Are you struggling to keep track of your manufacturing processes and maintain efficient operations? Managing complex workflows, inventories, and customer relationships can be overwhelming in the manufacturing industry.
Enter the world of CRM for manufacturing, where advanced tools are designed to tackle these challenges head-on. Imagine having a single platform that streamlines inventory tracking, optimizes supply chain management, and enhances customer interactions.
With the right CRM, you can automate tedious tasks, gain real-time insights, and make data-driven decisions to boost your business’s efficiency and profitability.
In this guide, we’ll compare some of the most powerful CRM tools tailored for the manufacturing industry and help you find the perfect solution to transform your operations and drive growth.
But before that, here’s a short video:
Comparison Table of Best CRM for Manufacturers
| Software | Best For | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| BIGContacts | Contact, Email Marketing & Sales management for small & medium businesses | Forever free for up to 100 contacts. Paid plan starts at $9.99/1000 contacts/month. |
| Claritysoft CRM | Sales Management | Starts at $49/month. |
| NetSuite | Customer Service Management | Custom pricing. |
| Maximizer CRM | Lead Management | Starts at $65/month. |
| HubSpot | Centralizing Sales, Marketing, and Support Operations | Starts at $15/user/month. |
| Creatio | Workflow Automation | Starts at $25/user/month. |
| Teamgate | Contact Management | Starts at $40/user/month. |
| Apptivo | Sales Pipeline Management | Starts at $20/user/month. |
Which Is the Best CRM for Manufacturing?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick look at my top 3 picks of the best CRM for manufacturing:
Option 1: BIGContacts
Best for contact management & email marketing for startups & small to medium businesses. BIGContacts offers advanced contact management, task automation, and seamless email marketing integration. Ideal for enhancing your CRM capabilities and improving efficiency.
Option 2: HubSpot
Best for centralizing sales, marketing, & support operations. HubSpot excels in providing a centralized platform to manage your sales, marketing, and support functions. Helps streamline operations and boost productivity.
Option 3: Apptivo
As the best tool for supply chain management, Apptivo distinguishes itself with its robust supply chain management features. It ensures smooth operations and effective inventory tracking.
Top 8 CRM for Manufacturing
In coming up with this list, I evaluated each tool based on the ease of use, adaptability, and scalability. My assessment is based on personal experiences, reviews by neutral software comparison sites, input from industry peers, and customer testimonials.
1. BIGContacts -Best for contact management & email marketing for small & medium businesses
When I used BIGContacts, I found it to be an excellent CRM for managing contacts and email marketing campaigns, especially for manufacturing companies. It offers a straightforward interface with powerful features.
You can easily organize and segment your contacts, automate follow-ups, and track every interaction. What I liked was the integrated email marketing tools that allowed me to create and send campaigns directly from the CRM.
Plus, it integrates seamlessly with tools like Outlook, Google Workspace, and QuickBooks, making it a versatile option for businesses looking to streamline their processes.
It’s also one of the best CRM options for manufacturing companies. The tool’s powerful contact management, task tracking, and reporting features are crucial for managing client relationships and improving operational efficiency in a manufacturing environment.
What You’ll Like:
- A comprehensive 360° view of all contacts, including emails, transactions, files, and activities, enhancing visibility and productivity
- Custom web forms capture leads and store all field data directly in the CRM
- Calendar management helps track tasks, meetings, and other activities, enhancing team collaboration
- Adaptable sales pipeline feature to customize and track every stage of the sales process
What You May Not Like:
- No option for a downloadable or on-premise version
- The dark user interface option is not available
Pricing:
- Forever free plan for 100 contacts.
- Paid plan starts at $9.99/1000 contacts/month.
2. Claritysoft CRM – Best for Sales Management
Image source: Claritysoft CRM
When it comes to sales management, Claritysoft CRM is a standout tool that excels at simplifying processes and enhancing team productivity.
The contact management feature allowed me to keep all client information organized and accessible, while the lead tracking system ensured I never missed a potential deal. The sales automation tools, such as email marketing and task scheduling, helped me stay on top of my daily tasks without a hitch.
