amoCRM, Bitrix24, BPM Online, FreshOffice and Megaplan: how I chose CRM for my service

    Having decided to work with advertisers in the PoiskVPS admin area , my team and I matured before implementing automation.

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    Having studied the catalog of CRM-systems , we went a proven path and selected the most popular products: amoCRM, Bitrix24, BPM Online, FreshOffice and Megaplan. Fortunately, all systems have a two-week trial - see what and how.

    Registration and first entry


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    To take advantage of the test period, amoCRM does not need to invent a password or even verify mail - an automatically generated password immediately comes to your mailbox. It seems like convenient, but not for me. Remembering such a password is difficult, it’s easier to immediately come up with your own. Not to mention the security of such a solution. The trial is a trial, but someday you still have to change the password anyway, and this is an extra strain that is not worth the single saved line in the registration form.

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    Bitrix24's approach is the opposite: first confirm the mail, then come up with an alphanumeric password.

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    After registration you will receive a second letter - already one more than you need. Of course, a trifle, but still! However, it is much more important that, unlike most CRM (except for Megaplan), Bitrix has a completely free version. This is convenient if you suddenly do not have enough 14 days trial to study the functionality of the system.

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    On the bpm'online website for the test, you can choose one of two versions - demo or free for 14 days. The demo version offers ready-made examples for faster and more convenient familiarization with the system. But the promised few seconds of downloading demodata actually turned into long minutes of waiting, so I had to use the trial version. It is necessary to wait until the system generates a password and sends it to the mail - there is no automatic login to the office here either.

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    I was surprised that on the FreshOffice main page, instead of the usual link to the trial, there is a project promo video. But FreshOffice gives not 14, but 15 days for the test. Just wait for the letter with the password generated by the system:

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    Megaplan offers a standard two-week trial period. The offer on the site is immediately apparent: the registration form is hard to miss. By the way, Megaplan also has a free version called MegaplanFree.

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    There is a special approach to registration: user verification does not take place by email, but by phone number using SMS. The password is also generated by the system and sent to the mail. Two letters arrive, the second - with the mention of company mailing. As it turned out later, these are not standard promotions and special offers, but a content newsletter with articles about business and personal effectiveness. It’s just strange that when registering for a newsletter, not a word. But in the future, you can unsubscribe if you do not like it.

    Functional


    In amoCRM, the interface is user-friendly only. The staff he invited will be hard. The big drawback is the lack of a clear system for setting goals: it is impossible to set complex tasks (with several participants and subtasks) and monitor the work of others. Notifications of completed tasks come to the mail, but they do not come to task managers at all.

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    Projects are missing in amoCRM as a class. But there is a “Transactions” section with a fairly simple interface: for each stage of the sale, you can choose a color to understand what stage the transaction is at.

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    Telephony is possible through integration with the ip-system. I managed to test the Oktell telephone automation system, I liked the result. Recording conversations and video calls are also available through ip-integration.

    Despite its nice design, usability is not good. There is really not enough chat to communicate within CRM and at least minimal training instructions. Documents can be loaded into amoCRM, but they cannot be stored internally and edited. The situation is improved by smooth transitions between pages and high response speed.

    While testing, I did not find any errors or lags. But once she hung up for 20 minutes! Apparently, the problem was centralized, because messages about it flickered in social networks. The site contains a telephone hotline. It’s better to use it, because when I accessed through the form inside CRM, I waited 2 hours for an answer. Perhaps only I was so unlucky.

    AmoCRM has a mobile app and it works pretty well. However, it cannot be branded, there is no user logging - I did not have enough access levels to the data. I still did not like the fact that the application copied all the phones from the address book without my consent. In general, data security is in question.

    The design of Bitrix24 is both minimalistic and heavy. The language doesn’t turn into ergonomic: there are clearly not enough icons to help you understand where you are and what you need to do. When you first go into CRM, you are greeted with a small font that is inconvenient for perception - it's hard to figure it out, and your eyes quickly get tired.

