Smartsheet Simple CRM and Google Apps - Harmony

Coupling Smartsheet Simple Sales Pipeline, Customer Support and Marketing Campaign Management into Google’s Email, Calendar and Docs makes for a very straightforward small business CRM solution.

Millions of businesses are looking to CRM tools that operate as integrated extensions of their primary communications platform – email. The Google team is pushing the advantage built into the integration frameworks they’ve provided for their Apps Marketplace partners. See how Smartsheet Sales Pipeline works as a great example.

One of our customers was featured recently in Google’s Enterprise Blog running a majority of their business with the Smartsheet – Google Apps combination. These customers represent our second largest segment of paying subscribers. They are enthusiastic and vocal. We’ve amassed a huge trove of customer feedback and ideas on how to expand the utility of Smartsheet CRM.

ReadWriteWeb’s Alex Williams wonders, “When Does CRM Become A Collaboration Service?”, and the answer is clearly… Now. He poses the question specific to Google Apps:

“You could ask the same question about Google Apps Marketplace, which gives Google Apps users the capability to turn an enterprise email environment inside out and use it as a contact management system with collaboration features.”

A Few of the Structural Integration Points that Enable Smartsheet’s CRM Features 

CRM is a very familiar arena for the Smartsheet team. Collectively our team has years and years of enterprise CRM tools experience.  Whether its companies trying to get out from under the cost and complexity of structured CRM tools, or companies trying to evolve from their spreadsheet method of managing pipelines, contacts and marketing, Smartsheet’s spreadsheet-like interface is a perfect complement to Google Apps. As an example, attaching files and/or discussion threads to any row is a huge productivity win over managing information in one-dimensional spreadsheets. Furthermore, enabling a person to choose their preferred layout without needing the involvement of I.T. is a welcome change.  

Expect to see additional compelling Sales Pipeline and Customer Service features this fall.

- Brent Frei