Are you looking for a tool that offers marketing planning and budget management? Do you want to be able to manage campaigns and professionalize project management in marketing? Is a central platform for performance measurement on your wish list, too?
Marketing Resource Management software gives you precisely these features – and more.
But the individual MRM providers can differ significantly. So how do you know which software is right for your business?
We have compared two of the most popular Marketing Resource Management platforms – BrandMaker and MARMIND – to provide you with an overview. We also show you which general aspects to take into account when purchasing MRM software.
Marketing Resource Management Software: What to Consider
Today, companies looking for a particular marketing tool will quickly find numerous options. Review platforms, such as Capterra, provide an initial overview of the range of functions and quality of the tools.
However, when it comes to buying software it’s not a case of one size fits all. There are several fundamental aspects to consider before buying a Marketing Resource Management tool.
Software Customization
First, find out whether it is possible to customize the software. Customization ensures that you have the flexibility to add additional features later on.
It is, however, also important to ensure that the standard version of the product already provides all the main features you need. That way, not too much customization is needed to meet your requirements. Some MRM solutions involve a great deal of development work from the beginning, meaning that each customer receives an individual solution that is very different from the standard version.
MARMIND is known for its high level of configurability. That means that the platform can easily be adapted to a company’s individual requirements without the need for extra development work. Customers can therefore work with the standard solution while still benefiting from customization – without missing out on the advantages of on-going product updates.
Workflows and Processes
Process optimization is often the key to success in a larger marketing team – and this becomes particularly clear when Marketing Resource Management software is introduced. Efficient resource management simply isn’t possible with chaotic processes.
So, choosing a provider that can also support you in process optimization saves a great deal of time in the long run.
Consulting Services
Consulting services not only help with process optimization but can provide support for change management. Software is only ever as good as the person using it. Choosing a provider with experience in the field of user adoption can help you to inspire your colleagues when it comes to using the new software.
Another tip is to take a look at the provider’s own network. Companies with a good network of technology partners benefit from their partners’ expertise, making them a particularly good source of support when setting up your tools.
Integrations
Integrations are an essential part of any Marketing Resource Management solution. After all, the aim is to make your marketing processes more efficient and an important aspect of this is integrating other solutions.
For example, connecting your ERP system to seamlessly transfer budget and cost data to your MRM system. But that’s not all: Whether marketing automation, social media management, or analytics – the right MRM software allows you to integrate all sorts of different tools, acting as a central cockpit for effectively managing your marketing.
Pricing
The pricing of some software is still based on the number of users, while other providers already make use of value-based pricing models that are not affected by the number of users/licenses. Instead, these models draw on factors such as the number of organizational units to make pricing more transparent.
Make sure to ask about the pricing model before you make a decision. That way you avoid any unpleasant surprises later on.
BrandMaker vs. MARMIND: Feature Comparison
Do you want to say goodbye to Excel sheets and PowerPoint presentations in marketing? Well, Marketing Resource Management solutions were developed to resolve exactly this issue.
BrandMaker and MARMIND are two of the most well-known MRM providers on the market.
As its name reveals, BrandMaker specializes in brand management as well as in content and digital asset management.
MARMIND, however, follows a more comprehensive approach and focuses on optimizing all processes and workflows around planning, budgeting, and performance measurement. This platform also offers all essential features for efficiently managing campaigns as well as for content and digital asset management.
PLANS
Keep on top of your marketing activities with an interactive marketing plan.
BUDGETS
Plan and manage your marketing spend from start to finish.
RESULTS
Monitor and track campaign performance across channels.
