This article explores the challenges faced by businesses that do not use a CRM, the benefits of making the switch, and how users of the free plan of Bitrix24 CRM have experienced improvements in their operations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. / ACCESS Newswire / August 19, 2025 / Managing leads and deals efficiently is critical for business success. Many companies still rely on spreadsheets or manual methods for tracking customer interactions, despite the availability of more advanced solutions like customer relationship management (CRM) software.

This article explores the challenges faced by businesses that do not use a CRM, the benefits of making the switch, and how users of the free plan of Bitrix24 CRM have experienced improvements in their operations.

Modern Trends in Managing Leads and Deals

In today's digital world, businesses increasingly recognize the importance of using CRM tools to optimize sales and customer interactions. According to a study from Demandsage, 94% of tech companies and 71% of small businesses use CRM systems to manage customer relationships and drive sales.

This essentially means roughly 1 out of 4 small and medium-sized businesses still relies on outdated methods, continuing to manage leads and deals manually or via spreadsheets, leading to such negative effects as:

• inefficiencies;

• lost opportunities;

• lack of visibility into sales pipelines.

Finally, out of those businesses who do use CRM regularly, only 37% of sales reps feel their organization fully utilizes their CRM (source).

Speaking of the most recent trends, CRM adoption has surged in 2025 due to the increasing availability of cloud-based and AI-powered solutions. Businesses are now integrating CRMs with automation tools, customer support systems, and marketing platforms to create a seamless workflow.

Research indicates that 45% of businesses report higher sales revenue growth after adopting a CRM, and 47% of CRM users say that CRM has a tremendous and massive impact on customer satisfaction. Additionally, the mobile accessibility of modern CRMs has contributed to a 30% increase in productivity for remote teams.

Despite these advancements, 24% of businesses still hesitate to adopt CRM systems due to concerns over costs, complexity, and resistance to change from employees. However, as competition grows and digital transformation becomes a necessity, companies that delay CRM adoption risk falling behind in customer relationship management and sales efficiency.

Key Problems Faced by Businesses That Do Not Use CRM

Businesses that manage leads and deals without a CRM often struggle with:

• Data disorganization. Spreadsheets require constant updates and are prone to errors and inconsistencies.

• Lack of automation. Manual tracking does not allow for automation of repetitive tasks such as follow-ups and data entry.

• Limited team collaboration. Spreadsheets do not support real-time collaboration and role-based access, making teamwork inefficient.

• Poor customer insights. Without centralized customer data, businesses lack valuable analytics for improving sales and service.

• Missed opportunities. Leads can fall through the cracks due to a lack of systematic follow-ups and reminders.

Positive Effects of Switching to CRM

Background: Bitrix24 User Survey

The team behind Bitrix24 CRM conducted a survey among users of its free plan to analyze the impact of adopting a CRM system. The findings highlight the transformative benefits of replacing spreadsheets with a more sophisticated lead and deal management solution.

Types of Businesses that Use Bitrix24 CRM

The data from Bitrix24 CRM users reveals a diverse range of industries benefiting from the software:

These results partly correlate with a recent report by Demandsage on the industries with the highest CRM user share.

One notable difference is that service-based companies represent the majority of Bitrix24 CRM users, demonstrating that industries reliant on client relationships and task management benefit significantly from CRM tools.

Similarly, education, retail, and manufacturing businesses find value in structured lead management and customer tracking, which are difficult to achieve with spreadsheets.

How Businesses Discover Bitrix24 CRM

Understanding how businesses discover Bitrix24 sheds light on the growing awareness of CRM benefits:

Over 56% of businesses find Bitrix24 CRM through Google search, indicating a strong demand for CRM solutions. Peer recommendations also play a significant role, as nearly 18% of users switch to Bitrix24 based on word-of-mouth referrals. This data highlights the growing recognition of CRM as a superior alternative to spreadsheets.

Key Problems Solved by Bitrix24 CRM

Users of Bitrix24 report significant improvements in their business operations, addressing common challenges such as…

Complete research results: https://www.bitrix24.com/resources/switching-from-spreadsheets-to-crm-impact-on-businesses.php

Contact Information:

Vlad Kovalskiy
US Marketing Manager
kovalskiy@bitrix24.com

SOURCE: Bitrix24