Apple is often thought of as a consumer-focused brand, controlling both market and mindshare in the consumer electronics industry. However, many businesses are adopting Apple devices as well. While this is particularly the case among the self-employed and small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs), adoption isn’t limited to this area. In 2013, for instance, Apple devices accounted for nearly of new mobile device activations in the enterprise. As a result of this adoption, enterprise software vendors are developing applications specifically for Apple’s operating systems—OS X and iOS. Customer relationship management (CRM) software is one area where development is already underway. There are currently several CRM solutions on the market available to Apple users.

These solutions come in two varieties: Mac-based CRMs and Web-based CRMs. In this guide, we’ll profile the options available to help you better understand the differences between these two models. Mac-Based CRM Solutions Several vendors in the market have developed Mac-based CRM solutions, which are built to run natively on the Mac operating system. These systems borrow from the existing infrastructure of a Mac operating system, resulting in a user interface that is similar to the one Apple users are already familiar with. A screenshot of Elements CRM, a Mac-based CRM system While Mac CRM solutions are excellent options for managing your customer relationships, there are relatively few Mac-based CRM options on the market today. Because of this, software buyers looking for a variety of options should consider looking into Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) systems that are “Mac-enabled,” or adapted for use via the Safari Web browser as well as other modern browsers.

Web-Based CRM Solutions SaaS CRM systems are hosted in the Cloud. In this model, the vendor hosts and maintains the software on servers in a secure, off-site location. Users can access the software from any Web-enabled device, such as a computer, iPhone or iPad.

These systems are typically built to be browser-agnostic, meaning they can accessed from Safari, Chrome or another Web browser you run on your Mac. With the growth of mobile and tablet devices, more CRM vendors are developing subscription-based Cloud software. One benefit of opting for a Web-based CRM system is that it offers more flexibility down the road should you choose to switch away from Apple devices. If your company decides to go the PC route, for instance, you can continue to run your CRM on a hosted system. Additionally, with the multitude of Web-based CRM systems available, the market is much larger, giving organizations more options when searching for a CRM to meet their unique functional needs. A Web-based CRM system also requires a smaller upfront investment. Since the software isn’t installed or maintained on your organization’s premises, you won’t need to dedicate resources to an internal IT staff.

Project professionals who prefer working on a Mac and looking for decent project management software can check the brief reviews below for the following PM tools. Most have core project management features, but a few also go beyond project planning and task management.

Moreover, most Web-based systems are sold on a subscription basis and can be licensed for a more affordable monthly payment. Common Features of Mac CRM Software Lead management (including, scoring and nurturing), email and event marketing, landing pages, Web and marketing analytics tools and campaign management. Macbochs. Contact and opportunity management, workflow automation, territory management, sales forecasting, pipeline analysis and reporting. Mac os x yosemite download iso for mac. Trouble ticketing,, self-service solutions, case management, live chat and surveys. Dispatching, scheduling, invoicing, inventory management and order management. Call routing, recording and monitoring; load balancing, call list management, autodialing, scripting, computer telephony integration (CTI) and interactive voice response (IVR).

Trouble ticketing, knowledge management, self-service, IT asset management, network management, service level agreement (SLA) management and remote control. Lead and contact management, partner portals, partner relationship management and market development funds management.