The Best CRM SaaS Software Of 2024

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Bogged down by complex data or communication gaps? CRM SaaS software can make handling customer data seem like a piece of cake. They offer features like lead management and pipelines, the creamy frosting that makes sales reps’ lives easier. And you don’t have to worry about maintenance or updates as vendors have it taken care of — the cherry on top!

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  Product Analyst ScoreAwardsUser Sentiment ScoreStart PriceFree TrialCompany SizeDeployment
Pipeliner CRM 88 Best Overall

93%

Excellent
$65
Per User. Monthly
Yes
Small
Medium
Large
Cloud
On-Premise
Salesforce Sales Cloud 87 Best for Team Collaboration

88%

Great
$25
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small
Medium
Large
Cloud
On-Premise
HubSpot Sales 83 None

88%

Great
$15
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small
Medium
Large
Cloud
On-Premise
Dynamics 365 Sales 81 Best for Communication Channels

83%

Great
$65
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small
Medium
Large
Cloud
On-Premise
SAP Sales Cloud 79 Best for Quotes, Orders, and Contracts Management

83%

Great
$134
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small
Medium
Large
Cloud
On-Premise

SaaS CRM systems help manage customers anywhere, on any device, making them a valuable investment. They’re hosted externally by software providers, and you can access the solution from a web browser without having to install it. Compared to on-site systems that need a full-time IT team, your CRM SaaS software’s health is your vendor’s responsibility, helping you save money and resources.

Best CRM SaaS Software

While there’s no one-size-fits-all SaaS CRM software, the following top-rated solutions offer a wide range of robust capabilities. Check out our analysts’ picks below.

Pipeliner: Best Overall

Best Overall, Best for Opportunity Management
Learn More & Reviews
Starting Price
$65
Company Size
Small, Medium, Large
Deployment
Cloud
  • Overview
  • Benefits
  • Key Features
  • Limitations
  • Researcher’s Summary
  • Pros & Cons

Pipeliner CRM is a visually oriented customer relationship management solution that stands out for its intuitive interface and feature set. The platform excels in customization, allowing businesses to tailor the CRM to their specific needs without requiring extensive technical knowledge.

Key features include reporting tools, mobile functionality through native iOS and Android apps, and team collaboration capabilities. Pipeliner is well-suited for small to large-sized businesses and sales teams that value visual data representation and ease of use. It can accommodate various industries and use cases, from basic sales tracking to complex, multi-stage sales processes.

User reviews highlight Pipeliner's visual pipeline management as a major strength. Many appreciate the minimal training required to get started with the platform. However, some users have noted challenges with integrations and expressed concerns about pricing relative to available features.

It offers four pricing tiers, ranging from $65 to $150 per user per month when billed annually. The Starter plan, suitable for small teams, requires a minimum of three users. The Enterprise plan at $115 per user per month is the most popular option, offering advanced reporting and customization features.

  • Market Leader: According to our research, Pipeliner CRM stands out as the top solution, outperforming competitors like Zoho and Salesforce. With an impressive analyst rating of 88 and a user satisfaction rating of 94%, it delivers functionalities that serve diverse business needs.
  • Enhance Team Collaboration: Our analysts ranked Pipeliner CRM as the top choice for team collaboration. It promotes seamless communication between marketing, sales and operations. The “Feeds” feature acts as a shared workspace, providing a complete history of communications for teams.
  • Boost Client Communication: Pipeliner CRM scored 100 in our analysis for its text messaging capabilities. You can reach contacts individually or in bulk and create custom "Feeds Profiles" to display only text messages.
  • Optimize Partner Management: Pipeliner received a perfect 100 for its partner scorecard tool in our analysis. You can assess partner performance, identify improvement areas and measure contributions using customizable scorecards.
  • Simplify Contract Lifecycle: You can create contracts manually or automatically based on orders and effortlessly track contract details and amendment history. This improves visibility into contractual obligations over time.
  • Lead Tracking and Prioritization: Pipeliner CRM excels in tracking sales leads using pipelines, helping you identify which clients to prioritize. This feature provides a clear visual representation of the sales process.
  • Automation: The platform helps ensure timely follow-ups and simplify repetitive tasks. This helps your sales teams maintain consistent communication without the risk of overlooking important touchpoints.
  • Voice Caller Integration: You can initiate calls directly from the Pipeliner cloud web application. The calling widget displays the dialed number and reminds users of their outgoing number, improving call management.
  • Custom Reports: Pipeliner CRM scored a perfect 100 for its reporting facility. There are three main types of reports: Standard Table, Pivot Table and Advanced Table. Each type offers data analysis and visualization, with options to embed charts on dashboards.
  • Opportunity Creation and Pipeline Management: The platform enables easy creation and tracking of opportunities using a pipeline view. It allows you to move opportunities through sales stages, with optional or mandatory tasks and activities for each stage.
  • While Pipeliner CRM offers customization options, it cannot create fully custom apps within the platform.
  • It doesn't support the creation of hierarchical campaign structures, preventing users from effectively linking related campaigns or organizing multi-tiered marketing initiatives.
  • Users might face challenges when connecting the CRM with other business tools or systems due to limited integration options.

