In this third year of its existence, CRM Idol has become one of the ways that emerging technology companies in the customer-facing space, (CRM, social, marketing, sales, customer service, etc) get visibility and build a name for themselves. Each year, two companies shine from the pack and are seen by the analysts and influencers, media and market as the best of the youngsters – the ones with the brightest futures.
Each year, we are able to highlight the best and brightest out there. The past winners:
2011
2012
2013
I guess we’ll see about this, now won’t we?
There is no question about the market for customer facing applications being substantial. Taking into account traditional and social CRM and calling it all CRM here, we are speaking of an estimated $18 billion market in 2012 – up 12.5% from the year before according to Gartner Group’s Market Share Analysis: Customer Relationship Management Software, Worldwide, 2012 report published April 2013. That’s a lot of bucks.
But that said, its also an opportunity not just for small players, but one that has the well established technology companies actively engaged too. Which means its pretty tough for a small company to try to get themselves heard in a market of giants who have large budgets to make the noise they have to. CRM Idol’s purpose is to give them that visibility AND to get them the mentoring to prepare them for that.
So, without further ado, please welcome CRM Idol 2013 and if you’re interested in being a participant, go the CRM Idol website and read the rules and request a submission form. The market awaits.
(Cross-posted @ ZDNet | Social CRM: The Conversation Blog RSS)
