CRM refers to both a business approach and software class. As an approach, it aims to increase sales and loyalty by managing quality communications and collaboration with customers. As a software class, it allows companies to manage and maintain customer processes across the enterprise with transparency, control, scalability and flexibility. There are different types of CRM systems for uses like sales, marketing, risk management, and back office functions. CRM provides a foundation for building collaborative processes between customers, employees and partners to digitize interactions and value chains. Key considerations for CRM include supporting the customer journey across channels, and transitioning from transactional to lifelong customer relationships. Major CRM providers include Microsoft, Salesforce, and Oracle.