Through our thorough analysis and tests, we've found Pipeliner CRM to be a reliable and user-friendly solution that stands out in several key areas. Its visual approach to pipeline management makes it easy to track and manage sales opportunities at a glance. We were particularly impressed by how intuitive the interface is — you can get up and running quickly without extensive training.

Pipeliner's customization capabilities let you tailor fields, create custom modules or design specific workflows, adapting to your business needs effortlessly. The mobile apps for iOS and Android are also noteworthy, offering full functionality on the go.

Pipeliner excels in promoting team collaboration, with features like the “Feeds” that keep everyone on the same page. The reporting tools are comprehensive, allowing for detailed insights into your sales processes.

However, it's worth noting that some users have reported challenges with integrations. While Pipeliner likely offers integration options, they may not be as extensive as some other CRMs in the market, like Zoho, Salesforce or Hubspot. Additionally, a few users felt the pricing was on the higher side for the features offered.

All around, Pipeliner CRM is well-suited for organizations that value a clear, visual representation of their sales pipeline and need a system that can grow and adapt to their business. While it offers many advantages, potential users should consider their specific integration needs and budget constraints when evaluating the software.

Pros
  • Visual Pipeline Management: Users appreciated Pipeliner's visual pipeline feature, which provides a clear overview of all critical data points.
  • Ease of Use: The platform is user-friendly and requires minimal training to get started.
  • Customizable Features: Pipeliner offers extensive customization options, allowing users to mold the software to their exact needs and easily adjust as their business evolves.
Cons
  • Limited Integrations: Users mentioned challenges with integrating Pipeliner with other business apps.
  • Pricing: Some users expressed concerns about the pricing, saying they expected more features for the price point.

Platform Analysis

Highest Rated Modules Features Not Supported
Workflows and Process Automation 100 AI-based Anomaly Detector Not Supported
Accounts and Contacts Management 100 Case Management Supported with Partner Integrations
Opportunities Management 100 Custom Apps Not Supported
Product Management 100 Invoice Creation Supported with Partner Integrations
Sales Performance Management 100 Order Generation Supported with Partner Integrations
Pipeliner sales target dashboard with progress and revenue chart

Targets dashboard on Pipeliner.

Salesforce Sales Cloud

Starting Price
$25
Company Size
Small, Medium, Large
Deployment
Cloud
  • Overview
  • Benefits
  • Key Features
  • Limitations
  • Researcher’s Summary
  • Pros & Cons

Salesforce Sales Cloud is a customer relationship management (CRM) solution designed to help businesses of all sizes manage their sales processes more effectively. It offers a range of features to simplify lead management and boost sales.

Key benefits include AI-powered lead scoring, customizable dashboards, reporting tools and mobile access for on-the-go sales teams. Sales Cloud stands out for its scalability, making it suitable for businesses ranging from small startups to large enterprises. 

Users appreciate Sales Cloud for its user-friendly interface and extensive customization options. Many find Einstein’s AI capabilities to be game-changing for their sales strategies. However, some users note that there can be a steep learning curve for advanced features, and costs can add up quickly with additional modules and user licenses.

Its pricing starts at $25 per user per month for the Starter plan, suitable for small teams. More advanced plans range from $100 to $500 per user per month, offering more refined features. While not the cheapest option on the market, Salesforce can be a worthwhile investment for its comprehensive toolset and scalability Salesforce provides.

Salesforce Sales Cloud is a good choice for businesses looking for a flexible solution, provided they're able to handle the potential complexity and cost associated with a top-tier CRM platform.

  • Get Industry-Leading Expertise: Salesforce Sales Cloud, with an analyst rating of 87, ranks third on our list of best CRMs. It’s highly adaptable to diverse business needs and displays strong user satisfaction across different industries and company sizes.
  • Detect Anomalies With AI: With a score of 100 from our analysts for its AI-based anomaly detector, Sales Cloud’s Einstein Analytics identifies unusual patterns in customer data, compares observed values to predictions and sends real-time alerts on detecting anomalies.
  • Manage Cases Through Automated Routing: You can create, assign and track customer requests easily, while support agents can use tailored features like custom list views, custom Lightning pages and quick action buttons to resolve issues faster.
  • Build Custom Apps To Fit Your Needs: Sales Cloud scored a 100 in our analysis for its highly customizable apps. You can build and share apps with your own branding, incorporating standard and custom objects, validation rules and calculated fields.
  • Integrate With Content Management Systems: You can connect Salesforce Sales Cloud with platforms like WordPress and Drupal to streamline your content and CRM processes without needing a third-party integration.
  • Sales Forecasting: You can build accurate sales projections and custom forecast types based on various data points, measures and dates to get a clear picture of your future sales performance.
  • Lead Management: With Sales Cloud, it’s easy to capture leads, manage campaigns and convert opportunities into sales. You can create forms on your website, use LinkedIn ads or have AI chatbots talk to potential customers.
    • AI-based Lead Conversion: The Einstein Lead Scoring tool analyzes past conversion patterns to predict which current leads are most likely to convert, helping you prioritize the most promising prospects.
  • AI-based Lead Conversion: The Einstein Lead Scoring tool analyzes past conversion patterns to predict which current leads are most likely to convert, helping you prioritize the most promising prospects.
  • Integration Capabilities: Connect Salesforce with your favorite tools and platforms. A wide range of plugins is available, enabling you to create a smooth workflow across all your applications.
  • Reporting and Analytics: While the reporting system is user-friendly, quick and can generate real-time reports, it also offers flexibility for more advanced users who want to customize their reports. You can also create reports for territories and collaborative forecasts.
  • Salesforce Sales Cloud lacks built-in partner scorecard functionality. Users can't assess channel partners' activities, contributions or areas for improvement without additional tools or integrations.
  • It requires third-party integrations for event tracking, messaging platform integration and eCommerce platform integration.
  • It doesn't support native webhook configuration. Users can't set up automated notifications to third-party apps based on specific business rules within the CRM system.

