A strong customer base forms the backbone of a business. Dedicated customers not only bring in sales and word-of-mouth referrals, which ultimately lead to profits but also make everyone's roles within the company more satisfying and manageable.
So how to foster customers? By establishing connections with them. To achieve that, access to customer data is required. Although customer information may seem insignificant in its form, it becomes invaluable when effectively managed. That's when the real magic happens.
Whether you run a small business or a large corporation – as well as anything in between - proper management of your customer database serves as the foundation for effective customer management. This is why investing in client database software is crucial.
What is Customer Database Software?
The Customer database stores all the information about your customers. This can include:
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their names;
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email addresses;
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phone numbers;
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account information;
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purchase history.
The collected data is used in a customer relationship management (CRM) system. Such software allows you to automate customer communication, marketing tools and efforts, and engagement.
Moreover, it enables everyone within your business – from the sales team to the project team and customer support – to have real-time visibility into each customer's position in the sales channel.
By utilizing customer relationship management software, you can streamline business processes like:
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managing contacts
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generating leads
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conducting sales activities
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implementing email marketing campaigns
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providing customer support.
Conducting and monitoring these processes will improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness. At the same time, you will better the overall customer experience while fostering strong long-term relationships that encourage repeat business.
How to Choose Customer Database Software
When considering client database software for your business, there are a few factors to take into account.
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User-Friendly Interface. The software should have a user interface that allows you to easily identify customers for follow-up and streamline outreach efforts.
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Unified Customer View. Everyone in your organization must have access to the customer data view, ensuring customer service across departments.
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Streamlined Workflow Automation. Simplify task management for both sales and marketing teams by implementing automation processes. This includes the ability to prioritize tasks and establish dependencies efficiently.
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Effective Marketing Automation. Look for software that enables you to set up marketing campaigns and run them smoothly with the intervention required from you or your team.
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Informative Reporting. Access comprehensive reports and dashboards that track metrics, provide analytics, and facilitate accurate sales forecasting.
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Price. You must always take your budget into consideration when choosing CRM software. The best does not always mean the most expensive. Do some research and maybe compromise and choose the CRM that suits you financially.
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Integrations. This feature might not seem important at first, yet integrations with the best softwares, like Gmail, can be a game changer when navigating customer communication.
Now that you have an understanding of what features to focus on let's explore some of the best CRM options for free customer database software.
The 11 Best Customer Database Software Tools in 2023
There are plenty of CRM software options available. The key is to figure out which one will be effective for your organization. Each customer data management platform has its own set of features and limitations, making it suitable for various individual use cases.
1.Bitrix24
Bitrix24 is already quite distinctive as a product since it offers not commonly available features, like:
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project management;
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e-commerce;
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human resources modules.
Additionally, it's worth mentioning the availability of a plan that provides unlimited contact records, deals, and products within the system catalog. Although many features of the CRM might be overwhelming at first, it serves as a sophisticated customer database solution for managing client databases and storing customer profiles.
Lead management tools
Bitrix24 is the best client database software. It offers a plan that provides access for users, allowing you to manage your deals and contacts effectively while also having the ability to customize data fields.
In-built modules
It serves as a business system with modules for sales, marketing, service, human resources (HR), and project management.
E-commerce
With its e-commerce CRM capabilities, Bitrix24 is a solution for online businesses looking to efficiently handle their online store operations, including product tracking and monitoring customer transactions.
When should you consider using Bitrix24?
If you run an e-commerce business, Bitrix24 offers a CRM module specifically designed to cater to your needs. It empowers retailers by enabling them to create and host an online store with various sellable products.
Additionally, it facilitates order processing, payment handling, and inventory management seamlessly. The CRM also allows you to track all customer interactions and transactions within individual contact data records.
Furthermore, if you require software that provides customer database features, Bitrix24 stands out as a top choice. Its free plan supports users along with contact records and deals within the system.
Teams can access the contact management module while having the ability to store a product catalog and create client database profiles with account activity at no cost. However, it's important to note that the Free plan does not permit attaching or storing files such as documents or spreadsheets within contact records; this feature is available in the Basic plan instead.
Best Features
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AI assistant CoPilot.
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Storage for contacts with easily searchable records.
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Integration of Google Maps to indicate locations in CRM features records.
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Storage of client database profiles and tracking of their activities.
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Collaborate on editing CRM files within the system.
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Set access control settings for file sharing among users.
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Specify visibility settings for data fields at different levels.
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Perform document searches within the Drive.
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Make use of unlimited sales pipelines.
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Offer an extensive range of e-commerce products in your online store.
Pricing
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Forever Free Plan
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Basic plan starting from $49 for up to five users,
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Standard plan starting from $99 for up to 50 users,
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Professional plan starting from $199 for up to 100 users,
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Enterprize plan starting from $399 for up to 250 users.
