7 game-changing CRMs for distributors to consider in 2025

Distributors play a critical role in the e-commerce ecosystem. As key players in the supply chain, the way distributors function directly affects the end customer, even if they don’t see all the behind-the-scenes operations between distributors and their clients.

CRM software allows distributors to operate as efficiently as possible, providing them with stability through streamlined customer management, meaningful data and insights, and automations to help them handle critical workflows. But not every CRM fits the needs of distributors.

In this guide, we’ll cover 7 of the best customer relationship management (CRM) solutions for distributors and wholesalers, including platforms like monday CRM, that offer powerful AI and automation features to help you grow without growing your overhead.

What is a CRM for distributors?

A CRM for distributors is a platform that helps manage customer relationships, sales pipelines, and inventory, allowing for faster order fulfillment, improved communication, and better scalability.

Distributors often have multiple customers, each with different needs, budgets, and order volumes, making it critical to organize all this valuable data in a centralized repository like a CRM. Although distributors and wholesalers often share overlapping challenges, such as managing large orders and customer accounts at scale, this article focuses specifically on solutions designed for distributors.

It’s important for wholesale distributors to use a CRM not only to improve customer management but also to streamline internal operations such as inventory management, finances, and technological integrations. With the right CRM, distributors can better adapt with each new customer, offering quicker and more targeted service.

Features to look for in CRM software for distributors

CRMs come packed with tons of features, but not all of them will be necessary for every distribution team. The best way to start narrowing down which CRM solutions are best for your business is to consider the key features you need and look for platforms that match your requirements. Some of the core features to look for in a CRM for distributors include:

• Customer data management: One of the core functions of any CRM is contact management, so look for a solution that allows you to manage customer accounts the way you want, including integrated communication, historical data, and automatic sorting.
• Marketing tools: If you’re a distributor that does a lot of marketing, look for a CRM that will consolidate marketing with customer management so that you can engage potential customers and gather essential data to inform marketing campaigns from one platform.
• AI and automation: Put your manual workflows on autopilot with AI and automation tools to instantly sort and action tasks, score new leads, send important reminders and follow-ups, and more.
• Integration capabilities: Distributors already use a wide range of work tools for inventory, shipping and logistics, communication, and more, so look for a platform that can sync all your most important data in one place.
• Advanced analytics and reporting: CRMs help you store and make sense of data with real-time reporting and analytics so that you can get insights to help improve your offerings and customer relationships
• Inventory management: Some CRMs include inventory. management functionalities so you can see which products clients buy most, what you’re running low on, and get notifications to help you avoid stock-outs or surplus inventory.

The benefits of using a CRM for distributors

A CRM isn’t just another piece of software for wholesale distributors, but an essential tool for improving overall business operations. The right CRM can bring a number of benefits to distribution companies, helping them work smarter and more effectively. Here’s a look at how distributors can benefit from a CRM solution.

Stronger customer satisfaction

When you’re better at serving your customers, they’ll end up more satisfied in the long run. A CRM helps you anticipate customer needs, restock timelines, and streamline communication. for improved customer experiences.

Enhanced efficiency through automation

CRMs that include advanced AI and automation features allow distributors to work more efficiently by empowering them to focus on high-level sales strategies, like nurturing relationships and engaging leads. With automations to handle menial and repetitive tasks, teams work more efficiently without feeling bogged down by manual work.

Centralized data for better decision-making

By keeping your data, customers, and business operations united in one centralized platform, you can create a single source of truth for your entire company. This makes it easier for employees and even different departments to access uniform information and reports, leading to more informed decision-making.

Optimized business operations for enhanced growth

Everything from logistics to finance and inventory will run more smoothly when you have a CRM that helps you prioritize your most important workflows. Automating tasks will also free up more time that can be spent on more profit-generating activities, which can facilitate business growth in the long term.

Top 7 CRM software solutions for distributors

Wholesale distributors have a wealth of CRM platforms to choose from. There are solutions that can be molded to any field and team, and specific platforms built for the distribution industry. With so many choices on the market, narrowing down your options can feel overwhelming.

Below, we’ve rounded up our top 7 recommended CRM solutions for distributors. You can compare them side-by-side in the table below to get a quick overview of use cases, prices, and reviews, or keep reading for the more detailed reviews.

1. monday CRM

Best for: Distributors seeking an AI-powered and highly customizable CRM

Built on monday.com’s Work OS, monday CRM is a flexible and intuitive platform for distributors. Powered by AI, monday CRM makes it easy for distributors to manage sales pipelines, inventory, and client communication from one centralized hub. The drag-and-drop interface, powerful automations, and integrations make it easy to adapt to a variety of complex distribution workflows.

