overcomplicating Setup Poor User Adoption Lack of Ownership Replicating Broken Processes Disconnected Systems The Bigger …
OpenCRM — CRM for Project Delivery: Exploring OpenCRM’s Features (preview) On this page Key Takeaways What Makes It Different? Project Creation Centralised Project View Task Automation Time & Cost Tracking Communication Tools Integrated Invoicing Customisation Final Thoughts OpenCRM doesn’t treat …
OpenCRM — Business is Better with Less Tech (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Centralised Database Efficiency Features Moving to One System Sustainable Growth FAQs Your business doesn’t need more technology; it needs the right technology working harder for you. …
OpenCRM — Manage Customer Data for a Small Business (preview) On this page Key Takeaways The Foundation 5 Steps to Success Turning Data into Growth Building a Resilient Future FAQs A serious personal data breach can lead to significant penalties …
OpenCRM — Tips for OpenCRM Success (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Laying the Foundations Data Quality & Process British Integrations Scaling with UK Support A More Efficient Future FAQs With the UK CRM software market projected to reach a …
OpenCRM — Best HubSpot UK Alternative (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Why Switch Now? Essential Features The UK Advantage The Logical Alternative Take Control of Growth FAQs What if the CRM that helped your business grow is now the …
OpenCRM — OpenCRM for Project Management (preview) On this page Key Takeaways What is OpenCRM for PM? Key Features CRM vs Dedicated PM Tools Organise Your First Project The UK Advantage Transform Delivery Today FAQs How many times has your …
OpenCRM — OpenCRM for Sales Teams (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Why Teams are Moving to OpenCRM Mastering the Lead Lifecycle Integrating into the Ecosystem Data Residency Advantage Getting Started A Local Partner FAQs Did you know that businesses …
OpenCRM — Lead Management Software UK (preview) On this page Key Takeaways The UK Market Hurdle What is Lead Management Software? Evaluating the Best Solutions Organising Your Process Your Trusted Partner Reclaiming Your Pipeline FAQs Imagine starting your Monday morning …
OpenCRM — CRM for UK Charity Sector (preview) On this page Key Takeaways What is a Charity CRM? Streamlining Operations UK Data Residency Evaluating Costs Your Trusted Partner Digital Stability FAQs What if the greatest threat to your mission isn’t …
OpenCRM — Per User Pricing CRM UK (preview) On this page Key Takeaways What is Per User Pricing? Strategic Benefits Avoiding Hidden Fees Data Residency & Security Why OpenCRM Take the Next Step FAQs What if your software costs didn’t …
OpenCRM — Why Do It When You Can Automate It? (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Identifying What to Automate Why Introduce Automation? Where Do I Start? Which Route to Take Workflow Action Plans Email Plans As a Project Manager, …
OpenCRM — Where Do New Features Come From? (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Ideas for New Features Reviewing and Deliberation The Development Process Releasing into the Wild TL;DR — This article covers how a new OpenCRM feature comes to …
OpenCRM — Getting Your CRM Security Aligned (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Let’s Go Shopping Your Customers Standard Users Line Managers Inventory Managers Senior Management Social Engineering Your CRM Organisational Structure CRM Security is a vast topic but it …
OpenCRM — CRM Workflow: Your System’s Management Assistant (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Do You Really Need Workflow? Workflow for Project Management Keeping Sales on Track Data Retention Workflow — particularly a smart CRM Workflow — is one of …
OpenCRM — CRM Data Management Central (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Onboarding Your CRM CRM Evolution Building Your Data Strategy Analyse and Review When implemented correctly, your CRM system acts like another member of your team — a virtual …
OpenCRM — 4 Reasons To Choose A UK Based CRM Provider (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Reason 1 — UK Support Reason 2 — UK Centric Platform Reason 3 — UK Data Reason 4 — Supporting the Economy You’re …
