Boosting Sales Team Collaboration with Microsoft 365

The power of Outlook for sales teams 

Did you know that the average sales rep spends over 30% of their workweek on administrative tasks? Two days a week, your sellers are face-to-face with routine work instead of opportunities. Within Outlook alone, your sales reps are losing hours to email organization, calendar management, note-taking and non-revenue generating communication – and then losing even more time by switching between applications. 

But what if all this time could be reclaimed, with one simple tool? 

Outlook as a command center for sales communication 

Instead of losing time toggling between apps, and risking data inaccuracies from the carry-over, use Outlook as your command center for sales communication. Integrating your Outlook with a CRM improves team visibility by syncing emails, meetings, and follow-ups automatically – keeping every rep aligned and reducing data-entry mistakes. Tasks are generated automatically from within Outlook, automating data entry, follow-up reminders, and task assignments. No more lost communications, missed deadlines, or double work. Take back your time, and see an immediate increase in efficiency, productivity and team accountability – all without leaving Outlook. 

Task management and workflow automation through Outlook 

According to McKinsey, employees spend almost 20% of their workweek searching for internal information or tracking down colleagues to help with specific tasks. For a five-day workweek, that’s one day a week retrieving information.  

Centralizing customer information, interaction history, and upcoming tasks means that each sales rep’s data stays updated and organized – and becomes accessible across your team. Say goodbye to chasing down colleagues to confirm information. With CRM-integration, everyone’s data is integrated and organized, and everyone works from the same source. By using a CRM with Outlook, you prime your sales reps for collaboration, mutual-support, and effective communication. In hybrid and remote work environments, you combat siloed information and isolation of reps – the CRM keeps all information aligned.  

Improving sales team collaboration with shared customer information 

Beyond supporting team collaboration, integrating a CRM with Outlook also supports stronger customer relationships. When your CRM and Outlook are connected, customer histories, key preferences, and past communications are all readily accessible to the team, letting your team create more personalized responses. No need for generic template emails; with the CRM handling the mental load of data entry and analysis, your sales reps increase their capacity to communicate more consistently, and more sincerely.  

Sales leaders’ overview and control 

With CRM insights accessible directly in Outlook, sales leaders gain a high-level view of customer interactions and team activities without needing to switch tools. Adding a CRM to the work you are already doing in Outlook allows you to track your team’s performance through data-based metrics. The CRM offers analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your reps, so you can strategize team management. Tailor your team feedback, personalize your coaching, and celebrate your team members’ accomplishments with specificity. The CRM serves as a leadership hack to more engaged employees, increased sales, and improved operations. 

The future of sales leadership 

There is a misconception that AI tools are replacing human effort. Maximizer is working to do the opposite – centering on human interaction and relationality by reducing the demand of administrative activities. According to Forrester, 75% of organizations using CRM software have seen a significant improvement in customer satisfaction metrics. As a sales leader, using a CRM that integrates easily with the tools your team uses daily will assist in modernizing your leadership and give you more time to focus your team on selling.   

Curious about how a CRM can transform your leadership? Book a demo with Maximizer today.