Looking for a CRM system, and wondering how Livespace is different from Pipedrive? In both tools you will find many similarities – they are meant to solve a similar problem. Below you will find some differences, which we think worth considering before making a decision.
Pipedrive
vs
Livespace CRM
Stages of the Sales Process
A quick look at the overall situation, but not very specific.
The advantage of Pipedrive is the opportunity view presentation method, in the form of a so-called kanban board. It allows you to quickly see the stage at which your sales opportunities are displayed. Going to the next stage, means simply dragging a given chance to the next column. It’s difficult not to love this simplicity.
This is a great solution if:
- All you need to know is which of the 4-6 sales stages are an opportunity. This model does not provide more detail.
- You do not have multiple sales at one time – if there are many, the kanban model is no longer readable.
What does this mean in practice?
Let’s assume your sales process looks like this:
Data Collection > Contact > Need Recognition > Offer.
You know which sales are in the Needs Recognition stage because they’re in the right column.
But do you really know what happens to them?
Stages & Steps of the Sales Process
Quick access to the current situation and data on specific activities.
In Livespace, each stage consists of concrete, clearly defined steps. There is also a list of activities that a trader should accomplish to succeed. This CRM automatically moves the sales to the right stage, depending on what has actually been done, allowing the manager to gain the knowledge of what exactly happens at each stage with each sales opportunity.
This is a great solution if:
- The mere fact of a sale is not enough – you want to know what exactly has been done.
- You prefer the trader to act according to a specific, measurable pattern of conduct, and not subjectively assess how advanced the opportunity is.
What does this mean in practise?
If the sale is at the stage of Needs Recognition,it means that at least one activity associated with this step has been performed, i.e. the evaluation criteria for the offer has been established. The trader can therefore show completion of each stage.
Manage sales opportunities through process stages
(example of Kanban table)
Manage sales opportunities through stages and process steps
(Kanban presentation is also available in Livespace. It presents the stage, at which the opportunity is given.)
Linear versus nonlinear sales process
How does it look in Pipedrive (and most tools), and what does it look like in reality?
Pipedrive, like most CRM solutions available on the market, assumes that the sales process is linear in its sales management model.
i.e. if we are on the Offer Stage, we assume that we have done everything we should have done before, or we simply assure you that we did not know what was actually done before. The probability of winning a sale is displayed as a number, permanently assigned to the stage, Offer – 75% chance of winning. It does not matter what activities have been done before.
In our opinion sales are not linear. Sales consist of a series of nonlinear, single actions that are not always performed in a certain order, or perhaps not performed at all.
An analysis of the specific steps a trader performs is crucial to effective sales management. Why?
- It allows you to actually determine the probability of winning – on the basis of the same set of weights for a given step, not a hunch of the sales person. Sending an offer does not mean a 75% chance of winning. It depends on all the activities that were done before the offer was posted.
- It allows you to accurately compare the quality of work of individual team members and determine how the best work. This allows you to duplicate good practices, rather than multiply weak points.
- It allows you to capture which steps have a real impact on the effectiveness of winning and defining weaknesses in the process. We can tell you what is key to winning sales, and which actions are a waste of time.
How important for the probability of the deal, is the fact if the salesperson determines who the decision maker is, and then set up a meeting with this person? How big of an impact each of this actions make. It’s impossible to draw conclusions from something that we don’t measure.
Comparison of Differences in Functionality
A function list is perhaps not the best way to choose a solution, but it may be useful to quickly see if a solution has what you need.
| Pipedrive | Livespace | |
|---|---|---|
| Specific steps to be taken in the sales process | No | Yes |
| Non-linear sales process | No | Yes |
| Internal communication – mentions, chat, spaces | No | Yes |
| Tasks – calendar view, reoccurring tasks | No | Yes |
| Online Chat Support | No | Yes |
| Permission Levels | User, Administrator | User, Manager, Administrator |
| Email integration (basic package) | Manual Synchronization (via BCC messages) | Automatic Synchronization (via IMAP server) |
| Email integration (extended package) | Automatic Synchronization (via IMAP server) | Automatic synchronization (through IMAP server) Automatic email sequences Notification of receipt and non-response |
| Sales Goals | Yes (based on the number or value of the opportunity) | Yes (based on the number or value of the opportunity) |
| Access to mobile devices | Yes (iOS, Android) | Yes (iOS, Android) |
| Disk Space | Standard – 2 GB Extended – 5 GB | Standard – 3 GB Extended – 8 GB |
| Price | €12, €29, €75 (up to 16% discount on advance payment) | €15, €30 (up to 25% discount on advance payment) |