Customer relationship management software systems that integrate well with Outlook are useful because they can improve coordination between your inbox and CRM systems. Greater automation, better contact management, and streamlined communication can lead to better performance and less stress for you and your team.
Here are our picks for the best Outlook CRM software systems:
Outlook specific features
5/5
Integration and compatibility
4.5/5
User experience and security
4.72/5
advantage
- Excellent universal CRM functionality
- Seamlessly natively compatible with Outlook
- Multiple options, reasonable pricing
shortcoming
- No free forever subscription
- The learning curve isn’t always easy
Why we choose Microsoft Dynamics 365
Microsoft Dynamics 365 includes comprehensive and powerful features for working with Outlook and for CRM in general. Depending on the plan you subscribe to, you will have access to calendar and task synchronization; email templates; sales automation; predictive lead and opportunity scoring; pipeline analytics; conversation analytics; and more. The software also integrates well with Outlook, allowing you to track and manage contacts directly in Outlook.
If you already use a lot of Microsoft products, such as Excel and Teams, Dynamics 365 is a good choice because the integration with these products will be smooth. It’s also a good choice if you need powerful analytics tools and insights into sales and lead management, or if you like lots of automation and customization in your software.
Outlook specific features
4.38/5
Integration and compatibility
4.5/5
User experience and security
4.58/5
advantage
- Provide forever free subscription
- Advanced customer relationship management tools
- Seamless integration, API and Microsoft compatibility
shortcoming
- Free for up to 2 users only
- Higher plans get expensive quickly
- Lower subscriptions only offer email support
Why we choose HubSpot
HubSpot is one of the most trusted names in the CRM industry. The software includes multiple tiers of subscriptions, including a free subscription, but still offers many important CRM features such as pipeline tracking, email management, and integrations. Various automation tools are available in higher plans. HubSpot integrates seamlessly with Outlook, giving you access to email, calendar and task synchronization, and contact management. API options and many third-party integrations are also available.
HubSpot is best suited for small businesses that want free CRM software that still provides the important tools and the option to upgrade features as the business grows. HubSpot is also a great choice if ease of integration and compatibility with other programs are important to you.
Outlook specific features
4.5/5
General CRM functionality
4.5/5
Integration and compatibility
4.5/5
User experience and security
4.5/5
advantage
- Simple, intuitive and visual interface
- Good CRM functionality and integration tools
- Available automation features
shortcoming
- No free plan; plan requires at least 3 users
- Outlook integration requires Microsoft 365 Business Premium license
why we like it
Of all the options on this list, Monday is one of the most user-friendly and intuitive. Its interface is detailed without being cluttered, and visually appealing without being overwhelming. You can use this software for project tracking, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns. A simple drag-and-drop mechanism allows you to customize the panel according to your needs. Monday also provides you with various automation features, integration options and project management capabilities.
If you prioritize ease of use and a smooth user experience, Monday will serve you well—think intuitive interfaces, simple integration processes, and overall versatility.
Outlook specific features
4.5/5
General CRM functionality
4.5/5
Integration and compatibility
4.5/5
User experience and security
4.5/5
advantage
- Easy to set up and use
- Free plan available
- Built-in phone dialer, email sync and templates
shortcoming
- Free plan only supports 3 users
- Advanced customization and sales management need to be upgraded
Why we choose Freshsales
Freshsales is a great CRM option for small businesses that temporarily need to operate on a tight budget. It offers a free plan for up to 3 users, which includes basic contact and account management, appointments and notes, sales funnels, email synchronization, and phone dialer tools. Affordable monthly software upgrades will unlock premium versions and tools for all the basic features in the free plan, as well as sales forecasting, automation, and more.
Freshsales is perfect for solo workers or small teams that only need basic CRM tools and are on a tight budget. If you rely on telesales or communications, Freshsales will be a good fit for you even if you stick to the free plan. If you want to experience advanced features, you can enjoy a 21-day free trial.
Outlook specific features
4.5/5
General CRM functionality
4.5/5
Integration and compatibility
4.5/5
User experience and security
4.5/5
advantage
- Offers free subscription and free trial
- Artificial Intelligence Assistant
- Many software integration options
shortcoming
- Advanced email features require paid plan
- Steep learning curve for completing a large number of features
Why we choose Zoho CRM
Zoho is our pick of the best CRM software for lead management and team management. The software’s free plan includes management and tracking of leads, transactions, and accounts; data storage of 1 GB and 5,000 records; workflow and task automation; and integration with various other Zoho products for project management. Upgrading your plan gives you sales forecasting; calendar bookings; more detailed analytics; and the help of artificial intelligence.
