Sales Pipeline Management Tools: Top 15 Tools for 2024

Managing your sales pipeline efficiently is crucial for driving growth and closing deals. According to a recent study by Salesforce, businesses that effectively manage their sales pipelines see an average growth rate of 28% compared to those that don't. With the right tools, you can gain better visibility into your sales process, improve team collaboration, and ultimately increase your revenue. 

In this article, we'll explore the top 15 sales pipeline management tools for 2024, helping you choose the best solution to streamline your sales operations and improve your business performance.

 

What is a Sales Pipeline Management Tool?

A sales pipeline management system ensures no deal slips through the cracks. With features ranging from tracking interactions to managing tasks and forecasting sales, this software acts as a central hub for all sales activities, providing a clear visual of each stage in the sales funnel. Whether automating emails or setting up meetings effortlessly, a good sales pipeline tool keeps sales reps organized and focused on closing more deals.

Why is Having Sales Pipeline Management Software Important?

A sales pipeline management software provides a panoramic view of your sales process, allowing you to spot bottlenecks, forecast accurately, and effectively nurture leads. The software identifies winning strategies and areas for improvement. Sales reps get to hone in on the hottest leads with precision, thanks to lead scoring, and you're able to ensure a constant influx of revenue. 

Benefits of Using a Sales Pipeline Management Tool

Using a sales pipeline management tool offers several key benefits that can improve your sales process. Here are some of the top advantages of implementing these tools in your business.

Clear Sales Process

A sales pipeline management tool organizes each sales stage from prospecting to closing, ensuring every team member knows the exact steps to move leads down the funnel. Dissecting sales into digestible phases helps everyone stay on the same page, reducing friction and accelerating productivity. A well-defined process minimizes errors and grows revenue seamlessly.

Faster Lead Generation

Sales pipeline management tools automate lead capture and qualification. They scour through various channels, be it social media, email, or website interactions, to populate your pipeline with high-quality leads and save you time. 

Efficient Follow-Up

An effective sales pipeline management tool automates touchpoints with personalized, timely follow-ups. Setting reminders and scheduling communications helps sales reps effortlessly maintain momentum with their prospects. 

Shorter Sales Cycle

Sales pipeline management tools provide the right insights and triggers for timely actions, ensuring leads are swiftly ushered to the next phase. With strategic automation and prioritization at your disposal, reps can focus their energy on the most impact-making activities, reducing the sales cycle duration and increasing team performance.

Better Customer Relationship Management

Centralizing all interaction data ensures that anyone on your team can pick up where another left off, offering a seamless customer experience. This tool offers personalized notes and reminders that make every client feel unique and appreciated. Consistency and continuity in relationships are must-haves for repeat business and customer referrals.

Accurate Forecasting

Sales pipeline management tools offer rich analytics and historical data at their fingertips. This enables sales teams to anticipate trends, pivot strategies accordingly, and set realistic targets. 

Higher-Value Deals

Sales pipeline management tools point you toward the most promising prospects. Lead scoring prioritizes your efforts, helping your team dedicate their resources to opportunities that maximize revenue.

Top 15 Sales Pipeline Management Tools for 2024

Choosing the right sales pipeline management tool can significantly improve your sales performance. Here are the top 15 sales pipeline management tools for 2024 to help you make an informed decision.

1. Kohezion

Kohezion is a great choice for those who crave customization without the complexity. Its strong DIY application builder empowers sales teams to create tailored solutions. It offers a no-code/low-code platform that ensures rapid deployment and ease of use for teams at all tech levels.

Top 5 Features:

1. Custom application builder for tailored workflows
2. Advanced reporting and dashboard capabilities
3. Task and project management within the sales pipeline
4. Robust data import/export and integration options
5. Secure and compliant data management, with attention to detail

Five Benefits:

• Increased sales productivity through customized pipelines
• Significant time saved in developing and deploying applications
• High user adoption due to its simple, intuitive design
• Improved lead management through personalized follow-ups
• Improved decision-making with comprehensive reporting

Two Cons:

• Can be intimidating initially for those not used to No-code/low-code platforms
• May require some setup time to tailor the system perfectly to your team’s process

Best For: Sales teams looking for a high degree of customization in their CRM and pipeline management without investing heavily in software development or customization services.

2. Salesforce CRM

Salesforce CRM is renowned for its comprehensive features and robust customization options that cater to any scale of business. This platform's versatility is unmatched, and its integration capabilities further extend its functionality.