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    The number of functions listed in the main menu just rolls over! This is confusing. It seems that everything is grouped more or less clear, but what is needed is difficult to find in this variety. In one heap of business, tape, leads, contacts, companies, deals, offers, invoices, reports, a sales funnel, not to mention tasks and projects.

    It’s good that there is a training bot. It gives general tips and links to articles on tags. The articles themselves are very voluminous: personally, I did not have the patience to finish reading at least one at a time. In general, the main disadvantage of the interface is cumbersome. Although if you hide the secondary elements, it becomes easier.

    To set the task, you need to make 4 clicks and scroll the screen to the desired button. But there is sorting in tasks using custom filters, you can add as many participants as you like and set subtasks. Editing information is also quite convenient. For example, to change the task deadline, you do not need to go to the card. Notifications on tasks come to the informer and to the mail.

    If there are many participants in the task, notifications are sent to the informer at a frantic speed, since every change in the task falls there, whether it be a new word or a transferred deadline. It’s bad that you can’t connect the task with finances, although you can add a deal, but, again, you have to rummage around.

    The functionality of the projects is also implemented, and you can immediately add a whole department to it. But it’s not immediately clear how to create a project - you will have to spend time to figure it out. There is not enough ability to open documents inside CRM, but you can download and upload them using Google docks (there is integration) and an internal disk.

    In Bitrix, telephony is built-in, and video calls are even in the free version. All calls can be recorded, however, this feature is paid. Chat is also there, but if you do not install it as a desktop application, it is inconvenient to work with it. When the chat is open, it moves to the center of the screen, and the background is darkened.

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    The Bitrix mobile application is also overloaded with details, like the entire system interface, and it sometimes freezes. All branding is limited to the ability to set the company name on the splash screen. But with logging everything is in order: you can connect additional security levels, there is a double authorization. I was looking for a tech support button for a long time. Spat and launched a search for solutions to manuals and guides. In general, if problems arise, get ready to read a lot and for a long time.

    In general, Bitrix24 is stable; response speed is high, windows open quickly. Only sometimes the system hangs a little for 1-3 minutes. Like amoCRM, I ran into a central problem, but in a more difficult version, when the company's servers did not work for two days due to blackout.

    As soon as you enter bpm'online, an introductory video is shown on the screen. I admit, I did not watch it, because I like to push the buttons myself.

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    I did not immediately understand how to add employees. But this is a fly in the ointment: in general, the interface is intuitive, and the design is pleasantly minimalistic. In the process of development, you are convinced of its ergonomics, you open new functions and interesting points. All necessary workspaces are highlighted, many windows can be moved around - in general, the design can be called good.

    It is strange that in the main menu on the left there is no task section. A new task can be set by clicking on the button in the upper left corner. But the tasks are displayed on the calendar, you can attach almost everything to them - from documents to projects, but only in one copy, which made me puzzled.

    The task card itself is well implemented: it has many additional fields, and there is also room for discussion. It's nice to work with tasks, notifications come. As a small drawback, I will point out the lack of the ability to create a task without certain fields that might not be needed. By the way, to find tasks, you need to go to the “Activity” tab, which is not at all obvious.

    The system has a chat that does not freeze and does not interfere with the main work. Cons can be considered the inability to remove the large panel on the left, which displays all sections, the limited internal search by contacts and contractors and the lack of a block with finances. But in general, the interface is very suitable. I found no errors - only minor freezes when creating the underlying processes.

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    Projects are also well implemented.

    Integration with landing pages is very interesting - a really powerful marketing tool:

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    Call recording is possible, but there are no video calls in principle. Documents can be stored inside the system, but without the ability to edit and view. The mobile application works well, but its branding is not provided. Logging is possible, but it needs to be configured separately. However, there is a double authorization. A bot and communication with technical support by mail is given to help.

    The design of FreshOffice is, at first glance, colorful, friendly and comfortable. There are many icons by which you can understand what functionality is hidden behind them.

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    But beyond these icons, confusion begins: a friendly design hides a rather dreary interface. It is not clear how to return to the main page with the desktop. Noticeable minor flaws in design and layout. With prolonged work, you realize that everything is completely uncomfortable.

