The Best CRM for Manufacturing Companies in 2024

Manufacturers need customer relationship management (CRM) software to streamline operations, improve customer relationships, and boost sales. The right CRM can help firms bring in new manufacturing business, manage growth, enhance the quality of products, and meet sales targets.

However, choosing a CRM for manufacturing can be a tricky task.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the top ten CRMs for the manufacturing industry, the benefits of using a manufacturing CRM, the key features to consider, and why monday CRM is ideal for manufacturing firms.

What is a CRM for manufacturing?

A CRM (customer relationship management system) for manufacturing is specialized software designed to help companies in the manufacturing sector manage customer relationships, streamline operations, and optimize sales processes. It provides a centralized repository for storing customer information, orders, inventory, and production data, tracking interactions, optimizing sales processes, automating workflows, and driving growth through better relationship management.

The best manufacturing CRM software at a glance

Here’s a quick overview of the top 10 manufacturing CRMs, with their standout features and pricing options.

We’ll cover more details later…

10 benefits of using a manufacturing CRM

Manufacturing companies can improve their overall efficiency and customer relationships and ultimately drive revenue growth using a CRM for manufacturing. Here are the key benefits:

1. Better sales performance

CRM software centralizes all customer information and interactions,  empowering sales teams to work as one cohesive unit. It increases the chances of identifying potential customers, closing new leads and retaining and upselling to existing customers.

2. Improved supply chain visibility

Manufacturing CRMs offer insights into operations, inventory management, order processing, and distribution chains. This helps manage production schedules and raw materials supply more effectively.

3. Increased customer satisfaction and retention

A manufacturing CRM provides a 360-degree view of customer interactions and preferences. This enables personalized communication and engagement and improves customer service satisfaction and loyalty.

4. Enhanced product quality

A CRM for manufacturing helps track and address quality issues more efficiently, ultimately reducing defective products that could harm the brand image.

5. Increased forecasting accuracy

Manufacturing CRMs enable companies to predict future sales and product demand more accurately. This helps optimize production planning and inventory management.

6. Streamlined sales and marketing processes

A manufacturing CRM automates repetitive tasks like data entry, follow-ups, and reporting. This automation allows teams to focus on high-value activities such as marketing strategies, ultimately increasing productivity.

7. Improved data management and analytics

Manufacturing CRM software provides a single source of truth for customer data and offers insights into when and what to sell to specific customers.

8. Enhanced lead and pipeline management

A CRM for manufacturing helps sales teams prioritize leads and automate follow-ups, providing them with better visibility into the sales pipeline.

9. Increased operational efficiency

CRM manufacturing software centralizes data and processes, reduces duplication of efforts, and improves cross-functional collaboration.

10. Enhanced collaboration

Manufacturing CRMs enable data to flow seamlessly between different departments and business systems. This shared access to customer data and tools ensures everyone works toward the same goal.

What features should a CRM for manufacturing have?

Here are the essential features manufacturing companies should look for when choosing their CRM software to support their needs and improve their operations.

• Customization: Allows businesses to adapt the CRM to their specific manufacturing processes and workflows, personalize the user interface, create custom fields, and tailor reports and dashboards without modifying code.
• Industry-specific functionality: Includes manufacturing options like bill of materials (BOMs), SKU management, product configuration, and inventory tracking.
• Workflow automation: Streamlines repetitive tasks and processes based on triggers or events to improve operational efficiency.
• Third-party integrations: Enables connection with other manufacturing software, ERP systems, accounting software, and email platforms.
• Lead and pipeline management: Helps sales teams track, score, assign, and nurture leads through the pipeline.
• Sales forecasting: Uses historical data and current pipeline to create sales forecasts and inform decision-making.
• Order processing: Automates order placement, validation, and processing.
• Supply chain management: Tracks production inputs, automates shipment scheduling, and manages the supply chain.
• Customer service management: Provides a 360-degree customer view, omnichannel communication, and issue tracking to improve customer support.
• Analytics and reporting: Uses customizable dashboards and insights to track KPIs and inform decision-making.
• Document management: Centralizes storage and access to essential files and documents.
• Campaign management: Tools to create, automate, and analyze marketing campaigns.
• Mobile access: Provides iOS and Android apps for accessing key features and customer data on the go.
• Ease of use: An intuitive, user-friendly interface to ensure quick adoption and productivity.

