I was searching through the available CRM systems available to small business when I stumbled across Legrand CRM. I thought that I’d just make some quick comments on the system to help anyone contemplating its implementation in their business.

Legrand CRM have an advantage to Australian small businesses, they have an office in Sydney. This can be helpful for support or for general help with the system. Although it looks as though the software wasn’t born here and may have been “imported” from the US as the demo videos have US style phone numbers.

On first impressions, their website is professional looking, although could be improved design-wise, and it had some slight compatibility issues in a non Internet Explorer browser.

Heading into the marketing speak, they claim:

• The world’s finest customer database management software.
• Thousands of users in 17 countries.
• Editor’s Choice Award, January 2004, Technology & Business Magazine.

Well, from what I’ve seen, it has the talk, but it definitely does not walk. Why? Mainly because at a glance I can tell whether a software package is going to deliver. It’s called “design”, and Legrand CRM displays poor design.

The screens are over crowded, with information everywhere, multiple tab panes in several places, poor use of whitespace, poor colour choices, poor adherence to Microsoft’s user interface guidelines, and poor use of usability enhancements such as icons and images.

Yes, it seems a powerful package, but if it’s difficult and cumbersome to use, then all that power is wasted. It’s like having a V8 without an accelerator, lots of potential, but in practical use, not much good.

With some design changes, the software could possibly achieve many advantages for your business, but before that happens, I’d recommend investing your dollars elsewhere.