Not convinced that FollowUp CRM is the best fit for your construction business? You’re not alone.
While it’s a solid option, other CRMs might better suit your needs. CRMs that offer more flexibility, advanced features, or better scalability – all crucial when running a construction business.
If you're ready to explore what's out there, here are three top alternatives that could help you manage your projects and keep everything on track more effectively.
What is FollowUp CRM?
FollowUp CRM is a cloud-based software customer relationship management platform tailored for the construction industry. It helps construction contractors:
- manage sales processes
- track leads
- improve project management
- get more deals
- make informed business decisions.
Designed to meet the specific needs of contractors and construction professionals, FollowUp CRM improves organizational efficiency and supports business growth.
FollowUp CRM key features
Followup CRM has all the features you need to manage a construction business.
- Pipeline management: Track leads, bids, and sales opportunities
- Bid management and digital calendar: Organize and manage your bid submissions with a digital bid calendar
- Customizable dashboards and reporting: Gain insights into your sales performance with customizable dashboards and detailed reporting tools
- Contact and project management: Keep all your client interactions, from emails to meetings, organized under one platform
- Proposal generation: Create consistent, branded proposals directly within the CRM
- Outlook integration: Integrate with Outlook to track internal and external communication and synchronize calendar events
- Integration with construction software: FollowUp CRM integrates with other popular construction software like Foundation, Viewpoint, and Sage for a smooth data flow between platforms.
FollowUp CRM pricing
FollowUp CRM offers four plans:
Basic Plan
- Price: $4,500 annually
- Features: Includes training and basic CRM functionalities for up to 5 users.
Team Plan
- Price: Contact for pricing
- Features: Comprehensive CRM for construction companies with project tracking, all the reporting tools, follow-ups, reminders, and document storage.
Professional Plan
- Price: Contact for pricing
- Features: Includes everything in the Team Plan plus workflow automation, bulk emails, sequences, automated follow-ups, and Zapier integration.
Enterprise Plan
- Price: Custom pricing
- Features: Fully customizable CRM for construction contractors with shared customers, advanced permissions, ERP integration, and open API.
There is no free trial available, so you can't really try out the software easily. You'd need to schedule a demo with a representative instead.
And then there's the pricing concern. Unless you opt for the basic plan, you don't know how much you'll have to pay until after the demo call.
Why you should consider alternatives to FollowUp CRM
If you're contemplating alternatives to FollowUp CRM, you might already be aware of some of the challenges users have reported.
Even though FollowUp CRM has its strengths, particularly in project management, there are several areas where it falls short, which may lead you to consider other options.
Reporting issues
One of the most frequently mentioned problems is the inconsistency in reporting.
Users have noted that reports can be confusing, difficult to understand, and sometimes yield different results for the same data.
Additionally, reports can take a while to download, and errors may occur when running them.
These issues can be frustrating when you need reliable data to make informed decisions. GetApp
Limited CRM features
FollowUp CRM also appears to lack key contact management and CRM functionalities.
Users have pointed out that the software doesn’t integrate well with field sales, doesn’t provide a mobile app, and has issues with tracking the entire sales process.
It can be a significant drawback for teams that rely on comprehensive customer relationship management features to track leads effectively. GetApp
Customer support and practices
Some users have expressed concerns about customer service, citing unresponsiveness and unhelpful interactions.
Additionally, the platform’s cancellation policy has been described as problematic, with a 60-day cancellation notice requirement and a lack of transparency in the process. GetApp
Usability challenges
Finally, the software's usability is another area where it struggles.
From confusing dropdown choices that require training to non-customizable categories, the user experience can be less than intuitive.
These issues can lead to inefficiencies and a steeper learning curve for new users. GetApp
Given these issues, exploring alternatives to FollowUp CRM might be ideal.
If you need a more reliable, user-friendly, and fully-featured CRM solution for your construction company, read on!
Best alternatives to FollowUp CRM
#1 - Capsule CRM
Capsule CRM is an intuitive, easy-to-use CRM solution that’s perfect for construction companies looking to streamline their sales processes and manage customer relationships more effectively.
Capsule CRM helps you stay on top of your sales pipeline, track leads, manage contact details, and communicate easily with clients.
Designed with simplicity in mind, Capsule CRM allows you to focus on growing your business and closing deals without getting bogged down by unnecessary complexity.
Capsule CRM key features
- Sales pipeline management: Easily track leads and deals from initial contact to closure, ensuring nothing is missed
- Contact management: Organize all customer interactions and details in one place, making it easy to access and manage your relationships.
- Task management: Stay on top of deadlines with task assignments and reminders, ensuring your team remains productive.
- Customization: Tailor the CRM to fit your specific business needs with customizable fields and workflows.
- Integration capabilities: Connect Capsule to other tools you already use, such as Xero, Quickbooks, Transpond, and Zapier.
- Mobile accessibility: Access important information on the go with Capsule’s powerful mobile app, perfect for construction professionals who are often on the move.
