Definition
Software that stores every contact, conversation and deal in one place so a team can manage relationships and sales consistently.
CRM explained
A CRM (customer relationship management system) is the shared record of who your customers and prospects are, what you have said to them and where each opportunity stands. At minimum it holds contacts, accounts, deals and activities, and it connects to email and calendar so those records stay current without retyping.
General CRMs such as HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive and Zoho serve almost any business. Industry CRMs add the integrations and compliance features a particular field needs, like a loan origination system connection for lenders or practice management for law firms.