Managing customer relationships, tracking sales, and optimizing sales operations power success and growth in the construction supply distribution world. It’s a complex task, but sales software is up to it.

A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system is designed to help distributors do just that. It will streamline sales workflows. It will drive improvements in customer service. It will drive growth for your business if adopted and managed to its potential.

But not all CRMs suit construction supply distributors well. Like any subset of an industry, distributors have specific needs requiring tools built for the job.

Here’s a look at some of the best CRM options for construction supply distributors the market has to offer.

RepMove: Best CRM for Outside Sales and Field Reps

Overview: The vast majority of construction supply distributors grow through outside sales. And there’s no better outside sales CRM than RepMove. Its customer list includes a large number of distributors, and it is a member of top organizations in the industry, such as Sphere 1 Cooperative and STAFDA.

RepMove has a CRM for construction distributors built from the ground up to meet the needs of outside sales and construction supply. Its CRM is second to none in the space. RepMove designed a mobile app and a web-based app specifically for field and outside sales teams, making it a perfect fit for construction supply distributors who rely on reps visiting job sites, contractors, and suppliers in person. With a focus on route optimization, real-time tracking, and CRM functionality, RepMove helps sales reps manage their day efficiently and stay connected with customers while on the go. It also has a nifty job site feature to help distributors that work sites with multiple trades.

Key Features:

• Route Optimization: Helps reps plan the most efficient routes to maximize the number of customer visits per day, reducing travel time and costs.
• Mobile CRM: Helps leaders and reps manage customer data, log interactions, and track sales progress from the field with a mobile-first interface.
• Real-Time Activity Tracking: Enables sales leaders so they can monitor rep activity and ensure they’re visiting key accounts and job sites in real time.
• Job Site Management: Provides reps tools to create and manage job sites on the go, ensuring that all customer interactions are tracked and organized easily.

Why It’s the Best for Construction Supply Distributors:

RepMove’s combination of field-first CRM functionality and route planning makes it ideal for distributors with large territories or small and for sales teams on the move. It provides all the tools reps need to manage their accounts effectively, while also giving sales leaders visibility into team performance and customer engagement.

Salesforce: Great for Scalability and Customization

Overview: Salesforce is one of the most well-known CRM platforms on the market and offers powerful customization and scalability options. For large construction supply distributors with complex needs, particularly with large inside sales teams, Salesforce can be tailored to manage everything from sales and customer service to inventory and supplier relationships.

Key Features:

• Highly Customizable: Helps sales operations tailor workflows, reports, and dashboards to meet the needs of your business.
• Advanced Reporting: Helps analyst teams generate in-depth reports on sales performance, customer interactions, and inventory management.
• Integration Capabilities: Integrates easily with various third-party tools, including ERP and inventory systems.
• Mobile App: Access the CRM from anywhere with Salesforce’s mobile app.

Why It’s Great for Construction Supply Distributors: Salesforce is a good option for distributors with inside sales teams who need a CRM that can scale with their growth and adapt to their unique operational needs. With its customization options and integration capabilities, Salesforce can be built out to meet the demands of complex sales processes and large sales teams.

Zoho CRM: Great for Affordability and Ease of Use

Overview: Zoho CRM is a cost-effective option for smaller to mid-sized construction supply distributors looking for an easy-to-use solution. It offers a range of CRM features, including contact management, sales automation, and lead tracking, making it a strong contender for businesses with simpler CRM needs.

Key Features:

• Lead and Contact Management: Helps track leads and customer interactions with ease.
• Sales Automation: Automate tasks such as follow-ups and lead assignments to improve efficiency.
• Customization Options: Although more basic than Salesforce, Zoho offers a fair amount of customization for workflows and pipelines.
• Affordable Pricing: Zoho CRM is known for its competitive pricing. This makes it a nice option for smaller distribution brands.

Why It’s Good for Construction Supply Distributors: Zoho CRM is an excellent option for smaller construction supply distributors who need a straightforward and affordable CRM solution. It’s easy to implement and offers essential features without the complexity or high cost of more advanced systems.

Pipedrive: Great for Sales Pipeline Management

Overview: Pipedrive is a CRM focusing more on sales pipeline management. It is great for forecasting, providing a visual and intuitive way for sales teams to track deals and manage customer relationships.

Construction supply distributors looking for a simple yet powerful sales-focused CRM will find Pipedrive an excellent choice.

Key Features:

• Visual Sales Pipeline: Tracks deals through each stage of the sales process with a clear and intuitive pipeline view.
• Activity Reminders: Sets up automatic reminders for follow-ups, meetings, and other sales activities easily.
• Email Integration: Syncs emails with Pipedrive to ensure all communications with customers are logged.
• Mobile App: Stays on top of deals on the go with easy-to-use mobile app.

Why It’s Good for Construction Supply Distributors: Pipedrive’s visual pipeline makes organization easy and your team more focused on closing deals. For construction supply distributors, managing customer relationships and tracking deal progress is critical to stay in front of pipeline, and Pipedrive delivers an efficient way to do just that.

HubSpot CRM: Good for Marketing and Sales Integration

Overview: HubSpot’s CRM is one of the best tools available for teams needing to strongly integrate sales and marketing functions. It’s an excellent option for construction supply distributors looking to integrate their sales efforts with marketing better. Known for its ease of use and marketing automation capabilities, HubSpot’s CRM provides essential CRM features and more advanced tools for growing businesses.

Key Features:

• Sales and Marketing Integration: Align your sales and marketing efforts with HubSpot’s comprehensive tools for email marketing, lead nurturing, and customer tracking. Sales operations and marketing operations will be in great alignment.
• Free CRM Option: HubSpot’s free CRM includes features like contact management, deal tracking, and email logging.
• Email Tracking and Automation: Automate follow-ups and track email opens and clicks, helping sales teams stay on top of prospects.
• Reporting and Analytics: Generate detailed reports on sales performance and customer behavior in addition to marketing.
• Why It’s Good for Construction Supply Distributors: HubSpot’s CRM is a top option for distributors looking to align their sales and marketing strategies. Its free tier makes it accessible to smaller teams, while its paid versions offer more robust features for larger organizations focused on scaling their sales and marketing efforts.

Choosing the best CRM for your construction supply distribution business depends on your needs, but there are fantastic options for any use case. Your team size and operational goals will also play a role in the selection process.

Whether you need a mobile-first solution like RepMove for field sales reps, a customizable inside sales platform like Salesforce, or an affordable and easy-to-use CRM like Zoho, there’s a solution available to meet your need.