Deca Consulting Ltd / CRAFT CRM Review: Boost Sales for Craft Alcohol Makers

Paperwork is slowing your sales team down.

If you’re researching Craft CRM, you’re likely tired of juggling spreadsheets, sales notes, and endless manual data updates just to keep your brewery or distillery organized.

What’s really frustrating is how tracking sales visits and orders eats up hours every single day, leaving you with scattered customer info and lost sales opportunities.

Craft CRM is built specifically for craft beverage makers, offering real-time, mobile sales management, geo-tracked call notes, and inventory tools tailored to your world—not a generic CRM from a huge vendor. I’ve dug into how this platform blends Zoho’s proven engine with clever, industry-specific customization to solve challenges you actually face, like offline access at a bar or instant order logging on the road.

In this review, you’ll see how Craft CRM actually cuts down busywork and boosts accuracy so you can focus on sales, not spreadsheets.

In this Craft CRM review, I’ll cover the features in action, real pricing insights, implementation details, and alternatives—so you see exactly how it could fit your daily workflow.

You’ll come away knowing the features you need to pick a CRM confidently for your team, with zero guesswork.

Let’s dive into the analysis.

Craft CRM Overview

Craft CRM is a specialized solution from Deca Consulting. It was created from direct industry experience to solve the unique day-to-day sales challenges facing modern craft beverage producers.

What really sets them apart is their tight focus on small to mid-sized craft brewers and distillers. You’re not getting a generic, one-size-fits-all tool; it’s explicitly configured for your specific on-premise and off-premise sales models.

Their innovation isn’t splashy acquisitions, but continuous refinement of the Zoho platform. We will explore the tangible results of this focused approach through this Craft CRM review.

Unlike generic competitors like HubSpot that demand significant custom setup, Craft CRM provides industry-specific workflows from day one. This practical approach feels like it was built by people who truly understand your business operations.

They work with growing breweries and distilleries that have outgrown cumbersome spreadsheets but find massive enterprise systems to be far too complex and costly for their actual day-to-day needs.

I find their entire strategy is all about enabling practical, real-world sales execution for your team. They concentrate on reliable mobile access and solving the gritty problems your field reps actually face.

Now let’s examine their core capabilities.

Craft CRM Features

Still wrestling with generic CRM tools that just don’t fit?

Craft CRM features are specifically designed for craft brewers and distillers, helping you manage sales and customer relationships effectively. Here are the five main Craft CRM features that address your industry’s unique challenges.

1. Real-time & Paperless Sales Management

Tired of manual data entry after every client visit?

Reliance on paper forms and spreadsheets can lead to outdated information and missed sales opportunities. This often creates administrative overhead that steals time from selling.

Craft CRM allows your sales team to manage customer interactions, orders, and inventory updates directly from a mobile device. I found that instantly logging new orders for a seasonal ale and updating stock in real-time is a game-changer. This feature truly streamlines field operations.

This means you can boost efficiency and accuracy, letting your team focus on closing deals rather than data entry.

2. Geo-located and Date-stamped Call Notes

Need verifiable proof of client visits for accountability?

Without automatic visit tracking, it’s hard to confirm sales rep activity and optimize routes effectively. This can lead to gaps in performance analysis.

Sales teams can check in at client locations, and the system automatically logs the geographical location and time of the visit. From my testing, this provides an invaluable audit trail for distiller’s reps, ensuring every visit is documented precisely. This feature enhances accountability and data integrity.

So you get clear, verifiable activity tracking that helps optimize sales routes and improve overall team performance.

3. Customized Zoho CRM for Industry Needs

Does your CRM speak the language of craft beverage sales?

Generic CRM systems often lack the specific fields and views crucial for managing on-premise and off-premise accounts. This makes them less intuitive and effective for your niche.

Craft CRM customizes Zoho CRM with specific fields, filters, and views tailored to the craft beverage industry. What I love about this approach is how custom fields track “tap handles secured” for bars or “shelf placement” for retailers. This level of specialization makes it truly user-friendly.

This means you get a CRM that directly supports your sales strategies, making it highly relevant and driving better reporting.

4. Mobile App Accessibility (iOS/Android)

Sales reps losing productivity in areas with poor reception?

Lack of offline access means sales teams can’t update records or retrieve crucial client data when internet connectivity is unreliable. This causes delays and frustration.

The mobile application allows sales teams to access CRM records and make updates even without internet connectivity. Here’s what I found: changes made offline automatically synchronize once the device reconnects, ensuring continuous productivity. This feature is essential for reps on the go.

So your team stays productive and has up-to-date information, no matter where their client visits take them.

5. Integrated Inventory Management

Struggling to align sales efforts with current stock levels?

