Find and compare CRM software: InfoFlo or Zoho CRM. This article will help you narrow down your choices and choose the vendor that best fits your company needs.
| Zoho CRM | InfoFlo CRM | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Cloud | On-Premise |
| Free Version | Yes - Limited Functionality | Yes – 1 month free trial available; no long-term commitments |
| Cost (Details) | $12-50/user/month | $99/user One-time fee with upgrades for life |
| Business Size | Small Medium | Small Medium Large |
| Platforms | iOS Windows | iOS Windows |
| Ease of Use | Moderate | Easy |
| Ease of Implementation | Moderate | Easy |
| Unique Features | Invoicing Website Visitor Tracking Marketing Automation Webform Integration Invoicing | Outlook Sync Document Archiving Task Management Social Media Integration Email Management Invoicing |
| Support | Phone & Email Support Available | Phone, Email Support, Knowledge Base Access and YouTube video tutorials Available |
| Integration with Other Products | Google Apps Mailchimp Quickbooks | Google Apps Mailchimp Quickbooks PBX |
| Mobile Compatibility | Yes | Yes |
| Downtime | No downtime support provided; very often issues are outside the control of your organization and the cloud provider. | InfoFlo allows you to connect to a secondary server with your most up to date data and continue working where you last left off in order to minimize downtime. |
Verdict:
It all comes down to commitment and the end goal. How long are you planning to use the CRM tool? Where do you see yourself and your company in 2 years? 5 years? 10 years? If you are a forward thinker and are looking to grow your business and use your CRM tool beyond your current situation, InfoFlo is the best fit for you.
InfoFlo charges a one-time fee of $99/user for the basic CRM package. As soon as upgrades are made available, active users of the CRM tool will be able to access them free of charge. Zoho, on the other hand, charges users on a monthly basis.
Think of how much you will be paying each year as opposed to the amount of money you will put in at time of purchase and not having to worry about costs later. Even if you do not know what the future holds for you and your company, you may end up paying more with Zoho on a monthly basis to keep the CRM tool running. And if it turns out that you are paying too much money and there is a cheaper and better option out there [which there is], it will cost you more to re-train your staff, move over all of the data etc.
Another element that differentiates InfoFlo from Zoho is the on-premise aspect. Zoho is a cloud-based CRM, which means that the CRM software and your customer data reside in the cloud and is delivered to end-users via the Internet. On-premise CRM systems like InfoFlo, on the other hand, are typically installed on servers. With on-premise CRM tools, there’s minimal disruption to your business and less likelihood of you not being able to access your data because of the problems your service provider or third party host is experiencing. InfoFlo also offers a service that allows you to connect to a secondary server with your most up to date data and continue working where you last left off when technical difficulties do arise.
Free CRM: Worth the Investment?
One of the most common questions we get asked: Zoho CRM offers a free version of their application to companies that require access to 5 users or less, can InfoFlo match this offer? One thing you must understand is that nothing comes free without fine print. The “free” version of Zoho is limited in functionality and condensed in terms of features.
If you are already investing in a CRM tool, it is important to invest in one that will give you maximum output and has the features you need to thrive. Getting a free app just because it is free and will not cost you penny defeats the purpose of having the app in the first place. So if you have made the commitment to try it, make sure that you are using it for the right purposes and it well equips you to do your job and more.