Industry-Specific CRM Vs. General Use CRM: How to Choose?

Now that you understand the difference between general use and industry-specific CRMs, I’ll highlight various systems designed for specific industries.

I’ll also highlight niche features that distinguish these industry-specific CRMs from others. 

Real Estate CRM

Real estate CRMs offer various tools and features for managing property transactions and monitoring listings. 

Additionally, these CRMs help real estate agents and brokers manage leads.

These systems help industry professionals with their marketing needs, allowing agents to manage their leads via email, online ads, social media, and phone.

Key Real Estate CRM Features

Some highly specialized features a real estate-specific CRM offers include the following:

• Document management tools
• Various loan origination software
• Email marketing tools
• Integrations with real estate platforms (including Zillow, Trulia, and PropertyRadar)
• Tools to manage multiple properties from one location

Checkout our full list of the Best Real Estate CRMs! 

Insurance CRM

An industry-specific CRM for insurance agencies is designed for independent insurance agents, brokers, and insurance firms.

The tools meet the industry’s specific processes, like nurturing leads, tracking new leads, and managing policies and insurance plans. 

An insurance CRM automatically includes software that ensures your team follows the rules and regulations related to the industry.

Key Insurance CRM Features

An insurance CRM includes essential features like:

• Lead distribution software
• Agent/rep productivity reports
• Lead nurturing tools
• Deal tracking
• Policy management
• Logs for emails and meetings
• Call center features
• Pipeline automation tools
• Automated workflows

CRM software for insurance agencies keeps customer data organized while providing in-depth reports, ensuring companies make data-driven decisions. 

Checkout the Best Insurance CRMs we’ve tested. 

Law Firm CRM

CRMs for law firms include several advantages, including a deeper look into customer needs, accurate time tracking, and easier marketing.

Also, these industry-specific CRMs lead to fewer errors in communication because client details are centralized.

Key Law Firm CRM Features

Some essential CRM features to look for if you run a law firm include:

• Advanced email templates
• Calendar integration
• Billing integration
• Robust search functionality
• Document storage capabilities
• eSignature
• Time tracking
• Data security

See our (tested) list of Best Law Firm CRMs! 

Construction CRM

Industry-specific CRM software for businesses in the construction industry includes easy-to-use templates for work estimates and proposals.

These systems include mobile CRM capabilities, ensuring your team can access information and forms regardless of whether in the office or at a job site. 

A construction CRM offers features designed specifically for businesses that work in multiple locations throughout the month.

Therefore, mobile apps and off-site accessibility are critical features.

Key Construction CRM Features

Some of the features associated with CRMs for the construction industry include the following:

• Job site picture sharing
• Templates for work estimates
• Tools to manage contract leads
• Integrations with accounting software like QuickBooks (invoicing, payment processing, and budgeting automation)
• Tools to manage bids and construction projects

If you run a business that handles carpentry, demolition, plumbing, electric work, restoration, welding, or any other construction-related work, these CRMs are ideal!

Accounting CRM

Accounting CRMs help bookkeepers, accountants, and financial service staff manage invoicing and billing more efficiently.

These software systems also ensure company information is stored in a centralized platform, ensuring maximum efficiency and organization. 

One of the most popular companies for this industry-specific CRM is Zoho CRM.

Zoho is an advanced platform with features specifically helpful for accountants and bookkeepers.

Key Accounting CRM Features

Accounting CRM software systems require highly specialized features, including the following:

• Invoicing and billing templates
• Invoice creation
• Payment processing
• Tax computations
• Access to open balances
• Subscription management
• Payment reminders
• Financial report generation
• User-generated quotes, invoices, and purchase orders
• Product inventory creation
• Tools to manage customer interactions

As you can see, accounting CRMs are a cost-efficient business decision because they provide many industry-specific tools.

See our full (tested) list of Accounting CRMs!

Healthcare CRM

Healthcare CRMs are designed to simplify managing appointments, scheduling patient visits, and registering new patients.

These systems also help healthcare professionals manage insurance claims and other administrative tasks.

Therefore, they reduce tedious manual tasks while saving time and money.

Indsutry-specific CRMs for healthcare companies must be HIPAA-compliant, a feature general-use CRMs typically lack.

Key Healthcare CRM Features

Some features associated with this specific industry’s business needs include the following:

• Medical equipment management software
• Tools to streamline and manage healthcare operations
• Patient record management
• Software to protect patient record privacy
• Medical inventory tracking
• HIPAA-compliant appointment scheduling and reminder features
• Business process automation design
• Customer service tools

Healthcare CRMs usually have higher security standards than general-use CRMs because they manage patient medical and insurance information. 