Based on our research and user feedback, Salesforce Sales Cloud turned out to be a powerful and flexible CRM solution, capable of accommodating businesses of any size.

Its AI-powered features, especially Einstein, truly set it apart. This tool provides predictive analytics, lead scoring, opportunity scoring and sentiment analysis to improve sales efficiency.

We found the mobile app to be feature-rich, offering full functionality for sales teams on the move, including forecasting and account management.

Yet, some users reported a learning curve for advanced features. While the basic functionalities are user-friendly, leveraging the full potential of Sales Cloud may require proper training. Additionally, smaller organizations might find the pricing structure challenging, as costs can accumulate quickly with add-ons and advanced features.

Integration capabilities are generally strong, but we observed that some key functionalities, such as event tracking and eCommerce integrations, rely on third-party providers. This could add complexity and cost for businesses requiring these features.

Overall, Salesforce Sales Cloud is well-suited for organizations seeking a reliable, AI-enhanced CRM with extensive customization options and analytical capabilities. It's particularly valuable for businesses expecting growth, as the platform can scale effectively. However, potential users should carefully consider their budget, required features and available resources for implementation and management when assessing this CRM.

Pros
  • Easy To Use: Many users report that Salesforce has a user-friendly and intuitive interface, making it accessible to both beginners and experienced users.
  • Good Vendor Support: Salesforce offers quality support. Users often mention that the company treats them more like partners than just customers.
  • Highly Customizable: Developers find that the level of customization provided by Sales Cloud helps them extend Salesforce's features effectively.
  • Scalability: Salesforce is suitable for companies of all sizes. It's a long-term solution that can adapt to evolving organizational needs.
Cons
  • Learning Curve: While the interface is user-friendly, users need proper training to use Salesforce efficiently, especially for more advanced features.
  • Cost: Several users, particularly from smaller organizations, point out that the overall price can be a concern for businesses with limited budgets.
  • Resource Intensive: While Salesforce can do almost anything, it often requires a dedicated team and skilled resources to manage it effectively.

Platform Analysis

Highest Rated Modules Features Not Supported
Dashboards and Reports 100 Partner Scorecard Not Supported
Product Management 100 Webhooks Not Supported
Team Collaboration 100 Messaging Platform Integration Supported With Integrations
Opportunity Management 97 eCommerce Platform Integration Supported With Integrations
Account and Contact Management 96 Card Scanner Supported With Integrations
Salesforce Lightning Sales Executive Dashboard with performance metrics and charts

A sales rep dashboard can help salespeople keep track of their activities. Source

HubSpot Sales: Best for Integrations & Extensibility

Best for Documents Management, Leads Management
Learn More & Reviews
Starting Price
$15
Company Size
Small, Medium, Large
Deployment
Cloud
  • Overview
  • Benefits
  • Key Features
  • Limitations
  • Researcher’s Summary
  • Pros & Cons

HubSpot Sales Hub is an all-around CRM solution that delivers numerous features, including contact management, email tracking, meeting scheduling and pipeline management. Its automation capabilities help sales teams focus on high-value activities.

Key aspects include lead scoring, email communication, custom reports, and integration with HubSpot's marketing and service hubs. Recent updates have introduced AI-powered tools for more efficient sales forecasting and lead scoring.

It’s particularly beneficial for small to medium-sized businesses, though it scales well for larger enterprises. HubSpot Sales Hub offers tiered pricing to suit different business needs. The Starter plan begins at $20 per month, while Professional and Enterprise plans offer more advanced features at higher price points. A free version with basic CRM functionality is also available.

Users praise HubSpot Sales Hub for its user-friendly interface and integration capabilities. However, some find the learning curve steep for advanced features and mention that customization options can be limited in lower-tier plans.

