Reading time: 2 minutes

CRM for the manufacturing industry 

For manufacturing companies, CRM is not just a sales tool but a platform that supports the entire chain. A tight sales pipeline is essential because customer loyalty is not a given. 

Why CRM is important for manufacturing companies 

The manufacturing industry operates within a complex chain of suppliers and distributors. Customers expect customization, fast delivery times, and perfect service. Without a central system, information gets lost between spreadsheets, emails, and Excel. CRM therefore becomes the heart of your operation: 

  • From quote to delivery: A quote is approved in CRM and immediately forwarded to the ERP system, which controls production. This prevents miscommunication and ensures you can guarantee delivery times. 
  • Maintenance and service: It only begins after delivery. Manufacturing companies often sell maintenance contracts or after-sales services. Asset management in Aurea CRM tracks which machines are with which customers and when maintenance is needed. 
  • Traceability and Quality: By logging all customer contacts and project documents, you meet certification requirements and can quickly trace quality issues. 

Unique needs of the manufacturing industry 

  • Material Integration: Our Leolux case shows how CRM information is directly sent to the ERP system, so that production orders are automatically generated. 
  • Offline access: For our client Rijk Zwaan, offline access is indispensable because employees often work in areas with unstable internet connections; Aurea CRM offers robust offline capabilities. 
  • 360° Customer View: Manufacturing companies need an overview of installations, service contracts, and customer contacts. The blueprint for growth offers asset management, allowing companies to know which machines are with which customer. 

Opportunities 

  • Process Optimization: Automatically converting quotes to production orders saves time and prevents errors. 
  • Preventive maintenance: With asset management, you can link maintenance intervals to customers and thus prevent downtime. 
  • Adoption & Training: Pay attention to user adoption; employees must understand how the CRM adds value. 

When does it not fit? 

  • When your sales and service teams are growing, if quotes are often lost, or if your production and service are still in separate systems. 
  • Not: Do you only have a handful of clients and are your processes simple? Then a lightweight solution like a contact manager might be sufficient. A BlueScan helps you determine this. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is CRM only for sales?

No. In manufacturing, CRM is linked to ERP for production planning, service contracts, and asset management. 

Golden CRM has offline capabilities so employees can work even in areas without a stable connection. 

Offer management, asset management, and service contracts are essential. With these, you manage the complete product lifecycle. 

That depends on the number of processes and integrations. A basic setup with a blueprint can go live within a few weeks; an extensive integration with ERP and services takes a few months. 

Why CRM is shifting from sales administration to a complete customer view.