In today’s fast-paced business world, implementing CRM is more important than ever. However, the reality is that 40 to 70 percent of CRM projects fail, causing significant time and financial losses. This highlights the need for effective strategies rather than relying solely on consulting firms, which may not always deliver the desired results.
Over the past twenty years, we’ve identified four key principles that can ensure a successful CRM implementation. These insights come from hundreds of projects and can greatly influence the success of your CRM journey.
Starting Small
Think of implementing CRM like eating an elephant—one bite at a time. Even though it’s tempting to use all the features right away, it’s better to start small. This approach shortens the project time, speeds up your return on investment, makes managing the project easier, and helps your team learn faster.
Focusing 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 salespeople close deals more efficiently and reduce their busy work. Automating daily tasks can significantly speed up their work, allowing them to sell more effectively.
Making CRM Accessible
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. Integrating CRM with tools your team already uses, like Microsoft Teams and Outlook, makes it much easier to use. This encourages your team to adopt and regularly use the system.
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 enhancement, involving both your team and your customers. This approach allows for constant refinement of the system, boosting productivity, efficiency, and responsiveness over time.
CRM implementation can transform your business if approached with these principles in mind. Viewing CRM as an ongoing journey of improvement rather than a one-time project can lead to sustained growth and success. For more insights into choosing the right CRM for your needs, explore our additional resources.
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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.