2. ClickUp
ClickUp is a productivity tool that enables you to seamlessly manage and consolidate all your account information, sales procedures, workflow systems, and customer interactions in a collaborative environment.
It serves as a solution for contact management and CRM platform needs catering to startups, small businesses, and large corporations alike. Even the free version offers extensive user access.
Best Features
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Manage your pipeline effectively by automating and assigning tasks for each stage of the sales funnel. Prioritize tasks for your team.
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Establish dependencies between them using customer database management.
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Create a dashboard in ClickUp that aligns with your needs allowing you to easily view analytics at a glance.
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Utilize ClickUp's versatile CRM database to build your CRM system using their provided templates.
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Additionally, ClickUp offers templates for business processes beyond just CRM.
Pricing
3. Pipedrive
Pipedrive functions as a CRM solution catering specifically to sales teams by facilitating communication with clients and ensuring successful deal closures. It also offers integration, with other applications enhancing its overall functionality.
Best Features
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It allows you to set objectives and establish targets for individuals and teams.
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Dashboard with representation. You can monitor your team's progress effortlessly through reports and a visual display of your workflow.
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Organize leads to enable communication.
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Managing tasks. You can view your tasks in either a list or calendar format.
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Set reminders for them to integrate with email.
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Utilize pre-made email templates or customize your own and send them directly from the customer database software.
Pricing
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14-day trial for free,
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The Essential plan is priced at $14.90 per user per month,
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The Advanced plan costs $24.90 per month,
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The Professional plan is available for $49.90 per month,
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The Enterprise plan – is $99 per month.
4. Airtable
Airtable is similar to a hybrid of a spreadsheet and a customer service database. With more power, it also offers some advanced contact management features in its premium editions.
In addition, it enables you to effectively handle accounts throughout your sales, from contact to customer onboarding. Moreover, you can utilize the data insights provided by Airtable to execute targeted marketing campaigns.
Best Features
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Easy collaboration. Share your data with your teams.
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Different perspectives. Explore your data in formats such as forms, grids, calendars, or galleries.
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Efficient project management. This is your opportunity to use calendars and Gantt charts and schedule tasks that involve client interaction.
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Pre-installed templates. Choose from a library of useful templates designed for use cases.
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Create personalized project progress reports by dragging and dropping elements.
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API. Connect with social media platforms and other tools like Twitter, Facebook, Slack, and Google Workspace through API capabilities.
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Build your automated workflows for projects.
Pricing
5. HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM is a component of the HubSpot Sales Hub platform. Its main target audience consists of startup companies. Although it offers a set of free features. The primary focus of HubSpot CRM revolves around pipeline management. It equips users with sales tools to facilitate this process.
Best Features
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Manage your client database in a manner that ensures that all your teams have access to the information about customers.
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Track your sales, including lead scores. Keep a record of client database outreach and interactions by logging calls and email contacts within the client database software.
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Streamline content management by creating landing pages.
Pricing
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Free plan (has several limitations),
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14-day free trial,
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The Starter CRM Suite begins at $18 per month,
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The Professional CRM Suite starts at $450 per month,
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The Enterprise CRM Suite prices start at $1,200 per month.
6. Zendesk
Zendesk Sell is a customer relationship management (CRM) solution that forms a part of the Zendesk suite of tools. Its primary objective revolves around managing sales processes, leveraging workflow automation, and facilitating collaboration among different teams.
Best Features
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Stay on top of your pipeline when you're on the go with a mobile app.
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Ensure that all your teams have access to the customer data, enabling them to create a customer journey.
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Experience the convenience of automation as the sales effortlessly move through each stage of the funnel, triggering email follow-ups for prospects.
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Dive into reporting and analytics features to gather valuable insights for accurate forecasting.
Pricing
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Get a 14-day trial for free,
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For teams, the cost is $19 per user per month,
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For growth, it's $49 per user per month,
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Professional plan, it will be $99 per user per month,
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The enterprise plan starts at $150 per user per month.
7. Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM has a presence in the market. Many new businesses find its free CRM plan useful for tracking leads and managing contacts without any cost. If you need features you can always upgrade to a paid plan, which offers additional benefits like automated marketing tasks and comprehensive tracking of customer and contact information.
Best Features
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Keep track of how your sales team is performing. AI assistance is at your fingertips. They have an AI assistant named Zia who can help you locate the data you're searching for.
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You can integrate systems seamlessly both through native integrations as well as through APIs.
Pricing
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Try a 15-day trial for free,
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The Standard plan costs $14 per month per user,
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The Professional plan, it's $23 per month per user,
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The Enterprise plan will cost $40 per month per user,
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The Ultimate plan is $52 per month per user.
8. Salesforce
Salesforce Sales Cloud is the name of its customer database software. It provides several features to help you navigate customer communication throughout the entire sales funnel. The tools can be useful for such departments as sales, marketing, and HR.
