Overcoming Sales Team Challenges with CRM

Exploding Sales Team Success

Many sales teams today still rely on spreadsheets and manual processes to manage their pipeline, wasting time on administrative tasks instead of selling. In my exclusive interview with CRM expert Jeroen Corthout, CEO and Co-Founder of Salesflare CRM software, he shares how teams can evolve past spreadsheets to drive sales productivity and results with the right CRM system.

Automated Salesflare CRM Software Tracking Eliminates Manual Data Entry

A top frustration with CRMs is the extensive manual work needed to log interactions and keep data up-to-date. Salesflare CRM software has an intelligent auto-capture for sales activities directly from email, calendar, calls, and more.

As Jeroen explains:

“We make it super easy to get that information – all of the stuff you need to track on a day-to-day basis into the CRM without you having to do that.”

By automatically syncing sales interactions into the CRM, reps can focus on selling rather than manual data tasks. This drives CRM adoption since the system does the heavy lifting.

Unified Tools Remove Need to Juggle Systems

Many teams struggle to toggle between separate email, calendar, and CRM systems. Salesflare CRM software consolidates essential sales tools like email tracking, templates, and sequences into a single CRM platform.

According to Jeroen:

According to Jotform A top frustration with CRMs is the extensive manual work needed to log interactions and keep data up-to-date. Salesflare's smart CRM auto-captures sales activities directly from email, calendar, calls, and more to create a complete timeline.

“At some point, there were many sales tools out there and you have to use them all separately and connect them. Nowadays you can all find them in one place.”

With a unified sales workspace, teams can work entirely within Salesflare CRM software instead of constantly switching between apps.

Unlock smarter selling in 2023 by checking out "11 B2B CRM Features To Help You Sell Smarter In 2023" - this article highlights key capabilities modern CRMs provide to drive sales productivity.

Intuitive Interface Drives Adoption and Productivity

A top barrier to CRM success is low adoption from reps who find the system cumbersome. Salesflare's user-friendly interface makes it easy for teams to embrace the platform. The system prompts users to add new contacts, log interactions, and follow up on leads.

As Jeroen notes:

“If you don't feel that [the CRM] helps you follow up, then it's probably not worth it. If you don't see yourself using the CRM as a team, then I mean, don't bother.”

An intuitive, streamlined CRM experience ensures reps use the system to be more productive. This pays dividends in pipeline visibility, forecasting, and team collaboration.

For sales teams still relying on spreadsheets, Salesflare can provide the efficiency, organization, and insights needed to drive results. User-friendly design, automated tracking, and built-in sales tools empower reps to focus on selling.

Related Article: CRM Software: The Ultimate Guide For Businesses Of All Sizes

The High Cost of CRM Failure

As Jeroen from Salesflare notes, many sales teams today still rely on spreadsheets and other manual processes to manage their sales pipeline. However, this outdated approach comes at a steep cost in terms of wasted time, lost opportunities, and ineffective selling.

According to Copper, If you don't feel that [the CRM] helps you follow up. If you don't see yourself using the CRM as a team, then I mean, don't bother.

Relying on spreadsheets leads to the following:

• Time wasted on manual data entry – Sales reps must manually log calls, emails, meetings, etc., into spreadsheets. This administrative work takes away from selling time.
• Lack of visibility into pipeline – With data scattered across individual spreadsheets, managers lack insights into pipeline health and forecasting.

Related Article: CRM Software: The Ultimate Guide For Businesses Of All Sizes

As Jeroen explains:

“What most salespeople feel is that management wants to look at what they're doing, but the system itself doesn't help them.”

• Ineffective follow-up – Without centralized CRM tracking, sales reps fail to follow up on leads properly. This results in missed opportunities.
• Inability to spot trends or generate insights – No unified database means sales managers cannot analyze metrics to optimize processes.
• Low sales productivity – Time wasted on administrative tasks reduces sales time for reps.

By evolving to an automated CRM like Salesflare, teams eliminate these costs. The system automatically captures interactions, prompts follow-up, and provides pipeline visibility. This empowers sales reps to spend more time selling and managers to spot trends for improvement.

The Path Forward for Sales Teams

As Jeroen notes, many sales teams have yet to evolve past reliance on spreadsheets and manual processes. However, the future lies in intelligent CRM systems that eliminate repetitive administrative work through automated tracking, unified sales tools, and intuitive interfaces.

In Jeroen's view, “Sales will be largely automatable. I believe in a future where salespeople will be in conversations and all the other things will happen for them.” CRMs like Salesflare pave the way for this future by capturing sales interactions, surfacing insights, and prompting follow-ups so reps can focus on customer relationships.

Implementing an intelligent CRM system can drive immediate gains in sales productivity, forecasting, and teamwork for teams still in spreadsheet chaos. As Jeroen says, “Go back to the basics of sales and wonder how you can do things better because there's still so much opportunity there.”

Learn how to select the right CRM for your sales team's needs by reading "How To Choose The Best B2B CRM For Sales Team" - this guide covers evaluating CRM solutions to find the perfect fit.

The path forward is clear – evolving processes through intelligent technology. With an automated CRM like Salesflare, teams can sell smarter, achieve more, and build stronger customer relationships. The future of sales is bright for those who embrace it.

Conclusion: Evolve Beyond Spreadsheets with an Intelligent CRM

For many sales teams today, reliance on manual processes and spreadsheets is holding back productivity, forecasting, and results. As Jeroen from Salesflare observed, “Most sales teams still use Excel or some document to manage their sales pipeline and process.” However, this outdated approach comes with significant inefficiencies that hinder sales performance.

The path forward is clear – sales teams must evolve their processes through intelligent CRM systems. Jeroen noted, “I believe in a future where salespeople will be in conversations and all the other things will happen for them.” Automated CRMs like Salesflare pave the way to this future by eliminating repetitive manual work.

With automated activity capture, unified sales tools, and an intuitive interface, Salesflare empowers teams to sell smarter. Reps can focus on customer relationships instead of data entry. Managers gain pipeline visibility to guide strategy. The streamlined workflow drives adoption.

For teams relying on makeshift spreadsheets, implementing an intelligent CRM can unlock immediate gains in productivity, forecasting, and teamwork. As Jeroen emphasized, “Go back to the basics of sales and wonder how you can do things better because there's still so much opportunity there.”

The time is now to evolve processes with intelligent technology. With Salesflare, teams can achieve more, sell smarter, and build stronger customer relationships. The future of sales is bright for those who embrace it.

Experience the Salesflare difference yourself with a Free 30-day trial of Salesflare (No credit card Required)

Listen to our Software Spotlight podcast episode featuring Salesflare: Jeroen Corthout, co-founder of Salesflare CRM, explains how the platform integrates email, calendar, and other tools to automatically capture sales interactions and enrich data. This creates detailed timelines to help users effortlessly track leads without manual data entry, enabling sales teams to focus on selling rather than administrative tasks.