# Overview

Customers represent companies or organizations that are clients or prospects. A customer record provides account-level context and groups the individual contacts associated with that organization.

## What you can do

- Search and filter the customer list.
- Create and update organization records.
- Use Quick Preview to check essential information without leaving the list.
- Review company details, source, social media, and descriptive information.
- View and add contacts associated with the company.

## Recommended workflow

Search the [customer list](/features/customers/customer-list/) before creating a company to prevent duplicates. [Add the customer](/features/customers/add-customer/) with a consistent organization name and acquisition source, then associate the correct contacts. Use [Quick Preview](/features/customers/quick-preview/) for fast verification and the [customer detail page](/features/customers/customer-details/) for complete account maintenance.

## Customers and contacts

Store organization facts on the customer record and personal communication details on contact records. This distinction gives teams one company view while preserving the identity and history of each person they work with.

## When the record is useful

Use the customer record before a meeting or follow-up to understand the organization and its stakeholders. Review [best practices](/features/customers/best-practices/) for data-quality guidance and [troubleshooting](/features/customers/troubleshooting/) when a record or action does not behave as expected.