As a CRM for manufacturers, Claritysoft CRM works well with its inventory management and order processing capabilities. I found the ability to track inventory levels and automate order processes particularly helpful.
The integration options with tools like QuickBooks, Outlook, and Mailchimp further enhanced its utility for manufacturing companies, ensuring smooth operation across all departments.
What You’ll Like:
- Opportunities, quotes, and sales recording feature for streamlined tracking and improved decision-making
- Bulk email feature through Outlook enhancing communication and saving time
- Activity reminders to keep you on track, ensuring you never miss important tasks or deadlines
- The no-code functionality for easy customization, making it flexible and user-friendly
What You May Not Like:
- The lead module lacks customization options compared to the contacts module, which can limit flexibility in managing leads.
- Importing accounts and contacts from an Excel spreadsheet can be challenging due to complex field mapping, which may lead to data errors.
Pricing:
- Starts at $49/month.
3. NetSuite – Best for Customer Service Management
Image source: NetSuite
When I first explored NetSuite CRM, I was impressed by its extensive features tailored for customer service management. The real-time dashboards and customizable reports provided me with critical insights into customer interactions.
I liked how the tool’s omnichannel support unified customer communication across various platforms. For manufacturing companies, NetSuite stands out as an exceptional CRM. Its efficient inventory management and order tracking streamline the manufacturing process.
Integrations with ERP systems ensure seamless operations from production to delivery. In my experience, NetSuite’s scalability and flexibility make it a perfect fit for manufacturing businesses looking to enhance their customer relationship management.
What You’ll Like:
- Cash transaction accounting to simplify cash transaction accounting and posting, making financial management more efficient
- Streamlines inventory management, ensuring accurate tracking and efficient stock control
- Customizable reports, including the option to add data fields, providing tailored insights
- Seamlessly integrates with ERP systems, ensuring smooth end-to-end business operations.
What You May Not Like:
- Setting up NetSuite can be time-consuming and complex
- Customer support is available for limited hours for regular users, which can delay issue resolution
Pricing:
- Custom pricing.
4. Maximizer CRM – Best for Lead Management
Image source: Maximizer
When it comes to simplifying lead management, Maximizer CRM is an indispensable tool. It offers a 360-degree view of customer interactions, making it easier to track and convert leads into sales.
For manufacturing companies, Maximizer CRM shines by integrating essential functions like inventory management, order tracking, and detailed sales forecasting. This tool for customer relationship management in the manufacturing industry ensures that no lead falls through the cracks while optimizing the sales pipeline.
One of the things I appreciate about Maximizer CRM is its seamless integration with various tools like Outlook, MailChimp, and QuickBooks. The customizable dashboards and reports help in making data-driven decisions, which is crucial in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Moreover, the mobile access feature ensures that you can manage your leads and customer relationships on the go, adding to the flexibility and efficiency of your business operations.
What You’ll Like:
- Automatic formatting and search features keep contacts organized and easy to access.
- Comprehensive 360-degree view of customer interactions enhancing customer relationship management
- Mobile access for managing leads and customer relationships on the go
- Perfect synchronization with emails and Microsoft Office keeps everything organized in one place
What You May Not Like:
- The amount of data entry and customization required can be time-consuming and challenging
- Missing some functionalities in the mobile version reduces efficiency when working remotely
Pricing:
- Starts at $65/month.
5. HubSpot – Best for centralizing sales, marketing, and support operations
Image source: HubSpot
When I started using HubSpot, I immediately noticed how it seamlessly integrated all aspects of my business. With features like contact management, email marketing, and sales automation, everything felt more organized.
One significant feature was the ability to track customer interactions across all channels, providing a 360-degree view of our operations. This has been particularly beneficial for our manufacturing division, where keeping track of customer interactions and orders is crucial.
The ability to manage complex sales pipelines and automate routine tasks has been quite helpful. The real-time analytics helped me track performance and identify areas for improvement. What I liked most was its integration with tools like Salesforce, Shopify, and QuickBooks.
What You’ll Like:
- Advanced deal tracking and lead lifecycle management tools to optimize your sales process
- Effortlessly connect with other HubSpot tools, such as Marketing Hub and Sales Hub, to design targeted campaigns and nurture leads successfully
- Custom fields to gather unlimited data, boosting both collection and personalization efforts
- Real-time analytics to make informed, data-driven decisions
What You May Not Like:
- Some users find the initial setup process to be complicated and time-consuming.
