The use of CRM software has grown substantially over the last several years and with many new CRM vendors entering the market, the options for buyers is a greater variety. If you are looking for a system that allows online order processing, up to the minute order processing, access to quality documents like Certificates of Analysis then search for vendors that offer browser based CRM software.

Need more customized software? Now there are highly configurable systems which could be referred to as “Open Source”. This new type of CRM is not Open source in the usual sense of the term. The typical meaning of “Open Source” is when a source code is available to the general public. The meaning of open source for this new type of software application is that the source code is modifiable (by the buyer and/or provider) and available to the buyer, but not available to the general public. This application is beneficial to buyers with IT resources offering the flexibility to modify your software from within, saving money by avoiding yearly support fees. If you are a smaller company, it simply gives you the option for a system with a vendor that provides any source code modifications that you may need.

Also smaller companies that need the functionalities of a tailored software and are weary that they cannot afford such a solution should try SaaS (Software as a Service). The newer vendors of CRM software are putting quite a spin on the software industry by offering the best of conventional and browser based systems. The ease and affordability of hosted, internet based software with the configurability of an open sourced solution.