Should your UAE business build a custom CRM or adopt Salesforce? This guide helps you evaluate both options based on real-world Middle East requirements.
Customer relationship management is critical for UAE businesses operating in competitive markets. The decision between building a custom CRM and adopting Salesforce (or similar platforms) depends on your unique business processes, scale, budget, and growth trajectory. There's no universal answer, but there are clear decision criteria.
When Salesforce Makes Sense
Salesforce excels for organizations with standard sales processes, need for rapid deployment (weeks, not months), extensive third-party integration requirements, and teams that benefit from the Salesforce ecosystem (AppExchange, Trailhead). For UAE businesses in industries like real estate, insurance, and professional services, Salesforce's out-of-the-box capabilities often cover 80%+ of requirements.
When Custom CRM Wins
Custom CRM development is the right choice when your business processes are genuinely unique and can't be configured in off-the-shelf platforms, when you need full control over data and hosting (important for some UAE regulatory environments), or when long-term TCO favors ownership over licensing. Industries like logistics, healthcare, and government in the UAE often have workflows that stretch Salesforce beyond its sweet spot.
Cost Comparison for UAE Businesses
Salesforce licensing for a 50-user team costs approximately AED 350,000-700,000 annually, depending on edition and add-ons. A custom CRM might cost AED 500,000-1,500,000 to build but significantly less to maintain annually. The break-even point typically comes at 2-3 years, after which custom solutions become more cost-effective.
Bayden helps UAE businesses make this decision objectively. We've built custom CRMs for companies that needed them and implemented Salesforce for those that didn't. Our goal is the right solution for your business, not a predetermined answer.
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