Top 5 Features:

1. Detailed contact and lead management that provides a 360-degree customer view.
2. AI-powered insights via Salesforce's Einstein for predictive analytics and trend forecasting.
3. Advanced customization and automation to tailor the platform exactly to your workflow.
4. Comprehensive AppExchange ecosystem for expanded functionalities.
5. Robust collaboration tools within the Salesforce Chatter feature.

Five Benefits:

• Streamlines and optimizes your end-to-end sales process.
• Empowers sales teams with data-driven decision-making tools.
• Improves customer relationships through personalized engagements.
• Scalability that grows effortlessly with your business.
• Reduces time spent on manual tasks via automation.

Two Cons:

• Users may face a steep learning curve due to the platform's extensive features.
• The price point can be a barrier for smaller businesses or those with tighter budgets.

Best For: Businesses that demand advanced functionality, in-depth customization, and integration options.

3. HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM is known for its user-friendly interface and deep alignment with inbound marketing practices. It caters to sales, marketing, and customer service needs. HubSpot CRM provides a truly free CRM with robust features that cater to businesses of all sizes. The platform’s seamless integration with the broader HubSpot ecosystem increases its functionality.

Top 5 Features:

1. Customizable deal stages that allow for bespoke pipeline management.
2. Real-time reporting dashboards for instant insights into sales performance.
3. Email integration with tracking and notifications for effective communication.
4. A plethora of automation tools to streamline every step of the sales process. 5 Customizable field options to match the CRM to your specific sales needs.

Five Benefits:

• Encourages a cohesive workflow between sales, marketing, and customer service departments.
• Reduces time spent on data entry and management with automation features.
• Improves lead nurturing with integrated tools for a variety of communication channels.
• Provides deep analytics that guide strategic decision-making.
• Offers scalable solutions that grow with your business, from free to enterprise levels.

Two Cons:

• Users may experience occasional lags and delays with certain operations.
• While the core CRM is intuitive, mastering the full suite of integrated HubSpot products has a learning curve.

Best For: Businesses looking for a cost-effective, all-in-one solution emphasizing marketing and customer service integration. It is also a good choice for enterprises seeking a scalable and comprehensive CRM system.

4. Freshsales

Freshsales stands out for its AI-driven insights and a keen focus on usability. AI-powered lead scoring revolutionizes how teams prioritize and engage with prospects. The platform's simplicity and elegance in design facilitate a swift onboarding experience.

Top 5 Features:

1. AI-powered lead scoring to identify prime opportunities.
2. Visual sales pipelines that offer clear, customizable views of deal stages.
3. Built-in phone and email integration for seamless communication tracking.
4. Advanced activity capture that records customer interactions automatically.
5. Robust integration options with popular business tools and applications.

Five Benefits:

• Empowers sales teams with predictive insights for smarter prospect engagement.
• Optimizes sales activities with easy-to-use automation.
• Improves collaboration with comprehensive tracking and notification systems.
• Offers real-time analytics for quick, informed decision-making.
• Facilitates multitasking within a single platform, minimizing the need for multiple tools.

Two Cons:

• Some users may require additional features beyond the base package, leading to extra costs.
• The AI functionalities may have a learning curve for users unfamiliar with predictive analytics.

Best For: Enterprises that are looking for an intuitive, feature-rich CRM with strong automation and AI capabilities.

5. Scratchpad

As a dynamic Chrome extension, Scratchpad bridges the gap between productivity and CRM management. Its direct integration with Salesforce saves precious time and provides an additional layer of efficiency. The user-centric design is geared towards quick updates and improved sales rep performance.

Top 5 Features:

1. Intuitive interface that operates seamlessly alongside Salesforce.
2. Workflow tiles for rapid access to critical data points.
3. Deal spotlight and pipeline gap analysis to keep opportunities on track.
4. No-code Slack automation for improving communication workflows.
5. Salesforce command shortcuts that streamline data entry and retrieval processes.

Five Benefits:

• Augments productivity with simplified Salesforce operations.
• Reduces manual data entry errors through automation.
• Empowers sales teams with actionable insights for prompt decision-making.
• Improves forecasting accuracy with predictive tools and visual cues.
• Provides a consolidated platform for notes, tasks, and pipeline management.

Two Cons:

• Exclusively tailored for Salesforce users, limiting its use for businesses using other CRMs.
• Might offer more features than needed for smaller teams looking for a basic solution.

Best For: Sales representatives and revenue operations teams who want to maximize their Salesforce experience.

6. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM Plus integrates marketing, sales, and customer support. It provides a comprehensive sales pipeline view with a 360-degree customer overview. Its all-in-one platform harmonizes processes across various customer touchpoints for a smoother experience.

