Here’s the hard truth: many businesses adopt a CRM in a rush, either because they feel pressured to keep up with competitors or assume it’s a plug-and-play solution requiring no preparation.
In reality, using a CRM without proper training can quickly turn into chaos. An untrained team can create inefficiencies and miss out on the benefits a CRM is supposed to deliver.
Think of it like giving someone a car without driving lessons – it might move, but not without stress, frustration, or accidents along the way. The same goes for a CRM. Without the right knowledge, it’s more of a burden than a solution.
Today, we’ll walk you through the best CRM training for 2025 – and beyond.
When CRM training is needed?
Onboarding new employees
This is one of the most common scenarios. New hires need CRM training as soon as they join – or, even better, before their start date! CRM basic training prepares them to understand the system's core functionality and ensures their productivity from day one. A CRM-focused onboarding program lays the groundwork for faster adaptation to the new role.
Launching a new CRM system
Just because The fact that you’ve used one CRM doesn’t mean you know everything’ll never need training again. Even seasoned users can struggle with unfamiliar interfaces, restructured workflows, or new features that change daily operations. Without proper training, small hurdles can snowball into bigger productivity issues. Starting the training early – before launch or immediately after – helps your team hit the ground running.
Identifying skill gaps and performance issues
Is your sales team missing leads because data isn’t entered correctly? Or struggling to pull reports from your CRM? These small cracks in performance may seem minor at first, but over time, they can lead to lost opportunities. Don’t wait for the problems to compound.! If your teams are falling behind or failing to meet sales performance benchmarks, it’s a clear sign that targeted CRM training is needed.
Refreshing your the knowledge
Even the best CRM users need a refresher now and then. These sessions help your team brush up on their skills, learn about system updates, and fine-tune their work.
Best CRM training courses
With so many CRM training courses out there, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the options. From quick lessons to in-depth programs, the choices can be endless – but not all of them are worth your time or money. That’s why we’ve curated a list of top-notch courses that stand out.
Customer Relationship Management [Starweaver/Coursera]
Coursera is packed with courses, so it’s no surprise they offer a great one on CRM. The 'Customer Relationship Management' course, created by Starweaver and taught by Julian Jenkins, is perfect for beginners who want to learn the basics of CRM strategies.
This course covers essential topics like data-driven approaches, customer segmentation, loyalty programs, and sales optimization. With about 9 hours of self-paced content, you can fit it into your schedule easily. It includes video lectures, exercises, and interactive quizzes to make learning engaging and practical.
The best part? It’s free to join, and you’ll receive a certificate when you finish – an excellent addition to your professional toolkit.
Rating: 4.6 (160+ reviews)
CRM: Customer Relationship Management [Udemy]
If you’re looking for a CRM course with a sales-focused edge, the 'CRM: Customer Relationship Management' course on Udemy is worth checking out. Taught by Expert Academy and Lahcen Bouya, this training brings closer strategies to drive repeat business. There are many reviews that indicate this is a perfect CRM course for beginners.
What sets this CRM training apart is its practical approach. You’ll learn to avoid common CRM pitfalls, craft proactive strategies, and create a personalized plan to strengthen customer relationships – all with sales in mind. The course includes 1 hour and 39 minutes of concise content spread over 7 sections, 19 lectures, and comes with 13 downloadable resources you can refer to anytime.
Designed to fit into a busy schedule, it’s accessible on various devices. After finishing the course, you'll receive a certificate of completion. It is currently available for $249.
Rating: 4.5 (2600+ reviews)
Customer Relationship Management [Great Learning]
For a quick, clear, and practical introduction to CRM, Great Learning's 'Customer Relationship Management' course is a standout choice. Perfect for beginners, it offers a free and engaging way to explore key CRM concepts, processes, and real-life applications.
In just 1.5 hours, this course covers CRM basics, communication strategies, relationship management techniques, and the role of excellent customer service. The course emphasizes real-world applications – how to use CRM principles to improve customer satisfaction and retention. It’s quick, free, and packed with actionable insights to help you succeed.
