DEV Community

Brandon Foster
Brandon Foster

Posted on • Updated on

5 Best CRMs for Workflow Automation in 2024

Automation can tremendously improve productivity in sales and marketing as it saves a lot of time and resources by taking over tasks like sending emails, tracking leads, and managing documents.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the sales CRM industry, making processes more efficient. AI-driven automation is now necessary for effective workflow management in sales.

Below are five top CRMs leading the way in this revolution.

1. monday sales CRM

monday sales CRM is a customer relationship management platform designed by Monday.com for sales teams. It is not just a CRM but a complete work operating system (WorkOS) when used in combination with other monday.com platforms such as:

  • monday dev (for product development teams)
  • monday work management (for project and work management)
  • monday sales CRM (for customer relationship management)

Whether you are a small team or an enterprise, you can scale the platform’s functionality to meet the needs of all the teams within your organization.

Image description

Below are some ideas for how you can use monday sales CRM to automate your workflows:

  • Automate the assignment of leads to appropriate team members when specific stage goals are completed
  • Set up automations for task management, like archiving completed tasks and alerting employees about upcoming deadlines
  • Set up automations for managing documents, such as notifying sales reps of new resources, requiring manager approvals, and organizing documents like quotes and contracts for easy access.
  • Automate report generation to evaluate team performance and make data-driven decisions.
  • Set up CRM automations like notifying key personnel when a customer ticket is submitted and tracking the time spent on each ticket

This is one of the most affordable CRMs (particularly considering its range of features), with plans starting at just $10/seat/month. However, be prepared for a minimum of 3 users on premium plans.

  • $10/seat/month
  • 14-day free trial available

2. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is ideal for startups and small businesses seeking a comprehensive sales, marketing, and customer service platform.

Image description

Some of the automation features offered by Zoho CRM are:

  • Assignment rules for record distribution
  • Approval processes for managerial approvals
  • Workflow rules for automating regular tasks like updating lead statuses

It's budget-friendly, with a free plan for 3 users. But the AI assistant and extra support come at a premium.

  • $14/user/month
  • 15-day free trial

3. HubSpot CRM

It is a good choice for scaling small businesses looking to unify sales, marketing, and customer service. Some of the automaton features offered by HubSpot CRM are:

  • Personalized email sequences
  • Automatic logging of customer interactions
  • Customer service automation through chatbots

Enjoy a central dashboard and seamless email tracking, but limited free plan functionality and customization might hold you back.

  • $20/month
  • 14-day free trial

4. Salesforce Sales Cloud

Salesforce Sales Cloud is ideal for medium to large businesses, offering deep customization, process management, and AI-powered insights.

Image description

Below are some of the key automation features offered by Sales Cloud:

  • Activity management for capturing engagement activities in CRM,
  • Lead and account management for streamlined sales tracking
  • Forecast management for accurate real-time forecasts
  • Pipeline management, and automated reports & dashboards

Be prepared for a steeper learning curve and time-consuming setup compared to more user-friendly alternatives.

  • $25/user/month
  • 14-day free trial

5. Freshsales CRM:

If lead management is your top priority, Freshsales delivers with pipeline tools, AI insights, and automation.

Image description

Key workflow automation features include:

  • Automated lead qualification and updating contact statuses.
  • Sending personalized welcome emails to new leads.
  • Automated invoicing and lead progression without manual intervention.
  • Scheduling SMSs, emails, and reminders for follow-ups and appointments.
  • Setting up renewal reminders for subscriptions and sending personalized greetings on special occasions.

It's easy to get started and offers a free plan, but advanced features and customization might leave some teams wanting more.

  • $15/user/month
  • 21-day free trial

In Conclusion…

In summary, integrating AI into CRM systems is a major advancement in sales and marketing. These five CRMs lead the way with AI-powered automation, revolutionizing workflow management.

By automating routine tasks, they save time and resources for sales teams to concentrate on more strategic aspects of their work. As we embrace the digital age, these AI-driven CRMs play a crucial role in evolving sales and marketing strategies to keep businesses ahead in a competitive market.

Ultimately, the best CRM depends on your specific needs and budget. Consider factors like team size, features you need most, ease of use, and growth potential before deciding.

The CRM system you choose should be scalable and able to adapt as your business grows. It should also be cost-effective, offering a good balance between cost and features.

Additionally, it should incorporate technological advancements like artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency and productivity.

Which CRM are you using to automate your workflow? Let me know in the comments!

Top comments (0)