Stop The Risk of Failure Before It Starts
Did you know that, according to a Gartner study, between up to 70% of CRM implementations fail?
If you’re a small or medium-sized business, this can seriously impact your budget, and you could lose out on profitable opportunities.
CRM can be a game-changer for your business or waste your valuable time and money. The difference comes down to how you approach it.
This highlights the need for using best CRM practices rather than relying solely on consulting firms, which may not always deliver the results you need.
Over the last 20+ years, we’ve identified four key principles that can ensure a successful implementation.
If you’re ready to build a powerful CRM that works as hard as you and will help you be more successful than ever, keep reading.
1. Start Small
A lot of businesses dive into CRM eager to move fast launch every feature immediately.
But taking on too much too soon often leads to stalled progress that can drag on for 12 to 18 months with no end in sight.
It might be tempting to install all the features right away but, it’s better to start with your core needs and iterate as you go along.
This approach shortens the project time, speeds up your ROI, makes managing the project easier, and helps your team learn faster.
When you establish a strong foundation, you can shift your focus to optimizing CRM for your team’s specific needs.
2. Focus on Performance
Just like in sports, where improving a team’s performance isn’t just about the scoreboard, CRM shouldn’t just focus on dashboards and metrics at first.
The main goal should be to help get your salespeople on board by having them incorporate CRM as part of their daily routine.
Having your team use CRM to help them close deals faster and reduce their busy work will get them on board faster.
Automating tasks can significantly speed up their work, allowing them to sell more effectively.
Once your sales team is fully engaged, the next step is ensuring CRM works for everyone across your organization.
3. Make CRM Accessible and Easy to Use
Convenience is key when it comes to using CRM. It should be as easy to access as going to a restaurant near your office for lunch.
One of the many great features of Dynamics 365 is being able to integrate your system with tools your team already uses, like Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint.
Features like this make it much easier to use and incentivize your team to use CRM for their tasks.
A well-integrated CRM removes friction and makes adoption effortless. But accessibility alone isn’t enough—you also need the right mindset for long-term success.
4. Treat CRM as a Continuous Journey
Implementing CRM isn’t a one-time project. It’s an ongoing journey of improvement. It’s important to create a culture of continuous feedback and improvements that involve your team.
This approach of constant refinement to the system will help boost productivity, keep CRM useful to your team, and help you become more efficient.
Implementing CRM can transform your business if approached with these best practices in mind.
Avoid the common pitfalls, focus on what truly matters, and put your business on the path to CRM success.
Create a System That Works With You
The implementation process can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re expected to figure it all out alone. That’s where most businesses get stuck.
But with the right guidance and a proven approach, you can build a system that works as hard as you do.
These expert-backed principles are designed to help you avoid the common pitfalls and set your team up for long-term success from the very beginning.
Even with best CRM practices in place, you may still need help getting off the ground. That’ where we come in.
Ready to Transform Your Business?
CRM can be a game-changer for your business or turn into an expensive burden. Without a clear plan, it’s easy to waste time, money, and end up with a system no one uses.
We can help you avoid those pitfalls. Book a FREE discovery call today, and we’ll help you take the right first steps to set your CRM up for success.
Book your free call now!
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.