All CRM systems enable sales reps to create contact sheets and store customer and prospect information. In addition to being able to store the documents they most frequently send to potential customers in an easy-to-remove location, vendors can also store customizable email templates so they can’t reinvent the wheel every time a new contact occurs. But beware: Many CRM applications require vendors to copy and paste their email into the system or download call logs. Most importantly, a CRM system needs to be useful to end users: suppliers, managers and executives. Choosing a CRM system with the following eight features makes it possible and strengthens the sales team. According to the Docurated State of Sales Productivity 2015 study, sales reps spend 31% of their time searching for or creating content. Managers and executives should also be able to view these categories for the entire sales team. CRM systems with job management capabilities simplify the daily workflow of salespeople and help us track their progress. Representatives need to be able to see certain data on a daily basis, such as the status of their quotas to date, the size of their activities in their pipelines, at what stages and the tasks they have to perform. Choosing a CRM system without contact management capabilities would not be very helpful. Make sure your CRM has reporting capabilities that make it easier to export and disseminate the trends identified by the system. Most CRM systems now allow vendors to connect to the application from mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones; make sure the systems you’re considering do the same. Anyone who fills out your form should be automatically redirected to your CRM, so it’s easy to set up reminders that continue with a personalized email series or a phone call. Shouldn’t your CRM do the same for you? Make sure you have an application or integration for it, with a meeting tool that syncs with your Google or Office 365 calendar, shares your availability with potential customers, and updates in real time.