- It doesn’t offer extensive reporting features or A/B testing options.
Pricing:
- Starts at $15/user/month.
Read more: 10 Best HubSpot Alternatives Worth Trying in 2024
6. Creatio – Best for no-code automation
Image source – Creatio
Creatio CRM is one of the most suitable tools for workflow automation. I used this CRM extensively and found it incredibly intuitive. The tool offers a set of features, including sales automation, marketing automation, and service automation.
Its user-friendly interface makes managing complex workflows a breeze. For manufacturing companies, Creatio CRM stands out with its ability to manage operations, supply chains, and handle customer interactions seamlessly.
The integration with tools like Microsoft Office, Mailchimp, and Google Workspace ensures that you can work efficiently without switching platforms. The CRM’s powerful analytics and reporting features help manufacturing agencies track production metrics and improve overall efficiency.
What I liked most was the drag-and-drop process designer, which made creating and customizing workflows simple and effective.
What You’ll Like:
- Dynamic and interactive reports with customizable dashboards for better insights and decision-making
- Perfect for no-code automation and CRM/BPM, giving you flexibility and control without needing coding skills
- Tracks phone or email interactions to a client’s record, ensuring comprehensive and up-to-date customer information
- AI-driven reporting and analytics for making better decisions, and improving overall business performance.
What You May Not Like:
- Online forms require HTML coding, which can be challenging for non-technical users
- Lacks integration with social media platforms, limiting the ability to manage social interactions directly within the CRM
Pricing:
- Starts at $25/user/month.
7. Teamgate – Best for Contact Management
Image source: Teamgate
I’ve used Teamgate CRM, and it performed well with it’s exceptional contact management features. The user-friendly interface made it easy for me to keep track of all customer interactions.
Its Smart Dialer is incredibly useful for making calls directly from the platform. Additionally, the lead scoring system helps prioritize potential clients effectively. Another aspect I liked the most was the integration capability with tools like Zapier, MailChimp, and QuickBooks, ensuring smooth workflow automation.
In my experience, Teamgate CRM is one of the top choices for manufacturing companies. It can manage a large number of contacts and streamline sales processes. The real-time analytics and customizable reporting features are invaluable for tracking performance and making informed decisions.
What You’ll Like:
- The Smart Dialer feature allows to make calls directly from the CRM, saving time and improving efficiency
- The intuitive drag-and-drop sales pipeline makes it easy to manage and organize deals efficiently
- Record cards feature for leads, deals, companies, and people are neatly organized, providing detailed information for better insights
- The goal-setting tool to track daily team performance and align it with weekly, monthly, and quarterly targets
What You May Not Like:
- The server goes down occasionally disrupting the workflow
- The mobile app lacks some functionalities present in the desktop version
Pricing:
- Starts at $40/user/month.
8. Apptivo – Best for Supply Chain Management
Image source: Apptivo
I found Apptivo to be a powerhouse for managing sales pipelines. It’s a feature-rich tool designed to simplify the sales process and enhance productivity. One of the standout features is its customizable sales stages that allowed me to tailor the pipeline to match my business’s unique sales process.
Moreover, Apptivo offers reliable contact management, ensuring I never missed a follow-up. The email templates and automation features significantly cut down my administrative workload. The tool’s ability to integrate with accounting software like QuickBooks simplifies financial management.
For manufacturing companies, Apptivo CRM is a great option. Its inventory management feature helps keep track of raw materials and finished products, ensuring smooth operations. I used the work orders module, which made it easier to manage production schedules and track progress.
Additionally, the supplier management feature keeps all vendor information organized, making procurement easy. Apptivo also supports custom fields, allowing manufacturers to tailor the CRM to their specific needs, enhancing overall efficiency and productivity in the manufacturing sector.