Zoho is a great choice for any business that wants to prioritize lead management and/or team management, or simply wants a ton of functionality for a variety of business processes. This could mean a large organization with many employees who need to work together, or a business focused on social media marketing and sales.
What features does Outlook CRM include?
Deciding between CRM options can be daunting when sifting through different solutions and features. We’ve put together a list of features to keep in mind when looking for a CRM that integrates with Outlook. Let’s take a look at some of the main features you should look for in a CRM.
Workflow automation: One way a CRM can make your life easier is by automating your workflow. It’s best to look for a software solution that allows custom rules to help increase productivity. Using rules, you can set up your CRM to automatically perform specific actions based on certain triggers. Some of these triggers include automatically directing messages to the correct department, sending automated responses to messages, and sending follow-up messages after a specific time has elapsed.
custom made: The best CRM will have features you can customize to meet your specific business needs. Look for solutions that allow customization of areas such as dashboards, plugins, add-ons, and contact fields. Some CRMs even go a step further and allow for more advanced options bee. Through the API, developers can access all technical specifications and code, thereby gaining complete software customization capabilities.
Third-party integrations: If you’re already using other software and features, get a CRM that offers plenty of third-party features Integrate Makes sense. convergence point customer relationship management This is well done. Choose one that is compatible with other software you use and implement. For example, you can automatically synchronize sales and order information with point-of-sale systems to reduce or eliminate manual data entry. You can also use cloud storage systems to back up and sync your data.
Customer Service: Acquiring and retaining customers is crucial for any business. Finding CRM features that allow your sales and customer support teams to provide excellent customer service is a great way to acquire and retain these customers. Going the extra mile could make all the difference in customer retention and shrink.
Employee Tracking: Tracking and managing employee work time, meetings, performance goals, and other similar tasks can be easily tracked and managed using CRM software. Top managers have access to employee dashboards where they can measure productivity. This can help save employees time in reviewing and determining if incentives and rewards are needed.
Social media monitoring: Monitoring a company’s social media accounts can be time-consuming. However, a CRM with built-in social media monitoring can save marketing teams time by providing insights into actions such as the number of shares, likes, and comments. With a CRM solution that monitors social media, you can also check multiple social media sites and gain strategic insights on how to develop a posting strategy. Additionally, you can gain insights into who your customers are based on age, location, and other analytics.
Lead Management: If you need a feature to help you identify prospects and their behavior throughout the sales process, consider a CRM with lead management capabilities. With this feature, you can capture leads and convert them into customers. Additionally, sales managers can stay on top of leads and reassign them to different teams for conversion.
analyze: CRM analytics provide valuable insights into customer data. This data can help you make better decisions about service, marketing, and other communications you send to your customers. For example, the analytics feature allows you to understand profit and loss data and use web analytics that show customer website behavior.
Real-time data: Get real-time data to help you make informed marketing decisions. Real-time data features can help you determine where and when to place your ads. You’ll instantly understand market needs and determine which products and services generate the most revenue.
Report: Reporting capabilities bring results from all your marketing and sales efforts and help you identify opportunities to close leads quickly. Reports give you insights into which sales agents closed which sales, the number of outbound calls made, and the effectiveness of your marketing emails.
While these are great options for businesses looking for a CRM for Outlook, this list is not complete. Still looking for the latest CRM solutions? View our listings Best Customer Relationship Management Software.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Outlook itself does not have a built-in CRM system, but it integrates seamlessly with various CRM tools such as Dynamics 365, Salesforce, and HubSpot, allowing you to manage customer relationships directly within the email interface.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 is the best CRM for Outlook because of its native integration, providing seamless access to customer data, sales insights, and task management right from your inbox. Other good options include HubSpot and Salesforce.
Microsoft Office does not include a standalone CRM tool, but Microsoft Dynamics 365, as its CRM solution, is deeply integrated with Office applications such as Outlook, Teams, and Excel to improve work efficiency.
To enable a CRM add-in, go to Outlook’s Settings or File menu, navigate to Add-ins or Manage Add-ins, and then enable the CRM add-in (for example, Dynamics 365). Follow any other setup prompts to connect your account.
