CRM in Google Sheets is one of the simplest forms of customer relationship management software. It is a spreadsheet document that contains information about customers, deal history, current orders, and more.
For example, you can create sections at the top of each column to organize data by name, contact, and your team will update this document as deals progress.
Data accounting in Google Sheets is suitable for different categories of users, including:
small businesses and startups;
young companies that are not yet ready or cannot afford to implement a full-fledged CRM system;
freelancers;
However, it is important to realize that for large corporations and business processes that require a high level of automation, a specialized CRM system may be required. In such cases, the functionality of standard Google Sheets will not cope with managing a large amount of information.
How to create a CRM in Google Sheets from scratch?
To create your own CRM in Google Sheets, follow a few simple but effective steps:
1. Open Google Sheets
Sign in to your Google Account and open Google Sheets. If you don’t have one, create a new document using your Google Account.
2. Create a new document
After logging in, select the option “Create” – “Table”. You will see a blank table in front of you, where you can start working.
Step 1 — Weigh all the pros and cons
Before you embark on a course to create a CRM in Google Sheets, take the time to objectively analyze all the advantages and disadvantages. This will allow you to better understand whether Google Sheets meets the needs of your company at this stage of business development.
Don’t neglect the requirements and requests of your team members. Ask your colleagues for their opinions, listen to expert advice, consider all points of view, and make a collective decision – will you use Google Sheets to manage your phone number library customer base, or does it make sense to consider alternative options?
Step 2 — Make a copy of our Google Sheets CRM template
We’ve taken care of everything. To access our Google Sheets CRM template, follow this link . Click “File” and create a copy of the marketing in the age of digital transformation: how marketing enables innovation spreadsheet. Remember, you can name the copy whatever you like and share it with your entire team using the “Share” button.
Step 3 — Set up CRM in Google Sheets
It is obvious that the NetHunt CRM template is not a universal assistant for all businesses. It must be supplemented and customized bfb directory according to the unique needs of the company. Since each business has its own characteristics, processes, and requirements for customer relationship management.
First, determine which aspects of customer management are key for your sales team.
Take a look at the existing fields/stages in the template. Determine if they match your sales process. If not, add new stages or adapt the existing ones to suit your business.
Change the spreadsheet interface to be intuitive for the team. Use color labels, sorting, grouping for easy data analysis.
Brainstorm with your team to find out if your colleagues are comfortable with this method of managing your customer base.
Have you decided on the main stages? Great. So, you can add them to CRM.
Step 4 — Enter customer data into your CRM in Google Sheets
The final and most time-consuming step in setting up Google Sheets CRM is to add all of your company’s customers to the spreadsheet. Even with all the versatility that Google Sheets offers, you or your team members will still have to manually enter data for each deal and customer.
Here’s what to look for when entering data into your CRM system in Google Sheets:
Carefully check that there are no duplicate deals or records in the CRM.
Make sure you enter information in the appropriate fields, the row that corresponds to a specific customer or prospect.
If you need more guidance on what a completed CRM in Google Sheets will look like, check out the separate section in our template — “CRM Data Example.”
Benefits of CRM in Google Sheets
Google Sheets is definitely better than Excel. This tool stands out not only for its accessibility, but also for a number of advantages that become especially useful in the context of CRM management.
User-friendly interface and settings
Google Sheets boasts an intuitive interface that makes it easy to create, edit, format, and analyze data, making CRM use in Google Sheets accessible to a wide range of users.
You can easily add new columns, create graphs and charts. You can enter and store data in an organized way, process it using logical and mathematical operations, and create reports based on it.
Speed of implementation into workflows
Compared to traditional CRM systems, Google Sheets takes significantly less time to implement and configure. In addition, the lack of complex interfaces and easy access to all functionality allows you to quickly start working with spreadsheets.
And another plus is that you don’t have to hire separate specialists to implement Google Sheets into your team’s workflow.
Affordable price
The cost of using a CRM in Google Sheets is beneficial for many businesses, especially startups and small businesses on a budget. Additionally, the ability to use Google Sheets’ free features or choose an affordable paid plan helps businesses adjust their costs as their company grows and evolves in the marketplace.
Integration with other Google services
Google Sheets has a wide range of integration options with various third-party services. For example:
Google Contacts is a tool for effective contact management. Thanks to the integration, you can automatically synchronize data between CRM systems, simplifying the process of maintaining a database and maintaining customer relationships.
Ability to collaboratively edit and update data
This means that users can work on the same spreadsheet at the same time, adding new data or making changes, making collaboration much easier. All changes are reflected in real time, allowing the team to quickly reconcile information and keep data up to date.
Disadvantages of CRM in Google Sheets
There’s no doubt that entering a database in Google Sheets is better than Notepad or Excel. But they also have their limitations and drawbacks.
Manual data entry
Relying on manual data entry increases the likelihood of inaccuracies in the database. For example, a sales manager may mistakenly enter the wrong phone number or email address for a customer, making further communication difficult.
Incorrect data can also be a catalyst for misunderstandings and conflicts with customers. If the database contains incorrect information about previous transactions, interaction history, requests and needs of a person, this will lead to incorrect determination of sales or customer service strategies.
With a proper CRM like NetHunt CRM , you can transfer your entire customer base with just a click of a button. What’s more, a team of experienced professionals will help you set up the system, migrate data from your previous CRM.
Modern CRM systems can automate the collection and entry of customer data. For example, NetHunt CRM allows you to create customer records directly from incoming emails, automatically adding lead information to the database.
Lack of advanced functionality
If you use Google Sheets to manage your customer base, you may lack the necessary tools to effectively monitor deals, organize customer interactions, and conduct detailed data analysis.
