The post HubSpot vs. Salesforce: Which CRM is the best choice for medium-sized companies? first appeared in the online magazine BASIC thinking. With our newsletter UPDATE you can start the day well informed every morning.
Choosing the right CRM system is crucial for medium-sized companies. HubSpot and Salesforce are among the leading solutions – but they differ significantly in terms of operation, range of functions and price structure. Which CRM is the better choice for medium-sized businesses? The following comparison provides the most important answers.
HubSpot vs. Salesforce: Quick answer for medium-sized companies
What is HubSpot best for?
The HubSpot CRM is particularly suitable for medium-sized companies that value user-friendliness, quick implementation and comprehensive marketing functions. The platform offers an intuitive interface, numerous automations and can be flexibly scaled.
How is HubSpot different from Salesforce?
Salesforce is an extremely powerful, highly customizable CRM system that, above all for larger companies with complex requirements was developed. It offers a wide range of functions and integrations that enable companies to individually map almost any business process.
The platform is scalable and is particularly suitable for organizations with specialized teams that require tailored workflows, extensive automation and detailed reporting options. However, implementing and customizing Salesforce can be time-consuming and costly, which is why IT specialists or external consultants are often called in.
HubSpot, on the other hand, scores with one significantly easier to use, a modern and intuitive interface as well as transparent, often cheaper prices. The solution is particularly attractive for small and medium-sized companies that want to get started quickly with a CRM and work productively right from the start. HubSpot has a strong focus on inbound marketing, helping companies generate, nurture, and convert leads into customers.
The platform offers numerous pre-built tools and templates that allow you to get started quickly. In addition, many functions are already included in the basic packages, so there are no hidden costs. While Salesforce primarily focuses on maximum flexibility and adaptability, HubSpot impresses with its user-friendliness, quick success and a clear focus on marketing and sales.
Target groups and areas of application: Who is which CRM useful for?
HubSpot’s platform
- Ideal for growing medium-sized companies, agencies, service providers and B2B companies
- Strong inbound marketing and sales capabilities
- Particularly suitable for teams that want to closely integrate marketing and sales
- Get started quickly thanks to the intuitive interface and many templates
The Salesforce platform
- Designed for large companies, corporations and international teams
- Maximum adaptability and complex process mapping
- Strong integration with ERPaccounting and other business systems
- High scalability but longer implementation phase
Function comparison: HubSpot vs. Salesforce at a glance
| feature | HubSpot CRM | Salesforce CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Very intuitive, short training period | Powerful, but more complex to use |
| implementation | Quickly, often in just a few days | More complex, especially when it comes to customization |
| Marketing automation | Integrated, strong in inbound | Extensive, but additional modules necessary |
| Sales processes | Quickly and extensively customizable | Highly customizable, even for complex processes |
| integration | Over 2,000, open API | Lots of integrations, deep ERP connection |
| Reporting & Dashboards | Intuitive, lots of templates | Very flexible, highly customizable |
| Pricing structure | Freemium, scalable, transparent | License-based, often more expensive, complex |
| Support & Community | Strong, lots of resources specifically for SMEs | Enterprise support, large partner network |
| GDPR & Compliance | Fully fulfilled, EU hosting possible | Enterprise standards, extensive compliance options |
Onboarding and user-friendliness: The path to quick success
It is particularly important for medium-sized companies that New software is ready for use quickly and can be used by all employees without any problems. HubSpot impresses here with a particularly intuitive user interface, clear menus and numerous assistance directly in the platform. New users quickly find their way around, so the team can get started without lengthy training. Many functions are self-explanatory and can be set up using drag-and-drop.
Salesforce does offer one enormous range of functions and individual customization optionsbut usually requires a longer training period. The implementation is more complex and external consultants or an IT team are often necessary to optimally adapt the system to your own processes. For companies that want to see results quickly and work flexibly, HubSpot is often the more attractive choice in medium-sized businesses.
Practical example: Medium-sized company digitizes sales and marketing with HubSpot
Initial situation
The medium-sized mechanical engineering company “PumptecPreviously, leads and customers were maintained in Excel lists, offers were tracked manually and marketing campaigns were carried out using various tools.