Sales Opportunities in CRM: Turning Interest Into Revenue | OpenCRM On this page Introduction What Is an Opportunity? Why Opportunities Matter Lead → Opportunity Building a Sales Process Common Mistakes Forecasting Revenue How OpenCRM Helps Best Practice Checklist Final Thoughts …
OpenCRM — Round Robin Rounded Up (preview) On this page Key Takeaways CRM Round Robin Explained General Settings Adding Users via Teams Record Sharing Using Multiple Teams First of all, what is a Round Robin? It’s a tool that shares …
OpenCRM — Nurturing CRM Leads (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Why the Pipeline Matters Essential #1: Good Data In, Good Data Out Essential #2: Pay Attention and Stay Focused Optional: Share and Share Alike Optional: Branded Communication What is …
OpenCRM — Managing Time with OpenCRM (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Time Management Starts at Home Planning is Everything The Notifications Centre The Projects Module Manage Your Time Management Tools (Republished from an earlier article) Time Is Money — …
OpenCRM — Sales Discipline and CRM (preview) On this page Key Takeaways A Lack of Sales Discipline Disciplined in Every Other Respect Fixing the Relationship: 5 Tips As long as there have been sales teams, there has been someone in …
OpenCRM — Customer Acquisition vs Retention (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Stepping Out: Customer Acquisition Strategy for Customer Retention A Common Focus In Summary In this blog post, we’re going to look at strategies you can aim for when …
OpenCRM — 5 Sales Reports Your Business Can’t Do Without (preview) On this page Key Takeaways What Are Your Sales Team Up To? What About the Rest of the Business? Let’s Hear It For Views (and 5 Other Reports for …
OpenCRM — World Backup Day (preview) On this page Key Takeaways What Is World Backup Day? Why Should I Backup? What Should I Back Up? How Does OpenCRM Backup Data? What’s Included in a Backup? How Long Are These Stored? …
OpenCRM — Finding the Best CRM for Your Business (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Pain Points: What Do You Need? Start Your Search Take a Break: Consider and Test Question Time Round 2 Time to Make Your Choice The …
OpenCRM — Why Start-Up Companies Use CRM (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Do the Ground Work Integrations Encouraging Data Discipline App – Your Offline Solution Automation Marketing Who Can Do What Think About Scalability Start-Up As You Mean to …
OpenCRM — Top Reasons to Choose Customisable CRM Software (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Why Customise? Let’s Talk ‘Industry-Specific’ Make It Make Sense Page Layouts Hide That Screen Bloat! But Why Does That Matter? Let’s Talk ROI The ‘Sell’ …
OpenCRM — Your CRM Data Migration Checklist (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Why Migration Matters Before You Start Cleanse Your Data Field Mapping Test, Then Test Again Go-Live and Beyond Moving to a new CRM system is exciting — …
OpenCRM — Why We Integrate with Microsoft (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Outlook Integration Microsoft 365 Teams Why This Matters to You Microsoft’s tools are embedded in the daily working life of most UK businesses — Outlook for email …
OpenCRM — Customise Your CRM (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Fields & Terminology Screen Layouts Modules On, Modules Off Team-Level Control Why It Matters Every business runs a little differently — different terminology, different processes, different priorities from one …
OpenCRM — CRM: The Ultimate Business Organiser (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Everything in One Place Tasks & Follow-Ups Your Pipeline, Organised Organising a Whole Team Why Organisation Matters Most businesses don’t start out disorganised on purpose. It creeps …
OpenCRM — Measuring the ROI of Your CRM System (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Hard Costs vs Hard Returns Time Saved Win Rate & Retention The Value of Visibility Calculating Your Own ROI Every CRM has a monthly cost. …
