Customer relationships are the heartbeat of every growing business, and managing them efficiently has never been more critical. That’s where CRM with marketing automation steps in. It combines customer data, sales tracking, and automated marketing into a single, intelligent system that operates behind the scenes to save time, increase engagement, and drive more revenue.
Instead of juggling multiple tools, a well-integrated CRM automates the busywork, including scheduling follow-ups, segmenting leads, sending targeted campaigns, and syncing every interaction in real-time.
The result? A streamlined workflow that gives your team more time to focus on what truly matters, building strong, lasting customer connections.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- Why CRM automation is essential for business growth in 2025
- The must-have features of customer relationship management systems
- The top CRM platforms that combine marketing and automation
- How automation improves productivity, engagement, and revenue.
Let’s go over how the right CRM can turn automation into your next big growth driver.
Benefits of CRM with marketing automation
The combination of CRM and marketing automation tools turns everyday customer management into a growth engine.
It’s more than just tracking contacts or sending emails; it’s about building a connected ecosystem that learns from every interaction and helps teams work smarter.
Improved customer experience
Customer relationship management with automation makes personalization effortless. It captures customer behavior, purchase history, and preferences, and then uses that data to tailor every touchpoint, from email campaigns to live chat responses.
When customers receive timely, relevant messages instead of generic blasts, they feel understood, not targeted. This level of attention builds trust and long-term loyalty.
Higher marketing team productivity
Automation removes the manual grind from marketing and sales workflows. Tasks like lead assignment, follow-ups, and nurturing campaigns can run automatically in the background. That means your marketing team can focus on high-value conversations instead of spreadsheets and reminders. Over time, this leads to faster responses, shorter sales process cycles, and better collaboration between departments.
Smarter decisions
Data becomes truly valuable when it’s connected. With CRM automation, all customer interactions, emails, chats, purchases, and feedback are stored in one place. This central view makes it easier to analyze patterns, understand what’s working, and refine marketing campaigns based on real-time results. Instead of guessing, teams can act on clear, data-backed insights that drive measurable growth.
Scalable growth
As your customer base expands, manual processes can’t keep up. CRM automation scales with your business, maintaining quality service without adding headcount. Workflows adjust automatically, ensuring no lead is left behind and no message goes unanswered, even during high-demand periods.
Contact management
Strong contact management sits at the heart of every successful customer relationship management strategy. It’s not just about storing names and emails, it’s about understanding context. With automated CRMs, every customer profile updates itself automatically based on new interactions, purchases, or support tickets.
Lead management
Leads are the fuel for growth, but without automation, they can easily get lost between sales and marketing teams. A CRM with marketing automation software ensures every lead is tracked, scored, and nurtured from first contact to conversion.
Features to look for in an automated CRM
When selecting a CRM with a marketing automation tool, prioritize tools that simplify work, rather than complicating it.
The right system should connect data, communication, and insights in one place, helping your marketing team stay productive and your customers feel valued.
Here’s what to look for:
- Email and marketing automation
Automate tedious tasks with pre-built workflows, triggers, and templates. Set up welcome sequences, follow-up messages, and drip campaigns that run on autopilot, so leads never slip through the cracks. - Lead scoring and segmentation
Know who deserves attention first. Automated lead scoring ranks prospects based on their behavior, while segmentation groups them by interest or level of engagement. You’ll target smarter, nurture faster, and close more deals. - Sales pipeline management
A good CRM shows you where every deal stands, from the first chat to the final handshake. Automated reminders, task assignments, and pipeline updates help your marketing team stay on track without manual effort. - AI insights and reporting
Customer data becomes a strategy when your CRM can think. Look for AI-powered analytics that highlight trends, predict conversions, and suggest next steps. - Omnichannel integration
Customers switch between email, live chat, and social; your CRM should keep up. Unified communication means that every interaction, from Messenger to Gmail, is visible in one view. That’s how you deliver consistent, personalized support every time. - Third-party app support
Customer relationship management should integrate seamlessly with your other marketing tools. Whether it’s ecommerce, advertising, or analytics software, seamless integrations keep your workflows connected and data up-to-date.
10+ Best CRM with marketing automation tools for 2025
The best CRM platforms in 2025 do far more than store contact details; they power entire sales and marketing ecosystems. These tools automate communication, predict opportunities, and deliver seamless experiences that boost engagement and customer retention over time.
As businesses refine their marketing strategy, a CRM with built-in automation becomes essential. It connects customer data with real-time actions, from personalized email campaigns to AI-driven insights, ensuring no lead goes cold and no opportunity is missed. Whether you’re building your first automation flow or optimizing a marketing hub professional setup, choosing the right CRM can turn routine interactions into long-term growth.