Top 5 Features:

1. Contact and lead management to keep sales data organized.
2. Sales pipeline management for a bird's-eye view of every deal stage.
3. Workflow automation that streamlines lead scoring and task assignments.
4. Multi-channel communication features for engaging prospects across platforms.
5. AI-powered insights offering predictive analytics and advanced reporting options.

Five Benefits:

• Automating routine tasks and data entry to save time.
• Improved customer experiences through multi-channel engagement strategies.
• Customization and personalization options to fit the unique needs of your business.
• In-depth analytics and reporting tools aid in making data-driven decisions.
• Support for multiple languages and currencies, facilitating international business operations.

Two Cons:

• Users may find the platform's interface and plethora of options somewhat overwhelming.
• There could be challenges in integrating certain third-party applications that are not natively supported.

Best For: Businesses looking for a robust and versatile CRM to manage the sales pipeline efficiently and seamlessly integrate marketing and customer service features.

7. Keap

Keap (formerly Infusionsoft) makes sophisticated marketing automation accessible to non-technical users. It offers a comprehensive solution that scales with you as you grow, making it a solid long-term investment.

Top 5 Features:

1. Advanced sales and marketing automation to nurture leads and cut down on tedious tasks.
2. Customizable CRM to adapt to specific business requirements.
3. Integrated appointment scheduling to simplify meeting coordination.
4. Seamless contact management that keeps all customer data in one accessible place.
5. Robust reporting and analytics to gauge campaign performance and optimize sales strategies.

Five Benefits:

• Empowers you to build strong relationships through tailored customer interactions.
• Automating repetitive tasks, allowing the focus to remain on closing deals.
• Offers clear visibility into the sales pipeline for better decision-making.
• Facilitates growth with tools designed to scale with your business.
• Aligns sales and marketing efforts for a cohesive customer journey.

Two Cons:

• Starts at a higher price point, which may be a consideration for smaller businesses or startups.
• Requires an initial investment of time to set up and customize automation and other features.

Best For: Small businesses looking to refine their sales and marketing efforts with advanced automation but without extensive technical know-how.

8. Zendesk Sell

Zendesk Sell offers a comprehensive toolkit for organizations to manage their sales pipeline with precision. Renowned for its easy adaptability, it lets teams hit the ground running without encoding. The software's blend of in-depth analytics with practical automation improves the sales process.

Top 5 Features:

1. A centralized platform that consolidates contacts, leads, and deals in a single view.
2. In-depth reporting and analytics to dissect and improve sales performance.
3. Workflow automation tools for efficient communication and follow-up actions.
4. Native email and calendar sync capabilities for streamlined sales activities.
5. Mobile access that allows sales teams to stay connected and productive on the go.

Five Benefits:

• Reducing the time spent on manual data entry to improve productivity.
• Offers actionable insights to fine-tune sales strategies.
• Improves lead tracking and prioritization for better conversion potential.
• Streamlines the entire sales process, from prospecting to closing.
• Bolsters customer relationships through seamless integrations with support systems.

Two Cons:

• May require additional investment for full functionality in higher-tier plans.
• Integration with certain third-party apps may need further refinement.

Best For: Businesses aiming to unify their sales platform with customer support while leveraging powerful analytics to drive sales growth.

9. Nutshell

Nutshell has a visually intuitive interface and easy-to-use features. It offers a balanced combination of simplicity and depth, ideal for small businesses or sales teams that need quick implementation. Its mobile apps allow sales activities to continue seamlessly beyond office boundaries.

Top 5 Features:

1. Customizable sales process with visual pipeline management.
2. Quick and precise reporting tools for performance analysis.
3. Email sync and template capabilities for efficient communication.
4. Powerful sales automation to streamline lead nurturing and task assignments.
5. A thorough contact management system is needed to consolidate customer information.

Five Benefits:

• Intuitive design reduces the learning curve for new users.
• Keeps the team aligned with a clear visual representation of sales stages.
• Saves time with automation, so reps spend more on selling and less on admin work.
• Facilitates empowered selling with accessible customer data and interaction history.
• Supports proactive strategies with actionable insights and forecasting.

Two Struggles:

• More in-depth customization options could be beneficial for complex sales operations.
• Larger teams or enterprises may need a more robust feature set than Nutshell currently provides.

Best For: Companies within B2B sectors looking for a CRM that balances ease of use with comprehensive features.

10. EngageBay

EngageBay is an all-in-one marketing, sales, and service CRM for small to medium-sized businesses. It combines ease of use, rich features, and affordable pricing. EngageBay emphasizes seamless customer engagement from lead acquisition to support.