Our feature comparison below reveals the exact differences between the solutions:
| BrandMaker | MARMIND | |
|---|---|---|
| Strategic planning | ||
| Marketing calendar | ||
| Campaign planning | ||
| Activity planning | ||
| Media planning | ||
| Budgeting/forecasting | ||
| Cost management | ||
| Brand management | ||
| Content management | ||
| Digital asset management | ||
| Project management | ||
| Collaboration tools | ||
| Review and approval workflows | ||
| Channel management | ||
| Reporting/analytics | ||
| ROI tracking | ||
| Campaign analytics | ||
| Goal setting/tracking | ||
| Predictive analytics | ||
| Email marketing | ||
| Social media integration | ||
| Individual naming conventions | ||
| Automatic linking of tasks with campaigns | ||
| Automatic calculation of forecasts | ||
| Capterra reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars/11 reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars/24 reviews |
BrandMaker
| Strategic planning | |
| Marketing calendar | |
| Campaign planning | |
| Activity planning | |
| Media planning | |
| Budgeting/forecasting | |
| Cost management | |
| Brand management | |
| Content management | |
| Digital asset management | |
| Project management | |
| Collaboration tools | |
| Review and approval workflows | |
| Channel management | |
| Reporting/analytics | |
| ROI tracking | |
| Campaign analytics | |
| Goal setting/tracking | |
| Predictive analytics | |
| Email marketing | |
| Social media integration | |
| Individual naming conventions | |
| Automatic linking of tasks with campaigns | |
| Automatic calculation of forecasts | |
| Capterra reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars /11 reviews |
MARMIND
| Strategic planning | |
| Marketing calendar | |
| Campaign planning | |
| Activity planning | |
| Media planning | |
| Budgeting/forecasting | |
| Cost management | |
| Brand management | |
| Content management | |
| Digital asset management | |
| Project management | |
| Collaboration tools | |
| Review and approval workflows | |
| Channel management | |
| Reporting/analytics | |
| ROI tracking | |
| Campaign analytics | |
| Goal setting/tracking | |
| Predictive analytics | |
| Email marketing | |
| Social media integration | |
| Individual naming conventions | |
| Automatic linking of tasks with campaigns | |
| Automatic calculation of forecasts | |
| Capterra reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars/24 reviews |
One big advantage of MARMIND is the software’s usability. BrandMaker’s UI has already become a little outdated, while MARMIND has invested a great deal in the further development of its user interface over the last couple of years.
One issue with BrandMaker is that the individual software modules are not completely connected with one another. While MARMIND directly connects tasks with campaign data, BrandMaker approaches tasks and campaigns separately, making it harder to keep an eye on the big picture.
Our conclusion: BrandMaker is the right solution for companies looking for Marketing Resource Management software with a focus on brand management.
MARMIND is more deeply integrated and concentrates on processes and workflows in marketing, making it an ideal platform for companies aiming to optimize their marketing processes.
BrandMaker vs. MARMIND: Integrations
MARMIND was developed using the best-of-breed approach.
Why?
With more than 8000 marketing tools worldwide, an all-in-one approach makes little sense – after all, Marketing Resource Management software with Digital Asset Management features will never be as good as an MRM solution connected to a professional DAM system.
Because it includes numerous integrations, MARMIND can bring together the best marketing technologies on the market to create a comprehensive solution.
Here is an overview of MARMIND’s integrations:
BrandMaker, on the other hand, has a relatively low-key approach to integrations. According to the company’s website, the martech stack can be connected to BrandMaker Fusion, but it is unclear whether standard integrations are available. Review platform GetApp cites that BrandMaker only offers Salesforce Sales Cloud integration.
BrandMaker has also recently bought up two of its competitors, Allocadia and Hive9, and any impact these takeovers may have on the product remain unknown. However, many software buyers prefer to rely on providers that can offer both the main product and all additional services.
BrandMaker vs. MARMIND: Frequently Asked Questions:
To finish off, we have put together the answers to a few of the most commonly asked questions about BrandMaker and MARMIND.
How long does software implementation take?
Implementing BrandMaker is very time-consuming. The software is customized individually for each customer, because the standard version does not offer sufficient flexibility to manage more complex marketing processes.
MARMIND, however, is known for its quick, professional implementation. Many customers use the standard version, which is extremely flexible and can deal with complex processes. Any further customization can then be undertaken very quickly.
In addition, customers appreciate MARMIND’s consulting services, which help them to avoid the many stumbling blocks typical for IT projects. Packaging and paper enterprise Mondi was just one company to benefit from quick implementation thanks to MARMIND’s marketing knowledge.
For what size of company is the software a good investment?
MARMIND is the right choice for companies with 10 or more employees in marketing – reference customers include Deutsche Telekom, Mondi, and Invesco.
BrandMaker focuses on the enterprise segment – the software is suitable for companies with 50 or more employees in marketing.
Which software plans are available?
MARMIND offers three different plans, depending on customers’ needs: Essentials, Professional, and Enterprise. See MARMIND’s pricing page to find out the differences between the three options.
BrandMaker does not provide any information on the plans available.
Our Conclusion: MARMIND Offers More Flexibility and Better Features – as well as Greater Customer Centricity
Do you want to find out more? Then get in touch for an obligation-free chat and discover more about MARMIND!
Author
Johanna Dungl
Johanna is Online Marketing Manager here at MARMIND and our lead content creator. When she’s not working on new content, she’s usually busy creating and managing marketing campaigns.