Modern marketing automation platforms now come equipped with advanced marketing automation features, including dynamic segmentation, workflow triggers, and custom reports that measure performance across every channel. Many even offer custom pricing plans to match your team’s size and scale, making enterprise-grade automation accessible to growing businesses.
Here are the top CRM platforms redefining automation, customer engagement, and data-driven marketing in 2025, each designed to make sales and marketing teams work smarter, not harder.
| CRM Platform | Best for | Key features | Pricing highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text® App | Unified customer service + CRM | AI-driven automation, live chat, analytics, omnichannel | Flexible pricing |
| HubSpot CRM | All-in-one growth platform | Email automation, workflows, and reporting | Free plan + paid tiers |
| Zoho CRM | Budget-friendly automation | Lead scoring, AI assistant, workflow rules | From $14/user/mo |
| Salesforce | Enterprise scalability | Custom automations, analytics, AppExchange | From $25/user/mo |
| ActiveCampaign | Advanced marketing automation | Email sequences, segmentation, CRM | From $19/user/mo |
| Pipedrive | Sales-focused automation | Visual pipeline, smart reminders | From $15/user/mo |
| Freshsales | AI-assisted sales | “Freddy” AI insights, email tracking | From $9/user/mo |
| EngageBay | All-in-one SMB platform | Marketing + sales + service automation | Free tier available |
| Salesmate | Mobile teams | Automation + business card scanner | From $12/user/mo |
| Brevo (Sendinblue) | Marketing-first CRM | Email, SMS, pipeline automation | Free plan + paid |
| Drip | E-commerce stores | Segmentation, retention workflows | From $39/mo |
Text App
The Text App combines CRM software, live chat, and automation in one intuitive workspace. Built with an AI-first foundation, it connects every channel, email, chat, and social to create a single view of the customer journey.
Our AI agent learns from past interactions to automate replies, routes inquiries, and personalizes marketing campaigns automatically. The result is faster response times and better experiences without added complexity. Teams can track conversations, analyze trends, and launch targeted outreach from the same dashboard
- Best for businesses seeking an AI-powered CRM that blends marketing automation software with real-time customer support in one platform.
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot remains a go-to solution for growing businesses due to its easy setup, generous free tier, and powerful automation capabilities. Its marketing hub automates emails, workflows, and lead scoring, while built-in reporting gives marketing teams a clear picture of campaign performance.
Its integration ecosystem and user-friendly interface make it ideal for teams new to CRM automation, yet ready to scale without incurring technical overhead.
- Ideal for small to mid-sized teams seeking an all-in-one growth platform with minimal setup requirements.
Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM offers advanced functionality at an affordable price point. Its AI assistant, Zia, helps with workflow automation, lead prediction, and sales forecasting. The platform integrates smoothly with Zoho’s marketing suite, allowing teams to manage marketing campaigns, social engagement, and customer service under one roof.
It’s particularly popular with small businesses and startups seeking flexibility and customization without the high costs associated with enterprise solutions.
- Best for budget-conscious teams that still want deep automation and analytics capabilities.
Salesforce
Salesforce is the industry standard for large enterprises. It offers unmatched customization and scalability and supports complex workflows, integrations, and automation through its AppExchange marketplace.
While it requires a steeper learning curve, Salesforce delivers complete visibility across marketing, sales, and service, making it powerful for data-driven decision-making.
- Best for enterprises that need a customizable, end-to-end CRM ecosystem.
ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign combines CRM and marketing automation into a single, highly flexible platform. Its visual workflow builder lets users design complex campaigns, nurture leads automatically, and trigger follow-ups based on customer behavior.
The platform also excels in segmentation, personalization, and advanced reporting, helping teams send the right message at the right time.
- Best for marketers focused on client journeys and behavioral automation.
Pipedrive
Pipedrive was built for salespeople who want simplicity and focus. Its visual pipeline shows every stage of the sales process, and its automation tools handle repetitive administrative tasks, such as follow-ups and status updates.
The platform’s clean design, combined with email tracking and integrations, keeps teams organized and deals moving efficiently.
- Best for sales-driven teams that prioritize visual workflows and ease of use.
Freshsales
Freshsales by Freshworks combines simplicity with smart AI assistance. Its built-in AI tool, Freddy, predicts deal outcomes, recommends follow-ups, and analyzes communication trends.
