Inspira- Journal of Modern Management & Entrepreneurship 48

ISSN : 2231–167X, Volume 01, No. 02, October, 2011, pp.48-53

Importance of CRM in Indian Banking Sector

Vinay Verma

Introduction
This topic is opened with the An Insight into CRM, Importance of CRM,
Impact and Reality of CRM in Banking Sector. CRM is never a product or not a
service, it is completed organisation or business strategies. With the regards a Model
for CRM in Banking Sector and Need of Relationship with Customers and Reaping
the benefits of a CRM solution can be classified.
An Insight Into CRM
In this globalized world managing relationships with customer and making
them delighted has become a necessity. It is said that customer delight is the only key
to success. Frightening as the situation may seem that it is a ground reality for many
company which had realised the customers need started seriously giving more care to
them than that of ever before.
The perception and understanding of bank is based on the customers varied
experiences with their employees and services. It is significantly accepted that the cost
to bring a new customer is ten times higher than to retain the existing customer. In
addition to this it is also agreed that the various choices has opened today for the
customers. Therefore all this require a better understanding of the customer. What
customer expect from the bank and their requirements to be understood. Even though
all customers are not contribute equally to the profit of the banks. If the customer
relationship management starts properly it not only help to improve the bank but also
help to focus bank effort where required the most.
Importance of CRM
Customer relationship management is the most efficient and strongest
approach while creating and maintaining relationship with consumers. It not only pure
business but also develop strong personal bonding with the customers. These kind of
boding drives the business to new success levels.
In regarding with conducting CRM the organization just wants to develop
personal and emotional linkages. So that it is very easy for them to identify the actual
customers requirement. It may help them to serve with a better quality and way of
services. It is said that if organization wants to be strong and fruitful, they should
implement sophisticate strategies involved in customer relationship management.
In current situation about competitive banking world, improvement day-by-
day regarding customer services. It is also the most important tool for better future


Research Scholar, Deptt. of Business Administration, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur
Importance of CRM in Indian Banking Sector 49

growth. Customer’s requirement and complaint are part of their banking business life.
Importance of CRM with broader perspective has shown below.
 A CRM system consists of a historical view and analysis of all the acquired or
to be acquired customers. This helps in reduced searching and correlating
customers and to foresee customer needs effectively and increase business.
 CRM contains each and every bit of details of a customer, hence it is very easy
for track a customer accordingly and can be used to determine which customer
can be profitable and which not.
 In CRM system, customers are grouped according to different aspects
according to the type of business they do or according to physical location and
are allocated to different customer managers often called as account managers.
This helps in focusing and concentrating on each and every customer
separately.
 A CRM system is not only used to deal with the existing customers but is also
useful in acquiring new customers. The process first starts with identifying a
customer and maintaining all the corresponding details into the CRM system
which is also called an ‘Opportunity of Business’. The Sales and Field
representatives then try getting business out of these customers by sophistically
following up with them and converting them into a winning deal. All this is
very easily and efficiently done by an integrated CRM system.
 The strongest aspect of Customer Relationship Management is that it is very
cost-effective. The advantage of decently implemented CRM system is that
there is very less need of paper and manual work which requires lesser staff to
manage and lesser resources to deal with. The technologies used in
implementing a CRM system are also very cheap and smooth as compared to
the traditional way of business.
 All the details in CRM system is kept centralized which is available anytime on
fingertips. This reduces the process time and increases productivity. Efficiently
dealing with all the customers and providing them what they actually need
increases the customer satisfaction. This increases the chance of getting more
business which ultimately enhances turnover and profit. If the customer is
satisfied they will always be loyal to you and will remain in business forever
resulting in increasing customer base and ultimately enhancing net growth of
business. In today’s commercial world, practice of dealing with existing
customers and thriving business by getting more customers into loop is
predominant and is mere a dilemma. Installing a CRM system can definitely
improve the situation and help in challenging the new ways of marketing and
business in an efficient manner. Hence in the era of business every organization
should be recommended to have a full-fledged CRM system to cope up with all
the business needs.
Model For CRM in Banking Sector
Customer Relationship Management helps banking sector to use of
technology and human resources. This allows them to gain insight of consumer
50 Inspira- Journal of Modern Management & Entrepreneurship : October, 2011

behavior and their values. If CRM works as it with the desire of the system then bank
can provide better customer service, help sales staff close deals faster, cross sell
products more effectively, make call centers more efficient, discover new customers,
simplify marketing and sales processes and increasing consumer revenue. It could not
happen with just buying software and installing into the system. In this regarding bank
must decide what type of customer information that they are asking. It has to be further
decide that what they intend to do with the information after that decide and run a
model to be them simply best.
Need of Relationship With Customers
Building relationship with customers in current market trends is the most
important aspect that an organization should focus on. Distinction and eminence are
now most sustainable and affirm for which developing good relationship with
customers is must. Some of the substantial outcomes of building a quality relationship
is explained below by which need of relationship with customer are insight.
 Better Customer perceptiveness: As the customer lengthens to deal with a
supplier, the supplier tends to explicate a better insight of customer’s needs and
expectations. By this a high level of relationship can be developed between
them. This will result in selling more products and retain the business with the
customers which finally will lead to profitable business.
 Lead to Customer Satisfaction: Customer satisfaction is the measure of how
the needs and responses are collaborated and delivered to excel customer
expectation. It can only be attained if the customer has an overall good
relationship with the supplier. In today’s competitive business marketplace,
customer satisfaction is an important performance exponent and basic
differentiator of business strategies. Hence, the more is customer satisfaction;
more is the business and the bonding with customer.
 Lead to Customer Loyalty: Customer loyalty is the tendency of the customer
to remain in business with a particular supplier and buy the products regularly.
This is usually seen when a customer is very much satisfied by the supplier and
re-visits the organization for business deals, or when he is tended towards re-
buying a particular product or brand over times by that supplier. To continue the
customer loyalty the most important aspect an organization should focus on is
customer satisfaction, hence it can be said that customer loyalty is also an
outcome of good relationship.
 Lead to Customer Retention: Customer retention is a strategic process to keep
or retain the existing customers and not letting them to diverge or defect to other
suppliers or organization for business and this only possible when there is a
quality relationship between customer and supplier. Usually a loyal customer is
tended towards sticking to a particular brand or product as far as his basic needs
continue to be properly fulfilled. He does not opt for taking a risk in going for a
new product. More is the possibility to retain customers the more is the
probability of net growth of business.
 Chances of getting referrals: It is always a cost-free advocacy by customers to
provide referrals to supplier when they feel satisfied and encouraged and when
Importance of CRM in Indian Banking Sector 51

