Meet HubSpot, the leading customer platform for SMBs, with a robust free AI-powered CRM (customer relationship management) that will continue to revolutionize the SaaS space in the coming years. We've all known HubSpot as a renowned name in the field of inbound marketing and sales software. Founded in 2006 by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah, HubSpot has grown exponentially, driven by its mission to help businesses grow through a powerful yet user-friendly platform. The company's headquarters is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it serves a global customer base, providing innovative solutions to businesses of all sizes.

Fortunately for you, TechTimes has tested the new software from HubSpot, and this is our exclusive review (hint: it's really good). Read more below to see what HubSpot can offer.

The Magic Behind HubSpot's AI-Powered CRM

The heart of HubSpot's toolkit is its AI-driven CRM, which flawlessly syncs with the Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, Service Hub, Content Hub, Operations Hub, and Commerce Hub. Its CRM database is a centralized location where all customer data is stored and managed, providing teams with a holistic view of their customer relationships. Basically, this kind of centralization ensures that customer interactions, activities, and history are tracked and accessible by different teams, promoting seamless collaboration and enhanced customer experience.

Far from being a mere data repository, this is the command center of your business where every customer contact, action, and history is automatically recorded and accessible to all teams. Envision having instant access to all your customer data, primed to elevate your business growth strategies. No more scouring for information or dealing with disjointed data.

Picture it as a personal assistant that keeps all your customer information organized and easily accessible, offering a panoramic view of each customer whenever you need it. It's a must to remember that Artificial Intelligence is the name of the game in 2024, and without access to it, you cannot compete with the big players in your business. 

In the 7th edition of Visa's Global Back to Business Study, a staggering 91% of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) expressed their intent to explore automation and AI services such as ChatGPT. This high level of interest highlights a growing trend among SMBs to use advanced technologies like AI-powered Business Automation to improve their operational efficiency. Zapier actually supports this claim with its Zapier Report, saying that 88% of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) utilize automation to work more efficiently. This helps them close leads more quickly, spend less time on repetitive tasks, reduce errors, and provide better customer service.

And with HubSpot, you can do all that and more.

One of HubSpot's most successful stories involves a client company named 2030 Builders. This SMB is a sustainability-focused startup founded by Mia Negru in 2018. Its primary goal is to assist companies in aligning with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. During that time, 2023 Builders wanted to increase revenue and expand their customer base. As they began searching for a solution that would suit their specific size and needs, their main priority was to find a CRM platform that would drive sales growth and optimize their business organization.

Fortunately, 2023 Builders stumbled upon HubSpot. The platform helped 2030 Builders streamline contact management, task automation, and pipeline management. HubSpot's AI Chatbot also contributed to their success by enhancing customer relationship management. This eventually led to faster deal closures and a significant ROI of 80%. Mia even estimated that HubSpot's automation features save them at least $50,000 annually, which is already a big win for SMBs and startups like 2023 Builders.

What HubSpot Offers: An Overview

HubSpot's Customer Platform includes six core products that are connected to the same CRM software. 

Marketing Hub

Marketing Hub is made to assist businesses in attracting and converting leads using a variety of lead generation and nurturing tools. It offers features for email marketing, social media management, improving online search results, and tracking campaign performance. It works with a smart customer database to help personalize marketing efforts based on detailed customer information.

Sales Hub

Sales Hub is designed to make selling easier and convert leads faster by streamlining your sales process. It provides tools to keep track of emails, schedule meetings, manage deals, and analyze sales data. The AI features help sales teams figure out which prospects to focus on, engage with those prospects effectively so that they turn into paying customers, and forecast sales.

Service Hub

Service Hub's software is all about helping customers and keeping them happy. It has features for handling customer questions, getting feedback, and creating self-service documents to empower your customers. To make your support agents' job easier, you can chat with customers in real time using live chat and chatbots. These tools automate tedious tasks, which is important for growing businesses that need to provide support at scale. With HubSpot, your service teams can actually focus on delivering a remarkable customer experience to every customer.

Content Hub

Content Hub is a relatively newer addition to HubSpot's platform. It's a content marketing software that helps businesses manage and optimize their content strategy. It offers tools for content planning, creation, distribution, and performance tracking, while its AI-driven insights aid in identifying content trends and optimizing for better engagement. From building and managing your website to writing blogs and repurposing them into social media posts, HubSpot has you covered.

Operations Hub

Operations Hub was created to improve business operations by combining and automating tasks for your various team functions. It includes tools for ensuring data matches up, automating workflows, and analyzing the business's performance. This ensures the data is accurate and provides helpful information through custom reporting to improve operations.

Commerce Hub

Lastly, Commerce Hub helps manage B2B commerce activities. It excels in handling invoices, quotes, and payment links, providing a seamless and efficient platform for business transactions. While it lacks native inventory management features, its ability to integrate with third-party systems ensures that businesses can still achieve comprehensive operational control.

Cutting-Edge AI Tools Redefine Efficiency

HubSpot's AI suite can be the core of streamlined business processes, especially for smaller businesses that can't scale with their current tech stack. This AI system is much better than ChatGPT or Jasper, which we've recommended before for other projects. However, we vouch for HubSpot because it is more specialized for CRM. It offers intelligent automation and predictive analytics to ensure that your business operations run smoothly, freeing up your time to focus on what really matters- growing your business.

Some of the features we enjoyed most were predictive lead scoring, conversational bots that help answer common questions and intelligent content recommendations. These tools are designed to enhance productivity and ensure your team can operate like a well-oiled machine.

Additionally, these powerful features saved us a lot of time:

• AI Email Writer: Generates personalized emails with the expertise of a seasoned wordsmith, crucial for any marketing team. This tool alone can save hours each week, ensuring that your communications are both effective and efficient.

• Predictive Lead Scoring: Housed in Sales Hub, it hones in on high-value leads. This feature ensures that your sales team is focusing their efforts where they can drive the most revenue.

• Service Hub Chatbots: These digital assistants manage routine inquiries, allowing human agents to focus on complex issues. This not only improves customer satisfaction but also increases the efficiency of your support team.

Why HubSpot Reigns Still Supreme

HubSpot is also known for its ease of use and intuitive interface, making it accessible even for users without extensive technical expertise. Businesses that switch from competitors, particularly Salesforce, often cite HubSpot's simplicity as a key reason for their choice. Testimonials from companies like Pure Bookkeeping, PivIT Global, and DoorDash highlight that HubSpot is more user-friendly and less time-consuming compared to Salesforce.

But more impressive than the things mentioned, what really sets HubSpot apart is the price- or glorious lack thereof. It's a free CRM with no strings attached, perfect for small businesses pinching pennies. Plus, HubSpot sweetens the deal with discounts on its paid versions, often shaving off 25% for annual commitments. This commitment to affordability is a breath of fresh air in a market where high costs often keep small businesses from accessing the tools they need.

Compared to Salesforce, it's cheaper and a little less clunky. While Salesforce is powerful, it can be overwhelming and expensive, so it's more appropriate for enterprise-level companies. HubSpot is a more accessible and cost-effective alternative, perfect for startups and SMBs. It has a Starter, Professional, and Enterprise plan so you can upgrade your subscription as needed.

HubSpot's AI-powered CRM is a growth accelerator that stores customer data and uses AI to elevate business strategies. It helps businesses work smarter-not harder-by automating tasks, providing valuable insights, and enhancing overall productivity. 

If you're looking to refine your marketing strategies, streamline your sales processes, or enhance your customer experience, HubSpot's free CRM serves as the all-purpose platform your business needs.