Best Features
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It can effectively manage data and handle your leads and contacts throughout your organization's database.
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Tailored customization options.
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Comprehensive reporting capabilities. Affordable and easy-to-use sales reports and an intuitive dashboard design are making your work easy.
Pricing
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30-day free trial,
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Essentials plan costs $25 per month,
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The professional plan will cost $75 per month.,
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For businesses, Enterprise plans are available at $150 per month.
9. Keap
The usual version of the software caters to both businesses and individual entrepreneurs. The advanced version, previously called Infusionsoft, is now known as Keap Max Classic and will be more suitable for bigger companies.
With the emergence of new systems and networks to work with, enthusiasts have to digitalize their professional experiences as well.
Best Features
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Generating leads and incorporating personalized forms to gather customers on your website and dedicated pages.
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Utilize a user drag-and-drop system to design your workflows and visually map out pipelines.
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Send SMS messages and emails using templates, make phone calls, and conveniently schedule appointments directly from client contact records.
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Establish reports on a weekly or even daily basis to monitor your advancements.
Pricing
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14-day free trial,
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The Classic plan is priced at $149 per month, allowing usage for up to two users,
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For the Max plan, it costs $199 per month and accommodates up to three users.
10. Monday.com
Monday.com is recognized for its collaborative approach. Monday sales CRM specifically caters to medium businesses assisting them in managing their repetitive tasks.
Best Features
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Effective content creation — multiple industries rely on the constant supply of new and relevant data. That's why it is essential to create projects that increase conversions and can earn salary increases for you.
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Utilize personalized forms to capture leads directly from your website and landing pages, subsequently guiding them through the stages of your pipeline.
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Strategize, implement, and monitor marketing initiatives effectively.
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With Monday sales CRM, you can assign specific roles to team members, ensuring each individual has access to the features they need to accomplish their tasks.
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You can easily track who handles each assignment, keeping everyone accountable and helping to avoid confusion as to who is working on a project.
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It provides a clear visual representation of project timelines, making it easy to see important dates, milestones, and deadlines at a glance. You can adjust timelines, add or delete tasks, and reorganize project schedules to fit changing circumstances.
Pricing
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14-day free trial,
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The basic plan costs $10 per month,
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The Standard costs $14 per month,
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The Pro plan costs – $24.
11. Freshworks
Freshsales is the name of the CRM software offered by Freshworks. It is a user system designed specifically for medium-sized businesses to effectively handle their sales pipelines.
Best Features
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Team's collaboration that allows sales, marketing, and customer support. It helps streamline processes and ensures everyone is on the page.
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To prioritize follow-up efforts effectively, it's important to identify leads with intent.
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Efficient workflow and time management — it helps employees organize their professional space and ensure they have enough time to cope with the tasks.
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Social media integrations. When managing your contacts, it can be helpful to gather information from their social media profiles. This way, you have a view of who they are and can tailor your approach accordingly.
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Tracking engagement is key to maintaining customer relationships. By engaging with them within deals and keeping track of conversations, you can provide personalized service.
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An AI assistant named Freddy plays a role in analyzing sales data. It highlights contacts that may be at risk or need special attention.
Pricing
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Free period – 21 days,
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The growth plan costs $15 per user per month,
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The Pro plan is priced at $39 per user,
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Enterprise plan is $69 per user.
Find the Best Customer Database Software
Lifelong learning strategies — working on improving your expertise is a daunting task. However, going for a skill-based approach will assist in focusing on unique objectives and simplify your professional journey.
To boost your sales, it's crucial to manage your contacts and sales pipeline. You want a system that's easy to use and can be customized according to your needs.
It should also allow you to automate your sales and marketing tasks while providing reports and analytics to aid your decision-making process for business growth.
There are a huge number of these, of course, but many do offer a free trial to allow you to gain first-hand experience before you're committed financially.
FAQ:
What is the best Windows database software?
Bitrix24 is one of the most recognizable CRMs through database softwares. Various elements include a cloud-based storage and database management system (DBMS) that provides a wide range of powerful features for your business.
What is the best way to create a customer database?
One of the best ways to avoid the headache of creating your customer database app and defining tasks for its users is to go for a contributed one.
Which program is best for creating a database to keep track of customer records?
Database administrators use Database Management Software, or DBMS, for storing, changing, and managing data in a database environment.
Which program is best to create a database for keeping track of customer records?
Bitrix24 is considered the best choice for customer database software. It assists employees in saving time on tasks. One of the unique features that makes the software stand out is an AI Assistant CoPilot. CoPilot records conversations with clients and converts speech into written text. You can instantly access the transcript and enter the newly received information in the database. All the recordings are stored and can be easily accessed.
What database software do most companies use?
Most companies use Oracle, which is known as the most-used database management system.