Key features

• AI-powered insights: Use built-in AI to prioritize leads, generate reports and forecasts based on data, and improve decision-making
• Customizable pipelines: Easily tailor your sales pipeline stages to reflect your unique distribution business processes
• AI workflow automation: Take care of routine tasks with no-code AI automations like follow-ups, status changes, or inventory alerts

Pricing

• Plans starting at $12/seat/month (billed annually)
• 14-day free trial
• Find out more about monday CRM plans and pricing here

What users think

G2 rating: 4.6/5

“What I appreciate most about monday CRM is its intuitive and customizable interface. This feature allows you to tailor workflows and dashboards to meet your team’s specific needs. The automation capabilities are a significant advantage, as they save time and minimize manual tasks. Additionally, the seamless integration with other monday.com tools and external applications ensures that all your data is consolidated in one place, which greatly enhances collaboration and communication.” — Roy

2. Salesforce

Best for: Large distribution businesses with complex sales and inventory needs

Salesforce is a robust, enterprise-grade AI CRM with functionality for sales, service, and marketing. Distributors can benefit from Salesforce’s extensive customization options, automation, and advanced analytics to manage relationships with customers, logistics, and forecasting. It’s a great solution for businesses that require scalable and integrated CRM and ERP solutions.

Key features

• Einstein AI: Get predictive insights and recommended actions with Salesforce’s built-in AI assistant
• AppExchange integrations: Access thousands of apps and tools to enhance your existing distribution workflows and sync data to your CRM
• Sales automation: Streamline lead routing, opportunity tracking, and communication workflows with robust automations

Pricing

• Plans starting at $25/user/month
• Multiple plans available for Sales Cloud as well as additional paid add-ons
• 30-day free trial

What users think

G2 rating: 4.4/5

“Salesforce Sales Cloud is a powerful, all-in-one CRM that helps businesses streamline sales processes, improve productivity, and drive revenue growth. One of its standout features is its AI-powered automation, which makes lead management, forecasting, and pipeline tracking incredibly efficient.” — Assay Poulose P.

3. Pipedrive

Best for: Distributors looking for a sales-first CRM with visual sales pipeline management

Pipedrive is designed with sales teams in mind, making it a great fit for distributors who prioritize moving deals through a visual, intuitive sales funnel. With a clean user interface, customizable fields, and automation to reduce manual tasks, Pipedrive is a great CRM for fast-paced distribution environments.

Key features

• AI reporting and analytics: Use AI to get real-time reports and suggestions on your sales funnel to improve targeting
• Workflow automations: Automate tasks like email follow-ups, activity reminders, and deal progression
• Inventory integrations: Connect with tools like QuickBooks, Xero, and inventory software to keep your data synced at all times

Pricing

• Plans starting at $14/user/month (billed annually)
• 14-day free trial
• Learn more about Pipedrive plans and pricing here

What users think

G2 rating: 4.3/5

“Pipedrive stands out for its intuitive and highly visual sales pipeline management. The drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to manage deals, track progress, and prioritize activities. I particularly appreciate the seamless integration with tools like Gmail, Slack, and Zoom, which streamlines communication and scheduling.” – Sergey B.

4. HubSpot Smart CRM

Best for: Small distributors looking for a free CRM with strong marketing features

HubSpot Smart CRM is known for its ease of use and generous free tier, making it a smart choice for small to mid-sized distributors. That said, there are plenty of more advanced features as well on the paid tiers, making it an easily scalable tool. HubSpot Smart CRM offers a unified platform for sales, marketing efforts, and customer service teams with tools to nurture leads, manage deals, and stay connected with clients across channels.

Key features

• AI-powered sales forecasting: Leverage predictive tools to forecast revenue and close rates based on real-time pipeline activity
• Reporting dashboards: Access advanced and customizable analytics for sales, marketing, and service, all in one dashboard
• Form builder: Create custom forms for lead generation, inventory requests, customer intake, surveys, and more

Pricing

• Plans starting at $15/user/month
• Free forever plan available

What users think

G2 rating: 4.4/5

“I really like how easy it is to use. The automation saves a ton of time, especially with follow-ups and reminders. The sales pipeline is well-organized, so it’s simple to track deals and see what needs attention. Also, it connects with other tools we already use, which makes everything flow better without a lot of extra work.” — Paul D.

5. Syspro CRM

Best for: Manufacturers and distributors needing ERP-integrated CRM capabilities

Syspro CRM is part of the broader Syspro ERP system, tailored specifically for manufacturing and distribution companies. It provides a 360-degree view of customer interactions, inventory, and supply chain activities. This CRM is best for businesses that want seamless integration between their CRM and ERP for improved order fulfillment and customer service.

Key features

• ERP integration: Syncs your CRM with inventory, order management, and financials for seamless operations
• Pipeline management: Get an A-Z view of your sales cycles, segment accounts based on custom parameters, track sales milestones, and view opportunity forecasting
• Workflow automations: Put repetitive tasks on autopilot, such as email follow-ups, appointment scheduling, and record syncing

Pricing

• Pricing available by contacting sales
• Free demo available on request

What users think

G2 rating: 4.1/5

“Syspro is an easy to use platform that handles all our needs without the need for additional software. Integrating into everyday operations is simplified and pulling data to Excel for real time monitoring is smooth. We use Syspro everyday for all aspects of our business.” — Jeffrey M.

