Top 6 CRMs for the Printing Industry to Boost Efficiency

The printing industry has evolved significantly from its humble beginnings with manual presses to today’s high-tech digital and offset printing. As technology has advanced, so have customer expectations, requiring printing businesses to manage increasingly complex orders.

A major problem facing the printing industry today is effectively managing customer relationships and orders across various stages of production.

Given the complexity of printing projects, which often involve multiple customization options and strict deadlines, keeping track of every client’s specific needs and preferences can be overwhelming. This can lead to errors in order processing, customer dissatisfaction, and, ultimately, a loss in business.

CRMs for the printing industry tackle these challenges and enhance customer relationship management, streamline production schedules, and track order fulfillment—all crucial for staying competitive in a demanding market.

As we explore the top 6 CRMs for the printing industry, you’ll discover how each platform offers unique features to improve various aspects of business operations. This comparison will help you identify which CRM system best meets your needs, boosting your company’s efficiency and competitive edge.

Why Should Printing Companies Invest in CRM Software?

Before exploring our top CRMs for the printing industry, let’s address the typical challenges these systems help overcome:

• Managing complex customer specifications effectively.
• Tracking multiple orders and projects without confusion.
• Maintaining clear and consistent communication with clients.
• Streamlining the quote generation and approval processes.
• Ensuring seamless coordination between sales, production, and delivery teams.
• Analyzing sales trends and customer preferences to tailor services.

Utilizing CRMs for the printing industry can transform these challenges into opportunities for enhanced growth and operational efficiency.

The Top 6 CRMs for the Printing Industry 

Let’s compare our top 6 CRMs for the printing industry at a glance:

1. HubSpot

HubSpot provides a comprehensive suite of tools tailored specifically for printing businesses. Its all-in-one platform approach streamlines various aspects of customer relationship management and positions it as a leading choice among CRMs for the printing industry. By integrating HubSpot, companies can leverage robust functionalities to effectively enhance operational efficiency and client satisfaction.

Features for Printing Companies  

• Deal Pipeline Management: Track printing orders from quote to delivery. Create custom pipeline stages that reflect your printing process, such as “Quote Sent,” “Artwork Approved,” “In Production,” and “Ready for Delivery.” 
• Email Marketing: Create targeted campaigns for different customer segments. For example, send reminders to business card customers or promote new eco-friendly paper options to any of your environmentally conscious clients.
• Quote Generation: Easily create and send professional quotes to clients. Use your pricing database to quickly generate accurate quotes for print jobs, including paper types, sizes, and finishing options. 
• Customer Service Hub: Manage customer inquiries and support tickets efficiently. Track common issues, such as print quality concerns or delivery queries, and create a knowledge base to address frequently asked questions. 
• Marketing Automation: Set up workflows to generate leads. For example, send emails showcasing your printing capabilities to new contacts or offer loyalty discounts to repeat customers. 

Industry-Specific Benefits 

• Improved Customer Retention: By tracking customer preferences and order history, you can provide more personalized service, leading to higher customer retention rates.
• Streamlined Approvals: Use HubSpot’s email integration to streamline the artwork approval process, keeping all communications in one place.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Use HubSpot’s reporting tools to identify your most profitable print services or customer segments, allowing for more targeted marketing and sales efforts.

Pricing 

• Free Plan: $0/month, includes basic CRM features
• Starter Plan: $45/month (2 users)
• Professional Plan: $450/month (5 users)
• Enterprise Plan: $1,200/month (10 users)

2. Salesforce

Salesforce is a versatile option among CRMs for the printing industry, allowing businesses to tailor its features to meet their specific needs. Its comprehensive app ecosystem supports companies of various sizes, making it a practical choice for those in the printing industry.

Features for Printing Companies 

• Custom Object Creation: Create objects specific to printing projects, such as paper types, ink colors, and finishing options. This allows you to track detailed specifications for each print job and ensure accuracy. 
• Automated Workflows: Streamline approval processes and project handoffs between departments. Set up automated notifications for artwork approvals, production milestones, and delivery schedules. 
• Einstein AI: Use AI for predictive lead scoring and customer insights. Identify which types of print jobs are most likely to close or which customers are at risk of churning. 
• Integration Capabilities: Connect with popular accounting and project management tools. Integrate with design software to streamline the proofing process or with shipping providers to automate delivery tracking. 
• Salesforce CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote): Quickly generate accurate quotes for complex print jobs, taking into account variables like paper type, quantity, size, and finishing options. 

