The Birth of FastGem: Building a Better CRM

In 2018, I was hired to build an integration between a simple form-generation software and a mainstream CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software focused on the industry of third-party internet, TV, and phone retailers. Having spent years working in software development, I assumed that any major CRM company would have the necessary documentation and support services needed to allow me to complete my integration in a couple of weeks; I’d done similar tasks in less time previously. However, upon contacting the CRM, I found a worrying lack of organization, communication, and documentation. Completing the integration I’d been hired to build ended up taking six months instead of two weeks due to the quality of service offered by that CRM.

Upon further research, I discovered that this CRM software was basically the only CRM software on the market that was focused specifically on the industry of third-party internet, TV, and phone retailers. Third-party retailers of these services need unique and custom CRM capabilities, and non-industry-specific CRM platforms rarely if ever, offer the customization required for retailers to get their jobs done with any measure of efficiency. The lack of cutting-edge CRM options on the market that were tailored to these retailers’ needs revealed an opportunity to fill an obvious void.

So FastGem began. What started as a simple CRM platform with a few basic capabilities has since grown into a full-service CRM for third-party retailers, with such capabilities as automated payroll calculation, technician scheduling, quality control services, reporting, email and text communication options, invoicing, automated billing services, and much, much more. Each and every one of the capabilities we’ve added to the platform has been the direct result of our clients’ requests. Our dedication to customer satisfaction has ensured that FastGem has, in just a few years, become the preferred CRM choice for internet, television, satellite, dish, home security, phone, and solar retailers all over the world.

  Our dedication to customer satisfaction has ensured that FastGem has become the preferred CRM choice for internet, television, satellite, dish, home security, phone, and solar retailers worldwide in just a few years.  

The services FastGem offers are ever-expanding and constantly improving, but here are a few of our most popular features:

Customer and Order Tracking/Storage

Easy lead input and tracking, with completely customizable workflow statuses that allow for detailed reporting….

Forms of all Kinds

Fully customizable forms for everything from initial order submission to customer verification, secure credit card collection, installation confirmation, and more.

Permissions Customization

Per-user permissions customization, ensuring that those with access to the platform see only what they should see. 

Payroll Calculation

Automated payroll calculation with an incredible range of capabilities, including downline commission calculation, volume bonuses, adjustments, promotions, per-line installation pay, referral fees, chargebacks, and more…

Reconciliation

Fast Reconciliation, allowing for client assurance that business commissions match with agreed-upon payment amounts from providers.

Appointment Scheduling

Accessible technician scheduling with a customizable calendar interface, including drag-and-drop rescheduling ability, color-coding, map links, etc…

Timecard Features for Hourly Workers

Easy clock-in/clock-out features with a time-management reporting component that includes red-alerts for overtime, retroactive editing, and reporting…

Plugin-Enhanced Order Processing

Faster order processing using FastGem’s custom overlay tool, with quick and easy links from within FastGem to processing portals like Spectrum, Frontier, CenturyLink, SaraPlus, and many more…

Automated Quality Control

Automated quality control and follow ups, saving hours of manual follow-up work with the help of fully customizable pre-set messages and replies…

Inventory and Equipment Tracking/Storage

Inventory and Equipment cataloging to allow for detailed tracking of which technician, customer, or area is holding what pieces of inventory and when.

Invoicing and Payments

Invoice generation and customization, tax rate calculation, payment tracking, and automated receipt delivery.

Integration Capabilities

Various and ever-expanding integrations with outside software platforms such as RingCentral, Authorize.net, STAX, USA ePay, SaraPlus, and more…

At FastGem, we do not plan to stop growing, expanding, and updating to meet the ever-changing needs of our clients. Our customer support has been hailed as the best on the market, and we pride ourselves on our quick response time and our willingness to work with our clients to make FastGem the best it can be. Our widely-cited capacity for per-client customization is another aspect of our service that makes FastGem stand out as CRM software.

We look forward to a future of helping our clients reach their full potential and continuing to discover our own along the way.