“The only thing that is constant is change”. Taking into consideration this quote by Heraclitus, businesses of today are embracing the ebb and flow of technology and are learning to capitalize on the myriad benefits of adopting customer relationship management (CRM) systems. 

In this blog, we at Officiel CRM are going to talk about a crucial decision that organizations face – whether to opt for proprietary CRM software or dive into the world of opensource CRM. The question on your minds might be – Is opensource CRM reliable for users? With insightful data and comprehensive analysis, we will try to answer this question for you.

The landscape of CRM has changed significantly over the years. In 2020, the global CRM software market was valued at $43.7 billion, proving the increasing demands for CRM solutions. As a firm stepping into this booming market, your choice between proprietary software and open source software is crucial. 

Open-source CRM software is publicly accessible so that anyone can modify, distribute, and magnify the source code. This collective collaboration fuels innovation and improvement. On the flip side, proprietary CRM software is owned by a single company that controls its use, modification, and distribution.

To determine the reliability of open-source CRM, one must assess it on various parameters like functionality, cost-effectiveness, accessibility, flexibility, and support.

Functionality-wise, open-source CRM software is not far behind its proprietary counterparts. It covers a broad range of tasks such as contact management, sales force automation, customer service, and marketing automation. They offer customizable features that could be tailored to suit your specific business needs. 

In terms of cost, open-source CRM software wins over proprietary ones. The cost of using a proprietary CRM system might range from hundreds to thousands based on the number of users. You can have access to open-source systems for free or for a significantly lower cost. 

Flexibility is another trump card for open-source CRM. As the code is openly available, it provides you the freedom to modify the system according to your business requirements. It can seamlessly integrate with other business systems and develop as your business grows.

In regards to accessibility, open-source CRM ensures equal access to all functionalities without normal licensing restrictions. It therefore offers greater freedom to businesses to operate and manage their data. 

However, and it’s a significant however, where open-source CRM lags is the support quality. Proprietary software companies provide robust support services as it is their own product, whereas open-source software relies on community support. So, if your firm requires constant and immediate support, you might want to think twice before opting for open-source CRM. 

So, is open-source CRM reliable? The answer is not a simple yes or no. It depends on your firm’s capabilities and requirements. If your firm has a skilled IT team that can manage and modify the software and immediate support is not a prerequisite for your business operations, then open-source CRM software could prove to be highly reliable and cost-effective. 

But if your firm lacks the expertise to deal with technology or requires immediate and robust support services, proprietary CRM might be a better choice. 

At Officiel CRM, we equip businesses with robust and reliable CRM software for seamless customer relationships management. Our aim is to empower you with the right information and provide you the best CRM solution according to your bespoke needs. 

Do you want to know more about CRM and how it can benefit your business? Feel free to get in touch with us!