Proventus

Before adopting 4Degrees, Proventus faced significant challenges in structuring its outreach efforts and managing client relationships. As founder Roberto Anker explains, "We were not very structured in our outreach approach. We had been working mostly on reaching out to our clients directly or being seen somehow and hoping that somebody would call."

This reactive strategy limited their ability to proactively engage with potential clients and nurture relationships over time. Recognizing the need for change, Roberto admits, "We realized that our outreach methods were not the best." The firm understood that enhancing its communication strategies was essential to remain competitive.

Additionally, Proventus lacked a centralized system for managing contacts and client interactions. The absence of a structured database led to outdated information and inefficiencies. "We realized we had contacts from 12 years ago—some no longer working at the company," Roberto notes.

Without a suitable CRM solution, Proventus struggled to maintain updated contact information, organize client interactions, and pursue new business opportunities. This hindered their ability to engage in proactive outreach and effectively track potential deals.

The firm also recognized the need for better project management tools to track client projects, pipeline progress, and investor outreach. "One of the things we wanted was to have a singular platform for the follow-up of potential investors or buyers," says Roberto.

By seeking a solution tailored to boutique M&A teams, Proventus aimed to consolidate its communication efforts, streamline relationship management, and enhance its operational efficiency.

After researching and evaluating various CRMs—including platforms like HubSpot and Salesforce—Proventus sought a system specifically tailored to the needs of boutique M&A firms. They found that mainstream CRMs were too complex, required extensive IT resources, or lacked industry-specific functionalities.

"We tried HubSpot, and it was extremely clunky, very, very difficult," says Roberto. "To get it up to speed into something that kind of worked, it just seemed like shooting an ant with a machine gun. It just wasn't the right tool for us."

Similarly, Salesforce was impractical for the team size. "You need an IT department for it, and we don't have the size, and it doesn't make any sense to us," Roberto explains.

Seeking a solution that aligned closely with their industry needs, Proventus discovered 4Degrees. After a demo, they found it to be a perfect fit. "We started looking at options that seemed closer to our industry, more focused on what we need," notes Roberto. "We had a demo, and it seemed very close to our needs—easy to use, adapt, and implement versus the others."

By selecting 4Degrees, Proventus secured a scalable solution tailored to the specific needs of boutique M&A firms. The platform promised to facilitate efficient communication and engagement with clients and potential buyers, aligning perfectly with Proventus's operational requirements and strategic goals.

Since implementing 4Degrees, Proventus has experienced significant improvements in operational efficiency and relationship management. The platform has enhanced their ability to communicate consistently and transparently with clients, strengthening client trust and satisfaction.

"It's been easy to update everybody on what we're doing, create a report, send it to clients and say, 'Look, this is what happened this week,'" says Anker. "This has strengthened our communication with clients because they feel that we're in charge and actively pursuing things."

The streamlined reporting processes enabled by 4Degrees allow Proventus to quickly generate and share updates on the status of deals and interactions. Clients appreciate the transparency and feel more confident in the firm's efforts and commitment.

Time savings from 4Degrees' data enrichment and contact management tools have been substantial. "We like the concept of having a centralized database," Roberto notes. "It just feels right to run a company-wide database that is constantly updated and cleaned."

Proventus has also seen improvements in proactive outreach and project tracking using the Kanban view. "With Kanban we track the follow-up of potential investors or buyers into companies." Roberto explains. "Clients like it—they feel we're in charge and actively pursuing things."

4Degrees' relationship intelligence functionality, like client interaction reminders, has positively impacted their ability to stay organized and strengthen client relationships.

Roberto shares an example: "I had a flight to New York, and I got an email saying, 'You're going to New York. Why don't you catch up with these people you have in your list?' That opened my eyes, and it certainly was the right reminder."

Overall, 4Degrees has empowered Proventus to enhance its outreach efforts, streamline relationship management, and improve project tracking. The platform has provided them with a scalable, tailored solution that facilitates efficient communication and engagement with clients and potential buyers. This has positioned Proventus for greater success in Ecuador's M&A landscape.