In the dynamic landscape of contemporary business, an increasing array of tools have become available, each tailored to serve a specific purpose. These tools have significantly enhanced the versatility of business operations.
In this digital age, we have the capability to conduct global conferences via voice or video, facilitated by a simple internet connection and a mobile device. This has revolutionized the way businesses communicate and collaborate.
Among the myriad of tools available, there are notable competitors in the market that provide Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions, namely Salesforce and Slack. These platforms strive to streamline customer relations with the aim of increasing market share and revenue in today’s digital business era.
While both platforms offer unique benefits, it’s crucial to understand their specific functionalities and advantages. Let’s delve deeper to determine which platform might best suit your business needs.
Slack
Slack is renowned for its user-friendly communication methods that enable team members to complete tasks efficiently. It is an email-based messaging client that facilitates communication within the company as well as with external clients.
Slack boasts an extensive range of features, including video and voice calls. Some of Slack’s key features include:
- Channels that serve as centralized points of contact for specific groups, where members can message, video call, and voice call.
- Collaboration tools integrated throughout Slack, making it one of the few applications that offer an all-in-one package for workplaces.
- APIs from other application developers such as Microsoft Office, Google Drive, and thousands more to integrate everything you need into an easy-to-use package.
Given its centralized communication techniques and easy-to-use integrated applications, it’s no surprise that many are migrating towards using Slack.
For pricing, Slack offers four packages with varying levels of access.
Salesforce
Salesforce is a well-known name in the workplace and highly regarded in the marketplace. It is a Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) that integrates every aspect of a business with its customers using cloud computing technology.
Salesforce’s primary objective is to generate revenue and leads for businesses while providing a support access point for a business’s customers.
Salesforce offers an extensive range of features including:
- Providing each team member in a business with a connection to all business customers to offer support and assistance.
- Utilizing Artificial Intelligence to automatically create workflow models using its automation algorithms.
- Integrating and backing up any data or systems of a business onto its cloud-based servers.
- Ensuring data integrity and providing high levels of security for any business data.
- Facilitating easy scaling of business processes.
- Delivering innovation and sales using a B2B & B2C approach to clients.
- Automating administrative work.
- Providing thousands of APIs to support applications on the platform.
- Aiding in client contact via messaging, voice & video chats.
Whatever your CRM needs may be, Salesforce has got you covered. Salesforce also offers multiple packages tailored to your business needs.
Zoom
Zoom is a relatively new entrant in the world of conferencing and meeting conductors. With its video, voice & messaging capabilities, it has quickly become a popular choice for conducting meetings and conferences.
Unlike Slack & Salesforce which are CRMs, Zoom primarily focuses on video conferencing & communication.
Zoom offers businesses:
- Voice, video & messaging means of communication.
- Collaboration & distance education/webinar options for clients.
- Bots & other API integrations for process automation.
- Options to build private conference rooms for business meetings or client meetings.
- Scalability for all business needs.
- Recording capabilities for screens or calls.
One advantage Zoom has over Slack and Salesforce is its competitive pricing points.
Zoom is a cost-effective solution for video, voice, and collaboration cloud software, making it an attractive choice for many businesses.
Skype
Skype, a long-standing giant in the realm of video and voice communications, is recognized for its user-friendly interface that facilitates video and voice calling. It also provides a platform for content sharing via messaging.
In recent years, Skype has expanded beyond business processes to become a global communication tool. It’s used worldwide for free communication and has found a place in gaming platforms like Microsoft’s Xbox. However, focusing on its business advantages, Skype offers unique features not found in other platforms:
- Free voice and video chat with no time limit.
- The option to call regular phone numbers via the internet at significantly reduced rates (VoIP).
- Live subtitles for those from different linguistic backgrounds or those with hearing impairments.
- Call recording capabilities.
Each business operation has unique requirements to increase market share and achieve quarterly revenue growth.
The integration of a CRM and a video conferencing tool has become increasingly popular during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as employees have been working both in-office and remotely.
Video conferencing tools have seen a surge in usage due to this shift in work patterns and continue to be an integral part of many businesses.
If you’re considering expanding your business operations and integrating cloud technologies, CRM could be the future-forward solution you need.
Big Kitty Labs, one of the leading software development companies in Columbus, Ohio, has been developing applications, websites, and software for over 14 years. Contact us for a free discovery session and consultation on your next project!
