CRM: Tapping Into the Power of Your Database

Kleinfelter says a second choice is to purchase a more general piece of software and customize it. To successfully run the program, you’ll have to have an in-house IT department, she says.

The third option is to completely outsource both the software and its implementation to a service bureaus. One drawback to outsourcing is that catalogers often must send information to more than one source, says Helle. Customer relationship management marketing becomes complicated and time-consuming when a whole customer profile does not exist in one place.