Any guesses? Not virtual reality. Not streaming. Not TikTok. It's your Customer Relationship Management software or shortened to "CRM" commonly. A good CRM allows you to easily care for your members and provide personalized experiences for your members. Today, CRM is the backbone of any thriving company. Why can Netflix recommend shows to you? Why does Pinterest always send compelling emails? Why do Facebook Ads seem so creepily interesting? They all have a great CRM.

A good CRM collects information on users and provides action steps for users. A great CRM allows for staff, leader or volunteer, to access the aggregated data to better shepherd when calling, messaging, or talking with a member Sunday morning after service. The new attendee or member is not just a new face when using a CRM. You can log in to see how many times they've reached out and provide next steps. The right CRM paired with a solid discipleship pathway, is a powerful thing.

When your church's data is moved from a static Excel file, siloed Google Sheet, or outdated CRM to a relevant CRM, the data can be manipulated and mobilized. A great CRM can scale efforts by linking to a logged-in experience through a website, app, or tv device and automate next steps like Netflix or Amazon. You don't need to be a big church either to have this tech. CRM software is usually priced by the size of the organization, which makes them affordable for all churches.

What's tough is moving away from an existing CRM. You have to export, import, and reconfigure existing data. People need to be trained. The CRM needs to be valued organizationally for the software to be leveraged correctly. Habits need to be adjusted. Money needs to be spent. A great CRM is worth a salary or two because it allows you to properly scale care on both the front end member experience and backend staffing/volunteer side. It won't fix your church's problems but can highlight gaps and capitalize on strengths. Pretty much the dull technology will amplify your vision, and this is why it's essential for 2020 and beyond.

This post wasn't sponsored. I don't recommend anything. I won't make that decision for you. Pick what's best for your organization, but it would be the first question I would answer before planting a church or launching a new company.