they have a healthy relationship with customers. These referrals or customer’s

reference of other customers acts like a piece of cake for suppliers as there is no
cost and struggle involved in this. This could be treated as the best outcome of
quality relationship what a supplier can think of.
 Growth in revenue: When suppliers have healthy relationship with customers
the revenue of the organization always increases as customers tend to buy more
and more. There is possibility that a satisfied customer seek to buy special
category of related products apart from the regular ones from that particular
supplier. For instance if a satisfied and loyal customer has a home insurance
from an insurance company then there are positive chances that he could also
insure his property and car also if he is fully satisfied with the services of that
insurance company. This will definitely result in growth of business.
 Cost to serve is low: Cost to serve existing satisfied customers is always very
less for the supplier as they know and understand customers. Customers never
come back with complaints and queries because they know the actual business
flow and completely rely on the relationship with supplier.
Reaping The Benefits of a CRM Solution
Retail banks are reshaping the way they must interact with their customers. A
fully integrated, enterprise wide CRM platform ensures banks have the core
capabilities to take full advantage of their customer relationships and capitalize on
these market dynamics, rather than losing out because of them. These best practices
reflect business results a financial services company must obtain by implementing its
CRM solution.
Gaining sales Momentum
In today’s increasingly competitive environment, where maximizing organic
growth is a banks priority, sales momentum is essential. To build this momentum,
banks need to focus simultaneously on Increasing acquisition rates of new and
emerging customer segments, Improving retention of existing customers and saving at
risk customers, Increasing profitability of customer relationships, either at the top-line
through increased sales, or at the bottom-line through more cost-effective service and
Improving integrated channel distribution strategies to get the right product, to the
right client, at the moment the customer has the need and also Maximizing the value
and return from CRM investments that have already been made
Increasing Acquisition of new Customers
A CRM solution should help a bank target customers based on the value they
bring to the bank, now and throughout the life of the customer. Banks need to ensure
that their value propositions have traction with the right market segments. This will
enable the bank to identify, target and capture new customers. Clearly, customer
insight and strategy are the core differentiators for the bank.
 Improving retention of existing customers: Customer retention can be
achieved by enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty, improving problem
resolution, and creating the ability to identify and save at-risk customers. In fact,
an at-risk customer actually represents a major opportunity for additional
52 Inspira- Journal of Modern Management & Entrepreneurship : October, 2011

revenue – if handled correctly. However, the greatest danger for banks is either
not identifying at risk customers or not having the capabilities to do anything to
recover them.
 Increasing the profitability of customer relationships: Boosting revenues
requires improving the product pipeline and close rates, while reducing sales
and service costs. On the revenue side, the banks CRM solution should use
customer intelligence to target specific offers and manage marketing campaigns
for a high likelihood of acceptance. Customer treatment strategies should be
fully integrated with a CRM platform and the processes to support them. On the
cost side, better channel management, CRM automation and integration will
help increase the efficiency and effectiveness of sales and service.
 Improving distribution and channel management: To win profitable
customers and build long-term relationships with them, banks need to have the
right insight, products and services for the right customer at the lowest possible
cost. From call centers to Web sites, every one of banks multiple channels must
be scalable, flexible, low-cost and fully integrated with all the other channels.
This is the only way to consolidate customer information and provide consistent
treatment across the enterprise. Each of the bank’s channels must also be able to
accommodate change and adapt to future trends in the marketplace.
 Maximizing the value of past CRM investments: As new technologies and
channels emerge, the need to control costs and maximize the ROI from existing
CRM investments raises many questions banks should solve all of them and
maximize the value of past CRM investment.
Stages of Relationship With Customers
Relationship in regards with the customers may be change time to time. It
may be because of evolvement under distinguish situation. There are some stages at
where relationship with consumer may evolve.
(1) Exploration: It is the process when customer investigates or tests the
supplier’s capabilities and performance or cross verifies the product’s or
brand’s usefulness. If the test results fail to satisfy customer’s demands, the
relationship can drastically come to an end.
(2) Awareness: It is the process when the customer understands the motivational
values of supplier or the products he sells.
(3) Expansion: It is the process when the supplier wins customer’s faith and
customer falls under huge interdependence of the supplier. This is time when
there are more chances of business with that particular customer and expand
business.
(4) Commitment: It is a powerful stage when suppliers learn to adapting
business rules and goal to excel.
(5) Dissolution: It is a stage when customer requirement suddenly changes and
he looks for better perspectives. This sudden change is the end of relationship.
Relationship or interaction with consumer may came to end due various
reasons. It may be because of customer has no satisfied with the organisation services
or he disagree for other better brand and product.
Importance of CRM in Indian Banking Sector 53

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