🕖3 min read | Maple CRM
Did you know how many start-ups were registered in India at the starting of 2014? It was around 350.
Now, did you know what’s the number in 2024 (just 10 years later?)- It’s Over 127,000!!
Now that’s what is called an ‘exponential’ growth! If last 10 years held such a great accommodation for start-ups, at least 30% of these must’ve grown up to be SMEs. A smaller number must’ve grown up to be Unicorns as well – We have prominent examples of companies like Byju’s, Zomato, Razorpay, etc.
With India’s immense capacity to foster start-ups, and parallelly reserve channels for growth and sustenance of already-existing businesses – makes it in the list of top 7 economies in the world!
When we talk of such huge amounts of businesses, by the rule of thumb, there comes an extensive potential for systems for manage the various teams in an organization- an example is – CRM for sales and order management.
The demand for CRM software has nothing but arisen over the last 5 years, especially when business owners, managers as well as working executives began understanding the benefits of using a CRM.
With the evolution of times and business methods, so have steadily evolved CRM software functionalities, features and offers.
In order to satiate the ever-increasing and demanding nature of businesses, also the ones mushrooming in new niches over time, CRM software systems have become quite flexible, packed with options and customizable.
What aspects of a CRM system should feature in 2025? 10 of the most popular predictions:
Industry experts and their extensive researches show how can modern-day businesses use CRM to their maximum potential and make CRM a way of every day working
1. AI driven CRM – increasing accuracy and Sales productivity
Well, this HAD to be among the first ones, right? The buzz-word cannot escape CRM at all!
AI-based CRM systems
 AI-powered CRMs will enable SMEs to automate routine tasks, predict customer behaviors, and provide personalized experiences at scale. For example, AI can analyze customer data and predict which leads are most likely to convert, allowing sales teams to prioritize efforts.
Now this is just one of the functionalities.
Multiple functions like creation of customer-centric workflow, proposals, prompting for interactions, automated communications, etc. can be easily and automatically driven with AI, significantly reducing the manual work. Thus, productivity will be on the high, and so will be the sales graph!
2. CRM with multiple integrations
In 2025, SMEs will increasingly demand CRM solutions that integrate seamlessly with other key business tools.
Some examples are- integration with communication automation tools- emails, messaging, chatting, etc., Marketing tools- like automation of online ad campaigns, analysis and changes, integration with accounting systems, ERP systems, etc.
The integration of these systems will allow businesses to streamline workflows and ensure that customer data is unified across all departments.
3. CRM enhancing Client Retention
Acquisition of new clients is of course, the prime focus of any organization, but equal weightage is to be given to retention of existing clients. With the neck-and-neck competition existing in every field, clients have multiple hanging carrots to get deviated to.
In such times, client retention becomes one the most vital aspects of a thriving business.
By 2025, CRMs will include client journey, hiccups and awards mapping, automated follow-ups, and predictive analytics to identify opportunities for upselling and cross-selling, etc. This shift towards customer retention will not only help SMEs grow their revenue but also reduce the high costs associated with constantly acquiring new customers.
4. Greater accessibility : Mobile and Cloud-based CRM
Easier access, quick updates and in-sync systems- all are the green flags opening growth gates for a sales team. A CRM ensures this and also provides additional functionalities- location updates, time-stamps, usage analysis ,data back-up and many more.
Salespeople on the field will require instant access to customer data, sales metrics, and real-time updates to make informed decisions while on the move. Mobile CRM apps with cloud hosting will allow sales representatives to update contact information, track deals, and access detailed customer profiles directly from their smartphones.
5. Conversational CRM- 2-way communication
In 2025, which is almost at the verge of an era where software technologies, AI systems and automation are an inseparable part of an individual’s life, CRM softwares will turn out be no exception.
CRM systems will become more of a communicative nature.
It’ll be like a massive database with a simple chat system at the front-end.
It would evolve to be more of conversation-driven platform, easing and quickening the everyday tasks of Sales and Order processing. As voice search and voice assistants become increasingly popular, CRMs will integrate with voice-based technologies, allowing sales teams to interact with customer data through voice commands. Futuristic CRM software will just collect basic information from the users and display a perfectly curated funnel, specialized as per the requirements.
6. CRM as a powerhouse to drive sales – On site & Remote working
Remote working has become a new norm right from 2020-the COVID period. It has reached almost every strata of business and some businesses have grown better due to this way of working.
In 2025, CRM systems will augment every type of work nature and enhance the working styles too.
Enabling data access on the go, syncing with central database, having hierarchy-based controls and analysis of overall performance on demand will be the key points making CRM systems more productive.
7. Driving sales with Hyper-localization through CRM
The future of CRM is all about personalization. By 2025, SMEs will leverage CRM systems to offer highly personalized experiences at scale. With AI and machine learning, CRMs will enable businesses to track customer behaviors and tailor their marketing, sales, and customer support efforts to match individual preferences.
8. Business niche-specific CRM
Strategizing sales workflow, funnels and analysis as per the business type, organizing the tasks accordingly and curating reports of the business performance and other measurable parameters- all are unique to every business.
In 2025, there will not be any demand for ‘common sales CRM’.
Every business will need a tailor-made system which not only suits their system, but also enhances the throughput of the efforts of their executives.
Niche-specific CRM systems will streamline operations and serve clients better by providing instant communications, prompts on next steps, automations and updates.
9. Data Privacy and Security: A Top Priority
Customer trust is gained when they are sure that their data is safe and a CRM system proves to be worthy of that. In 2025, due to cutting edge technologies, competitions and data patrols on the rise, CRM systems will focus a major part of their energy on high-end data encryptions, secured data storage and strict access controls.
A technology can never be of any use if it’s not safe to use. In 2025, Indian SMEs will increasingly focus on ensuring that their CRM systems comply with global data privacy regulations, including GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and India’s evolving data protection laws.
10. Back to the basics: Authenticity and Simplicity
Even when 2025 will witness the expansive features and wide-spread functionality base of CRM software systems, simplicity in use will remain the focal point.
It will be of prime importance that Authenticity of data, simple workflow and intuitive user interface will be provided to the use to ensure they use a CRM to it’s fullest capacity and not barely scratch the surface.
This will also result into rise of more usage of the CRM by executives, and thus better client retention!
Maple CRM is a one-stop solution for Sales and Field Service Management. If you’re seeking for a system which can be configured exactly as per your business requirement and can be easily adapted by your team, you’re at the right place!
Connect with Maple CRM team today and schedule a demo as per your convenient time!
Maple CRM: Sales and Process management software for SMEs.
The most user-friendly and smart software for thriving businesses for an automated workflow which boosts productivity.
info@maplecrm.com | +91 9538925641 | www.maplecrm.com