In today’s competitive education space, coaching centres need more than just spreadsheets and WhatsApp groups to manage their student data, enquiries, and follow-ups. A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system can streamline your entire admission process – from lead generation to student onboarding.
But with so many CRM tools in the market, which one is right for your coaching institute?
Let’s compare Zoho CRM, one of the most popular general-purpose tools, with Smart Hive, our affordable, coaching-focused CRM solution built by OdooCrafts.
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What Coaching Centres Really Need in a CRM ?
Most coaching centres struggle with:
• Tracking student enquiries from multiple platforms
• Following up with potential leads consistently
• Managing course-wise and batch-wise data
• Sending reminders for fees and admissions
• Coordinating communication with students and parents
While big CRMs like Zoho offer many features, they’re not always the best fit for coaching-specific needs. That’s where Smart Hive stands out.
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Zoho CRM – A Powerful but Pricey Option
Zoho CRM is a feature-rich platform used by businesses of all types. It allows for automation, lead tracking, sales funnels, and more.
Pros of Zoho CRM:
• Highly customizable
• Supports third-party integrations
• Suitable for large sales teams
But here’s the catch:
• ❌ Not designed for coaching workflows
• ❌ Expensive, with pricing based on features/modules
• ❌ Requires technical know-how to set up and maintain
• ❌ Add-ons like Zoho Forms, Campaigns, and WhatsApp require separate subscriptions
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Smart Hive – Made for Coaching Centres, by OdooCrafts
Smart Hive is built exclusively for coaching centres. It’s simple, affordable, and solves the exact problems faced by educators and institute managers.
Top Features of Smart Hive CRM:
✅ Auto lead capture from website, social media, and Google Ads
✅ Follow-up reminders and activity tracking
✅ Course-wise and batch-wise lead management
✅ WhatsApp integration for faster communication
✅ Admission pipeline and student status tracking
✅ Fee follow-ups with automatic reminders
✅ Ready-to-use reports on conversions and counsellor performance
If you’re running a coaching centre and want a CRM that just works out of the box, with no tech headaches or unnecessary expenses, Smart Hive is the perfect solution.
While Zoho CRM is powerful, it’s also expensive, complex, and not tailored for the education sector. Smart Hive by OdooCrafts is built with coaching centres in mind – simple, smart, and scalable.
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👉 Ready to simplify your student management?
📞 Contact us or request a free demo of Smart Hive today.