Why is CRM needed to manage leads in the packaging manufacturing sector?

Packaging manufacturing is a challenging industry, one that needs to pay close attention to client behaviours, and the wants or needs of their customer base. One highly effective way of handling leads and managing orders and opportunities is the use of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software. In this article, we will look briefly at the current state of packaging manufacturing, the challenges faced for lead generation in this industry, how the right manufacturing CRM tool can make an enormous difference, and what you need to consider before making your choice of CRM software.

What does the packaging manufacturing industry look like?

The packaging industry is in a unique position, in that the actions of manufacturers determine how other businesses are able to market and sell their products. There is extensive competition in the packaging manufacturing industry, and a growing demand for these companies to look at eco-friendly and sustainable options.

According to Precision Reports, the global flexible packaging market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.69% between 2024 and 2031, and reach a global value of $204141.19 million (USD) by 2027. Industry Research reveals that the advanced packaging market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 11.13% and be valued at $69018.77 million (USD) by 2031, and Statista found that the global sustainable packaging market was valued at around $292.71 billion (USD) in 2024, and is expected to reach $423.56 billion (USD) by 2029.

What are the main lead generation challenges for packaging manufacturers?

In such a highly competitive market, lead generation and effective lead management is vital, and as a packaging manufacturer you will be expected to offer a variety of options and solutions for a variety of brands, meaning that there is a lot of information and requirements being generated on a daily basis which has to be handled effectively and in a timely manner.

Some of the key challenges that packaging manufacturers may face with lead generation might include:

• Identifying and targeting the right audience across multiple sectors and industries.
• Budget constraints.
• Determining the Return on Investment (ROI) of lead generating campaigns.
• Lacking referrals from existing clients.
• Having accurate data to forecast new products or designs that will appeal to customers (new and existing).
• Only having a limited number of touchpoints for customer engagement and enquiries.

Lead generation comes in four essential stages: awareness, education, sampling, and conversion. Without adequate support, and systems that are capable of making your lead process more effective, your manufacturing business may struggle to reach its full potential.

How can the right CRM software help manage leads for different packages and solutions?

Customer relationship management should be at the core of your business activities, how you handle your activities to attract new customers, and what you are doing to retain existing ones, is vital for the growth and success of your company.

CRM software is a key tool that enables businesses to organise and track customer data, allowing for (amongst other things): targeted marketing, effective analysis, lead generation, and lead nurturing.

As we identified in the challenges packaging manufacturers face, there are a number of issues which your business might face, and the right CRM software solution can help to position you to overcome these hurdles, and improve your business as a whole.

TEB Apps has been designed to support businesses of all sizes, scaling with you as you grow, and supporting your efforts in a comprehensive manner, and the CRM application can help you to:

• Handle opportunity management and identify conversion drivers with opportunity automation.
  
  
• Customise workflows and quotes, to ensure a uniform standard and provide actions, checklists, and reminders to keep you on budget.
  
  
• Utilise lead funnel automation and diary management to keep in touch with your clients, and increase your opportunities to encourage word-of-mouth feedback and referrals.
  
  
• Operate target analysis to ensure all your data is collected, stored, and made accessible in easy-to-use funnel and bucket visualisation formats.
  
  
• Embed third-party integrations into your activities, so you can cover all your touchpoints, and make it easier for your clients and potential clients to get in touch with you.

The right CRM can make an enormous difference at the core of your business, and support your activities across multiple industries, so you can focus on providing the perfect packing for all of your clients.

What should you be considering before getting a CRM for your packaging manufacturing business?

Selecting the right CRM requires a bit of research, an understanding of your operations, and a clear idea of where you want your manufacturing business to grow in the future, as you need to not only think about how you will integrate the change in the present but also how you expect it to operate both in the short and long term.

There are plenty of benefits from integrating a CRM into your structure, and very good reasons why CRM is essential in 2024 and beyond. Before you make your decisions, you need to ask yourself:

• What is your existing customer management structure?
• What programs and platforms are you using in your business?
• What is your budget for implementation and operation of a CRM platform?
• How many team members will be using the software?
• Do you need mobile integration for updates on the go?
• How complex are your client requests, and will your choice support clear notifications, annotations, and variations of product requests?

As a manufacturing business, you need to ensure your budget is being spent wisely, and your orders are handled correctly so you can produce the right packaging products, and not be left over-stocked or with an incorrect manufacturing run.

Using a CRM, in conjunction with other technologies, such as AI and business process automation, you can streamline and simplify your lead generation, management, conversion, and so much more, which puts you in a stronger position to innovate, market, and sell your goods to targeted customers who will be delighted to see your offerings.

TEB Apps will streamline your lead management

TEB Apps lead management is currently helping manufacturing businesses maximise lead conversions, align their sales team and boost sales with powerful, futuristic automation features. From automatically assigning leads with AI, to near real-time tracking and action assigning, TEB Apps is accelerating the growth of businesses worldwide.

With TEB Apps you will:

• Drive your lead response time – Maximise conversions with a fast lead response time through automatic lead assigning.
• Pin notes to leads – Align your sales team by sharing information about leads and pinning notes and documents to lead profiles to share critical information.
• Never miss a follow-up – With automatic follow-up reminders your sales team can stay on top of their follow-ups to help convert leads.
• Automate your workflow – From filling in client details to creating a quote, you can automate your sales workflow to reach new levels of efficiency and productivity.
• Scan business cards to your system – Scan a business card straight to your TEB Apps system to create a lead instantly.

Book a demo today and learn how you can drive your growth with minimum effort through TEB Apps.