Best CRM for service industry in 2024

The service industry is made up of a broad range of businesses that provide intangible goods and services rather than physical products. This sector includes various activities such as hospitality, retail, finance, healthcare, professional services, education, and information technology. Companies in the service industry focus on delivering experiences, expertise, and solutions to meet the needs and desires of their customers. The service industry relies heavily on human capital and customer interaction, making efficient customer relationship management crucial for success. But choosing the best CRM software for your team can be challenging with so many options to choose from. In this blog post, we'll explore what features the right CRM software should have and unpack the best CRM platforms in the service industry.

8 features service industry teams need in their CRM

A CRM tailored for service-oriented businesses can streamline operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and ultimately drive growth. Service industry teams should look for the following features to get the most out of their CRM software.

1. Contact management: Efficiently manage and categorize customer information.
2. Appointment scheduling: Simplify the booking process with automated scheduling tools.
3. Task management: Keep track of tasks and follow-ups to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
4. User-friendly interface: If you're looking for a plug and play CRM platform, you'll need to ensure that their interface is user-friendly to avoid having to block a lot of time out in your team's diaries for implementation training.
5. Mobile access: Access the CRM from anywhere to stay productive on the go.
6. Automation: Automate repetitive tasks to save time and reduce human error.
7. Analytics: Gain insights into business performance and customer behavior.
8. Integrations: Seamlessly integrate with other tools and software used by the business.

5 Best CRM for service industry

Now that you know what to look for, let's unpack the best CRMs in the market for the service industry – and, what makes their CRM system so useful.

1. folk

Best for: All-in-one, user-friendly simple CRM that can support multiple business functions.

folk is designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind. It offers a streamlined interface that makes it easy for businesses to manage customer relationships without a steep learning curve. folk is one of the best flexible CRM systems on the market thanks to its ability to accommodate several business functions including sales team, customer service team, marketing and more.

Key features

• Contact Management and contact sync great for multiple customer data hub
• Social media integration for lead generation and to import client information
• Task Management including reminders and collaborative notes
• Mail merge and email Integration for Gmail and Outlook
• Customizable dashboards
• Multiple pipelines for sales, recruitment, project management and more.
• Mobile Access

Pros

• User-friendly interface: The intuitive design ensures that even non-tech-savvy users can navigate the CRM effortlessly, reducing the need for extensive training.
• Customization: Tailor the CRM to fit your specific business processes and workflows, making it highly adaptable to various service industry needs.
• Affordable: Offers competitive pricing plans that are budget-friendly for small businesses.

Cons

• Reporting isn't available in folk yet but is coming soon.

Price and plans

You can try folk for free with a 14 day free trial. After that, a monthly or annual subscription plan is as follows. 

• Standard: $20 per user, per month 
• Premium: $40 per user, per month
• Custom: Starts from $60 per user, per month 

2. Sugar CRM

Best for: CRM with deployment options

Sugar CRM is known for its flexibility and extensive customization options, making it suitable for businesses with specific and unique CRM needs.

Key features

• Advanced reporting and analytics
• Workflow automation
• Customer support tools
• Integration with major applications
• Mobile access

Pros

• Customization: Highly customizable to fit the unique requirements of various service businesses, allowing for tailored workflows and processes.
• Comprehensive features: Offers a wide range of features that support sales, marketing, and customer service efforts comprehensively.

Cons

• Complexity: The extensive features and customization options can make it overwhelming and complex for new users, requiring more training and onboarding.
• Higher cost: More expensive compared to some other CRMs, which might be a barrier for very small businesses or startups.

Price and plans

An annual subscription plan is as follows.

• Essentials: $19 per user, per month (minimum of 3 users, maximum of 5)
• Advanced: $85 per user, per month (minimum of 3 users)
• Premier: $135 per user, per month (minimum of 10 users)

3. HubSpot CRM

Best for: New businesses looking for a free-forever CRM plan despite limited features

HubSpot CRM is a popular choice due to its robust free tier and extensive features that support business growth. It integrates seamlessly with HubSpot's suite of marketing, sales, and service tools.

Key features

• Contact management
• Email tracking and templates

• Sales pipeline management
• Reporting dashboards
• Marketing automation

Pros

• Free tier: Offers a comprehensive free plan that includes many essential features, making it accessible for small businesses and startups.
• Integration: Seamlessly integrates with HubSpot’s ecosystem and other third-party applications, enhancing functionality.

Cons

• Limited advanced features in free tier: Some advanced features and capabilities are only available in higher-tier paid plans.
• Customization constraints: While versatile, it may not offer the same level of deep customization as other CRMs.

Price and plans

HubSpot CRM has a free version with basic CRM features. With paid plans as follows, depending on the hub you need.

CRM suite

Starter: $15 per user, per month.

Professional: $450 per user, per month.

Enterprise: $1,500 per user, per month.

Marketing

Starter plan: Starts from $15 per user, per month.

Professional: Starts from $800 per user, per month

Enterprise: Starts from $3,600 per user, per month.

Sales

Starter: $15 per user, per month.

Professional: $90 per user, per month.

Enterprise: $150 per user, per month.

Customer service

Starter: $15 per user, per month.

Professional: $90 per user, per month

Enterprise: $130 per user, per month

4. Agile CRM

Best for: Service businesses looking for an all-in-one CRM solution with marketing automation.

Agile CRM combines CRM functionalities with marketing automation, making it a comprehensive tool for managing customer relationships and marketing efforts in one place.

Key features

• Contact management
• Marketing automation
• Sales tracking
• Customer service tools
• Social media integration

Pros

• Marketing capabilities: Strong marketing automation features that help businesses streamline their marketing campaigns.

Cons

• Learning curve: The multitude of features can create a steep learning curve for new users.
• Performance issues: Some users report occasional performance issues, particularly with the more advanced features.

Price and plans

There is a free plan with limited features for up to 10 users. After that, an annual subscription plan is as follows.

• Starter: $9.99 per user, per month.
• Regular: $39.99 per user, per month.
• Enterprise: $64.99 per user, per month.

5. Zoho CRM

Best for: Small business solution

Zoho CRM is part of the Zoho Suite. Offering a wide range of features and integration capabilities.

Key features

• Workflow management
• Advanced analytics
• AI-powered insights
• Multi-channel communication
• Sales automation

Pros

• Versatility: Offers a broad range of features that cater to various aspects of customer relationship management.
• Integration: Seamlessly integrates with other Zoho apps and many third-party applications, providing extensive functionality.

Cons

• Complexity: The wide range of features can be overwhelming for new users, requiring time to learn and adapt.
• Cost for advanced features: Advanced features and higher-tier plans can be costly, which might not be ideal for very small businesses.

Price and plans

There is a free plan limited to three users suitable for small businesses. After that, an annual subscription plan is as follows:

• Standard: $14 per user, per month
• Professional: $23 per user, per month
• Enterprise: $40 per user, per month

Conclusion

Choosing the right CRM for your service business can significantly impact your efficiency and customer satisfaction. Each CRM discussed offers unique features and benefits tailored to different needs and business sizes. But if you're looking for a lightweight and powerful customer relationship management software, folk should be front of mind. Thanks to its unique customizable nature and user-friendly interface that can accomodate your sales process, customer interactions and customer journey. You'll find no other software solution as flexible as folk. Try folk today, free.

More resources

• folk price and plans
• The modern sales stack for SMBs

‍