French CRM: everything you need to know

Whether you are looking for a solution designed by a French company, an interface entirely in French, or a sales CRM that scrupulously complies with regulations such as GDPR, this article will guide you through the best options available. We will also explore the benefits of choosing a local solution, alternatives to the American giants in the industry, as well as the specific characteristics of customer support in France. 🙂🇨🇵

Whether you are in the comparison phase, acquisition phase, or simply seeking information, you will find in this comprehensive resource all the answers to the questions you are asking about French CRMs.

‍Welcome to this very "cocorico" approach to customer relations! 🐓

‍And we kick off with a quick refresher. 

What does CRM mean in French?

The term "CRM" is an English acronym for Customer Relationship Management, which translates in French to Gestion de la Relation Client. A CRM software is a software solution that allows companies to manage their interactions with customers and prospects. In other words, it is a tool that centralizes all customer-related information (contacts, purchase histories, communications, etc.) to better understand their needs, personalize interactions, and improve customer satisfaction.

‍In this regard, the essential features of French CRMs are strictly the same as those of their foreign counterparts: 

• Interaction tracking with prospects and customers, across all channels;

• Task automation: sending emails, creating quotes, tracking sales opportunities;

• Data analysis: publishing dashboards and reports;

• Segmentation and targeting: forming specific customer groups for more targeted marketing campaigns;

• etc.

On the benefits side, French solutions are also up to the task, bringing you everything you can expect from a customer relationship management solution: 

1. Increased sales;

2. Improved customer relations;

3. Customer loyalty;

4. Time savings and efficiency;

5. Informed decision-making.

French CRMs have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, quite the contrary! And for equal, if not superior, quality, you will see that French solutions also hold up very well in terms of pricing! 

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Why use a French CRM?

Most of the big names in CRM offer a version in French for French-speaking users. French solutions are therefore not the only ones meeting this need. However, automatic translations are sometimes far from being universally appreciated.

And, as we will see throughout this article, it is important that the CRM has also been "designed" in French! 😉‍

Indeed, the 🇨🇵 market is special, and therefore demands special resources!

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CRMs designed for the French market

French CRMs generally stand out for their capacity to integrate features specific to the needs of the local market. 

💡 Example of adaptation to the local market

The Sidely SFA has developed reports and customized follow-up forms for French retail networks, whether they are supermarkets or hospitality networks (Cafés, Hotels, Restaurants). They are designed to capture relevant data adapted to the realities of French distributors.

The software also integrates a database comprising the entirety of French national supermarket distributors and points of sale. This exhaustive coverage allows users to benefit from a complete and precise view of market players, facilitating prospecting and the management of their business relationships.

‍This local approach not only improves the quality of the collected data but also makes sales and distribution processes more efficient and relevant for the French market.

‍Finally, French CRMs are the best positioned to design systems adapted to the regulatory or fiscal specificities of the local market. For example, in France, the sale of alcohol is subject to a specific tax: excise duty. To facilitate the invoicing of their hospitality clients, beverage brands therefore need a CRM designed for hospitality that integrates these specific invoicing models.

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Training and customer service in French

As much as we love SaaS software, finding yourself alone when purchasing a new online solution can make you nostalgic for the days when you were still supported by phone or in person.

‍Except... if you choose a French CRM! In that case, there will always be someone to help you purchase, install, and set it up. A trainer can even visit your premises to train your teams.

‍Besides, however thorough the publishers' FAQs may be, you may have specific needs regarding the customization of commercial fields, integration with a third-party application, or specific formatting of your reports.

‍Furthermore, choosing a French CRM generally allows you to benefit from customer support based in France, with hours adjusted to the French time zone. This proximity can translate into greater responsiveness and a better understanding of your issues.

Finally, when documentation is needed, it will not be the result of a machine translation, but of work carried out by experts in computer and technical translation in the French language.

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Local software ecosystem

French CRMs also stand out for their ability to integrate effectively with specifically French applications. These include the following: 

• Cegid, which offers financial and human resource management tools, is often integrated with CRMs for coherent management of financial processes and payroll. 

• Factomos, a French application specializing in billing and quote management, also connects with CRMs to simplify sales management. 

• Kiwili, an online management software for small French companies, includes accounting and billing features, and integrates with CRMs for smooth financial management. 

• Brevo (Sendinblue), the French champion of emailing and marketing automation, is often integrated to automate communications. Sendinblue is also considered a "marketing" type CRM.

• Aircall, an IP telephony software for businesses. 100% made in France, its integration with CRMs allows sales reps to increase productivity.

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Regulatory compliance

While international CRMs are generally compliant with various international regulations, French solutions natively evolve within the French legal environment.

It is particularly crucial to follow the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) obligations to the letter. Before opting for your new CRM, make sure that the solution in question will allow you to respect the following requirements:

• Obtain explicit consent: businesses must obtain clear and specific consent from users before collecting or processing their personal data.

• Ensure transparency: businesses must inform users about how their data is collected, processed, and used.

• Guarantee data security: CRMs must enable the implementation of technical and organizational measures to protect personal data against unauthorized access, loss, or theft.

• Manage individual rights: users have the right to access, rectify, delete, and transfer their data, and companies must be able to respond to these requests quickly.

• Notify data breaches: in the event of a personal data breach, businesses must notify the data protection authority and, in some cases, the individuals concerned, within 72 hours.

• Keep a record of processing activities: businesses must document all data processing activities to prove their compliance with the GDPR.

Contrary to popular belief, the CNIL does not force French companies to host their data in France, or even within the European Union*. However, it imposes strict rules on how the personal data of European citizens is collected, processed, and transferred. Companies can host personal data outside the EU, but they must ensure that the recipient country offers an adequate level of data protection, equivalent to that guaranteed by the GDPR.

* Certain sectors are subject to specific restrictions. This is the case for Defense, healthcare, or public services.

‍At Sidely, we have chosen to host all of our data within the French territory. Beyond the GDPR, we understand that this issue may be important to you. Companies may process sensitive data. The data on our servers does not leave France!

Reducing your digital footprint

Your company's digital footprint includes the environmental impact of its use of technology. This can be reduced by choosing local solutions. French data centers, for example, are subject to strict regulations regarding energy consumption and environmental efficiency, meaning that by choosing a French CRM, you contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly business model.

‍In addition, by favoring local solutions, you reduce your digital footprint by minimizing international data exchanges, which also contributes to lowering the carbon footprint associated with data hosting and transfer!

Supporting the local economy

Finally, you may be among those businesses that place a high value on the national and local economy. For you, choosing a French CRM represents a strong commitment. By opting for solutions developed and hosted in France, you demonstrate your commitment to supporting local employment and contribute to France's economic vitality.

If after all this, you haven't fallen in love with us yet, and want to see what our competitors are doing, no problem: we show an example of French solidarity below! 🤝

The best French CRM software

There are many "Made in France" CRMs. Here is a non-exhaustive list of software that can cover different needs. Note that there are different types of CRM, ranging from sales CRM to marketing CRM.