Top 5 Features:

1. 360-degree contact view for a complete understanding of customer interactions.
2. Marketing automation flows that capture, nurture, and convert leads with efficiency.
3. Email marketing, social media, and SMS tool integration for diverse communication strategies.
4. Sales pipeline management that gives detailed insights into deal progression.
5. Customer support functionalities.

Five Benefits:

• Consolidates multiple tools into one platform, simplifying the technology stack.
• Reduces the time spent switching between different software for marketing, sales, and support.
• Ensures no lead is left behind with integrated lead capture and nurturing tools.
• Offers actionable analytics to improve sales strategies and processes.
• Provides a high ROI thanks to its affordability and comprehensive features.

Two Cons:

• New users may require time to fully adapt to its broad range of features.
• The platform may lack some highly specialized functionalities offered by industry-focused CRMs.

Best For: Businesses that need a robust and affordable all-in-one CRM solution to manage their sales, marketing, and customer service.

11. Pipedrive

Pipedrive’s focus on activity-based selling equips teams to drive their efforts toward closing more deals.

Top 5 Features:

1. Customizable pipelines tailored to fit various stages of your sales process.
2. Full email integration with tracking and templating for streamlined communication.
3. Advanced reporting and insights to fine-tune selling strategies.
4. Mobile app accessibility ensures sales management on the go.
5. Over 400+ integrations allow seamless combination with other business tools.

Five Benefits:

• Delivers clarity to the sales process with its uncluttered visual pipelines.
• Saves time on admin tasks so teams can focus on taking action where it counts.
• Facilitates informed decision-making with powerful analytics and forecasting.
• Improves team cooperation through shared pipelines and activity tracking.
• Adapts to any sales strategy with in-depth customization capabilities.

Two Cons:

• Basic plans may lack features that larger or more advanced sales teams require.
• Some users may find the additional cost for advanced analytics and reporting to be a drawback.

Best For: Sales teams looking for an intuitive CRM that effectively streamlines their engagement and follow-up strategies.

12. Streak

Streak is a CRM designed to be used within Gmail. It promises to let you manage leads at every step of your pipeline without leaving your inbox. There are a variety of tools to help you close more deals. This includes email, deal tracking, client management, analytics, and creating and tracking sales pipeline stages. Users can also add notes and files to each contact record so important information doesn't get lost.

Top 5 Features:

1. Direct integration with Gmail, ensuring the transition to CRM is seamless.
2. Custom pipeline views that conform to your specific sales stages.
3. Email tracking and snipping tools for smart outreach management.
4. Collaboration is made easy with shared pipelines and communication logs.
5. Robust data analytics to drive sales performance improvement.

Five Benefits:

• Working within the familiar environment of Gmail to encourage team adoption.
• Improves productivity with less app-switching and more time selling.
• Facilitates real-time collaboration on deals directly from your inbox.
• Customizable to fit the unique processes and workflows of your team.
• Provides valuable insights for strategic planning and forecasting through integrated analytics.

Two Cons:

• The task management system does not allow for the creation of recurring tasks.
• Larger businesses might find the scalability limiting as they expand.

Best For: Businesses already reliant on Google Workspace and looking for an affordable, easy-to-adopt CRM.

13. Close CRM

As an incredibly powerful and user-centric sales pipeline management software, Close CRM stands out for its superior unified view and simplicity. Its straightforward design paired with extensive capabilities makes it the go-to tool for sales teams prioritizing efficiency and ease of use.

Top 5 Features:

1. Unified calling, emailing, and SMS capabilities within the CRM platform.
2. Sales automation with Smart Views and templates based on lead data.
3. Comprehensive Opportunity Funnel Report to identify and address deal progression issues.
4. Customizable pipeline views equipped with drag-and-drop functionality.
5. Advanced search and filter options for targeted lead management strategies.

Five Benefits:

• Enables quick and efficient communication directly from the CRM, keeping all interactions in sync.
• Saves time through automated follow-ups and lead management processes.
• Offers a holistic view of sales metrics and conversion rates for better strategic planning.
• Promoting faster and more informed decisions to reduce the sales cycle.
• Provides drag-and-drop functionality that simplifies the complexity of pipeline management.

Two Cons:

• Pricing can be a bit steep for smaller businesses with tight budgets.
• Some users may find the advanced features come with a bit of a learning curve.

Best For: Sales teams in startups and SMBs that need a powerful CRM tool that streamlines the sales process.

14. ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is an all-in-one marketing automation, email marketing, and CRM platform. It offers features that support the full lifecycle of sales and customer relationships. It also provides in-depth tracking to nurture leads and understand customer behavior.

