Read our top 5 tips on having a successful CRM Implementation
You’ve gone through the search and select phase of your CRM project, so how do you prepare for a successful CRM implementation. Our team of expert CRM consultants have compiled their top 5 tips and we thought we’d share them with you!
#1 – Don’t rush through your data migration – This is a great opportunity for you to clean up your data before moving it to your new CRM system. Gather what data you have (from spreadsheets, post-it notes, old databases) and remove any duplicates, or tidy up / remove any old data. Don’t underestimate how long this can take, however it’s a task that you will be glad was done before moving to your shiny new solution!
#2 – Make sure key staff are involved – There are 2 very good reasons for this. The first one is that you will almost always come across some resistance. People don’t like change and may feel threatened by a new system or processes. By involving them in the process from the start you will break down that resistance. The second reason for involving key staff is that they have a wealth of knowledge about your business and are likely to have many good ideas and suggestions for going forward.
#3 – Time to rethink how you do things? – Are you sure that the processes you currently follow are streamlined and efficient? Implementing a new system will give you the chance to think about existing processes and how you could make them better, however, don’t be pressured by an implementation partner to follow certain processes because it makes their job easier! You know your business and what works for you.
#4 – Don’t Rush – Sit down and plan your implementation for a time that suits your business. If you feel things aren’t going to plan it’s ok to push back deadlines. There’s no point rushing an implementation through to find out afterwards that the solution isn’t doing what you thought it would. It’s much better to take the time at this stage of the process to get it absolutely right!
#5 – Training, Training, Training – Make sure that your implementation partner has scheduled in adequate time for training. There’s no point introducing a new system then not training your staff on using it. Training that is carried out in an environment where there are no interruptions will save you time and money in the long run.
If you’d like to speak to one of our CRM experts, get in touch.