The platform integrates with email, chat, and phone systems, offering an end-to-end view of the customer journey. Its automation tools reduce manual effort, making it efficient for fast-moving teams.
- Best for SMBs that want AI guidance alongside traditional CRM features.
EngageBay
EngageBay unifies marketing, sales, and support into one lightweight platform. With built-in email sequences, task automation, and marketing campaigns management, it’s a practical choice for smaller businesses that want everything in one dashboard.
Its affordability and all-in-one structure make it a good alternative to more expensive enterprise tools.
- Best for startups and SMBs looking for a complete automation suite at a low cost.
Salesmate
Salesmate focuses on mobility and user experience. Its mobile app includes deal tracking and a business card scanner that automatically adds leads to the CRM system.
It supports email sequences, smart workflows, and goal tracking, ideal for distributed teams that need to stay connected while on the go.
- Best for teams that value mobile-first CRM functionality and automation.
Brevo (Sendinblue)
Brevo has evolved from an email marketing platform into a full CRM suite. It combines email, SMS, and sales automation with built-in pipelines and lead scoring.
Its user-friendly design and strong focus on communication make it popular among businesses that prioritize customer outreach over complex CRM setups.
- Best for teams focused on communication-driven marketing automation.
Drip
Drip specializes in ecommerce automation. It helps online retailers build segmented customer lists, send personalized recommendations, and run behavior-based retention campaigns.
Its integration with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce makes it easy to turn customer activity into actionable insights.
- Best for ecommerce brands aiming to boost repeat purchases through automated marketing.
Summary of top CRM automation tools
Each of these platforms brings something unique to the table, from Salesforce’s enterprise power to Zoho’s affordability.
However, if you’re looking for a unified, AI-driven system that combines CRM, automation, and customer service in one seamless workspace, Text App is a strong contender.
It helps growing teams deliver faster, more personalized customer experiences without switching between tools.
How marketing automation complements CRM
A CRM system is like a detailed map, rich in customer data, contact management insights, and sales history, but it remains static until you act on it. Marketing automation brings that map to life. It transforms stored data into intelligent actions, helping teams manage marketing tasks, streamline sales automation, and improve communication across every channel.
When CRM tools and automation work together, they do more than just record information; they coordinate strategy. Automated workflows can instantly respond to email marketing campaigns, follow up on Facebook lead ads, and sync with sales tasks in real time. This creates a bridge between marketing and sales, helping small and medium-sized businesses stay consistent and efficient without adding manual work.
Modern CRM solutions, ranging from top-tier CRM software to newer, free CRM options, now come equipped with advanced automation features. These systems handle repetitive marketing interactions, automatically nurture leads, and align teams across your marketing platform. Even other CRM systems like HubSpot Smart CRM highlight the growing trend toward integrating automation at every level, proving that smart workflows are no longer a luxury but a necessity.
For businesses focused on scalability and customer loyalty, combining CRM and automation means more than just organization; it means orchestration. The two systems work together to learn from behavior, react to engagement, and continuously refine outreach, building stronger and longer-lasting customer relationships.
Personalized marketing campaigns that run themselves
Marketing automation transforms raw CRM data into actionable insights for meaningful customer interactions. Every action, from a sign-up to a website visit or a cart abandonment, can trigger personalized messages in real-time.
Instead of broad, one-size-fits-all campaigns, customers receive targeted communications that reflect their specific interests and timing. This responsiveness keeps engagement high and makes every interaction feel natural rather than automated.
Better alignment between sales and marketing tools
Automation bridges one of the biggest gaps in business: communication between marketing and sales teams. When integrated with your CRM, every lead interaction, from the first click to the final conversion, is tracked and shared.
Marketers can nurture leads with targeted content until they’re ready to buy, while sales teams can instantly see which campaigns or actions sparked the interest. The result is a unified effort, fewer missed opportunities, and smoother handoffs between departments.
Real-time analytics that drive smarter decisions
The true strength of marketing automation software lies in the data it delivers. Real-time analytics reveal how customers navigate through your funnels, which campaigns are most effective, and where drop-offs occur.
With that insight, teams can refine their messaging, optimize workflows, and focus on what truly drives revenue, not just what feels successful. Decisions become proactive, not reactive.
Pro Tip: The Text App integrates automation into every customer interaction. Live chat, email, and CRM data all flow through a single connected workspace, ensuring no lead or conversation goes unnoticed. Messages are triggered by behavior, not guesswork, creating a consistent, intelligent customer journey powered by both human insight and AI efficiency.
