CRM in one sentence
A CRM system keeps a single, shared record of the people and organisations you do business with, and everything that has happened between you: calls, emails, meetings, deals, orders and support requests.
Instead of that knowledge living in individual inboxes, notebooks and spreadsheets, the whole team can see it, act on it and report on it.
What a CRM keeps track of
Most CRMs are organised around a few core records that link to each other:
- Leads: people who have shown interest but aren’t yet qualified.
- Contacts and organisations: the people and companies you work with.
- Deals (or opportunities): potential sales, with a value and a stage.
- Activities: calls, meetings, tasks and emails.
- Tickets: support requests from existing customers.
- Quotes, orders and invoices: the commercial side of the relationship.
Who uses it
Sales teams use a CRM to manage their pipeline and forecast. Marketing uses it to build lists, run campaigns and measure what produced revenue. Support teams use it to handle requests with full context. Managers use it to see what is happening across all three.
Why it matters
When customer information is shared and up to date, follow-ups don’t get missed, handovers are smooth, and decisions are based on real numbers rather than gut feel. That is the core promise of any CRM, including Red Squirrel.