6. Zoho CRM

Best for: Budget-conscious distributors looking for a flexible AI CRM solution

Zoho CRM combines affordability with strong functionality, making it a favorite among SMBs in the distribution sector. With Zoho CRM, teams can simply manage sales, automate any sales process, and connect with customers through multiple channels. Its integration with Zoho Inventory and other apps and integrations makes it especially appealing for distributors.

Key features

• Zia AI assistant: Use AI to suggest the best times to contact leads, automate follow-ups, compose emails, and provide suggestions based on data
• Workflow automation: Automate email marketing, task assignments, and deal movements for more efficient workflows
• App integrations: Connect seamlessly with Zoho Inventory and over 800 apps in the Zoho marketplace

Pricing

• Plans starting at $14/user/month (billed annually)
• Free 15-day trial available
• Forever free plan available
• Learn more about Zoho CRM plans and pricing here

What users think

G2 rating: 4.1/5

“What I like best about Zoho CRM is its powerful customization options, automation features, and seamless integration with other Zoho apps, which streamline our sales and customer management processes. Ease of use & Customer support are also good.” — Sachin S.

7. Infor CRM

Best for: Distributors with complex B2B customer relationships and field sales

Infor CRM (formerly Saleslogix) is geared toward mid-market and enterprise distributors that need deep actionable insights, sales forecasting, and mobile access. It supports rich customer data management as well as marketing automation tools and advanced reporting and integrates well with Infor’s broader ERP system.

Key features

• Advanced analytics: Access pre-built industry and role-specific content or customize your dashboard for real-time deep insights into data and sales performance
• ERP integration: Connect your CRM with back office integration with multiple ERP systems for better visibility and insights
• Rich contact management: Generate detailed customer profiles based on both internal data from interactions and messages and external sources

Pricing

• Pricing available on request
• Free demo available on request

What users think

G2 rating: 3.2/5

“I love that its a one-stop shop for all customer dealings. I can take customer data and use it to my advantage to increase sales, the analytics are really telling so that I know exactly how to target prospects and keep my sales activity up to date.” — Brenda T.

Supercharge your company growth with monday CRM’s AI and automation

The benefit of choosing an AI-driven platform like monday CRM is that many of your distribution workflows, such as sales procedures, task management, and lead sorting, can be automated for improved efficiency. Not only do monday CRM’s AI and automation tools help you work smarter, but when menial tasks are handled by AI, your sales team can focus on improving customer relationships and closing more sales.

Featuring an intuitive platform, monday CRM puts intelligent work tools in the hands of distribution businesses. The CRM is easy to use but robust enough to handle even the most complex workflows and procedures, whether for inventory management, customer acquisition, or lead procurement. Using monday CRM’s AI Blocks, you can build your own automation to improve any workflow. For example, in just a few clicks on an AI Block, create an automation for when a status changes on a lead’s profile, it’s instantly assigned to a sales rep for quick follow-ups and engagement.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the core monday CRM features that make it a reliable solution for distributors:

AI-powered workflows and automations

• Improve communication with AI-led email composition for individual messages and email campaigns and rephrasing to strike the right tone of voice every time.
• Automatically summarize logged calls with customers so that everyone on your team is on the same page.
• Boost sales and collaboration with AI content generation like tailored guides, meeting notes, product documentation, and more.
• Easily nurture leads by instantly scoring incoming leads and routing them to the right employee.

Customize the platform to your business

• Get 200+ app integrations with inventory management platforms and essential work tools like WooCommerce, Shopify, QuickBooks, and more.
• Work your way by choosing from 27+ different work views including Kanban, Timeline, Calendar, Workload, Lists, and more.
• Manage data by importing contacts and accounts from Excel sheets or APIs and merge duplicate data to constantly keep important detailed relevant.

Track sales and data in one place

• Stay on top of post-sales activities by monitoring client projects, invoices, and collection tracking in a single platform.
• Put your data to work with custom dashboards that use AI to highlight the most important insights in real-time.
• Seamlessly manage your pipeline, log activity, and communicate with clients wherever you are with the monday CRM mobile app.

Not only is monday CRM a powerful platform for distributors, but it also features a user-friendly interface that people love. Users on G2 give monday CRM a 4.6/5 rating and mention that it’s “easy to implement and designed for intensive use” and an “extremely user-friendly CRM system that stands out with its customizability and intuitive interface.”

Getting started with monday CRM is simple, easy, and quick, meaning you can onboard your team in no time. With monday CRM, you can scale the platform to fit your exact requirements while the solution grows alongside your business, supporting your team and operations the entire way.