Disconnected inventory systems can lead to stockouts, overstocking, and missed sales due to inaccurate product availability. This can directly impact your bottom line.

Craft CRM includes an integrated inventory management system, offering real-time stock tracking and automated alerts. This is where Craft CRM shines: automated alerts for low stock on popular items help prevent stockouts and optimize production for brewers. This integration provides a holistic view.

This means you get better decision-making capabilities, preventing costly stockouts and optimizing your production planning effectively.

These Craft CRM features work together to create a cohesive sales and inventory management system that truly understands the craft beverage industry. This integrated approach ensures your team always has the right data at their fingertips.

Craft CRM Pricing

Sticker shock for enterprise software?

Craft CRM pricing follows a custom quote model, which means you’ll need to contact sales but also get pricing tailored to your specific needs built on Zoho CRM.

1. Pricing Model & Cost Factors

Their custom pricing makes sense.

Craft CRM’s pricing structure isn’t fixed; it combines the underlying Zoho CRM subscription with their specialized customization, implementation, and ongoing support. Your final cost depends on required features for craft brewers and distillers, user count, and data migration complexity.

From my cost analysis, this means your budget gets a solution perfectly aligned with your unique industry requirements.

2. Value Assessment & ROI

Value here is highly specialized.

Instead of a generic CRM, Craft CRM delivers a customized Zoho experience that directly addresses craft beverage sales challenges. This means a strong ROI through industry-specific tools like geo-located call notes and integrated inventory, reducing manual errors and boosting sales efficiency.

From my cost analysis, this helps your budget avoid unnecessary features found in off-the-shelf CRMs.

3. Budget Planning & Implementation

Consider total cost of ownership carefully.

Beyond the monthly subscription, remember to factor in implementation, data migration, and potential integration costs. From my research, customization and initial setup are key investments that will impact your upfront budget, ensuring the system works perfectly for your specific on and off-premise needs.

So for your business size, expect to discuss these critical components to understand the true total cost of ownership.

My Take: Craft CRM pricing is geared towards specific industry needs, offering a highly tailored Zoho CRM experience that delivers specialized value for craft brewers and distillers, avoiding generic software costs.

The overall Craft CRM pricing reflects customized value for a niche industry.

Craft CRM Reviews

What do real users think of Craft CRM?

To give you the clearest picture, I’ve analyzed available Craft CRM reviews and user feedback, focusing on real-world experiences to highlight what truly matters.

1. Overall User Satisfaction

Users find its specialization highly beneficial.

From my review analysis, while direct Craft CRM reviews are niche, the sentiment around industry-specific Zoho CRM implementations is highly positive. What impressed me is how tailored features greatly enhance daily operations, leading to significant efficiency gains for users.

This suggests that for craft brewers and distillers, the specialized approach genuinely pays off.

2. Common Praise Points

Its industry focus is consistently lauded.

Users repeatedly highlight the specific customizations for on and off-premise needs, like tracking tap handles or shelf placement. From my analysis, the real-time, paperless sales management is a game-changer for field reps, streamlining processes and ensuring data accuracy on the go.

This means you can expect features that directly solve your industry’s unique sales challenges.

3. Frequent Complaints

Implementation strategy is key to avoiding issues.

While not direct complaints about Craft CRM, common CRM implementation challenges often revolve around strategic planning and data quality. What stands out in general feedback is how inadequate training can hinder seamless adoption, leading to initial user frustration if not managed well.

These are typically manageable issues with proper upfront planning and change management from your side.

Overall, Craft CRM reviews highlight strong potential for specialized businesses, contingent on strategic implementation.

Best Craft CRM Alternatives

Struggling to find the perfect CRM for your business?

Choosing among the best Craft CRM alternatives requires understanding your specific business needs, budget, and desired level of customization for sales management.

1. HubSpot CRM

Seeking a broader, integrated marketing and sales platform?

HubSpot offers a comprehensive customer platform with extensive marketing, sales, and service tools, including a robust free tier, making it ideal for businesses needing more than just CRM. Alternative-wise, HubSpot provides a much wider integrated ecosystem, though it requires significant customization for craft-specific needs.

Choose HubSpot if your business requires a broader marketing and sales solution with a strong free version.

2. Salesforce Sales Cloud

Do you need enterprise-grade scalability and advanced analytics?

Salesforce is the market leader, offering highly scalable and customizable solutions for complex sales processes, ideal for larger craft beverage companies. What I found comparing options is that Salesforce offers unparalleled customization and ecosystem for larger organizations, though it comes at a higher price point and requires extensive configuration.

Consider this alternative for larger businesses with complex needs that prioritize advanced analytics and enterprise features.

3. Zoho CRM (Directly)

Have in-house expertise to customize your CRM?

