Unlike most CRM systems, I commend SugarCRM for offering an Open Source free version of their software. In the spirit of Open Source, SugarCRM has released its Community version of its software which allows businesses to utilize a scaled-down version of their software for free. With our economic climate in such a difficult state, small and large businesses alike need to find ways to cut cost without sacrificing efficient practices. Enter Open Source. Open Source software technically means that the source code is available to the public, but generally it also means that you can implement it for little or no cost.

To survive and thrive in this cut-throat economy it is crucial for businesses to offer competitive pricing by cutting costs, while still maintaining profit margins.  Doing this will empower your sales team with a huge competitive advantage and enhance their ability to generate new business.  Companies need to weigh their options between expensive enterprise software such as Microsoft Office or to utilize the powerful suite of Google Applications.  The combination of Google Documents, Google Voice, Google Calendar and Gmail can be a powerful solution when used properly and can save your business thousands in software costs.