Industry-Specific Benefits 

• Enhanced Project Tracking: Use Salesforce’s customizable views to track the status of multiple print jobs simultaneously, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
• Improved Forecasting: Utilize Salesforce’s advanced reporting to forecast demand for different print jobs, helping with resource allocation and inventory management.
• Streamlined Vendor Management: Use Salesforce to track relationships with paper suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and other vendors crucial to your printing operations.

Pricing 

• Essentials: $25/user/month
• Professional: $75/user/month
• Enterprise: $150/user/month
• Unlimited: $300/user/month

3. Pipedrive

Pipedrive, with its interactive interface and focus on visual sales pipeline management, stands out among CRMs for the printing industry. It helps businesses efficiently manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Features for Printing Companies   

• Visual Pipeline: Easily track printing projects from lead to completion. Customize stages to match your workflow, such as “Initial Inquiry,” “Quote Sent,” “Artwork Review,” “In Production,” and “Delivery.”
• Custom Fields: Add fields specific to printing projects, such as paper stock, ink types, quantity, or turnaround time. Custom fields ensure all crucial job details are captured and easily accessible.
• Email Integration: Sync emails with client records for a comprehensive communication history. This is particularly useful for tracking conversations about design revisions or specification changes. 
• Mobile App: Mobile app allows users to access client information and update project status on the go, making it perfect for sales reps visiting client sites or managers overseeing production.
• Scheduler: Coordinate customer meetings, press checks, and delivery times efficiently.
• Integration with Web-to-Print Platforms: Connect Pipedrive with popular web-to-print solutions to automatically create deals from online orders.

Industry-Specific Benefits

• Improved Quote Follow-up: Use Pipedrive’s activity reminders to ensure timely follow-up on sent quotes, potentially increasing your quote-to-order conversion rate.
• Enhanced Production Planning: The visual pipeline can help production managers anticipate upcoming jobs and plan resources accordingly.
• Simplified Reorders: Easily access past order details to quickly process reorders for repeat customers, improving efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Pricing 

• Essential: $14.90/user/month
• Advanced: $24.90/user/month
• Professional: $49.90/user/month
• Enterprise: $99.90/user/month.

4. Zoho CRM

Zoho, known for its range of features tailored to small and medium-sized businesses, is a cost-effective and scalable option among CRMs for the printing industry, making it well-suited for many printing companies.

Features for Printing Companies 

• Blueprint: Design and automate complex printing project workflows. Create custom processes for different print jobs, ensuring consistency and efficiency.
• Zia AI Assistant: Get AI-powered insights and predictions about your sales and customers. Use it to forecast busy periods, optimize pricing, or identify potential upsell opportunities.
• Inventory Management: Track paper stock, ink levels, and other printing supplies. Set up automated reorder points to ensure you never run out of essential materials.
• Multi-Channel Communication: From one platform, engage with customers across email, phone, and social media. This is particularly useful for managing artwork approvals and addressing urgent client requests.
• Custom Reports and Dashboards: Create reports specific to the printing industry, such as job profitability, machine utilization, or customer reorder rates. 
• Zoho Sign Integration: Streamline the process of getting approvals on proofs or signing off on large print orders. 

Industry-Specific Benefits  

• Improved Job Costing: Use Zoho CRM’s custom fields and reporting to track the actual costs of each print job, helping you refine your pricing strategy.
• Enhanced Customer Segmentation: Utilize Zoho’s segmentation tools to group customers by industry, print volume, or preferred services, allowing for more targeted marketing efforts.
• Streamlined Vendor Management: Use Zoho CRM to manage relationships with paper suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and other vendors crucial to your printing operations. 

Pricing 

• Free: Up to 3 users
• Standard: $14/user/month
• Professional: $23/user/month
• Enterprise: $40/user/month
• Ultimate: $52/user/month

5. Freshsales

Features for Printing Companies

• Freddy AI: Get AI-assisted lead generation and deal insights. Use it to identify which leads are most likely to convert or which existing customers might be ready for a larger print order.
• Time-Based Workflows: Automate follow-ups and task assignments based on project timelines. Set reminders for artwork submission deadlines or automate check-ins for long-running print projects.
• Custom Reports: Create reports specific to printing KPIs, such as ink usage, machine utilization, or job profitability by print type.
• WhatsApp Integration: Communicate with clients through their preferred channels. This can be particularly useful for quick proof approvals or updates on urgent print jobs.
• Deal Pipelines: Create multiple pipelines for different types of print jobs (e.g., business cards, brochures, large format printing) to manage various workflows better.
• Freshdesk Integration: Seamlessly connect your CRM with customer support to efficiently manage print quality issues or delivery queries.