Capsule CRM user reviews
Users love Capsule for its ease of use and flexibility. Many have noted how it simplifies lead tracking and enhances their ability to manage customer relationships.
The customizable features and integrations are frequently praised.
All of this makes it a favorite among those who want a straightforward yet powerful CRM solution.
But don't just take our word for it.
Check some of the G2 reviews below:
Why making the switch to Capsule is the right decision
Switching to Capsule CRM can be a turning point for your construction business. It provides the tools you need to manage your sales processes efficiently and effectively, all in one easy-to-use platform.
Capsule’s emphasis on simplicity doesn’t sacrifice functionality; instead, it offers exactly what you need to stay organized and focused on your sales goals.
Capsule CRM pricing
The pricing structure includes a free tier, which allows for up to 250 contacts and 50 MB of storage. This free CRM is perfect for small teams managing basic customer relationships without incurring costs.
For more advanced features, Capsule provides several reasonably priced paid plans:
- Starter Plan: Priced at $18 per user per month, this plan includes up to 30,000 contacts, one sales pipeline, and various project management tools
- Growth Plan: At $36 per user per month, you get extended capabilities to support 60,000 contacts and five sales pipelines, along with advanced sales reporting features
- Advanced Plan: For $54 per user per month, users gain access to 120,000 contacts, multiple project boards, and additional AI content assistance.
- Ultimate Plan: The highest tier at $72 per user per month, which includes everything in the Advanced plan plus a dedicated account manager and extensive customization options.
If you’re looking for a CRM that’s both powerful and easy to use, Capsule is a smart choice.
#2 - Pipedrive
In the construction industry, sales processes can be lengthy and complex. Pipedrive aims to simplify that through its visual pipelines.
Pipedrive is a CRM created to help sales teams and marketers manage pipelines, track deals, and close more deals efficiently.
It stands out for its intuitive, user-friendly interface that makes setting up and customizing sales pipelines a breeze.
Pipedrive key features
- Customizable sales pipelines
- Automated workflows
- Centralized communication hub
- Mobile app access
- Lead and deal management
- Task and calendar management
- Comprehensive reporting and analytics
- Pipedrive Marketplace integrations
Pipedrive pricing
- Essential Plan: Starts at €24 per user/month
- Advanced Plan: €44/user/month
- Professional Plan: €64/user/month
- Power Plan: €79/user/month
- Enterprise Plan: €129/user/month
Pipedrive pros
- Easy to use with an intuitive interface.
- Effective pipeline management that adapts to different sales campaigns.
- Strong email and calendar integration.
- Competitively priced for the features offered.
Pipedrive cons
- Integrations with third-party tools can be challenging, often requiring Zapier. G2
- Navigation between contacts can be cumbersome, with repetitive steps. G2
- A bit of a learning curve, especially for those less proficient in CRM software. G2
- It does not have a native Xero integration. G2
Pipedrive is a solid choice for teams seeking a straightforward, sales-focused CRM, but it may fall short for those needing extensive customization or smoother integrations.
#3 - HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM is an all-in-one platform that helps construction companies manage their sales processes, run field sales, and visualize their sales pipelines.
It’s perfect for teams looking to integrate sales, marketing, and customer service into one easy-to-use system. HubSpot’s standout feature is its real-time sales tracking and detailed reporting, which provide a clear view of your projects and help you close deals faster.
HubSpot CRM key features
- Real-time sales activity tracking
- Customizable deal pipelines
- Meeting scheduler and email templates
- Live chat and AI email writer
- Detailed reporting and sales analytics
- Unlimited data and contact management
- Deal pipeline and company insights
- Dashboard and reporting software
HubSpot CRM pricing
- Free Plan: Basic CRM features
- Starter Plan: $20/user/month
- Professional Plan: $100/user/month
- Enterprise Plan: $150/user/month
HubSpot CRM pros
- Great training academy with extensive resources
- Excellent customer support team
- Intuitive and easy to use
- Hundreds of integrations are available.
HubSpot CRM cons
- Marketing add-ons are very expensive, costing thousands of dollars
- Customization can be cumbersome. HubSpot doesn't always let you set everything how you'd like G2
- Workflows can be confusing and hard to set up G2
- UTM parameters sometimes get stripped from pageviews, which complicates tracking Capterra
- Geared more towards enterprises, it lacks options for smaller teams or solo users. G2
If you’re looking for a CRM that can scale with your construction business and provide comprehensive tracking, HubSpot CRM is worth a try—but be mindful of its pricing and complexity.
Conclusion
Sticking with FollowUp CRM isn’t your only option. If you’re ready for something that better fits your construction business’s needs, exploring alternatives like Capsule CRM might be the way to go.
Capsule offers simplicity, powerful integrations, and customization that can take your project management and sales tracking to the next level.
Don’t settle—find the CRM that works for you.
Give Capsule CRM a try today and see how it can transform your business!
