The results are in! CRM Magazine recently announced their top CRM picks for 2011. The results were measured based on year-over-year revenue growth, analyst ratings for customer satisfaction, functionality, company direction, and cost. These results can aid you in your decision to choose a CRM, but you still need to ask yourself some key questions to determine what type of solution will best fit your business process. You need a CRM that fits your business processes now and in the future.

Question #1:  How big is your company and how big do you want it to be?
Every company size has a different set of requirements for their CRM. When purchasing a solution, you want to not only make sure that your CRM can map to your current processes, but you must also take into consideration how well it will scale. Are you a small company that is looking to grow to enterprise? You want to make sure that you choose a flexible solution that leaves room for innovation. Or maybe you are a small business that just needs a way to organize your data. Because a CRM is a big commitment, you need to consider possible scope when making a decision. Choose a solution that works with your current and future business plans. CRM Magazine chooses Salesforce as having the best functionality for all business sizes.

Question #2:  What is your budget? 
CRM costs can quickly escalate. Whether it is additional user licenses or customizations, you have to be cognizant of each extra cost. If you are a small company, have you considered going open-source? CRM Magazine sites Sugar CRM to be one of the top performers for both small businesses and for companies that want to use open-source. The benefits? It's free! The drawbacks? It requires time to customize. 

Question #3:  What is your timeline?
You may need your CRM solution up and running as soon as possible, or maybe you have a bit more time to customize it to your business. Solutions like Salesforce can be flexible with your timeline. Because it is cloud based, you can get it up and running quickly or you can take the time to create customizations to map to your processes. Open-source solutions like Zoho or Sugar CRM may be your most cost effective option, but will take more time to customize and code as it only comes with basic functionalities. Additionally, you may want to utilize an implementation partner to help guide your project and ensure that it stays within your chosen time-frame.

Question #4:  What core competency do you need your CRM to have?
Often a business needs their CRM solution to work across departments - sales, marketing, and service - so they need a robust solution that focuses on all aspects of your business. Other companies are looking for a CRM that fills a specific need. CRM Magazine names Marketo as the top marketing automation software and Salesforce for the top sales automation solution. Take into consideration what you want the CRM to do before you make a decision.

Question #5: What are your integration needs?
What other solutions do you use in your business that will have to integrate with our CRM application? Your chosen solution should work with your current systems so you want to make sure you choose a CRM that integrates easily. If you need help with integration, you can enlist the help of a consulting partner who will provide you with the expertise you need to complete complex integrations. 

By answering these questions, you can begin to determine what the right solution is for your business. Once you clearly outline your needs, you can reference articles like CRM Magazine's in order to help guide you to the right application.

Take a look at CRM Magazine’s handy infographic below to see what their rankings at a glance!