I manage a telemarketing team with around 8 people making outbound calls daily. We gave HubSpot a shot but it turned out to be too complicated and expensive for what we actually need.
Our requirements are pretty basic - we need to log calls, save customer notes, track where leads are in our process, and get simple reports. That’s really it. The problem with HubSpot was the cost kept adding up and my agents struggled with how complex it was just to log a quick call.
Is anyone else managing a team this size who found a CRM that’s both wallet-friendly and simple to use? Something that actually helps instead of slowing us down? If it works well with auto-dialing tools that would be great, but I’m willing to consider any options. Really interested to hear what has worked well for other small teams like mine.
Check out Zoho CRM. I’ve used it with my 10-person team for two years - it’s got great functionality without being overly complicated. Pricing’s solid, especially the standard plan. Call logging’s super easy - no endless clicking. You can add notes and update leads right from the call screen. The dashboard shows what you need without cluttering your view with useless data. Works fine with most auto-dialers through their API (you might need some tech help setting it up). Way easier to learn than HubSpot, and their support actually helps when you contact them.
We switched to Pipedrive six months ago after dealing with the same overly complex systems. The interface is super straightforward - our team learned it in a day or two, and it’s way cheaper for smaller operations. Call logging is simple and the pipeline view shows exactly where each prospect stands without all the unnecessary bells and whistles. Reporting gives you what you need without drowning you in details. We hooked it up to our dialer through Zapier - took some setup initially but runs smooth now. Mobile app’s solid if your team updates records on the road. Best part? You can customize fields without needing a computer science degree.
Salesforce Essentials might work for you. We’ve got a similar team size and it’s that sweet spot between useful features and staying simple - bigger Salesforce versions are overkill. Call logging’s actually faster than our old system - click, add notes, done. Lead tracking shows your pipeline without burying your team in features they won’t use. Pricing’s fair for small teams and won’t surprise you as you grow. Works with most auto-dialers without major headaches, but test yours first. Way easier to learn than full HubSpot, and mobile access keeps everyone in the loop when they’re out of the office.
Honestly? Go with Insightly. I’ve been using it for my 7-person telemarketing team and it’s dead simple. No confusing menus like HubSpot - just log your call and move on. Pricing won’t shock you either. The dashboard shows who’s hot and who’s cold without unnecessary fancy charts.
we’ve had good luck with freshsales - much easier than hubspot and won’t kill your budget. call logging works well and setting up workflows is straightforward. my team of 6 has used it for a year without issues. fair pricing and solid phone integration.