What is a CRM?

Written by Tom Stansfield on 25th January 2022

In the estate planning industry there are lots of acronyms like PPT or LPA and we’ve chosen to focus on another one today - CRM. Only this time, CRM is not synonymous with the estate planning industry.


A CRM is also known as a Customer Relationship Management tool or system. It’s also called a Client Management System or Case Management System. 


What’s the difference and what do they do?

In real terms, not a lot. A CRM enables you to track and hold client data securely. They are designed to ensure that you don’t miss opportunities, track client journeys, are able to communicate effectively with clients, and that data is held securely. 


Why is this relevant?

In the estate planning profession, whether you are a solicitor, accountant, financial adviser or a Will writer, it’s vital that you take steps to manage your business effectively. Knowing where every client is within a client journey, being able to automate communication, being able to brand properly, tracking conversations and building your business or department is key. This is what a CRM does for you.


Does WillSuite offer a CRM?

The short answer is yes. WillSuite is a CRM. It is also a more than capable document drafting solution built in offering the flexibility of drafting and a CRM in one affordable package.


Why choose WillSuite over other ‘off the shelf’ CRM packages?

It’s crucial to understand that other CRM systems do exist. Examples include Hubspot which offers a *free CRM but the key difference is that the team at WillSuite built it specifically for practitioners in our profession so legal professionals have all of the tools they need at their fingertips. Our system has been described as a ‘business in a box’ and has lots of custom tools to enable you to grow your practice or department.


*If you would like additional features within Hubspot they are packaged and will cost.


Can’t I just use a spreadsheet?

Lots of people do opt for this solution to act as a CRM and it’s an adequate way to retain client data but it doesn’t provide the benefits of data security or automation that come from cloud-based solutions like WillSuite. 


Can I trial WillSuite?

Absolutely and we wouldn’t have it any other way. We want to ensure that anyone signing up to our transparent software license has had a chance to get to grips with it and knows what it’s capable of. That’s why we provide you with a free 14 day trial to put it through its paces. Better still, during that trial you’re entitled to support from our team and can take us up on an offer of a 1-2-1 demonstration. Then, if you like it and want to proceed, add your card details and sign up on a rolling monthly contract - no ties and no lengthy contract.


What is the training and support like?

We are biased. We hand pick our team and have a friendly group of support staff to help you navigate the system and to provide responses to any queries, but don’t just take our word for it. We have included a link to our YouTube channel HERE where we have a number of client testimonials from real life system users. Feel free to reach out to them to get their opinion. 

If that’s not enough, check out our Google Reviews, again from real users who have experienced and who use our software.


If you have any questions about WillSuite, reach out to our team: [email protected]