The top 10 manufacturing CRMs for 2024

With so many options available, choosing the best manufacturing CRM software for your business can be challenging. To help narrow the field, here’s a breakdown of the top 10 CRMs for manufacturing companies, their key features, and different pricing options.

1. monday CRM

Best for: Manufacturing companies that need a highly visual, customizable, and intuitive platform

monday CRM for manufacturing is a highly customizable, no-code platform designed to streamline workflows and enhance collaboration within teams. It empowers manufacturers to efficiently manage customer relationships, optimize production schedules, automate sales processes, and drive business growth from a centralized system.

Key features of monday CRM

• Customization: Tailor the platform to your unique pipeline, workflows, and processes. Edit deal stages, add multiple columns, and manage unlimited pipelines and contacts.
• Automation: Streamline any repetitive processes and save valuable time by automatically assigning leads, setting reminders for upcoming activities, and getting notified when a lead opens an email.
• Dashboards: Display important information like production schedules, sales performance, and inventory levels in one centralized location.
• Integration: Manage your entire sales pipeline without switching between different tabs or apps, streamlining workflows and improving efficiency.

monday CRM pricing

• Basic: From $12/user/month
• Standard: From $17/user/month
• Pro: From $28/user/month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing available

More information: monday CRM pricing

2. Zendesk Sell

Best for: Small to medium-sized manufacturing businesses looking for a simple, easy-to-use CRM solution

Zendesk Sell for manufacturing equips companies with essential tools and insights to transition from selling products to delivering added value. It enables sales teams to build strong customer relationships and optimize their sales processes for increased revenue growth with automated communication, lead tracking, and pipeline management.

Key features of Zendesk Sell

• Pipeline management: Track deals in real-time and manage complex, multi-stage sales pipelines
• Email automation: Manage long sales cycles and nurturing leads over extended periods with email tracking, unlimited templates, and automated email sequences.
• Reporting and analytics: Forecast demand, analyze pipeline progression, and make data-driven decisions about production and sales strategies.

Zendesk Sell pricing

• Team: From $19/user/month
• Growth: From $55/user/month
• Professional: From $115/user/month
• Enterprise: From $169/user/month

3. Creatio

Best for: Medium to large-sized manufacturing companies requiring a highly customizable solution

Creatio CRM for manufacturing is a no-code platform designed to streamline operations and enhance customer relationships within the industry. By combining robust CRM capabilities with business process management, Creatio allows manufacturers to automate workflows, customize applications, and gain a comprehensive view of their customers.

Key features of Creatio

• Customization: Automate workflows and CRM processes without coding skills.
• Analytics: Get a 360-degree view of customers, partners, and operations across departments.
• Lead management: Track, capture, and nurture leads in a unified database.

Creatio pricing

• Growth: $25/user/month
• Enterprise: $55/user/month
• Unlimited: $85/user/month

4. Freshsales CRM

Best for: Small to medium-sized manufacturing businesses looking to streamline their operations

Freshsales CRM for manufacturing helps companies streamline operations and enhance customer relationships with customizable workflows, real-time data access, and AI-driven insights. It enables manufacturers to efficiently manage their sales processes and optimize inventory, ultimately driving growth and boosting productivity.

Key features of Freshsales CRM

• Customization: Tailor the CRM to your specific needs with custom fields and manufacturing workflows.
• Pipeline management: Organize multiple pipelines for various product lines or customer segments.
• AI-powered insights: Get actionable insights about inventory, demand forecasting, and customer relationships.