Solution with HubSpot
With the introduction of HubSpot, all contacts, deals and marketing activities were managed centrally on one platform. New leads are now automatically captured, qualified and sorted according to relevance. Marketing and sales workflows automate follow-ups, offer sending and follow-ups. Dashboards show pipeline, completion rates and campaign success at a glance. The introduction only took a few days and the team was quickly trained.
Concrete results for Pumptec:
Pumptec was able to significantly optimize its sales process through digitalization with HubSpot. After the change, sales increased by 39 percent because the team was able to respond more quickly to customer inquiries and systematically track offers. Employees saved several hours a week through automated processes and customers praised the fast, transparent communication.
Practical example: Large companies rely on Salesforce for complex processes
Initial situation
An international technology group with multiple business units is looking for a CRM that enables complex sales processes, global workflows and deep ERP integration.
Solution with Salesforce
- Salesforce is individually adapted to the company processes.
- Sales, service and marketing work across countries on one platform.
- Data from ERP, accounting and support flow automatically into the CRM.
- Extensive automation and reports are displayed using specially developed modules.
Result
- Global transparency and controllability of all sales and service processes.
- High investment in implementation and ongoing customization, but maximum flexibility.
DACH focus: GDPR, data protection and local requirements
Data protection, GDPR compliance and integration with local systems (e.g. DATEV, SAP) are particularly crucial for medium-sized companies in the DACH region. HubSpot offers hosting in European data centers, flexible rights assignment and comprehensive compliance functions. Salesforce also meets the highest data protection standards, but is more complex to set up and often requires more IT know-how.
Value for money: How much does HubSpot cost, what does Salesforce cost?
The HubSpot CRM offers free entry and transparent, scalable pricing for additional features. For many medium-sized companies, the free or cheap packages are already sufficient.
Salesforce CRM works with modular, usually more expensive license models. The costs increase with customization and the number of users. For smaller teams, this can quickly become expensive.
Tip: Before making a decision, it is worth comparing the packages carefully and testing the most important functions.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about HubSpot and Salesforce in medium-sized businesses
Is HubSpot CRM suitable for growing businesses?
Yes, the platform is scalable and can be flexibly adapted to new requirements.
How quickly can I get started with HubSpot?
The setup usually only takes a few hours to days, and the first workflows and dashboards are quickly available.
Can I connect HubSpot and Salesforce to my existing tools?
Both systems offer numerous integrations with accounting, ERP and marketing tools.
How secure is my data?
Both HubSpot and Salesforce are GDPR compliant and offer European data centers.
When is Salesforce worthwhile?
For very large, international companies with highly complex processes and IT resources, Salesforce is often the best choice.
Conclusion: HubSpot vs. Salesforce – which is the best choice for medium-sized businesses?
HubSpot impresses medium-sized companies with its user-friendliness, quick start, strong marketing functions and transparent prices. It is particularly suitable for teams that want to closely integrate sales and marketing and value ease of use.
Salesforce is ideal for large, international companies with complex processes, individual requirements and the need for deep integration into corporate IT.
Recommendation:
For most medium-sized companies in the DACH region, HubSpot is the better choice – uncomplicated, powerful and future-proof. If you need maximum customization and enterprise features, consider Salesforce.
Try HubSpot for free for your business now
The post HubSpot vs. Salesforce: Which CRM is the best choice for medium-sized companies? first appeared on BASIC thinking. Follow us too Google News and Flipboard or subscribe to our newsletter UPDATE.
As a Tech Industry expert, I would say that both HubSpot and Salesforce are powerful CRM platforms that offer a wide range of features and capabilities. When it comes to choosing the best CRM for medium-sized businesses, it really depends on the specific needs and requirements of the business.
HubSpot is known for its user-friendly interface and robust marketing automation capabilities. It is a great choice for businesses that are looking to streamline their marketing efforts and generate more leads. HubSpot also offers a range of sales and customer service tools, making it a comprehensive solution for medium-sized businesses.
On the other hand, Salesforce is a more established player in the CRM market and is known for its advanced customization options and integrations with other business systems. Salesforce is a great choice for businesses that have more complex sales processes and require a high level of customization and flexibility.
Ultimately, the best CRM choice for a medium-sized business will depend on factors such as budget, specific business needs, and existing technology infrastructure. It may be worth considering a demo or trial of both platforms to see which one aligns best with the business goals and objectives.
Credits