Top 5 Features:

1. Advanced contact and lead scoring to prioritize potential opportunities smartly.
2. Automated sales and CRM tools to manage tasks, notifications, and segmentation.
3. Outbound sales sequences that automate communication throughout the funnel.
4. Personalized email marketing that synchronizes with the customer's journey.
5. Detailed reporting and analytics for data-driven decision-making.

Five Benefits:

• Improves contact management with comprehensive information and tactile lead scoring.
• Streamlines the sales process and increases productivity through sales automation.
• Personalizes communication, fostering stronger lead engagement and conversion.
• Provides a complete view of marketing and sales efforts, harmonizing their interplay.
• Offers flexible integrations, making it compatible with a wide array of business landscapes.

Two Cons:

• The platform's vast array of features may overwhelm new users initially.
• Small businesses might find the starting price point slightly higher compared to simpler solutions.

Best For: Businesses looking for a solid CRM that offers strong email marketing and sales automation.

15. Insightly CRM

Insightly CRM is praised for its user-friendly interface that balances power with simplicity. Its blend of customizable features fits various stages of business growth, offering a truly scalable solution.

Top 5 Features:

1. Lead and contact management that optimally organizes client data for accessibility.
2. Workflow automation saves time on routine follow-up tasks and emails.
3. Opportunity tracking to monitor sales pipeline and close deals more efficiently.
4. Flexible project management tools directly tied to the CRM environment.
5. Rich integration capabilities, including native options and third-party apps.

Five Benefits:

• Accelerates the sales cycle through intuitive lead tracking and management tools.
• Empowers team collaboration with shared data and task assignments.
• Keeping timely and personalized follow-ups to improve client engagement.
• Drives informed strategy adjustments with thorough sales reporting.
• Adapts to growing businesses with module-based scalability and easy-to-implement integrations.

Two Cons:

• Limited customization can frustrate those looking for a highly tailored CRM experience.
• Some users reported issues with automation workflows after software updates.

Best For: Businesses requiring a sales pipeline management solution that can scale alongside their growth.

How to Choose the Best Sales Pipeline Management Tool for Your Business

Selecting the right sales pipeline management tool is essential for meeting your business needs. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing the best tool for your company.

Identify Business Needs

Identifying your business needs involves a keen understanding of your sales process. Are you all about nurturing cold leads into warm conversations or fast-tracking deals to a close? Perhaps both? Whether you need advanced analytics, stellar customer service tools, or seamless integration capabilities, identifying these requirements upfront will prevent you from making the wrong choice. 

Review Your Budget

When choosing a sales pipeline management tool, ensure you're not sacrificing essential features to spend less. You should also be careful not to overspend for a star-studded platform you barely use. If your budget is tight, look for solutions that offer free trials or cut-down versions at no cost. 

Check Features

Ensure that the tool you pick has the essential functionalities: automation to save time, integrations to keep data flowing smoothly, customization to fit your process, and smart reporting. 

Ensure Data Security and Compliance

Given the sensitive nature of customer data, opt for a secure tool armed with encryption and compliant with the data protection laws relevant to your business, like GDPR or CCPA. Ensure the vendor can provide certifications and clear data handling policies. Proper data management could protect your business's reputation and help you avoid costly legal issues.

Look at User Feedback and Reviews

User feedback and reviews give you insider info on a CRM's performance. Don't just settle for star ratings. Dive into the comments to find valuable insights that could make or break your decision. 

Assess Ease of Use and Adoption

Assess ease of use and adoption to find a tool that requires minimal training and gets your team excited to use it. Look for a CRM with a friendly interface, logical navigation, and accessible support materials, so you don't need a map every time you want to enter data or pull a report. 

Verify Integration and Scalability

Ensure the CRM integrates with the apps and systems your business relies on, whether email platforms, social media, or accounting software. Scalability is also important. Ensure the tool you choose can rise to the challenge, accommodating more users, data, and complexity without needing a complete overhaul.

Become a Pro Seller With Kohezion

If you want customization in sales, Kohezion is the tool for you. No coding, no hassle—just pure productivity. With Kohezion, you can design a CRM that fits your business perfectly. Forget generic tools and choose a solution that meets your unique needs. Kohezion empowers your sales team, helping them perform at their best and achieve great results.

Conclusion

The right pipeline management tool increases productivity, provides clear insights, and strengthens customer connections. Choosing top-notch sales CRM software is essential for success. Whether you need a customizable solution or a tool for high-volume automation, there's one that fits your needs perfectly. Let this guide help you find a CRM that exceeds your expectations and increases your sales performance. For more information, contact Kohezion.