Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Technology platforms or strategies used to manage a company’s interactions with current and prospective customers. Often integrated into PRMs.
Explanation:

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) refers to both the technology platforms and the strategic approaches used to manage a company’s interactions with current and prospective customers. CRM systems help businesses organize customer data, track engagement across the sales funnel, and improve relationship-building by centralizing communication, deals, and follow-up activities.

Key components of CRM often include:

  • Contact and Account Management: Centralized records of customer information, including communication history, company details, and relationship status.
  • Pipeline and Opportunity Tracking: Tools to monitor deal stages, forecast revenue, and follow up on leads, whether sourced by internal teams or through partners.
  • Automation and Workflows: Features such as task reminders, email sequences, and lead assignment to streamline engagement and ensure consistent follow-through.
  • Analytics and Reporting: Real-time dashboards that provide insight into sales performance, customer behavior, and revenue trends to guide decision-making.
  • Integration with PRMs: Seamless connections with partner management tools to sync leads, share deal status, and attribute partner contributions within the broader customer lifecycle.

CRMs are foundational in B2B sales, marketing, and customer success strategies across industries like SaaS, manufacturing, and services. When combined with partner data, they give companies a complete picture of customer acquisition, retention, and influence, empowering more informed and collaborative growth strategies.

Example:
Their CRM was synced with the PRM to give partners visibility into shared deal stages.

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