This past January 18, an “Ask me anything” took place during which we presented our brand-new CRM software: Webmecanik Pipeline. Participants in this webinar were able to watch a demonstration of the software by Norman Pracht, Managing Director and Partner, and were then able to ask all of their questions about it.
We are offering you a summary of all the information that was shared during this webinar.
Why launch a CRM?
For two reasons: the first is that it is the next step after Webmecanik Automation. How do you work on hot leads? How do you alert sales teams about opportunities? How do you work on customer loyalty? How do you work on up/cross-selling scenarios? The CRM is the solution.
The second reason is to offer a solution designed by salespeople for salespeople. A 100% GDPR-compliant marketing automation + CRM package so you can focus exclusively on tracking opportunities and leads with software that is simple, intuitive, and integrated into your environment. The goal is for your salespeople to become better through the use of easy-to-use software where all important information is right at their fingertips.
Why is it free?
It is free because the software is only in its early stages. We are going to add many features, and we believe the full offering will arrive within 6 months. By then, we will have put in place the entire first functional block, namely: an API, web acquisition forms, a connection to Webmecanik Automation, dashboards, filtered views, integration with Google and Outlook Calendar, as well as integration with your mailbox so that every email sent to your prospect is added to the contact history.
We are still going to keep a free offer, forever, which will include the CRM’s basic features.
We are positioning ourselves with a freemium offering to provide a serious alternative to the American giants and address issues related to GDPR compliance and data hosting.
Is your CRM software based on open source technology?
No, unlike Webmecanik Automation, which is based on the open source Mautic technology (of which we are the world’s leading contributor). Our CRM software is based on technology & intellectual property that we acquired and then developed. You can find all this information in our press release from January 10.
Have you put in place self-service onboarding on Webmecanik Pipeline? Isn’t the FAQ a bit too limited to get started?
No, unlike our Webmecanik Automation software, Webmecanik Pipeline is much easier to get to grips with, given its functional scope, with an intuitive and modern interface. You will be able to navigate on your own quite easily. To help you, there is indeed an FAQ that is well designed and well documented.
In the coming weeks, onboarding campaigns will begin to appear. As you continue using it, you will receive tips and best practices. You will soon find on Webmecanik Academy a training path for Webmecanik Pipeline, developed with instructional designers and our training team. All our training courses are delivered within the framework of our Qualiopi certification.
What is your positioning with regard to your CRM vendor partners?
Our Webmecanik Automation software is integrated with a number of CRMs, notably French ones, which tend to position themselves more in the ERP market (billing management, inventory, project management, etc.). If today we are launching our own CRM, it is simply because we are not in the same market. Our software is much lighter, with simple onboarding and able to be used independently within a team. Our CRM software does not address the same need.
What are your goals for synchronization with Webmecanik Automation?
The idea is to offer the most complete integration on the market. We want salespeople to be able to find the contact’s entire history in the CRM interface, the web pages visited, submitted forms, documents viewed, etc. All the useful information for a sales conversation or during a negotiation, so they can clearly understand the prospect’s or customer’s context and needs.
Regarding data synchronization triggers, it will be possible to send a contact into the CRM if they perform specific actions on your website or in automation scenarios. We can even go further by creating an “urgent” opportunity and assigning it to a specific salesperson based on their profile or behavior. It is a much more native and more advanced integration with the aim of helping salespeople perform better; that is our goal.
Is there a limited number of contacts that can be imported into Webmecanik Pipeline?
Today, there is no contact limit; when the paid offer becomes available, there will be a limit on the free account. We do not yet know what that limit will be, but the paid offer will be necessary for unlimited contact imports
Where is the data hosted?
The data is hosted, just like with our marketing automation software, in France. Replicated in different ways, technologically and across different locations. We still work with our partner OVH.
Can the software be used as a team?
Yes! It can be used as a team. That is, in fact, the very essence of a CRM. The software allows you to invite several collaborators, define several roles for them, and assign roles to different collaborators. The idea is that some collaborators should not have the same permissions as others. It is not impossible that, eventually, we will offer the possibility of creating team views with a different pipeline depending on the team; we will see in the coming months.
How do you divide your development teams between Webmecanik Pipeline and Webmecanik Automation? Will the time devoted to automation be reduced?
No, the time devoted to Webmecanik Automation will not be reduced. We acquired a CRM technology that we integrated. But to create a good integration and properly leverage these investments, you have to invest more! We therefore recruited two developers dedicated to this project and allocated an additional half-time role.
We also hired in marketing to create quality content for you. Sophie Panot (our Sales and Marketing Director) will take on the role of Product Owner. She will define the roadmap and functional needs. We also hired for the Webmecanik Automation team at the beginning of the year with two new positions.
Is it planned to integrate quote / order / project management?
Today, the idea is not to do project / order / quote management. We are not an ERP, but software designed for salespeople working on pre-sales and opportunity management. In the short term, we tend to say no, this is not where we want to position ourselves.
If we have questions, can we contact you?
Yes, you can always contact us. When you use the software, you have a chat / question module that will direct you to the FAQ, which will answer a good portion of your questions. In the event that you do not find an answer to your question, you have the option to send us a message. The same applies to sales-related questions. Use this module or contact us on our website https://webmecanik.com/contact.
While waiting for synchronization between automation and the CRM or between the CRM and calendars, would it be possible to set up a Zap with Zapier?
For the moment, no, since we do not have a connector with Zapier for Webmecanik Pipeline. Eventually, it will be available, just like the email & calendar part. These are features that will be available very soon.
How can we be informed about software updates, especially new features?
We invite you to follow our various social networks and subscribe to our newsletter (we promise, there is no spam!). You can even directly manage the information that interests you in your preference center. If you are registered in our database, go to your preference center at the bottom of the email and choose the topics that interest you.
How do you combine an ERP that integrates a not very ergonomic CRM module but allows you to create quotes, turn them into orders and projects, with a more user-friendly web solution that would therefore be oriented toward contact / opportunity management?
This is the feature that will be released in the next few days: the API part where we will be able to connect any application. For example, if you close a deal, the API sends information to that other ERP to create the contact and launch project management. The APIs will also be used to implement other features such as file exchange via intermediary servers.
We have answered all the questions asked in this AMA. If you would like to watch the replay of this webinar, click here
Your move!
