The secret to CRM success? Keep it simple. A lot of businesses try to do everything at once and end up overwhelmed with a system no one wants to use.
That’s why starting with the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is the way to go. Focus on the essentials, get your team on board, and see real value fast. Once that’s working, you can expand without worrying about any complications.
In this article, we’ll show you how this approach lays the foundation for a CRM that works with you, simplifies your day, and becomes an essential tool your team relies on to get things done.
The Foundation: Understanding the Crawl Phase of CRM
What is the Minimum Viable Product (MVP)?
For many small and medium-sized businesses, the journey with CRM often begins with a mishmash of spreadsheets, Outlook contacts, accounting data, and even index cards.
The starting point for the MVP is typically small, focusing on the simple tracking and managing your records.. From day one, CRM helps eliminate inefficiencies in your sales process and removes obstacles that could slow you down.
What Should Your CRM MVP Include?
When starting with CRM, focus on the essentials—just enough to make an impact without overwhelming your team. Here’s what matters most:
Accounts – Easily manage prospects, customers, suppliers, and partners in one place. Give your team instant access to the information they need with a flexible setup that keeps everything organized and tailored to your business.
Contacts – Unlike accounting software, CRM helps you track the people behind the companies—managing roles, relationships, and key details.
Activities – Log every customer and prospect interaction—calls, meetings, emails, and more. The Outlook integration tracks emails effortlessly, while reports help you spot automation opportunities that you can implement down the line.
Sales Pipeline (Opportunities) – Get a clear view of every deal and track progress effortlessly. Customize opportunity management to fit your sales process and close more deals with less effort.
Sticking to the basics will help you establish a strong foundation that you can build on later.
Overcoming Objections: The ‘Too Small’ Dilemma
Some worry the MVP lacks key features, especially dashboards and reports. But starting simple doesn’t mean missing out.
When you try to do too much at once, you juggle too many moving parts, face long delays for ROI, and slow down the adoption process.
Instead of overwhelming your team, lay the foundation first. Once the basics are solid, dashboards, reports, and advanced features can be added—without the frustrations.
Success isn’t about doing everything on day one. It’s about building momentum the right way. Remember that CRM is a continuous process, not a one-time deal.
The Crawl, Walk, Run Philosophy
Built on 500+ successful implementations, this approach guarantees CRM success and a fast ROI.
The MVP approach is not the end-all-be-all but a fantastic starting point for those getting their start with CRM or transitioning from another system. It provides immediate value, sets the stage for future automation, and ensures a smoother journey.
The key takeaway is the importance of resisting the urge to rush through the process, embracing the Crawl, Walk, Run philosophy for long-term success.
Ready to Make CRM Work For You?
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Peter Wolf is the president and founder of Azamba. He has spent the last 20 years focused on helping small and medium-sized businesses become more profitable through effective and efficient usage of CRM.
His passion is blending the promise of CRM with the realities of business needs to create successful outcomes.