A Practical Comparison for IT Companies with Field Sales Teams
If you’re running a System Integrator business in India and you’re looking for CRM tools, this article is for you.
Your sales engineers visit client sites daily , data centers, office buildings, factory floors. They need to quote on the spot, check stock availability, capture purchase orders, and update lead status. They can’t wait until they’re back at the office to get anything done.
So when you’re choosing a CRM, here’s the question that matters: Can your sales team do their job from a client site, with or without internet?
That’s where most generic CRMs fail. And that’s exactly what we’re going to compare between ClearCRM and LeadSquared , two popular options that might be on your shortlist.
Let’s break it down honestly.
Quick Summary: ClearCRM vs LeadSquared
What ClearCRM Does Well
ClearCRM (also known as C2CRM) has been around for 20 years. They’re based in Dallas, Texas, and they pitch their software as “robust yet easy to use.” Starting at $37 per user per month, it’s positioned for companies with at least 10 users.
Here’s what users actually say:
“It allows the best sales with our customers. It is the best CRM software in the market. If customers need help then it allows their users to contact them directly and they give good feedback in a short time.”
“It’s a very simple and easy application. Once installed it can give the maximum benefits. Nothing can stop this tool from making wise decisions.”
“Its mobile version helps us to watch the business detail for 24-hours and is a good way to communicate with clients on demand.”
The good stuff:
Strong sales force automation (8.5/10 rating)
Good customization options (8.5/10)
Robust reporting and analytics (8.7/10)
Third-party integrations work well
Mobile app lets you check business details on the go
But here’s the catch for System Integrators:
ClearCRM isn’t built for SIs.
It doesn’t have AMC tracking.
It doesn’t map organization hierarchies across IT, facilities, and security departments.
It doesn’t connect to your inventory to check stock before quoting.
And if you’re in India, you might miss GST-specific features, E-way bill generation, and local payment term handling.
It’s a solid general-purpose CRM. But for how you actually sell, at client sites, with complex stakeholder maps, managing AMC contracts , it’s a generic fit.
What LeadSquared Does Well
LeadSquared positions itself as a “marketing automation and CRM platform.”
It includes landing pages, email marketing, lead management, analytics, and WordPress plugins. With 103 reviews on G2, it’s clearly more popular than ClearCRM , though the rating is lower at 7.6/10.
Here’s what users actually say:
“Very suitable for an omnichannel business, as it can capture both online and offline lead sources and allows for follow ups.”
“Very suitable for call centers as lead and call tracking can be done very easily using LeadSquared.”
“Call history is recorded like dialed calls, connected calls, total talktime in a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and on a custom basis.”
“The activity history of both customers, and employees are shown clearly, which help us a lot in understanding the interest of the customer.”
The good stuff:
Strong lead management (8.5/10 rating)
Good for capturing online and offline leads
Works well for call centers
Popular in India with local support team
Email marketing and campaign management
But here’s the honest truth, from users themselves:
“Not very suitable for on field sales. Even though the mobile app does facilitate portability, the overall experience does not come close to the desktop version which is not feasible for an on field sales representative to use.”
That’s a direct quote from a LeadSquared user on TrustRadius.
When your own users say the mobile experience isn’t good enough for field sales, that’s a problem for System Integrators.
Other weaknesses:
Campaign management rated low (4.1/10)
Reporting and analytics below average (6.0/10)
Gets stuck when running large campaigns
Performance issues on slow internet connections
The Real Problem: Neither CRM is Built for System Integrators
Here’s what both ClearCRM and LeadSquared have in common: they’re generic CRMs adapted for various industries, not built for how System Integrators actually sell.
When your sales engineer walks into a client’s data center, they need to:
Quote on the spot , Add products, check margin, generate PDF before the meeting ends
Check real-time stock , Don’t promise delivery you can’t keep
Capture the PO immediately , Snap a photo, upload directly to the system
GPS check-in , Prove they visited the client site with automatic location logging
Work offline , What if there’s no WiFi at the factory floor?
Neither ClearCRM nor LeadSquared is designed for this workflow. That’s not a criticism of their product , they’re solving different problems for different customers.