    For example, to create a task, you need to make a lot of clicks. When setting up, immediately indicate the counterparty data and a large number of other parameters. At the same time, it will not be possible to pose a difficult task with several participants. How to connect the task with finances. Add to this the hangs and lags when the task created with such difficulty may simply not be saved. Upset that there are no projects. Task notifications come within the system. From the good - you can create filters in tasks.

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    The system has integrated telephony and there is integration with ip-telephony - everything works. You can set up video calls only through integration. It’s also possible to record calls, but I didn’t succeed because of a constantly issued error. The system provides for the storage of documents, but they cannot be edited. There is a mobile application with the possibility of branding. There is also logging, but there is no double authorization.

    "Live" technical support responds quickly enough. The system bot does not work well, issues bugs, and does not send messages to the chat at all. When updating the pages of any module, I was often redirected to the desktop. The transition between windows is very incomprehensible and careless; notifications and filters disappear. Wildly annoyed by the constant offer of the system to watch the instructional video.

    When you first start FreshOffice, 2 minutes only loads. An already loaded system often freezes, which terribly infuriates. One gets the impression that the product is in open testing, because bugs periodically pop up and flaws are visible. For example, I remember the lack of reaction to a click on a fresh notification. Chat is as bad as anything else. It is unclear how to create a mass discussion, messages are sent with a long delay or not sent at all. Sometimes the system freezes for about 20 seconds.

    The interface of the Megaplan is quite understandable. There are icons that tell where they lead and what can be done in a particular module. In general, it is quite simple to understand. At the first boot, instructions for working in the system appear on the screen.

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    Menu with headings - classic, from left to right, understandable to almost any user. I was pleased with the ability to add other applications to the system. I was pleasantly surprised by a convenient chat that works without delays. You can create a conference directly in the chat, as well as send files to each other. I did not find any hangs or lags - the chat works pretty quickly and resembles popular instant messengers.

    The most important thing is that setting tasks in Megaplan is really convenient and very simple. To do this, you need to fill in only two required fields: the essence of the task and the responsible. The remaining data can be added already in the process. You can attach a large number of files to tasks - from documents to pictures. The task card is simple and clear: files are collected in a separate tab, and comments are collected in a separate tab.



    Tasks are displayed as a simple list, a list with a hierarchy, or as a Gantt chart. Any task can be prioritized. The megaplan is well suited for complex tasks that require the participation of employees from different departments, the addition of subtasks, and a detailed discussion is expected. Any task can be associated with a client, customer, transaction or any other task. To quickly find the right tasks, filters are provided, including custom ones.

    In general, it’s nice to work with tasks: notifications come to the mail (you can disable it), via SMS and to the notification center inside the system. When tasks are completed, information about the time spent and the percentage of completion are reported. Projects can also be created, but this is not immediately visible. To do this, you must first go into the task and select the project creation point. By and large, this is logical, because projects are still less likely to get started.

    Telephony in Megaplan - built-in with the ability to record conversations. It can also be connected through integration. Video calls are not provided. Documents can be downloaded to the system, but you cannot view and edit them there. The mobile application only works well for basic functions. For example, it is convenient to use for commenting on tasks.

    On the main page of Megaplan you can put your company logo. The interface can be changed by folding unnecessary card blocks. Internal search is fast, but sometimes it doesn’t find anything. Very pleased with the detailed logging and dual authorization. If you have questions, you can read the manual, technical support answers after 2-3 hours and there is no bot assistant.

    In general, the interface is concise and clear. While studying the system, I never looked at the instructions. The text is not enough, it is replaced by clear buttons and icons. Transitions between pages are not very smooth, but the response speed is high. During testing, errors did not appear, not counting the hang on the site during registration (perhaps this was due to browser problems).

    Implementation and Training


    amoCRM

    Easy login to operate at a basic level. Further information is lacking, because there are no webinars on functionality and there is no internal training. Logging information on users no.