You’ll also test your knowledge with a quiz and earn a certificate, making it a valuable credential for professionals in sales, marketing, and customer service – or anyone looking to sharpen their customer-centric skills.
Rating: 4.6 (106k+ learners)
Customer Relationship Management for Marketers [edX/IIMB]
Sometimes, the most off-putting part of training is the time commitment or lack of structure – but this course balances both beautifully. The 'Customer Relationship Management for Marketers' program, offered by the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) through edX, provides a well-organized, strategic approach to using CRM.
Spanning three months, this self-paced course requires just 3–5 hours of weekly effort, making it manageable for busy professionals. It’s split into two key modules:
- Marketing Essentials (5 weeks): covers foundational marketing theories with real-world applications
- Customer Relationship Management (6 weeks): focuses on building customer relationships, retention strategies, and maximizing profitability
The expert instructors, Ashis Mishra and Shainesh G, combine strategic and tactical insights. For $340.20, you also gain a professional certificate that adds weight to your resume.
You’ll not only learn marketing concepts but also interpret industry applications, develop relationship-focused strategies, and learn CRM tools – all at your own pace.
Customer Service + KYC & AML with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Diploma [Reed Courses/Training Edge]
What if you could gain practical CRM skills, compliance knowledge, and customer service expertise – all for just £13? The ‘Customer Service + KYC & AML with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Diploma’ from Reed Courses offers incredible value with a self-paced, on-demand program that’s packed with flexibility.
With five interconnected courses totaling 10.4 hours, this bundle covers CRM processes, customer engagement strategies, and key compliance topics like KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering). Each course builds on the last.
You’ll earn five certificates, including a Reed Courses Certificate of Completion, and enjoy free MCQ exams with unlimited retakes.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) with Customer Service & Retail Management [Reed Courses/Study Hunt]
The 'Customer Relationship Management (CRM) with Customer Service & Retail Management' course is a practical and accessible option for anyone aiming to expand their career in CRM, customer service, or retail management.
5.3 hours of content cover a well-rounded introduction to CRM fundamentals, customer service strategies, and retail management essentials. It includes 3 CPD-certified materials, too.
For just £22, you’ll enjoy lifetime access to the content, 24/7 tutor support, and resources designed to help you stand out in competitive job markets. It's an affordable yet comprehensive option for beginners to start their CRM journey.
Customer Care Strategies for a New Business [FutureLearn/The University of Adelaide]
While not a CRM training course per se, the 'Customer Care Strategies for a New Business' course has been reviewed and recommended by many CRM specialists for its practical approach to customer care. In just four weeks, with only one hour of study per week, this course will teach you how to identify customer needs using personas and stakeholder mapping.
You’ll learn to develop retention strategies by understanding customer feedback and complaints, use business analytics to gain insights for better decision-making, and grasp the basics of business contracts, including legalities and risk mitigation.
The course offers flexible learning so you can study at your own pace with premium access to articles, videos, and quizzes. For just $134, you’ll gain expert-led instruction and earn a certificate of achievement upon completion.
Professional Diploma in CRM Platforms Management [Udemy/MTF Institute]
Got only two hours to learn the basics of CRM and start applying it? The ‘Professional Diploma in CRM Platforms Management’ by MTF Institute teaches how to use CRM tools to improve processes and customer interactions.
The course features lessons and real-world examples from industries like retail banking. You’ll learn to build digital channels, handle service claims, or apply CRM systems for cross-selling.
For $7.99 during the flash sale, you’ll get lifetime access, resources to download, and a certificate of completion. This course delivers what you need to start seeing results fast!
Rating: 4.0 (870+ reviews)
Conclusion
With so many CRM training options available – and some courses taking just a few hours – there are no excuses to skip upgrading your skills. The right training can change how your team seals deals in 2025!
The courses above offer practical, accessible ways to tackle CRM challenges head-on. When you're ready to put your knowledge into action, Capsule CRM is the perfect platform to support your efforts. It combines customer management, sales tracking, and collaboration into one intuitive tool!
Take the first step toward seamless CRM today with Capsule’s free trial.
