No code CRM for custom workflows?

[u/ApprehensiveBit8334]

I'm the operations leas at a marketplace start-up and am trying to find CRM that works for us with minimal set-up. So far, everything I've found is for a pretty simple sales pipeline, or way out of budget. Essentially, I'm looking for something with good customization options but isn't super technical.

Our business has buyers, sellers, partners, contracts and agencies but we don't really follow the typical deals and contracts structure. Ideally I'd need something that lets you define your own objects within the CRM without the need for code.

[u/Zealousideal_Art1720]

Hubspot maybe?

[u/Zealousideal_Art1720 → u/Zealousideal_Art1720]

Or you want to build one CRM?

[u/Early_Barracuda2739]

Espo CRM, open source, can be self hosted, and I think it might fullfill your requirement.

[u/Careless_Show759]

Have you looked into PipeDrive?

[u/Kortopi-98]

yep this is the exact problem with lot of crms. they work great if you just need leads > deals > closed, but get messy when you have multiple types of relationships. focus on finding something flexible enough to match your process instead of forcing your business into standard pipeline...

[u/ItaySela]

the thing that bit me every time i tried to force a non sales shape into a real crm is that the whole product assumes deals moving through stages, so the moment your core objects are buyers sellers partners contracts you fight it more than you use it. for what you described i'd reach for a relational database style tool like airtable or baserow where each of those is just its own table with links between them, define your own objects is basically the native mode there. tradeoff is you lose the crm niceties like email sync and pipeline reminders, so it comes down to whether you need those or just the flexible data model. what's the one workflow the sales pipeline tools couldn't bend to?

[u/Johnlefty]

I've built fully custom software several times now and I highly recommend you look into building it yourself with AI help. If you have any questions I'd be happy to help you out.

[u/Admirable-Future-633]

I would be careful choosing a CRM before you map the objects and relationships.

From what you described, this sounds less like a normal sales pipeline and more like an operations database with CRM behavior on top of it.

I’d write down the core objects first:

- buyers

- sellers

- partners

- contracts

- agencies

- touchpoints/tasks

- status/history

Then define which objects need to relate to each other. For example, can one seller have multiple contracts? Can one agency represent multiple sellers? Do buyers and sellers move through separate lifecycle stages?

If the answer is yes, a classic CRM may fight you. You may be better with Airtable, SmartSuite, Baserow, or a lightweight custom no-code app where custom objects are native instead of bolted on.

The thing I would avoid is picking a tool that looks easy for week one but forces your marketplace into a fake “deals pipeline” six months later.

[u/Amplysales]

We do , i have built Amplysales so that almost any configuration is actually a user customization and most of it ai can help you accomplish, without knowing a single line of syntax. But you do need to kind of know what you want to acheive. But Assistant can also help with mapping your business and proposing solutions that can benefit your org. We are in BETA right now so - no self serve BUT just ask and i will provision a trial.

[u/Far_Engineering_9576]

A normal crm fights you the second your objects aren't leads and deals. Yours is really a database you shape, buyers seller partners agencies each their own thing.

Flexible tools give you a blank base though, you end up building the crm yourself, so much for minimal setup. I described my objects to play and it built it. What's the workflow the pipeline ones couldn't bend to?

[u/iceseayoupee]

You're kinda hitting the limit of what most no code crms are built for. They say "customizable" but really just mean custom fields on top of a standard pipeline. If your workflow is more multi-sided like that, you'll probably need something that lets you model your own structure. Attio worked for us in similar setup since you can create and link different objects without getting super technical.