Open source CRM, or customer relationship management, software helps small business owners and large corporations interact more efficiently with customers. Online payment transactions and customer service requests are also carried out more smoothly when using certain CRM tools and programs. Likewise, customer tracking and record keeping is made easier with use of customer relationship management software. Small businesses and large corporations often take time to compare CRM softwares before they implement a system for managing sales and customers. Careful integration of the right applications is what it takes to run a well-organized, efficient operation. Finding the right solutions will take time, but referring to the right resources for information would speed up the search process.

A brief CRM review will help business owners and executives compare CRM programs:

1. vTiger CRM- Modules of vTiger CRM include sales, support, marketing, inventory, reports, security management and more. The data you store via vTiger CRM belongs to you. This information can even be copied and used even if you discontinue the On-Demand version of this CRM software. vTiger is only free for a trial period, and users have to pay after 15 days.
2. Hipergate- This company is regarded as having “the most complete” Open Source Java platform. This system also includes GroupWare. Hipergate features include sales automation, customer service, intranet, email marketing, content management, bug tracker and project manager. The Hipergate system also has social networks integration, webmail, calendar, forums and file sharing. This platform might work best for companies on a lower budget.
3. Opentaps- This system includes a complete line of solutions for use by just about any business. Opentaps features include customer service, warehouse, inventory, shipping, manufacturing, accounting and reporting software. Popular Opentaps tools integrated into sites include GetResponse e-mail marketing, e-Bay, Google Checkout and e-commerce inventory control. This service is intended to help businesses operate faster, while carrying out tasks in a more organized fashion.
4. SugarCRM- Small, medium-sized and large companies, as well as huge corporate enterprises, can benefit from using SugarCRM tools. This open source CRM model is very easily versatile and interchangeable. Sales management, customer service and product support are the top three SugarCRM uses. This platform is one that is operated in The Cloud, which will be implemented more in upcoming years by organizations and businesses.
5. OpenCRX- If a company is looking for a multifunctional system that helps coordinate sales and keep track of customers, OpenCRX also has a system for inventory and price management. The price lists are even available in multiple currencies. Email contact and advanced activity management, as well as issue tracking, is also offered by OpenCRX. This platform is well-known for its ease of use on mobile devices and its very inviting customer site pages. It features ActiveSync, which allows for connection with any iPhone or Android PDA.


All of the above platforms are known for their ease of use, although some systems may be preferred over others. Still, every single one of these customer relationship management companies offers solutions that are well-recognized by business-to-business consumers. It is up to each company to research multiple solutions to find the system that offers the most functions for the most reasonable price.

This CRM review only briefly describes the services provided by the above companies that offer customer relationship management services. However, these brief company evaluations are provided to give business owners and executive managers a glimpse of what features and tools are offered by the leading CRM providers.

• Next E-commerce - Guiding Customers with Mouse in Hand >