What You’ll Like:
- Expense reports, ledgers, estimate calculators, and credit notes to help manage finances and invoices efficiently
- Supply chain tools that streamline distribution management for better efficiency
- Competitor management feature to track lost deals and understand which competitors won them, aiding strategic planning
- Email templates and automation to reduce administrative tasks
What You May Not Like:
- Importing new addresses can be slow, often making manual entry quicker, which can be time-consuming
- Apptivo’s unresponsive customer service, especially for billing issues, can result in ongoing charges even after canceling the service
Pricing:
- Starts at $20/user/month.
Evaluation Criteria
The evaluation of products or tools chosen for this article follows an unbiased, systematic approach that ensures a fair, insightful, and well-rounded review. This method employs six key factors:
- User Reviews / Ratings: Direct experiences from users, including ratings and feedback from reputable sites, provide a ground-level perspective. This feedback is critical in understanding overall satisfaction and potential problems.
- Essential Features & Functionality: The value of a product is ascertained by its core features and overall functionality. Through an in-depth exploration of these aspects, the practical usefulness and effectiveness of the tools are carefully evaluated.
- Ease of Use: The user-friendliness of a product or service is assessed, focusing on the design, interface, and navigation. This ensures a positive experience for users of all levels of expertise.
- Customer Support: The quality of customer support is examined, taking into account its efficiency and how well it supports users in different phases – setting up, addressing concerns, and resolving operational issues.
- Value for Money: Value for money is evaluated by comparing the quality, performance, and features. The goal is to help the reader understand whether they would be getting their money’s worth.
- Personal Experience / Experts’ Opinions: This part of the evaluation criteria draws insightful observations from the personal experience of the writer and the opinions of industry experts.
Which Is the Best CRM for Manufacturing?
When selecting the best CRM for your manufacturing business, it’s crucial to consider tools that can handle your unique requirements and streamline your operations. Look for a CRM that offers robust features and flexibility to integrate smoothly with your existing processes.
I highly recommend BIGContacts. This tool excels in managing manufacturing-specific needs with its advanced contact management, task automation, and project management features. Its seamless integrations and user-friendly interface make it easy for your team to adopt and use effectively.
What sets BIGContacts apart is its ability to enhance productivity and streamline your manufacturing processes. With features like inventory tracking, supplier management, and order processing, it ensures that you stay on top of your operations and maintain efficiency.
Moreover, BIGContacts offers an affordable pricing structure with a free plan for up to 100 contacts, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes. Even if you need more contacts, its cost-effective plans provide great value with advanced features and integrations, making it an ideal choice for manufacturing companies.
Read More: Best CRM for Agencies
Learn More About Manufacturing CRM
What is CRM for manufacturing?
CRM for manufacturing is a tool designed to help manufacturing companies manage customer relationships, streamline operations, and improve efficiency. It includes features like inventory tracking, order processing, and supplier management. This type of CRM ensures that all aspects of customer interactions and production processes are handled smoothly, enhancing customer satisfaction.
Read more: What Is CRM? [The Ultimate Guide for Businesses]
Why does the manufacturing industry need CRM?
It needs CRM to streamline operations, enhance customer relationships, and improve efficiency. It helps track orders, manage inventory, and coordinate with suppliers. By centralizing customer data and automating tasks, CRM systems ensure better communication, quicker response times, and more informed decision-making, ultimately leading to increased productivity and customer satisfaction.
How can CRMs be used as a strategic tool in the manufacturing industry?
CRMs can be a strategic tool in the manufacturing industry by streamlining operations, improving customer relationships, and retention. They help manage contacts, track orders, monitor inventory, and automate tasks. With insights from CRM data, manufacturers can make informed decisions, optimize processes, and ultimately boost efficiency and profitability.
What are the features to consider when selecting a manufacturing CRM?
When selecting a manufacturing CRM, consider features like inventory tracking, supplier management, order processing, and task automation. Look for seamless integrations with your existing systems and an easy-to-use interface. Ensure the CRM can handle your specific manufacturing needs to enhance productivity and streamline operations.
How to choose the best CRM for the manufacturing industry?
To choose the best CRM for the manufacturing industry, look for features like inventory tracking, supplier management, and order processing. Ensure it integrates well with your existing systems and offers user-friendly automation tools. Consider scalability and cost-effectiveness to match your business growth and budget. Check for positive reviews and reliable customer support. For more, watch:
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