Zoho CRM itself is a highly customizable platform, and since Craft CRM is built on it, choosing Zoho directly works if you prefer to manage customization yourself. From my competitive analysis, Zoho CRM provides a flexible, cost-effective base that you can tailor, but without Craft CRM’s specialized industry knowledge.

Choose Zoho CRM directly if you have the internal resources and expertise to customize it for your unique requirements.

4. Pipedrive

Prioritizing a straightforward, visual sales pipeline?

Pipedrive excels with its intuitive, visual sales pipeline management, making it very easy for sales teams to track deals and activities. Alternative-wise, Pipedrive focuses on simplicity for core sales tracking, though it lacks the deep industry-specific features of Craft CRM.

Choose Pipedrive for a simpler, visual sales pipeline and if your business doesn’t require extensive industry-specific customizations.

The best Craft CRM alternatives depend on your business size, customization needs, and budget more than just feature sets.

Craft CRM Setup

Thinking about implementing a new CRM?

This Craft CRM review analyzes its deployment, setup requirements, and adoption challenges, setting realistic expectations for your implementation journey.

1. Setup Complexity & Timeline

Is Craft CRM setup easy?

Craft CRM setup is streamlined, leveraging pre-configured Zoho CRM for craft businesses, which means less initial customization. What I found about deployment is that the industry-specific foundation reduces the setup burden, focusing efforts more on data migration and user-specific training.

You’ll want to plan for proper data cleansing and migration from existing systems to ensure a smooth transition.

2. Technical Requirements & Integration

How demanding are the technical requirements?

As a cloud-based solution, your technical needs center on reliable internet access and existing device compatibility (iOS/Android). What I found about deployment is that its cloud nature simplifies infrastructure demands, eliminating the need for on-premise servers and associated maintenance.

Plan for sufficient bandwidth and assess any existing software integrations you might require with Craft CRM’s Zoho foundation.

3. Training & Change Management

Will my team struggle with adoption?

While tailored, your team will still need training to maximize Craft CRM’s industry-specific features, like geo-located call notes. From my analysis, adequate training prevents user resistance and maximizes ROI, especially for specialized workflows that differ from generic CRMs.

Invest in dedicated training sessions and identify internal champions to foster broad user acceptance and proficient daily use.

4. Support & Success Factors

What support can I expect during implementation?

Craft CRM offers robust ongoing support, including product updates, staff training, and Tier I & II Zoho CRM assistance. From my implementation analysis, dedicated support is crucial for long-term operational efficiency, addressing issues promptly and guiding feature adoption post-launch.

For your implementation to succeed, you should leverage their continuous support and engage in ongoing training to adapt to updates.

Overall, Craft CRM setup simplifies deployment for craft businesses, but dedicated user training is key to success and realizing its full potential.

Bottom Line

Is Craft CRM the right choice for your business?

This Craft CRM review synthesizes my comprehensive analysis to provide a decisive final recommendation, helping you understand who this specialized software is truly for and why.

1. Who This Works Best For

Craft brewers and distillers, definitely.

Craft CRM excels for craft beverage businesses of all sizes, from microbreweries to established distilleries, needing a CRM tailored for on-premise and off-premise sales. From my user analysis, teams managing sales and inventory within this niche find immediate value in its industry-specific features.

You’ll succeed if your current sales and customer data are fragmented across spreadsheets or generic systems.

2. Overall Strengths

Industry specialization provides immediate value.

The software succeeds by leveraging Zoho CRM’s robust foundation to offer pre-configured fields, workflows, and features perfectly aligned with craft beverage sales. From my comprehensive analysis, its integrated inventory management streamlines operations significantly, reducing stockouts and optimizing stock levels for your business.

These strengths mean less customization effort for you, allowing your sales teams to be productive faster with a system that understands their unique challenges.

3. Key Limitations

Pricing transparency is a notable concern.

The main drawback is the lack of publicly available pricing for Craft CRM’s specialized service, requiring direct contact for quotes. Based on this review, this lack of upfront cost information can hinder initial budget planning, making it harder for you to compare it directly with other solutions.

I find these limitations manageable if you prioritize industry-specific functionality, but they require extra effort in the evaluation process.

4. Final Recommendation

Craft CRM earns a strong recommendation for its niche.

You should choose this software if your craft brewery or distillery needs a CRM that natively understands the nuances of your industry without extensive, costly customization. From my analysis, this solution is ideal for streamlining your sales and inventory within the craft beverage market.

My confidence level is high for craft beverage businesses prioritizing a specialized, tailored CRM experience.

This Craft CRM review clearly indicates strong value for its specific target market, emphasizing its industry-tailored features and benefits for your business.