  • Improve Client Interactions: HubSpot Sales offers features like caller identification to display contact details for incoming calls, the ability to upload and store recorded voicemail messages, and the option to record calls with prospects to capture their requirements and preferences.
  • Tailor Your Workflow with Custom Apps: In our assessment, HubSpot scored a perfect 100 for its custom app capabilities. It lets you easily build tailored applications, configure validation rules, add custom objects and define calculated fields.
  • Organize and Manage Events Effortlessly: It provides event tracking to create detailed event records, manage participant registrations and automate the distribution of invitations, confirmations and follow-up communications.
  • Generate Invoices Easily: HubSpot Sales earned a score of 100 in our rankings for simplifying invoice creation. It offers standard templates and the ability to generate invoices directly from contact, company, opportunity or quote records within the system.
  • Connect All Your Tools in One Place: In our analysis, HubSpot ranked the best for integrations and extensibility. You can seamlessly connect with popular content management systems (like WordPress and Squarespace), messaging platforms (like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger), and business intelligence tools (like Microsoft Power BI and Tableau).
  • Lead Scoring: You can evaluate and score leads based on demographic data and prospect actions, helping prioritize those most likely to convert.
    • Lead Deduplication: The system can automatically identify and merge duplicate leads or contacts within the CRM by comparing various identifiers such as names, email addresses, domain names and phone numbers.
    • Lead Distribution: Set up custom workflow rules to automatically assign leads to salespeople or teams based on criteria, such as geographic location, industry, product interest, department, lead source and even budget size.
  • Lead Deduplication: The system can automatically identify and merge duplicate leads or contacts within the CRM by comparing various identifiers such as names, email addresses, domain names and phone numbers.
  • Lead Distribution: Set up custom workflow rules to automatically assign leads to salespeople or teams based on criteria, such as geographic location, industry, product interest, department, lead source and even budget size.
  • Custom Reports: You can create tailored reports by extracting data from multiple areas of the CRM platform, meeting unique business requirements.
    • Pre-Built Reports: Access pre-built report templates for quick insights into sales performance and milestones, with options for saved searches and filters.
    • Report Scheduling and Exporting: Export reports in PDF, XLS or CSV formats or schedule them for recurring email delivery.
  • Pre-Built Reports: Access pre-built report templates for quick insights into sales performance and milestones, with options for saved searches and filters.
  • HubSpot Sales Hub has limited flexibility for creating and implementing custom modules to capture and monitor unique data sets.
  • The mobile app doesn’t allow you to view existing records or create new ones without an active internet connection.

After getting our hands on HubSpot Sales Hub, we found it extremely easy to use, thanks to the helpful guides and support materials. We believe the Sales Hub is the best part of HubSpot overall.


One big plus is how much you can automate with HubSpot. Setting up automatic emails, follow-ups and task updates is effortless, saving significant time compared to manual processes.


Another benefit is that HubSpot has everything in one place. You don't need to add a bunch of other tools or plugins to make it work well.


However, there are some downsides. The main one is the cost. While HubSpot offers a free version that many find useful, it can get expensive quickly if you need more advanced features. We found that it can end up costing more than similar tools when you add all the extras you need.


Another consideration is that while HubSpot has most of the features you'd want in a sales tool, some common ones are only available in the more expensive plans. This can be challenging for small businesses.


Overall, HubSpot Sales Hub offers significant advantages for medium to large enterprises. We advise you to think carefully about what features you need and how much you're willing to spend before committing.

Pros
  • Ease of Use: Users praised the platform's straightforward navigation and user-friendly features.
  • Customer Support: Reviewers appreciated the prompt and helpful assistance available when issues arise.
  • Learning Resources: An active community and extensive support materials, including tutorials, guides and forums, aid users in mastering the platform.
  • Team Collaboration: Sales Hub promotes seamless communication and information sharing among team members with its collaborative features.
Cons
  • Cost: Many users found HubSpot Sales Hub's pricing structure challenging, especially for smaller businesses. The need for paid add-ons to access certain features can increase overall costs.
  • Initial Setup: Despite its user-friendly interface, the initial setup process can be complex.
  • Forecasting: Some users mentioned that the forecasting feature could be more advanced or customizable.

Platform Analysis

Highest Rated Modules Features Not Supported
Dashboards and Reports 100 AI-Based Sales Recommendation Not Supported
Product Management 100 GeoTagging Supported With Integrations
Integrations and Extensibility 100 Territory Hierarchy Not Supported
Communication Channels 96 Marketing Development Funds Not Supported
Account and Contact Management 95 Contract Creation Supported With Integrations
HubSpot contact profile with email follow-up activity log

Contacts tab on HubSpot Sales. Source

Dynamics 365 for Sales: Best for Communication Channels

Best for Workflows and Process Automation
Learn More & Reviews
Starting Price
$65
Company Size
Medium, Large
Deployment
Cloud, On-Premise
  • Overview
  • Benefits
  • Key Features
  • Limitations
  • Researcher’s Summary
  • Pros & Cons
Dynamics 365 Sales streamlines customer relationship management (CRM) for businesses, automating tasks and centralizing data to empower sales teams. Tailored for mid-sized to large organizations, it excels in managing complex sales pipelines, forecasting revenue, and generating reports. Key benefits include increased productivity, improved lead conversion rates, and enhanced customer insights. Popular features include contact management, opportunity tracking, marketing automation, and real-time analytics. User reviews praise its flexibility, scalability, and seamless integration with Microsoft's suite of productivity tools. However, the learning curve can be steeper compared to simpler CRM solutions, and pricing scales with user licenses and functionality, potentially reaching enterprise-level costs.

