Hello, this is Matsubara, CRM Evangelist.

When you think, "I want to do something about customer management," there isn't actually just one option.

Broadly speaking
① High-performance CRM package
② General-purpose no-code/low-code tools
③ In-house development from scratch
④ No-code CRM like EMOROCO CRM Lite
There are four approaches.

Each person has their own distinct strengths and weaknesses.
This time, instead of mentioning specific competitor product names, we will compare these four categories themselves and organize the information needed to determine which one is best suited for your company.

A quick-to-understand comparison chart of 4 categories

① High-performance CRM in general — While they offer a wealth of features, they can sometimes be beyond one's capabilities.

The strength of our high-performance CRM for large corporations lies in its comprehensive coverage of all functions, from sales support and marketing to customer support.
It demonstrates a strong track record and stability in large organizations where complex approval flows and multi-layered access control are required.

On the other hand, both monthly and initial fees tend to be high, which is a weakness for small and medium-sized organizations, as they often end up paying high fees without using even 1% of the features.
Changing settings often requires specialized knowledge, and it's not uncommon to need to contact external vendors even for minor additions.

② General-purpose no-code/low-code tools in general — Offer high flexibility, but lack a foundation as a CRM.

In recent years, general-purpose no-code and low-code tools have become popular, and their appeal lies in their flexibility, allowing users to freely assemble tables and workflows.
Many of these systems are relatively affordable and are used in a variety of business systems across different industries.

However, these tools are merely "general-purpose boxes," and they do not come pre-built with the necessary CRM structures such as customer relationships, deals, and activity history, nor do they have standard sales process concepts.
To use it as a CRM, you need to design everything from scratch, including entity design, security roles, and sales process flow.
As a flip side to having freedom, there are cases where companies are unable to decide "what to create" and end up with an incomplete or half-finished product.

③ Development from scratch — A perfect fit, but carries future risks.

A system built from scratch to suit your company's specific business needs offers a level of fit that off-the-shelf products simply can't match.
However, it carries risks that quietly accumulate over time, such as reliance on individual developers, the accumulation of technical debt, and delays in responding to legal changes and security measures.
Regarding this point, previouslyFuture risks associated with our in-house scratch-built systemI explained it in detail there.

The high level of fit at the time of implementation and the high long-term maintenance risk are, in a sense, two sides of the same coin.

④ EMOROCO CRM Lite — Combining a CRM foundation with the flexibility of no-code.

EMOROCO CRM Lite is positioned within these four categories with the aim of achieving both "a standard foundation for CRM" and "flexible extensibility through no-code development."

• CRM standard functions such as customer, project, and activity management are included from the start (a strength not found in general-purpose no-code tools).
• You can freely add entities, fields, and forms, and it can accommodate industry-specific items (flexibility not found in high-end CRMs).
• It costs 1,500 yen per month and has no initial costs, eliminating the need for large upfront investments like those required for development from scratch.
• It also supports self-hosting, which helps reduce the risk of vendor lock-in.

Of course, it cannot cover all the complex business requirements of large corporations, nor does it offer the same "perfect fit" from the start as a custom-developed solution.
This is simply an option for small and medium-sized organizations to start using CRM in a way that suits their size and then develop it as needed.

Which category should I choose?

Finally, let's summarize the criteria for making a decision.

• In large companies with complex operational requirements and ample budgets: Suitable for all types of high-performance CRM systems.
• If you want to freely create anything, including business systems other than CRM.A general-purpose no-code/low-code tool is suitable.
• If you want to fully integrate it into your company's operations and can also secure a long-term maintenance system.: Development from scratch is suitable.
• If you want to have a foundation as a CRM, start at low cost, and grow flexibly.A no-code CRM like EMOROCO CRM Lite is suitable.

The best option will vary depending on your company's size, budget, and internal IT infrastructure.
I hope this article will be helpful in making that decision.

EMOROCO CRM Lite costs ¥1,500 per user per month (minimum 3 users) and has no initial setup fee, with a 30-day free trial.https://www.emoroco.com/You can check the actual user experience from here.
IT implementation subsidy eligible tool number: DL07-0022934.

We also offer a monthly newsletter, "ARCUS NEWS," which provides updates on EMOROCO CRM Lite and other useful information for CRM operations.
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Additionally, we publish useful articles about CRM 4.0 on note ( https://note.com/arcuss_crm ), so please check them out as well.

Related article

• Regarding the future risks associated with our in-house scratch-built system
• Because it's no-code, you can customize it to suit your company's needs – What are the customization features of EMOROCO CRM Lite?
• Self-hosting and Azure Configuration Guide