Some features that I think are essential include:

Lead and distributor management
Follow-up reminders for medical representatives
Customer and doctor database
Sales and order tracking
Task automation
Territory-wise reporting
Mobile access for field teams
Analytics dashboards for management

A few months ago, I was comparing different options for a pharma business and came across WHSuites. It offers pharma-focused CRM features such as lead management, customer records, follow-up automation, reporting, and centralized data management. It seemed more suitable than using spreadsheets or a basic CRM because it helps keep sales teams and management on the same page.

That said, the best CRM depends on the size of your business. A small PCD company may only need lead and follow-up management, while larger manufacturers usually benefit from advanced reporting, distributor management, and workflow automation. I would recommend trying a demo of a few platforms and choosing the one that matches your team's daily operations rather than simply picking the most popular CRM.