Pros
  • Extensive features
  • Powerful customization
  • Seamless Microsoft integration
  • Robust reporting tools
  • Mobile accessibility
Cons
  • Steeper learning curve
  • Potentially high costs
  • Complex setup process
  • Occasional performance issues
  • Limited customization for some features
  • Efficient Contact Management: Track contacts and visualize relationships using interactive organization charts. Build a hierarchy for existing accounts or use it as a starting point for adding contacts to a new account. Easy access to a LinkedIn Sales Navigator widget ensures contacts are kept up to date. 
  • Significant Sales Insights: Receive tailored and actionable insights by monitoring daily actions and communications, using a collection of action cards. Get reminders for upcoming activities, email messages, about-to-expire opportunities and inactive contacts or accounts. 
  • AI-Driven Insights: Ensure personalized customer experiences with a 360-degree view, maximize customer lifetime value and make informed business decisions using AI-driven insights. Automates workflows, unifies data by resolving customer identities using AI and machine learning-based recommendations, and helps discover new audience segments. 
  • Improved Relationships: Get recommendations on how to move sales forward based on customer interaction data, profiles and insights, and ways to secure a warm introduction. Personalize sales documents using embedded Office 365 tools and improve sales engagement by combining customer data with survey insights from Microsoft Forms Pro. 
  • Real-Time Prescriptive Insights: Sales reps can react to risks and opportunities promptly using real-time insights with adaptive AI that senses changes in buyer needs and trends. Email engagement, a mobile assistant, predictive forecasting and relationship health scores provide actionable insights about customer and prospect relationships. 
  • Lead Management: Reps can connect with customers, create and define leads, and work with business process flows to manage them throughout their lifecycle. It also provides information about qualifying and disqualifying the leads. 
  • Opportunity Management: Create, use and manage opportunities to convert more leads. Shows options for creating opportunities and their relationships with other records. 
  • Interactive Dashboards: Get an overview of actionable business data, collected from views, lists and charts, viewable across the organization. Available in multi-stream and single stream format, catering to different levels of complexity and number of data sources. Offers global and timeframe filters, along with interactive charts to provide relevant records count, such as cases by priority or by status. 
  • Sales Playbook: Guides team members on how to respond to events when a decision-maker of an ongoing deal leaves an organization. Provides repeatable, winning sales techniques, and contextual reference materials. 
  • Power Apps: Generate, customize, share and run mobile apps with little or no code. Apps can be shared with the other users in the organization. 
  •  Needs to incentivize more external platforms to build app connectors for easy integration, such as ZenDesk, Slack, Tableau and more.  
  •  Current connector apps such as Mailchimp and DocuSign don’t work as expected. 
  •  Multiple windows and tabs may confuse new users. 
User reviews of Dynamics 365 Sales paint a picture of a powerful CRM with potential drawbacks. Fans praise its comprehensive features, from in-depth sales pipeline management to robust analytics. The seamless integration with other Microsoft products like Teams and Office 365 is a major draw for organizations already invested in the ecosystem. This unified experience boosts productivity and simplifies workflows, especially for sales teams accustomed to Microsoft tools. However, the complexity of Dynamics 365 Sales also presents a hurdle. The learning curve can be steep for new users, and some features lack the flexibility for deep customization compared to competitors like Salesforce. Additionally, the price tag scales with user licenses and features, potentially making it cost-prohibitive for smaller businesses or those with simpler sales needs. Ultimately, user reviews suggest Dynamics 365 Sales shines for mid-sized to larger organizations with complex sales pipelines and a commitment to the Microsoft ecosystem. Its strengths in data analysis, reporting, and integration outweigh the learning curve and cost concerns for many users. However, those seeking a more user-friendly or budget-friendly option may find alternative CRMs more suitable.
Pros
  • Streamlined Workflow: Intuitive interface and automation features save time and effort, boosting productivity.
  • Forecast Accuracy: Powerful analytics and reporting tools provide clear insights into pipeline health and sales performance.
  • 360° Customer View: Centralized data and comprehensive customer profiles enable personalized interactions and stronger relationships.
  • Unified Ecosystem: Integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft tools like Outlook and Teams, streamlining workflows and boosting efficiency.
  • Adaptable to Growth: Scales to meet the needs of growing businesses and allows for customization to fit specific workflows.
Cons
  • Learning Curve: Initial setup and user adoption can require significant training and support.
  • Costly for Large Deployments: Pricing scales with user licenses and features, potentially reaching enterprise-level costs for extensive use.
  • Performance Glitches: Users report occasional lag or bugs, especially with large datasets or complex configurations.
  • Customization Constraints: Some features offer less flexibility for customization compared to other CRM solutions.
  • Data Migration Challenges: Migrating data from existing systems can be complex and require technical expertise.