OpenCRM — Building and Automating Your Sales Funnel (preview) On this page Key Takeaways The Stages of a Funnel Capturing Leads Automatically Nurturing Without the Manual Work The Handoff to Sales Measuring What’s Working A sales funnel only works if …
OpenCRM — How to Choose a CRM System (preview) On this page Key Takeaways 10 Steps to Narrow It Down Why the Process Matters Choosing a CRM system can feel overwhelming — there are dozens of providers, each claiming to …
OpenCRM — CRM Navigation (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Modules & the Main Menu Getting Around a Record Finding Things Fast Shortcuts Worth Learning Why It’s Worth Getting Comfortable Any new system feels unfamiliar at first, and a CRM …
OpenCRM — Pairing CRM and Entrepreneurs (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Entrepreneurial Qualities Where CRM Fits In Why the Pairing Works Entrepreneurs tend to share a certain set of qualities — drive, resourcefulness, an instinct for opportunity. Those qualities …
OpenCRM — How Does the OpenCRM Backup Work (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Automatic, Scheduled Backups How Long Backups Are Kept Restoring Your Data Why This Matters Your CRM holds some of the most valuable information your business has …
OpenCRM — Why You Should Use a CRM (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Why Use a CRM Best Practices for Using Your System Making It Stick Buying a CRM and getting value from a CRM are two different things. …
OpenCRM — CRM Reports: 16 Big Hitters (preview) On this page Key Takeaways 16 Big-Hitter Reports Why Reporting Matters A CRM full of accurate data is only half the value — the other half comes from the reports that turn …
OpenCRM — A Basic CRM System (preview) On this page Key Takeaways The “Basic” Trap What Businesses Actually Need Simple to Use, Not Simple in Capability Why It Matters “We just want something basic” is one of the most common …
OpenCRM — Sales Pipeline Coverage Ratio (preview) On this page Key Takeaways What Is Pipeline Coverage Ratio How to Calculate It What’s a Healthy Ratio Improving Your Coverage A sales target on its own doesn’t tell you whether you’re actually …
OpenCRM — Angry Customers and How to Deal With Them (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Why Customers Get Angry How to Respond Where a CRM Helps After the Conversation Every business deals with an angry customer eventually. How that …
OpenCRM — Enhancing Data Privacy Through CRM (preview) On this page Key Takeaways Why Data Privacy Is a CRM Issue Best Practices Why It Matters A CRM holds some of the most sensitive information a business keeps — names, contact …
OpenCRM — 8 of the Best CRM Systems UK Businesses Are Switching To (preview) On this page Key Takeaways How We Assessed These Systems 8 CRM Systems UK Businesses Are Switching To Choosing the Right One for You UK Hosting …
OpenCRM — 3 Stages of CRM Implementation (preview) On this page How is CRM Implemented? Planning (Part 1) Planning (Part 2) Execution Your Shop Window Review For us here at OpenCRM, the idea of a business setting up a CRM …
OpenCRM — 10 Tips for Monitoring Leads (preview) On this page Preparation Configuration Execution Review Conclusion There are very few businesses that are not on the hunt for new customers. Gaining new clients means acquiring and monitoring Leads. This is …
OpenCRM — What is a CRM Jotform? (preview) On this page What is a CRM Jotform Jotform – an Introduction CRM – a Re-introduction Bring the Two Worlds Together Lead Generation Internal Updates Out in the Field The Bigger Picture …
OpenCRM — Cloud Software: 5 Common Concerns (preview) On this page Cloud Software Concerns Cloud Software Benefits 5 Common Concerns Cloud software concerns Our CRM system is and has always been cloud-based. The decision to develop our software exclusively for …
OpenCRM — How to Perfect Your Sales Cycle (preview) On this page Perfect Your Sales Cycle Phase 1: Making First Contact Phase 2: The Deal Phase 3: Keeping Them Happy Perfect your sales cycle To perfect your sales cycle is …
