


Wikipedia describes it as “ Microsoft Outlook is a personal information manager from Microsoft, available as a part of the Microsoft Office suite.”Īlthough, it primarily is an email application it also comes with calendar, task manager, journal manager, contact manager and note taking facilities. But many small businesses (and some mid-sized businesses as well) insist on using Outlook to conduct their daily operation.Īs Microsoft itself has described it, Microsoft Outlook is essentially a calendar and email software.

They have already recognized how indispensable CRM can be in effectively managing customer interactions/relationships. Irrespective of what CRM solution they use, entrepreneurs across industries have agreed that customers constitute the core of their businesses and they strive continuously to better their services for clients. This is an analytical write-up which has discussed both sides of the story to help our readers find a better customer management solution for their business. This practice is increasingly attracting comments and criticism from a section of industry experts, who argue that although certain features of a comprehensive CRM solution has been embedded in Outlook it can’t replace customer relationship management software as a complete customer contact management tool. Or you will fail.To date many businesses (especially, small and medium sized business owners) have used Outlook email services as a customer relationship management solution for their businesses. You realize that using this product the right way will help you increase your sales, improve your customer service and make your company more profitable.and valuable. You provide resources to help them but you stand firm because this is your database. You don't cave in when people complain because they don't like the color of the screen or the font, or that things take extra clicks or that it's not "user friendly." For this system to work, your people will need to do more work.

You invest in outside help (that's me) to get it up and running and used the right way with the proper training and service. You tell your team that this is the company's system and everyone's going to use it. You're providing emotional, financial and educational support for your administrator. For a CRM system to work, even a lighter version like the Outlook Customer Manager, the executive in charge must be fully committed to it.
