Idea2: A new CRM system targets small and medium businesses

Even though most of our blogs are touched upon the idea of a CRM system, this article is interesting because of the businesses it intends to target. While most Customer Related Management systems target large businesses with a huge customer database and an even larger budget, there is finally an updated CRM system that focuses specifically on small and medium sized businesses. Idea2 is the resolution, a cloud-based CRM solution that focuses on improving other CRM systems that may not be effective for these businesses (1). According to our textbook, a CRM is defined as a system that uses information about customers to gain insights into their needs, wants, and behaviors in order to serve them better (2). Focusing on the definition alone, the CEO of Idea2 understands the risk of implementing a system that may not work for certain companies, but also emphasizes the need for an effective system. Grace Schroeder even says “with so many CRM implementations falling short, it is important to select a partner can deliver what you need – and not just what they have” (3). That is why the improvements that Idea2 has will be beneficial to companies that implement it, because it not only has what companies want, it goes beyond that.
One improvement that Idea2 has is an “intuitive, role-specific interface” and an information dashboard (4). These features allow companies to export data more effectively and have more information than normal CRM systems. These focuses also improve the way users can actually apply the information in the organization that they’re working in. Another improvement that the Idea2 CRM has is syncing. Unlike traditional CRM systems that sometimes cause isolation of information, lack of visibility and ineffective use of the information produced (which we've all learned), Idea2 is able to sync information with various data sets, rather than just one. This syncing allows a company to better understand their customers, the utmost important factor or a CRM system.
With the improvements in place, it is obvious that the Idea2 CRM system has multiple benefits. Idea2 is said to create a rapid return on investment and also ties together the company’s success to its operation (5). Personally, Idea2 seems that it does a better job of getting the information and relating it to one another. This can be crucial, because the more you know about a customer, the more successful the company will be. Idea2 seems like a step up from a typical CRM system. It involves a lot more customization. The ability to sync different data sets will allow the company to target specific groups of people. Every customer is not the same as the other, so the ability to do this will prove to a company that the implementation of this system is worthwhile.
The last thing that really caught my eye regarding Idea2 was the fact that it could be purchased in three different packages. The first one, Idea2Company, is the simple CRM system “that supports contact, partner, lead, prospect and customer management integreated with issue tracking” (6). Idea 2Custom is a step up from that, focusing more on unique attributes that the company may focus on. In the last package, Idea2Unified goes beyond customization and focuses on productivity and increasing it. This system links all the other system together. The ability to chose what system to purchase allows a company to customize their decision of implementation even more, which I find very promising to a company who is unsure of a CRM system.
Overall, I believe that this system is finally a CRM system that all companies can use, but it is going to be most effective for smaller and medium sized businesses because the system is focused on them. This will relieve companies that are unsure if they should implement a system because this CRM is focused mainly on them.


See Article:
“Idea2 Announces Cloud-Based CRM Solutions for Growing SMBs” TMC.net, March 11, 2010, http://www.tmcnet.com/channels/crm-solutions/articles/78300-idea2-announces-cloud-based-crm-solutions-growing-smbs.htm (accessed March 14, 2010).
References:
(1) “Idea2 Announces Cloud-Based CRM Solutions for Growing SMBs” TMC.net, March 11, 2010, http://www.tmcnet.com/channels/crm-solutions/articles/78300-idea2-announces-cloud-based-crm-solutions-growing-smbs.htm (accessed March 14, 2010).
(2) Stephen Haag and Maeve Cummings, Management Information Systems for the Information Age, 7th ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008), 502.
(3) “Idea2 Announces Cloud-Based CRM Solutions for Growing SMBs” TMC.net, March 11, 2010, http://www.tmcnet.com/channels/crm-solutions/articles/78300-idea2-announces-cloud-based-crm-solutions-growing-smbs.htm (accessed March 14, 2010).
(4) “Idea2 Announces Cloud-Based CRM Solutions for Growing SMBs” TMC.net, March 11, 2010, http://www.tmcnet.com/channels/crm-solutions/articles/78300-idea2-announces-cloud-based-crm-solutions-growing-smbs.htm (accessed March 14, 2010).
(5) “Idea2 Announces Cloud-Based CRM Solutions for Growing SMBs” TMC.net, March 11, 2010, http://www.tmcnet.com/channels/crm-solutions/articles/78300-idea2-announces-cloud-based-crm-solutions-growing-smbs.htm (accessed March 14, 2010).