OpenCRM — Business Reporting: The Devil is in the Detail (preview) On this page The Importance of Data Making Intelligent Decisions The Practical Details Customer Reports Business Trend Reporting When it comes to running (and growing) a business, I have …
OpenCRM — CRM Goals and Objectives (preview) On this page The Importance of CRM Goals Identifying Your CRM Goals Ensuring Your Goals Are Addressed Measuring Success When people start looking for a new CRM system, they will usually have a …
OpenCRM — Case Study Round-Up (preview) On this page Our Library Integration Task Management The Customer Journey Sales by Territory Project Management Getting Your Quoting On Point Customising Your System In today’s blog post, we’re going to look at how …
OpenCRM — Benefits of a CRM Integration (preview) On this page CRM Integration and Why it Matters Benefit 1: The Basics Benefit 2: The Specialists Benefit 3: Controlled Chaos CRM Integration and Why it Matters CRM systems are great (yes, …
OpenCRM — How Much CRM Storage Do You Need? (preview) On this page How Much Storage Do You Need? Basic Storage Definition First Data Storage Examples CRM Storage in the Real World How much CRM storage do you need? As …
OpenCRM — Custom Views and Segmenting Your Customer Data (preview) On this page Are Custom Views Just Filters? What Is a Custom View? Form an Orderly Queue How Is It Different to a Report? Who Needs What? Put Those Custom …
OpenCRM — What Is Customer Success? (preview) On this page Heard of Customer Success? Back to the Roots The Shift to a Subscription Culture Acquisition vs Retention The Learning Curve Introducing Customer Success Relationship-Focused Satisfaction All-Round Where Does Customer Success …
OpenCRM — Privacy and Permissions in CRM (preview) On this page Privacy, Permissions & Security Building Your Policy Step 1: Identify the Data Step 2: Privacy & Permission Step 3: Exceptions Step 4: Ask for Advice Step 5: Implement & …
OpenCRM — The Practical Application of CRM (preview) On this page Understanding the Practical Application Example 1: Subscription & Account Management Example 2: CRM in the Service Industry Example 3: Applying CRM in Manufacturing CRM solutions are complex and powerful …
OpenCRM — Your CRM Toolbox: Evolving With Your Business (preview) On this page Open Your CRM Toolbox Putting Together Your Toolbox Getting Your Team on Board First Things First – Open Your CRM Toolbox You’ve just received your shiny new …
OpenCRM — Sales Skills and CRM Can Help (preview) On this page Soft Skills Hard Knowledge Work Ethic There are some key skills you’ll need to have if you want to succeed in sales. This isn’t about being able to …
OpenCRM — Your CRM Journey (preview) On this page Building Blocks The Win-Win Rolling Out to a Wider Audience Forward Planning A Journey Along Many Roads Listen to Clients Have Regular Reviews Enjoy the Ride Whether you are simply curious …
OpenCRM — Lead Management 101 (preview) On this page Managing Lead Sources Actions: Managing New Leads Lead Times and GDPR/DRR Conversion Reporting on Leads and Opportunities What If I Don’t Need Leads? Conclusion There cannot be many businesses that are …
OpenCRM — CRM Activities: An Overview (preview) On this page Joining the CRM and Workday Dots What Are Activities? Where to Link Them? Managing Your Daily/Weekly Agenda Following Up It Ain’t What You Do… Where to Find Your Activities Your …
OpenCRM — 5 Team Management Tips (preview) On this page 1. Get to Know People 2. Invest in Company Culture 3. Keep Communication Lines Open 4. Give People Responsibility 5. The Right Tools Effective team management is about so much …
OpenCRM — What Is Business Growth? (preview) On this page Building the Right Strategy Answering Those Questions Using CRM to Measure Growth Business Growth Management Growth Management Never Stops Put simply, business growth is positive expansion in any part of …
OpenCRM — Why Do I Need to Think About CRM Management? (preview) On this page CRM Management – Getting It to Work Data Management Pipeline Management Target & Commission Management Account & Project Management Support Management Marketing Management Brand Management …
OpenCRM — 6 Tips to Better Assess Your Prospects’ Needs (preview) On this page Key Takeaways 1. Do Your Research 2. Be Personable 3. Take the Pain Away 4. Make Their Goals Your Goals 5. Ask the Right Questions 6. …