What System Integrators Actually Need
If you’re an SI in India, your CRM should solve these specific problems:
1. Mobile-First Field Sales
Your team works from everywhere. They need a complete office in their pocket. Quote. Capture. Update. Anywhere.
2. GPS Check-ins and Proof of Visit
Your salesperson says they visited the client site. Where’s the proof? GPS check-ins automatically log location and timestamp when they arrive. Add notes. Capture photos. Attach the signed meeting agenda. Proof of visit. Always.
3. Organization Hierarchy Mapping
A single customer might have multiple divisions. The IT department bought servers. The facilities team bought UPS. The security team bought cameras. Each with different contacts, different contracts, different renewal dates.
Organization hierarchy mapping shows every branch, every department, every contact. Know who bought what, when it expires, and who to call for the next deal.
4. AMC and Warranty Tracking
Your customer forgot their AMC expired 3 months ago. Now they’re angry their support request isn’t answered. They blame you. You lost the renewal without knowing it was due.
Set automatic AMC and warranty tracking. Get reminders 30, 60, 90 days before expiry. Proactively reach out for renewal. Don’t let expired contracts surprise you.
5. Real-Time Stock Check
Check product availability before you quote. Don’t promise delivery you can’t keep. Check stock right from the quote screen.
6. Offline Mode
No internet at the client site? No problem. Work offline. Data syncs when you’re back online. Never lose a lead.
The Alternative: Profit365 , Built Specifically for System Integrators
What makes it different:
Mobile-First Field Sales CRM , Quote, capture POs, check stock, GPS check-in, all from your phone
Offline Mode , Work without internet. Data syncs when you’re back online
GPS Check-ins , Automatic location logging with timestamp. Proof of visit for every meeting
Organization Hierarchy Mapping , Map every department (IT, facilities, security) and contact
AMC & Warranty Tracking , Automatic 30/60/90 day reminders before expiry
Real-Time Stock Check , Check availability before you quote
Complete Purchase Management , Vendor quotes, landed costs, approval workflows
Inventory Management , Track stock across warehouses, E-way bills, batch tracking
Every feature is designed for how SIs actually work , not how generic CRM companies think SIs work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ClearCRM better than LeadSquared?
It depends on your needs. ClearCRM has better ratings (9.3 vs 7.6) and is cheaper ($37 vs $50). LeadSquared has stronger India presence and works well for marketing teams. But neither is built specifically for System Integrators with field sales teams.
Which CRM is better for field sales?
Based on user reviews, neither ClearCRM nor LeadSquared is ideal for field sales. LeadSquared users specifically say it’s “not very suitable for on field sales” because the mobile experience doesn’t match desktop. ClearCRM has mobile capabilities but wasn’t designed for SI field workflows.
Is LeadSquared expensive?
Starting at ₹2,500/user/month (~$50), LeadSquared is priced similarly to ClearCRM in dollar terms. Some users feel it’s “a little bit expensive compared to other slimmer products.”
Can either CRM handle AMC tracking?
Neither ClearCRM nor LeadSquared has dedicated AMC and warranty tracking with automatic renewal reminders. This is a critical feature for System Integrators who manage ongoing maintenance contracts.
Which CRM has better mobile experience?
ClearCRM’s mobile version gets positive mentions for checking business details on the go. LeadSquared’s mobile app facilitates portability but users say it doesn’t come close to the desktop experience , a problem for field sales representatives.
Do either support offline mode?
Neither ClearCRM nor LeadSquared specifically advertise offline mode capability. For System Integrators whose teams visit client sites with unreliable internet, this is a significant gap.
If You Want To Explore The Best CRM For Systems Integrators – Check This.
ClearCRM and LeadSquared are decent generic CRMs.
But if you’re a System Integrator in India with a field sales team, neither one is built for your reality.
Your sales engineers need to work from client sites , quoting, capturing POs, checking stock, visits, with or without the internet.
You need to track AMC renewals, map organization hierarchies, and connect your CRM to your purchase and inventory systems.
That’s what Profit365 was built for.
Want to see what a System Integrator-specific CRM looks like?
CRM for System Integrators | Field Sales CRM Features | Customer Intelligence for SIs