Sustainability in SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) refers to the ability to maintain business processes over time. Within this framework, the three pillars encompass economic, environmental, and social factors. It’s essential for companies to prevent the exhaustion of natural or physical resources, thus ensuring their preservation for the long term. This blog will introduce a more efficient approach to sustainability – adopting CRM (Customer Relationship Management) applications.
Benefits of Business Sustainability for SMEs
- Cost Savings: Sustainable practices often lead to reduced resource consumption, energy usage, and waste generation. These efficiencies translate into cost savings for SMEs, which can have a direct positive impact on the bottom line.
- Competitive Advantage: Incorporating sustainability into business practices can set SMEs apart from their competitors. It can be a unique selling point that appeals to environmentally conscious customers and helps SMEs differentiate themselves in the market.
- Regulatory Compliance: Only 31,8% of companies in Vietnam know regulations and environmental standards that businesses must adhere to. By adopting sustainable practices, SMEs can ensure compliance with these regulations and avoid potential fines or legal issues.
- Brand Reputation: A positive reputation for sustainability can enhance the brand image of SMEs, leading to increased customer loyalty, positive word-of-mouth, and enhanced market credibility.
- Globalizing Readiness: As sustainability is a world-trending process, it enhances local businesses’ reputation and competitive advantages in international markets. Additionally, it ensures compliance, mitigates risks, and fosters community engagement, all of which contribute to a smoother and more successful global expansion.
The development of your company and community goes hand in hand, SMEs can definitely align your business success with good social and environmental impact.
How to improve sustainability by using CRM apps?
CRM apps can play a significant role in improving sustainability within a company by facilitating better customer engagement, streamlined processes, data analysis, and informed decision-making. Here’s how CRM apps can contribute to sustainability:
- Optimizing resource allocation by understanding customer preferences, and reducing waste and energy use.
- Personalized communication targets products to customers, minimizing marketing materials and environmental impact.
- Reducing paper consumption and waste by enabling digital record-keeping and communication.
- Enhancing supply chain efficiency, reducing excess inventory and transportation costs for sustainability.
- Data-driven insights from CRM apps guide informed decisions in product development, inventory, and marketing for sustainability.
- Enabling remote collaboration, lowering carbon emissions and commuting needs.
- Enhancing operational efficiency, conserving energy and resources by Automated processes.
- Minimizing repeated customer inquiries, and reducing energy use in customer service.
- Tracking product lifecycles, identifying sustainability improvements like eco-friendly materials and recycling.
- Gathering customer feedback, driving continuous sustainability improvement.
- Fostering long-term customer relationships, promoting sustainability over constant acquisition.
- Building an environmentally conscious brand image by communicating sustainable practices.
Who are using CRM apps?
Nothing serves as a more convincing validation than real-life case studies. Among the list of the 100 most sustainable companies for 2022, published by Canadian research firm Corporate Knights, successful businesses harnessing CRM apps stand out. One such example is Vesta Wind System, which has embraced Salesforce CRM since 2020. Svend Ottesen, Vestas’ Chief Project Manager, affirmed, “We sought out the global leader to provide digitally enabled solutions on a unified platform and to steer our work methodology, departing from outdated practices.” Similarly, at CHR Hansen, CRM emerges as the most potent approach for navigating rapid sales dynamics in the Healthcare sector, aligning seamlessly with their needs.
When it comes to Vietnam, you will see top companies in the list of 100 sustainably developing companies using CRM. For example Vinamilk, Nestlé, PNJ, MB Bank, Techcombank, etc.
What CRM app is suitable for your business?
Get in touch with us today to begin your journey towards enhanced business efficiency. Our CRM consultants are ready to provide you with expert guidance during your initial consultancy!