OpenCRM — PDF Templates: Sales Templates in One Click (preview) On this page PDF Templates for Quotes or Proposals Sales Order PDF Templates PDF Templates for Any Kind of Invoice Which Modules Support PDF Templates Our Five Top Tips I’d …
OpenCRM — 20 CRM Automation Tips for Your Sales Pipeline (preview) On this page When an Enquiry Lands The Auto Email Warming Up the Lead One Follow-Up Lead Conversion Working Your Opportunity When Things Don’t Go As Planned Smiles All …
OpenCRM — Separating B2C from B2B Sales (preview) On this page The ‘I Want’ vs The ‘I Need’ How’s B2B Different? Buyer Accountability The Bigger Picture H2H – The Human Element Putting It All Together Sales is sales, right? Well, …
OpenCRM — Strengthening the Link Between Sales and CRM Software (preview) On this page Sales and CRM Software Why Isn’t My Team More Excited? How Do I Encourage Ownership? Automated Reporting & Dashboards Make It Part of Regular Meetings Encourage …
OpenCRM — Sales Interview Questions (preview) On this page Questions From the Hiring Chair Questions to Ask in an Interview I’ve been working in sales for virtually all of my adult life, working my way up through the ranks. I’m …
OpenCRM — CRM Development: Idea to Feature (preview) On this page Our Development Process Ideas and Roadmap CRM Development Testing and QA Releasing Into the Wild Better Than Developing Bespoke? Here at OpenCRM, the process for maintaining and extending our …
OpenCRM — The Benefits of a CRM Consultant (preview) On this page What Is a CRM Consultant? Benefits (and Downsides) Phase 1: Helping With the Search Phase 2: Configuration Phase 3: Implementation & Training Phase 4: Reviewing & Expanding Do …
OpenCRM — Sales Force Automation and CRM (preview) On this page Sales Force Automation and CRM Goals of Sales Force Automation Keeping the Focus of Your Sales Team Automate the Boring Stuff Insights and Reporting My Favourite SFA Tools in …
OpenCRM — Clean Desk, Clean Data, Clean CRM! (preview) On this page First, Let’s Take a Look at Your Desk Stress Focus Hygiene Data Stress What’s the Answer? What About Focus? Focus on the Right Things! Data Hygiene The ‘Take …
OpenCRM — 8 Tips for Creating Great Email Templates (preview) On this page 1. Think About Look and Feel 2. Assemble Your Toolkit 3. Putting Your Email Together 4. Images: Size Is Everything 5. Call to Action 6. Test, Test, …
OpenCRM — Managing Helpdesk With Support Tickets (preview) On this page What Is Helpdesk? 1. Tech Support 2. Onsite Repairs 3. Telephone Hotline Who’s in Charge? It’s in the Wording Automating a Response Sharing the Wealth Managing Priorities The Lowdown …
OpenCRM — 5 Essential CRM Templates Your Sales Team Needs (preview) On this page Why Before the What 5. Sales Intro 4. PDF Templates 3. Emailing Cold Opportunities 2. Product Overviews 1. Welcome Aboard! Think about the things you considered …
OpenCRM — Where CRM Meets Jotform and Zapier (preview) On this page CRM Meets Jotform and Zapier Inbound Lead Capture More Than Just a Lead Updating Existing Data Linking Records Extra Notes and Files Introducing Zapier Working With Zapier and …
OpenCRM — Online CRM vs an Offline Solution (preview) On this page CRM Roots The Digital Age Offline Requirements vs Online Solutions Security Restricting Access Total Ownership & Control Additional Benefits In this age of cloud computing, you might be …
OpenCRM — How to Use CRM for a Premium Customer Experience (preview) On this page What Is Customer Experience? How Does CRM Help? 360 Degree View of Data Using Support to Measure Feedback Gather Feedback Directly Customise Your CRM Lead …
OpenCRM — Cyber Security: Why Regular Reviews Matter (preview) On this page Why Is Cybersecurity So Important? Yahoo – 2013 Sina Weibo – 2020 The Evolution of Cyber Security The Early Noughties The Human Factor Stay Up to Date! Review …
OpenCRM — CRM Timeline: The Heartbeat of Your Working Day (preview) On this page What Is Timeline? Why Don’t You Need Different Software? Data Visibility Playing to the Strength of Other Apps My Unique Business – My Unique Solution Timeline …