Platform Analysis

Highest Rated Modules Features Not Supported
Account and Contact Management 95 File Version History Not Supported
Email Communication 100 Geotagging Not Supported
Dashboards and Reports 100 AI-based Anomaly Detector Supported with Additional Modules
Lead Management 100 Case Management Supported with Additional Modules
Opportunity Management 100 Event Tracking Supported with Partner Integrations
Dynamics 365 sales dashboard with performance metrics and charts

Business performance analysis in Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales. Source

SAP Sales Cloud

Best for Team Collaboration, Training
Learn More & Reviews
Starting Price
$134
Company Size
Small, Medium, Large
Deployment
Cloud
  • Overview
  • Benefits
  • Key Features
  • Limitations
  • Researcher’s Summary
  • Pros & Cons

SAP Sales Cloud is a sales automation platform that combines analytics, AI-driven insights and extensive lead management capabilities to simplify your sales operations. Whether you're generating quotes, managing contracts or forecasting sales, it offers end-to-end functionality to support your entire sales cycle.

Best suited for medium to large enterprises, particularly those already using other SAP products, this CRM solution works well for organizations with complex sales processes and substantial customer data. While it offers solid features for sales teams of all sizes, it's especially valuable for businesses that prioritize data-driven decision-making.

Users like the platform's strong analytical tools, 360-degree customer views and process automation features. However, some note that the learning curve can be steep and smaller organizations might find the implementation process challenging without technical expertise. The platform occasionally faces performance issues, and integration with non-SAP systems often requires additional resources.

SAP Sales Cloud requires a significant investment, starting at $134 per user monthly, with additional costs for implementation and customization. The initial setup might require technical support or consulting services.

Our Research Process for SAP Sales Cloud

Trying to understand SAP Sales Cloud was a bit of an adventure! While I started with the free trial, I quickly realized the basic plan wouldn't show me the full picture. So, I rolled up my sleeves and dug deeper. I spent time watching demos and tutorials to understand the advanced features. However, the real insights came from my conversations with SAP consultants and people who use the platform daily. Their firsthand experiences were eye-opening.

To get an even broader perspective, I probed into user reviews on G2 and studied various case studies from SAP. I also relied heavily on SelectHub's detailed analyst reports to verify my findings. And yes, I even tested their Android app to see how it performed. This combination of hands-on testing, expert interviews and extensive research helped me get a complete idea of what SAP Sales Cloud really offers.

  • Streamline Contract Management: SAP Sales Cloud is ranked best for Quotes, Orders and Contracts Management by SelectHub’s analysts with a score of 98 —  higher than its top competitors like Zoho CRM, Salesforce Sales Cloud and HubSpot Sales. You can convert opportunities and quotes into contracts with a single click and generate professional quotes instantly by selecting from predefined document types and product catalogs. The CRM automatically populates contract fields from templates and existing data while maintaining full visibility of critical details like service level agreements and signature dates.
  • Improve Team Communication: The platform is chosen best for team collaboration by our analysts, with a score of 100. It helps to keep your team aligned with native feed updates that sync automatically across the platform. Share important updates, comment on team posts and follow key discussions directly from your inbox, ensuring you miss no critical information.
  • Parse Emails Automatically: Extract key information from incoming emails automatically, including contact details, leads and opportunities. Save your time by having the system populate relevant fields without manual data entry, ensuring data accuracy and completeness.
  • Build Custom Solutions Without Coding: You can extend your sales capabilities using SAP Build Apps' no-code development environment. Create custom apps for mobile, desktop and browser platforms, with included licensing for organizations with 100+ users.
  • Sales Forecasting: Known for its analytics capabilities, SAP lets you track sales performance with precision using the Forecast Tracker. It compares your submitted forecasts against targets and opportunity amounts. Run simulations to see how different scenarios impact your revenue estimates in real time and quickly identify discrepancies that need attention.
  • Dashboards & Reports: Scoring a 100 for this functionality, the CRM lets you build custom reports that match your business requirements by selecting specific data sources, time frames and key figures. Interactive visualizations like bubble charts and bar-line combinations bring your data to life, helping you spot trends and opportunities at a glance.
  • Document Management: Store and organize all your sales documents in a centralized library where you can create custom folder structures to keep everything organized. Share files securely with team members through links while maintaining control over access permissions for private folders and sensitive documents.
  • Lead Management: Capture leads from multiple sources, including phone inquiries and email campaign responses, and smoothly convert them into opportunities. Use Lead Intelligence to predict conversion likelihood through machine learning, which analyzes historical data points like lead dates, priorities and sources to give you accurate lead scores.
  • Contact Management: You can create detailed contact profiles linked to corporate accounts and track all their interactions across activities, orders and opportunities. Get a complete 360-degree view of your relationship with each contact, including their current status and all past interactions.
  •  Doesn’t offer a free trial. 
  •  Doesn’t support automatic creation of sales orders. 
  •  Doesn’t provide built-in email marketing. 

Having spent considerable time evaluating SAP Sales Cloud, I want to share my honest experience with the platform.

My journey began with the basic free trial, which only scratches the surface of what the platform can do. While this limited preview was helpful, it didn't give me the full picture of the advanced features I'd later discover.

The initial setup was quite tricky. I found myself deep in configurations and customizations, which took more time than I expected. However, I noticed that if your company already uses other SAP products, the implementation becomes significantly smoother. The platform works well alongside SAP ERP and other SAP tools, creating a connected ecosystem.