Industry-Specific Benefits  

• Improved Lead Quality: Freddy AI’s lead scoring can help you focus on the most promising opportunities, potentially increasing your sales team’s efficiency.
• Enhanced Customer Communication: Use the multi-channel communication features to keep clients updated on their print jobs, reducing inquiry calls and improving satisfaction.    
• Optimized Pricing Strategy: Use the custom reporting features to analyze the profitability of different types of print jobs, helping you refine your pricing strategy.

Pricing 

• Free: Basic features for unlimited users
• Growth: $15/user/month
• Pro: $39/user/month
• Enterprise: $69/user/month

6. Monday.com

While best known as a project management tool, Monday.com also offers robust CRM capabilities, making it a practical choice among CRMs for the printing industry for companies aiming to manage customer relationships and production workflows on a single platform.

Features for Printing Companies 

• Visual Workflow Management: Create boards for different printing processes and track progress visually. Set up columns for stages like “Design,” “Prepress,” “Printing,” and “Finishing” to get a bird’s-eye view of all ongoing projects.
• Customizable Templates: Use pre-built templates or create custom ones for various printing projects. Develop templates for typical jobs like business cards, brochures, or large-format printing to ensure consistency and save time.
• Time Tracking: Monitor time spent on printing tasks for accurate billing and resource allocation. This can help identify bottlenecks in your production process and improve efficiency.
• Integrations: Connect with design tools like Adobe Creative Suite for seamless workflow. Automatically update job statuses when files are uploaded or approved.
• Automation: Set up automated notifications for upcoming deadlines, low inventory alerts, or when a job moves to the next production stage.
• Client Portal: Give clients limited access to view the status of their print jobs, reducing the need for status update calls and emails.

Industry-Specific Benefits  

• Improved Project Visibility: Monday.com’s visual nature can help printing companies better manage multiple jobs simultaneously, reducing delays and improving on-time delivery rates.
• Enhanced Team Collaboration: Use Monday.com’s communication features to improve coordination between sales, design, production, and shipping teams and ensure smooth departmental handoffs.
• Efficient Resource Allocation: The time tracking and workload view features can help you better allocate staff and equipment resources across various print jobs. 

Pricing 

• Individual: Free for up to 2 seats
• Basic: $8/seat/month
• Standard: $10/seat/month
• Pro: $16/seat/month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing 

Why Is HubSpot the Right Choice for Your Printing Business? 

Among the various CRMs for the printing industry, HubSpot distinguishes itself for several compelling reasons:

• All-in-One Platform: HubSpot’s integrated approach encompasses marketing, sales, and customer service, providing a unified view essential for managing your printing business efficiently.
• Scalability: HubSpot offers a range of plans, from free to enterprise-level, ensuring it can scale alongside your business as it grows.
• User-Friendly Interface: HubSpot’s intuitive design allows for quick mastery, meaning less time spent on training and more time on productive activities.
• Robust Reporting: HubSpot delivers comprehensive insights into your sales pipeline, marketing efforts, and customer satisfaction, all from a single platform.
• Continuous Innovation: HubSpot continually enhances its platform with new, often AI-driven features, ensuring your printing business remains at the forefront of technology.

77% of HubSpot users have reported improved customer relationships within their first year of use, underscoring its effectiveness in transforming approaches to customer management in the printing industry.

Selecting the right CRM is a pivotal decision that affects your business’s operational efficiency, customer relationships, and, ultimately, your bottom line. HubSpot stands out as a leader in this critical area, offering tools and features that align well with the printing industry’s needs and challenges.

Transform Your CRM Strategy with INSIDEA’s HubSpot Services

As a HubSpot Diamond Solutions Partner, we take pride in assisting you in streamlining your HubSpot efforts. With our best-in-class marketing, sales, and service solutions, we help you scale exponentially. INSIDEA’s HubSpot Specialists have the required in-depth knowledge and can provide expert guidance on how to use the platform to meet your business needs. 

Explore the range of services we offer:  

• HubSpot Onboarding: Seamless onboarding process to get your team up to speed and fully integrated with all HubSpot features.
• HubSpot Management: Ongoing management ensures your HubSpot environment runs at peak efficiency.
• HubSpot Migration: Smooth and secure migration services that protect your data and enhance your CRM capabilities.
• HubSpot White-Label Solutions: Exclusive white-label services tailored to your brand, allowing you to offer branded HubSpot solutions.

Get in touch today to learn more about how INSIDEA can help you succeed!

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