    Bitrix24

    At first glance, little is understood. Understanding the cumbersome interface is difficult and can take a long time. Of course, you can collapse unnecessary panels, but they cannot be removed at all. You can divide employees into departments and give them the necessary access rights, but there are not many levels of access itself. Logging of actions is too detailed, without grouping, so get ready to parse the messages manually.

    bpm'online

    Understanding the interface is easy. You can get paid training in the webinar format. I did not find free training. Within the system, there is a voluminous help that is well structured, but you do not have to read less from this.

    FreshOffice

    From the first try it’s hard to understand what to do, despite the training videos that come out almost every time you enter CRM. If you ask yourself to figure it out yourself, you have to sweat. The system is full of flaws, it is difficult to perform even the simplest actions, some icons do not work at all - and this causes irritation during prolonged use. Work in this system requires prior training.

    Megaplan

    The first time you enter Megaplan, training windows pop up that simplify your work and explain what features are available in the system. These windows do not bother; you can hide them if you wish. There is a manual inside the system, but finding it right away is not easy. Free weekly webinars are held where you can send your employees. The technical support request form is also integrated into the interface.

    Customers and Sales Funnel


    The amoCRM customer card is simple. It is worth noting the high speed of adding a new counterparty and a good sales funnel, which shows the stages of the transaction and conversion. Of the minuses, I note the lack of flexibility in sales management and the inability to create your own filters.

    There are a lot of points in the Bitrix24 client card. In addition, I met many restrictions in the extended fields for the client. The sales funnel design, in which everything is very sketchy, was not inspired.

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    The funnel is inconvenient to work with, because its interface is too cumbersome. After a little digging, I found another, more colorful chart sales funnel in transactions. I was pleased with the opportunity to create our own filters for sales. In general, the interface in transactions is quite detailed, however, there are no forecasting capabilities.

    In bpm'online, the client card also contains a lot of fields, differing in extreme detail. It seems good, but it takes a very long time to fill it, which is often unacceptable. The transaction system is also detailed in the sales funnel. The transaction card is very rich, the transaction can be moved in stages and determine the percentage of probability of its completion. In general, the interface of the client section is very friendly.

    In FreshOffice, the funnel stages can also be customized. True, the interface and lags do not give the opportunity to work normally with it. It took me a lot of time and effort to set up. Even forecasting the volume of sales on the percentage of completion of transactions. Custom filters work in the system, but you have to try very hard to find them.

    In Megaplan, funnel data requires real transaction data. After creating the first transaction, visualization appears.



    We were very pleased with the clear funnel interface and many different functions, including the ability to quickly analyze the desired segment. For the funnel, you can create custom filters directly inside the system without the help of programmers and additional integrations. A client’s card consists of blocks in which contact information, data about payers, the history of negotiations and transactions are reflected — all stages of interaction. By the way, you can add your own fields to the card.

    Integration


    All five CRMs offer an open API, which differs only in the number of integrations available. Bitrix24 has the most options. However, amoCRM, bpm'office and Megaplan are also pleasing in variety: you can configure applications in systems and configure event flows for them. FreshOffice has fewer integrations than all, but we will not scold the young project specifically for this yet.

    Newsletters


    Three of the five services decided that registering with it and agreeing to the newsletter are the same thing: amoCRM, Bitrix24 and Megaplan. For the first week I received 3-4 letters from each of them. AmoCRM sends the most boring, offering to participate in the survey and asking when you can call. Bitrix24 standardly announces webinars and other PR activities. Megaplan follows the fashion of useful newsletters and once a week sends links to more or less interesting articles of its project “Big Plans”.

    Price


    AmoCRM has no box solutions, and the price starts from 2994 rubles. for a six-month license and basic functionality. There are package offers, but they have limitations.

    In Bitrix24, the basic version is free, and the cost of the minimum version with more or less acceptable functionality starts from 2970 rubles. for the project.

    The price in bpm'online starts from 1000 rubles. per license.

    FreshOffice - inexpensive: 450 rubles per license per month.

    So far I have stopped on the free version of Megaplan - for our current needs it is enough, but we'll see. The price for a Megaplan license starts from 550 rubles. for the basic version and 750 rubles. for the version with advanced functionality and financial management. Conveniently, licenses can be paid monthly.

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