Senior SAP C4C Consultant Irshad Ichu said:

I would like to tell you about the lead to cash process in Sales Cloud. A salesperson can easily create a lead and can capture all the details within a beat. We have seamless integration with S4 or ECC systems. Also when compared to maintenance and cost with any other legacy system, no maintenance is required for Sales Cloud and licensing costs also would be less”

The analytical capabilities are very impressive and, thus, a user favorite. AI-powered forecasting tools help you make better decisions, while thorough reporting provides insights you probably hadn't been able to access before. The platform’s cloud-based nature allowed me to access these tools from anywhere, which is a huge plus for remote work.

But the platform occasionally runs slower than I'd like, especially when handling larger data sets. I also found that integrating with non-SAP systems required extra effort and technical expertise — something that might not be readily available in smaller organizations. During system updates, I experienced some minor disruptions, though these were usually temporary.

The learning curve was steeper than anticipated. While some team members may adapt quickly, others might struggle with the platform's complexity. In fact, many users I spoke with ended up hiring consultants just to get their systems configured properly, which added to the overall cost.

According to Azhar I, Team Lead at Accenture:

The CRM system helped me by streamlining customer interactions, allowing for better tracking of leads, sales and follow-ups. It made managing client data more efficient.

Talking about the challenges I faced — some customization options were a bit limited and data integration with other tools wasn’t always seamless, requiring manual updates at times. Still, the integrations are not as hard as they seem. These days business expectations are just sky high and they expect everything in a single press.”

My conclusion is that while SAP Sales Cloud offers customization options, it sometimes falls short for businesses with unique requirements. The platform works best for medium to large enterprises, particularly those already invested in the SAP ecosystem. For smaller businesses, the combination of high costs, technical requirements and implementation complexity might be overwhelming.

That said, once you get past the initial hurdles and have it properly set up, SAP Sales Cloud is a powerful tool. The key is having the right resources, budget and technical support to fully take advantage of its capabilities.

Pros
  • Data Analysis: SAP Sales Cloud’s advanced analytics tools help you make data-driven decisions across your sales pipeline.
  • Customer Insights: Users like that they have a 360-degree view of each customer's journey, interactions and history in one place.
  • Automation: It helps you save time with automated workflows that handle repetitive sales tasks and documentation.
Cons
  • Complex Interface: The platform's extensive features can be overwhelming for new users, requiring significant training time.
  • Performance Issues: Users may experience slower loading times when handling large amounts of data or multiple processes.
  • Limited Integration Options: Connecting with non-SAP systems can be challenging and may require additional development work.

Platform Analysis

Highest Rated Modules Features Not Supported
Team Collaboration 100 Offline Access in the Mobile App Not Supported
Quotes, Orders, and Contracts Management 98 AI-based Anomaly Detector Not Supported
Email Communication 100 Custom Modules Not Supported
Dashboards and Reports 100 Event Tracking Not Supported
Platform Security 83 Campaign Hierarchy Supported with Partner Integrations
SAP Sales Cloud Team Forecast

Team forecast tab on SAP Sales Cloud.

How We Choose Products

Our team of writers and analysts at SelectHub is committed to giving you the best recommendations based on our data. To make our list, products had to meet two criteria:

  1. Closely match the topic
  2. Earn a top-5 analyst score in our selection platform

Our analyst scores are based on an in-depth research process using primary and secondary sources. This includes SelectHub Analyst Briefings, direct communication with vendors, and reviewing materials such as user reviews, product brochures, specification sheets, case studies, user manuals, and technical documentation.

Our platform’s Scoring Engine processes the research and computes the analyst score. The score also factors in platform settings such as industry and company size.

Learn more about our research methodology and editorial standards.

Primary Benefits

CRM SaaS systems offer businesses plenty of benefits that enable them to:

SaaS CRM Benefits

  • Improve Accessibility to Customers: The solution provides omnichannel support and allows you to reach your target customers on their preferred platforms. Reps can talk to clients over social media, calls, texts, emails and other channels and store that info on the system.
  • Work Anywhere: With SaaS CRMs, one of the best perks you’ll enjoy is remote access to real-time data. You can update and refer to relevant information anywhere, anytime, on any device, providing greater flexibility and helping you keep up with client needs.
  • Enhance Data Organization: The platform stores customer information on a centralized database, enabling sales agents to get necessary details at a glance without switching between tabs. It also helps reduce data inaccuracies and duplication.
  • Get Hands-Free Installation and Maintenance: CRM SaaS systems offer quick and easy deployment without the need for hardware resources. And since the CRM is on a cloud-based server, maintenance and updates are the vendor’s responsibility. This means the solution’s health is taken care of, and you don’t have to lift a finger.
  • Increase Sales: With notifications, alerts and reminders, teams can readily follow up with customers and ensure no deals slip through the cracks. You can refer to past conversations and take notes to personalize client interactions and make them feel catered to.
  • Identify Gaps in Sales Processes: Sales forecasting and in-depth reports help make sense of customer trends, behaviors and preferences. You can use this valuable information to make data-driven decisions and resolve issues quickly, improving customer retention.
  • Maximize Productivity: CRM SaaS software automates manual, time-consuming tasks and frees up sales reps’ busy schedules. Agents can focus on more complex activities like converting leads and planning for presentations without stressing about repetitive tasks like data entry. This saves time and resources in the long run.
  • Improve Collaboration: The platform helps align marketing and sales teams and lets them share crucial information on the go. SaaS CRMs also provide popular business app integrations that ensure a seamless communication flow and keep everyone on the same page.
  • Reduce Costs: You can track team performance, set targets and analyze where you’re falling short to increase ROI. And since your vendor takes care of the system’s health, there’s no need for a full-time IT team on board, saving you some big bucks.