Checkout our Best CRM for Healthcare list! 

Call Center CRM

Call center CRMs provide numerous time-saving features, including robust telephony functionalities that track and make business calls. 

One of the best call center industry-specific CRM platforms is Freshsales.

Freshsales is a cloud-based CRM with tools that address specific business needs like call recording, call masking, and in-app calling abilities.

With Freshsales, users can purchase local and toll-free numbers based on location.

Key Call Center CRM Features

CRMs for these particular business types include the following features:

• Call tracking and recording
• Lead management
• Contact management tools
• Voice-over-internet-protocol level in-app calling
• Call routing
• Workflow automation
• Contact profile enrichment
• Call analytics and reports

These niche businesses benefit from an industry-specific CRM because they don’t need to integrate numerous third-party apps.

Instead, the tools call centers demand are included in their monthly rate.

Property Management CRM

These CRMs help property management firms handle multiple properties within their portfolios, including occupants and tenants. 

One of the leading CRMs that meet property management needs is Really Simple Systems.

This CRM is perfect for property managers with immense industry knowledge but little technical know-how.

Really Simple Systems is easy to use while offering advanced organization and customization options.

Key Property Management CRM Features

Essential features of property management CRMs streamline business operations. Some examples include the following:

• Payment collection software
• Lease contract management tools
• Lead generation
• Tools for managing customer applications
• Record filtering
• Task management
• Contact management
• Job site photo sharing

We’ve got you covered if you’re looking for a list of the Best CRMs for Property Managers! 

Non-Profit CRM

Non-profit CRMs assist charities and non-governmental organizations with raising money and managing donor campaigns.

Look for features that assist with event planning and in-depth reporting if you require this type of industry-specific CRM. 

In-depth reports and analytics give you a clear picture of donor activity and event-related data.

That way, you know what events raise the most money and areas where you need to improve.

Key Non-Profit CRM Features

Some of the common features included in non-profit CRM software include the following:

• Data and analytics on existing and prospective donors
• Grant management tools
• Tools that help manage event-based projects
• Contact and donor information database
• A history of customer interactions
• Financial transaction history
• Cost estimation development tools
• Email marketing
• Tools for fundraising
• Donor management

We’ve made a list if you’re looking for the Best CRM for Non-Profits! 

Hospitality CRM

Industry-specific CRMs for businesses in hospitality services provide features and tools that engage potential customers, perform scheduling functions, and manage event-based projects. 

Some examples of companies that use these CRMs include hotels, catering, and restaurant businesses.

One example is CaterZen, specifically designed for catering and restaurant companies.

CaterZen has delivery features, a customizable interface, and loyalty programs, ensuring businesses generate revenue and retain customers.

Key Hospitality CRM Features

Some of the most common features associated with hospitality CRM systems include the following:

• Delivery schedule reporting
• Lead management
• Sales and marketing activities
• Driver tracking
• Order intake software
• Email campaigns
• Reservation scheduling
• Event management

Fitness and Wellness CRM

CRMs for health or wellness services streamline daily tasks like scheduling and inventory.

That way, your staff can focus more on what they care most about!

One of the leading software systems for fitness and wellness companies is PushPress. PushPress is an all-in-one tool that automates routine tasks and scheduling while allowing users to create personal training sessions for their clients.

Key Fitness & Wellness CRM Features

An industry-specific CRM application in the fitness and wellness field typically includes the following features:

• Membership tracking
• Inventory monitoring for exercise-related products
• Integrations
• Leading tracking software
• Member data organization
• Payroll processing

Some fitness and wellness CRMs even have customer service-related reports so you can analyze satisfaction rates and improve your members’ experiences.

Beauty CRM

CRMs tailored for the beauty and salon industry make managing a business easier than you imagine.

Rather than using various systems for payroll, rent management, etc., these CRMs meet the demands for specialty trades business operations. 

The most popular CRM for salons, spas, and tattoo parlors is Varago because it offers a centralized solution for users.

Key Beauty CRM Features 

Industry-specific CRMs in the beauty industry typically have the following features:

• Scheduling bookings
• Low transaction fees
• Product inventory tracking
• Tools for managing rewards programs
• Marketing mechanisms for social media, email, and SMS
• Customer profile management
• Payroll and rental fee management