Freshsales CRM pricing

• Free: $0 for up to 3 users
• Growth: From $9/user/month
• Pro: From $39/user/month
• Enterprise: From $59/user/month

More information: FreshSales pricing

5. SugarCRM

Best for: Mid-market manufacturers looking for a flexible CRM solution

SugarCRM for manufacturing enhances customer engagement and streamlines operations using advanced features such as AI-driven insights and seamless ERP connectivity. It empowers manufacturers to optimize their sales processes and maintain a 360-degree view of customer interactions.

Key features of SugarCRM

• Integration: Seamlessly connect with leading ERP manufacturing solutions, like SYSPRO.
• AI-driven insights: Optimize production planning and inventory based on real-time sales forecasts.
• Customization: Tailor the software to your specific needs and processes without extensive coding.

SugarCRM pricing

• Essentials: From $19/user/month
• Standard: From $59/user/month
• Advanced: From $85/user/month
• Premier: From $135/user/month

6. Capsule CRM

Best for: Small to medium-sized manufacturers who need a customizable CRM solution

Capsule CRM for manufacturing integrates sales, marketing, and production teams on a single platform to enhance customer relationships and streamline operational efficiency. It enables manufacturers to manage client interactions, automate workflows, and make data-driven decisions.

Key features of Capsule CRM

• Pipeline management: Customize the sales pipeline stages to align with your unique manufacturing sales processes.
• Integration: Minimize manual data entry by syncing with other software systems seamlessly.
• Automation: Reduce manual work by automating various sales workflows and processes, such as lead capture, lead nurturing, and follow-up actions.

Capsule CRM pricing

• Free: $0 for 2 users and 250 contacts
• Starter: From $18/user/month
• Growth: From $36/user/month
• Advanced: From $54/user/month
• Ultimate: From $72/user/month

7. Pipedrive CRM

Best for: Small to medium-sized manufacturing companies looking for a visual Kanban-style pipeline

Pipedrive CRM for manufacturing enables companies to streamline operations, track deals effectively, and gain valuable insights into their sales performance. It includes features like visual sales pipeline management and robust automation capabilities.

Key features of Pipedrive CRM

• Pipeline management: Visually manage deals as they progress through each sales pipeline stage.
• AI insights: Prioritize leads and predict which deals will likely close.
• Reporting and forecasting: Monitor key metrics and predict future earnings based on current deals and past performance.

Pipedrive CRM pricing

• Essential: From $14/user/month
• Advanced: From $34/user/month
• Professional: From $49/user/month
• Power: From $64/user/month
• Enterprise: From $99/user/month

More information: Pipedrive pricing

8. Nutshell CRM

Best for: Manufacturers looking to store comprehensive customer information

Nutshell CRM for manufacturing enables companies to manage complex sales cycles effectively, improve team communication, and foster strong relationships with clients and prospects. It includes features like customizable pipeline management and powerful automation tools.

Key features of Nutshell CRM

• Contact management: Store and organize comprehensive customer information, including contact details, communication history, and specific interests.
• Pipeline management: Visually manage complex and lengthy sales cycles through various stages.
• Automation: Streamline time-consuming tasks in the manufacturing sales process, like assigning new leads to sales reps and sending reminders.

Nutshell CRM pricing

• Foundation: $16/user/month
• Pro: $42/user/month
• Power AI: $52/user/month
• Enterprise: $67/user/month

9. Insightly CRM

Best for: Manufacturers wanting to integrate project management capabilities with their CRM

Insightly CRM for manufacturing enables firms to efficiently manage customer interactions, optimize sales processes, and make data-driven decisions to drive growth and improve customer satisfaction.

Key features of Insightly CRM

• Customization: Create custom fields and workflows tailored to your specific processes.
• Lead management: Capture, track, and nurture leads throughout the sales process.
• Reporting and analytics: Gain data-driven insights into your sales pipeline, customer behavior, and business performance.

