Table of Contents
Welcome to the second post in my series on The Ultimate Guide to Understanding and Building Your Own Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. In this post, we will delve into the process of setting up databases and workflow procedures for your CRM using Glide. We will begin by discussing the advantages of using Glide to build a CRM, such as its affordability and unique features in comparison to other platforms.
Then, we will cover how to start building with Glide, including creating new apps and tables. We will also provide examples how to quickly create screens for the tables.
Finally, we will discuss how to set up actions in Glide to execute processes and workflows, including status changes, notifications, and integrations. By the end of this post, you will have a solid understanding of how to use Glide to set up your own CRM database and workflow processes.
Why Is Glide A Good Solution For Building A CRM?
🚀 Glide is an excellent platform for building a CRM for several reasons. First, it is cost-effective since you can start building for free without any coding knowledge. Glide offers paid plans that are more affordable than other options in the market (for $99/month you can get up to 50 users on your CRM, as opposed to paying for individual user licenses as is the norm with other platforms).
🚀 Glide apps are fully responsive, meaning that they are designed to function seamlessly on any device. This feature is essential as it eliminates the need to create separate apps for both web and mobile platforms, saving time and effort.
🚀 Glide provides an impressive number of data rows, offering up to 10 million rows in contrast to other no-code platforms such as Airtable. This is particularly advantageous when constructing a CRM since an ample amount of data rows is necessary to store the customer data effectively.
🚀 Streamlining workflows is an essential requirement for any CRM, and Glide makes it effortless with built-in integrations to a variety of tools, including Zapier, Slack, Stripe, Google Calendar, Gmail, and more. By leveraging these integrations and Actions, you can extend the functionality of your CRM, simplify your workflow, and save valuable time.
How To Get Started
Step 1. Create Your Database
In this post, I’ll guide you on how to build a CRM on Glide with Google Sheets as your database. I would recommend building on Glide Tables, however, most people are very familiar with Google Sheets, so let’s use Sheets as a data source. (Refer to the previous post on Identifying Your Customer Information Needs to learn what to include.)
Step 2. Create a New App
To create an app based on your data, simply open Glide and create a new app (Glide Page) with Google Sheets as your data source. Glide will do the rest and work its magic to build your app!
Glide makes it easy to create screens for your tables quickly. When you create a table, Glide automatically creates a screen for it. You can then customize the screen by adding text, images, buttons, and more.
Step 3. Configure Your Workflow
Once you have set up your tables and screens, you can start setting up actions in Glide to execute processes and workflows. For example, you might set up a lead conversion process that creates a customer based on lead qualification criteria.
That’s it. You now have your own custom CRM, built in three easy steps. Try it out! Here are some sample processes you can build:
- Send Slack message once a lead converts
- Send Push Notification to user on lead conversion
Conclusion
Building a CRM can be a game-changer for your business, allowing you to manage your customer interactions more efficiently and effectively. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create the foundation for a robust CRM that will serve as the backbone of your business. In the next post, we will explore how to take your CRM to the next level by importing data from other systems, creating reports to gain valuable insights into your customer interactions and inviting users to your CRM. With the right tools and strategies in place, you can streamline your workflow, increase productivity, and achieve your business goals.
📞 If you have any questions, feel free to connect with me.
This post is second in a series written as part of the Glide Community Writers Cohort.
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