Choosing the right CRM for your business
Picking a CRM system isn’t just about features; it’s about fit. The right system should feel like an extension of your team: intuitive, adaptable, and built to grow alongside your business. While flashy dashboards or endless integrations might catch your eye, what really matters is how well the CRM supports your daily workflow and long-term goals.
Before committing to a platform, take a step back and look at your core needs. A small business might prioritize affordability and ease of use, while an established company may focus on scalability, analytics, and deeper automation.
Still, a few essentials apply to everyone:
- Ease of use: The best CRM is one your team will actually use. Look for a clean interface, clear navigation, and minimal training time.
- Automation depth: Check how far automation goes. Does it only send emails, or can it assign tasks, score leads, and update customer data automatically?
- Integration options: Ensure the CRM integrates seamlessly with your existing tools, marketing software, ecommerce platforms, or chat systems.
- Scalability: Your business will evolve; your CRM should too. Choose software that can handle more users, data, and complexity as you grow.
- Support and reliability: Look for responsive, knowledgeable support. The best tools offer more than a help center; they help you succeed.
Once you’ve narrowed your list, test a few systems with your actual workflow. A two-week trial often reveals whether a CRM system truly aligns with your processes or just appears effective on paper.
Platforms like Text App make this decision easier by combining CRM, marketing automation software, and customer communication in one place. Instead of bolting on extra tools, teams can chat, manage leads, and automate follow-ups inside a single workspace, keeping data unified and collaboration simple.
Ultimately, the “best” CRM isn’t the one with the most features; it’s the one that helps your people work better, not harder. The right system will make customer management feel effortless and set the foundation for long-term growth.
Using CRM software and business growth
Growth involves keeping existing customers engaged, satisfied, and loyal. That’s where CRM automation becomes a silent driver of progress. It doesn’t just organize data or trigger emails; it transforms how a business understands and interacts with its audience.
A well-implemented CRM provides every department, from marketing to support, with a unified view into customer behavior. Suddenly, conversations aren’t isolated; they’re connected. The sales rep knows what a customer clicked on in last week’s newsletter. A support agent views the last product a customer purchased before a ticket is submitted. These moments of insight may seem small, but together they create the consistency and trust that define a modern brand.
As automation deepens, so does agility. Campaigns can react to real-time customer actions, feedback loops close faster, and decision-making becomes guided by patterns, not assumptions. Growth stops being accidental and becomes predictable, measured, repeatable, and scalable.
The Text App demonstrates how this type of connected growth operates in practice. Uniting AI live chat, helpdesk, and CRM automation in one place provides teams with a comprehensive view and detailed insights into every customer relationship. Conversations become data, data becomes strategy, and strategy becomes loyalty, all within a single, unified workspace.
In the end, the fastest-growing businesses aren’t those that chase every trend; they’re the ones that master consistency. CRM automation helps build that foundation, turning every interaction into an opportunity to strengthen relationships, improve performance, and scale with purpose.
Choose powerful marketing automation now
The future of business growth isn’t driven by guesswork; it’s powered by connection, data, and automation that work together seamlessly. A great CRM software with marketing automation doesn’t just manage contacts; it builds relationships that scale.
Aligning every message, insight, and interaction lets businesses focus less on repetitive tasks and more on strategy, creativity, and customer satisfaction. What once took hours now happens in seconds, automatically, intelligently, and with precision.
If you’re ready to experience that shift, explore the Text App for free.
It integrates live chat, CRM, and AI-driven automation into a single platform, helping teams work faster, communicate more effectively, and grow more clearly.
Because the real advantage isn’t just in collecting data, it’s in turning it into action.
FAQ
Is marketing automation included in all CRMs?
Not always. Many CRMs require integrations for advanced automation. Platforms like Text App, HubSpot, and ActiveCampaign offer built-in automation capabilities.
How does CRM software use marketing data effectively?
Modern CRMs collect data from multiple touchpoints, including emails, chats, forms, and campaigns, and then turn it into actionable insights.
Which CRM is best for small businesses?
Zoho CRM, EngageBay, and Text App are strong options for small teams, offering affordability, automation, and scalability.
Which CRM software suits ecommerce?
Drip and Brevo excel in ecommerce, while Text App helps unify chat, email, and customer data for online stores.
Are there free CRMs with automation features?
Yes. Tools like HubSpot and EngageBay offer free tiers with limited automation. For growing teams, Text App provides flexible pricing that includes AI-powered workflows and live chat automation.
How does Text App differ from others?
Text App combines live chat, helpdesk, and CRM automation in one AI-first platform, letting teams automate workflows, segment contacts, and deliver personalized support across channels
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