Zoho Corporation, based in India, has quietly grown year on year to become one of the most successful business software solutions companies on a global scale. The core of their successful stable of apps have been Customer Relationship Management solutions (CRM), and they are currently building on that success with a version specifically aimed at small businesses. We caught up with Yatheesh Raj, Product Marketing Manager for the app:
Yatheesh – tell us about Bigin by Zoho CRM? What does it do and how does it help businesses?
“Bigin is a CRM solution tailored specifically for small businesses and startups to centralise their customer information in one place and manage their day-to-day business operations better. We are one among the 50+ apps from Zoho that serve more than 100 million users across the world. In 2020, we wanted to build a CRM solution specifically to help more small businesses go digital, and that’s how we launched Bigin.
“Bigin helps businesses streamline their sales and other business processes, manage customer interactions, and organise data under one roof. For small teams or businesses that are just starting to scale, Bigin allows them to focus on building better relationships with their customers, stay organised, automate, and close more deals, all while keeping things affordable and easily accessible.”
Why is a CRM system essential for a small business that doesn’t use one?
“A CRM is essential for any business, more so for small businesses because finding and retaining customers is crucial for their long-term success. Currently, most small businesses don’t have an organised way of managing their customer data. The data is often scattered across spreadsheets, notes, and other apps. Bringing them all together under one roof and getting actionable insights from that data is crucial. It also enhances efficiency and reduces human errors by automating tasks like follow-ups and reminders.”
What makes Bigin different from other CRMs in the market?
“Most CRMs in the market can be too complex or expensive for smaller teams because they are built for bigger enterprises and their needs in mind. Bigin is designed to be easy to use without sacrificing essential features. It offers powerful capabilities like contact and deal management, workflow automation, multi-channel communication, business analytics, integrations with top business apps and more in a user friendly interface that requires minimal setup and training.
“Another key differentiator is Bigin’s affordability.”
What type of business use Bigin? Can it be customised?
“Bigin is designed for a wide range of businesses, but it’s especially well-suited for small businesses, startups, solopreneur, agencies, and freelancers. Be it a local retail shop, a growing consultancy, a real estate agency, or a service provider, Bigin helps businesses of all types. We have 25+ free templates for different kinds of businesses to get started faster.
“The app also offers customisation options, including custom views, fields, modules, and workflows to match unique business processes and requirements.”
You mentioned the solution is highly affordable. Are there different costs – and is there a free version?
“Bigin has a forever free version for individuals with all the basic CRM features. Additionally, the app offers paid plans like Express and Premier that starts at £5 and £10 per user, per month, with advanced features. Plus, we don’t force any annual contracts or lock-ins. We believe in flexibility and giving full control to users on how they want to get started with us.
“We also offer a 15-day free trial for users to test features like multiple pipelines, workflow automation, and integration with other apps, helping you figure out how to fit the CRM solution for unique business requirements.”
What operating systems support the system? And what about an app to use on mobiles?
“Bigin is a cloud-based CRM which means it can be accessed on any operating system, as long as you have a web browser. As for mobile applications, Bigin offers dedicated apps for both iOS and Android devices, helping you manage your CRM on the go, allowing you to track deals, communicate with customers and more, right from your smartphone or tablet. We also offer a dedicated application for macOS users.”
What kind of customer support does Bigin offer?
“Bigin provides various support options, including a comprehensive knowledge base with articles, video tutorials, email & phone support, and live chat. We also offer free personalised onboarding up to 60 days. For businesses based out of the UK, we have a direct toll-free customer support telephone line. For any queries, just write to us at sales@eu.bigin.com”
How does Bigin handle data migration from other CRM systems?
“The app provides support for data migration, allowing you to import data from other CRMs, spreadsheets, and notes. Our onboarding team also assists with data migration for users.”
How does Bigin handle data privacy and compliance?
“We believe in a privacy-first business model. Bigin adheres to industry standards for data privacy and security, including GDPR compliance for users in the European Union and the UK. Bigin employs encryption and secure access controls to protect your data and ensures that your information is handled according to applicable privacy laws and regulations.”
Where can I find more information about Bigin?
You can visit bigin.com or phone 0288 646 2004
Try Bigin now on a 15 day free trial. (No Credit Card required)
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