Insightly CRM pricing

• Plus: From $29/user/month
• Professional: From $49/user/month
• Enterprise: From $99/user/month

10. HubSpot CRM

Best for: Manufacturing companies wanting to integrate marketing, sales, and customer service functions into a single platform

HubSpot CRM for manufacturing integrates sales, marketing, and customer service processes into one comprehensive platform. It enables companies to centralize customer data, automate sales processes, and improve team collaboration, ultimately driving growth and streamlining operations.

Key features of HubSpot CRM

• Marketing automation: Create and execute targeted marketing campaigns based on customer data, behavior, and preferences.
• Sales automation: Streamline sales processes for tracking leads, automating follow-ups, and prioritizing high-value leads.
• Integration: Seamlessly integrates with marketing and service features for a unified approach across different departments.

HubSpot CRM pricing

• Free: $0
• Sales Hub Starter: From $15/user/month
• Sales Hub Professional: From $90/user/month
• Sales Hub Enterprise: From $150/user/month

More information: HubSpot pricing

How can a manufacturing CRM improve your supply chain?

A manufacturing CRM can help create a more agile, efficient, and responsive supply chain, ultimately improving customer satisfaction and business performance.

Enhanced visibility and communication

CRM systems provide a centralized platform with real-time information on inventory levels, order status, and production schedules. All stakeholders in the supply chain can access and share the information, reducing miscommunication and errors.

Optimized inventory management

By analyzing customer data and order history, CRMs provide more accurate demand forecasting. They can also trigger automatic reordering processes or alert managers when stock levels are low. These better inventory insights help minimize excess stock, prevent stockouts, and reduce waste.

Streamlined order processing

Manufacturing CRMs automate and streamline the order processing workflow, from placement to invoicing, reducing manual errors and increasing accuracy. Plus, an ERP integration ensures order details are accurately captured and fulfilled.

Enhanced logistics

Manufacturing CRMs offer real-time shipment status tracking and product location throughout the supply chain. And with better forecasting tools, manufacturers can quickly adapt their logistics strategies to market changes.

Improved customer relationships

Manufacturing CRMs provide access to comprehensive customer data, which allows organizations to tailor interactions and offerings. They also help identify and resolve potential supply chain issues before they escalate.

Increased efficiency and productivity

By automating routine tasks, manufacturing CRMs free up time for more strategic activities. Teams can make more informed business decisions by analyzing the consolidated data.

Streamline your manufacturing processes with monday CRM

Built on the robust monday.com Work OS, monday CRM enables companies to manage their manufacturing operations from start to finish. With all information centralized in one place, an intuitive interface combined with automations and AI, powerful integrations, and custom dashboards, companies have total visibility and control to grow their business.

Customization

Workspaces in monday CRM come loaded with flexible templates that you can tailor to match or enhance your manufacturing processes without needing developers or technical help. Edit boards to show products or services offered, a record of orders, distributor details, and more. Plan nurture journeys and manage as many sales pipelines as you want.

Intuitive interface

The drag-and-drop functionality and visual boards make it easy to create workflows, gain insights, and get things done. See all the details you need to manage production schedules and inventory levels. Build your CRM with one of the pre-made templates or easily start from scratch.

Automation

Automations on monday CRM help minimize manual efforts, reduce errors, and ensure timely actions. Spend more time working with clients instead of repetitive processes that slow you down. Use our automatic reminders to effortlessly gather prospects’ details, auto-assign leads to sales reps, get notified when deals close, send reminder emails, and whatever else you need.

Integrations

With monday CRM, you can connect with other apps and business software you already use without needing to switch tabs. Choose from Slack, Gmail, DocuSign, Zapier, and ERP systems like Microsoft Dynamics and SAP. Once you set up your integrations, create custom automation recipes in seconds to streamline your operations.

Dashboards

Gain immediate insights into your sales pipeline status, sales forecasting, activity status, quality progress, supply chains, and team performance with code-free, customizable dashboards. Run reports from high-level sales funnel overviews to granular details and get accurate forecasts and projections.

Try monday CRM