Key Features

Your top CRM SaaS solutions should include the following functionalities to help you make the most of your customer data.

SaaS CRM Features

Contact Management

One of the most important CRM functions, this feature lets you organize and manage customer, lead and prospect details. You can gather crucial data like job titles, client preferences, behaviors, conversation history, billing information and demographic details. The system stores these details in a centralized database, allowing you to access and understand data easily.

Lead Management

Lead management tools help salespeople focus on leads that are most likely to convert. They can:

  • Capture lead info from various sources
  • Upload it automatically to the platform
  • Create criteria to score leads on
  • Use lead scoring and segmentation to narrow down possible clients
  • Design workflows that optimize sales processes

The best part is CRM SaaS software does most of this heavy lifting, making these tasks as easy as 1,2,3.

Dashboards and Reports

Dashboards and reports help make sense of data like CliffsNotes explains Shakespeare’s sonnets the night before your English exam — it summarizes information and tells you the main takeaways in the easiest way possible.

You can view data in a highly engaging, visual way and get valuable insights into team performance, customer cycles and areas that need improvement.

Sales Pipelines

Track and prioritize leads, forecast revenue and identify bottlenecks. SaaS CRM software provides notifications, alerts, reminders, calendars and templates, helping you keep up with sales activities.

Marketing Automation

You can use predefined templates or create custom ones to help improve email campaign efficiency. Bulk emails, scheduling and email analytics enable salespeople to stay on top of communication, resolve queries quickly and convert leads faster.

Collaboration Tools

As a manager, you might be the red ranger, but teaming up with other rangers is necessary to defeat the big bad villain (customer churn in this case). SaaS CRMs provide a central platform to share client info, add attachments, take notes, tag team members in posts and schedule calls.

It helps you integrate with popular business apps, streamlining communication as you don’t have to switch between platforms and lose progress.

Task and Workflow Management

CRMs can optimize workflows by automating manual processes like data collection, analysis, marketing campaigns and other tasks. This CRM function offers reporting and analytics to help users identify problem areas in order to enhance them.

Security and Compliance

Some people think that because CRM SaaS solutions are hosted on the cloud, they can compromise data safety and privacy. This couldn’t be further from the truth as vendors take precautionary measures to precisely avoid such situations. The software provides user-based access control and complies with regional and industry-specific regulations like GDPR and HIPAA.

Get our SaaS CRM Software Requirements Template

Software Selection Tips

With so many CRM SaaS vendors in the market, deciding which software would be the best for your business can get overwhelming. Consider the following aspects before committing to a purchase:

Preferred Features: Look at your current system and analyze where it’s lacking. Which features can help maximize productivity? Take your time to make a list of requirements. Features like contact and lead management, sales pipelines, and analytical tools are a good place to start.

Budget: You need to be honest about your budget and how much you can afford to spend. Consider all variables like the number of users, hidden costs and maintenance fees before making a purchase.

Mobile Platform: CRM applications that you can access anywhere, on any device you want, are especially beneficial if you have remote or hybrid teams. It’s a bonus if you can use the platform offline, something helpful in cases of spotty service.

Integrations: Take note of the apps you use on a daily basis. Your ideal SaaS CRM software should integrate with your preferred apps, enabling you to streamline communication.

Scalability and Customizations: What customizable features does the software offer? What about scalability options? Investing in a scalable solution helps keep up with your company’s changing technical needs.

Vendor Support: Does your vendor provide hands-on customer support? What do their onboarding and training processes look like? How will they help you import existing data into the new software?

GDPR Compliance: If you’re a business that deals with EU customers, GDPR compliance helps ensure data privacy and safety, protecting your customer information and safeguarding you from potential legal penalties.

User Experience: CRMs that are intuitive and easy to use are always a plus. They can save valuable time and money that would otherwise go into costly and time-consuming software training.

Compare Top SaaS CRM Software Leaders

Next Steps

From robust contact and lead management to reporting and automation tools, SaaS CRMs have got you covered. They offer a plethora of benefits, like reduced costs, hands-free maintenance, improved collaboration and productivity, and increased accessibility. CRM SaaS systems are a worthwhile investment for businesses of all sizes, especially the ones working remotely.

Still confused? Unable to decide which solution would be the best for you? Check out our free comparison report to guide you through your software selection process.

What do you think of CRM SaaS platforms? Which problems are you looking to solve with them? Let us know in the comments.

Anjali KrishnaThe Best CRM SaaS Software Of 2024

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