Reasons For CRM Implementation Failure

 

There can be many reasons a CRM implementation fails within the first couple months of use. 

By getting everyone on your Team on board and Excited for the positive change it will lessen the

chances of an implementation style failure. Knowing the capabilities & Limitations of the CRM front to back. Most companies that switch to a CRM have no idea of the capabilities. In turn you don’t know what questions to ask or how to use the software properly.Which brings me to ease of use, If the CRM is complicated and not user friendly people within

your team simply won’t use it. There are many misconceptions out there when it comes to CRM’s. Some companies believe a CRM is an automated system you just install import your customers and you are off to the races. To avoid implementation failure do your research and find a CRM that can complete all the tasks you need completed. Go through a test deal from sale to close with a CRM consultant before you make a choice to switch.

 

#1 Put Clear Goals In Place

 

Now that you know the capabilities of the CRM your team can Set in place realistic goals. Explain to your team the importance of setting goals, this will help to hold them accountable and use the software in turn curbing implementation failure due to stagnant use. Have solid goals in place, short and long term goals this will keep the team moving forward working together towards a single purpose all the while learning the CRM better by daily use. 

 

#2 Get The Whole Team on Board

 

If management can’t see your vision for a CRM even if there is a strong need for one it will be very difficult to implement a new software everyone must use. Getting upper management and your team on board is paramount to successfully implementing a new CRM. If management isn’t sold on the idea you can remind them of a few small things that have a large impact such as improved marketing campaigns, lowering daily running Cost. CRM’s are the future of keeping your business organized and productive.

Download our free CRM implementation guide this will ensure your team of a successful implementation from the start.

Most companies that realize their staff isn’t using the CRM haven’t properly trained them on the new software or they have no incentive To use it, The staff need to see the value in using a new software. They need to see how it will benefit them and make their job that much easier.

Having Daily and weekly company wide conference calls or mandatory meetings will help keep everyone on the same page and also gives a great platform for concerns to be voiced and worked through together.

 

#3 Ask Questions To The CRM Consultant On Behalf Of Your Staff

 

* What are the Advantages compared to what we currently use?

* How will we ensure everyone is on board from the owner to the salesman?

*What are some ideas to help them fully adopt the new software?

* Will it be up to our company to Train the Staff on the new Software or is that something the CRM company Provides? How long will the training take?

* If we have certain staff members that end up requiring more extensive training will it cost more?

 

#4 Choosing the Right Vendor For Your Business 

 

The most important preventative measure you can take when looking into purchasing new CRM software is to not be rushed or pressured by CRM Consultants into buying a CRM platform that is not a good match for your company. I like to write out Questions and develop a good outline in preparation for a demo with any CRM company. My outline just keeps me on track and ensures that I get all my questions answered so I can determine which CRM is best for my team. Make a list of Must-Have features that you can’t live without (reports, time stamps, notes, marketing campaign, ect.)

 

Ask These Questions To A CRM Vendor

 

*Can the CRM adapt as our business grows?

*Is the CRM Scalable, Is there a Data cap will we outgrow the softwares ability to perform?

*Easy Integration with our current programs, will it work alongside outlook, Quickbooks, Word, Will the CRM integrate with other tools we use on a Daily basis?

*User Friendly-How simple is the CRM to operate, your team needs extensive training to learn all the features of the CRM.

*Can we get a full demo version to test out with our team for a few days to test in real-time, this will allow us to run through a sale from start to close?

*Technical Support- Does the CRM company provide 24hr Tech Support if we run into any issues while using the software after purchase?

*References-How long has your CRM been around? Are there references you can provide me to contact to verify all your claims?

*Price comparison- Monthly? Quarterly? Yearly? or per user? are there any other Fees ( initial build-out, additional marketing, Parsing fee, additional users, custom form builds, Tech Support)

If you get negative answers to any of these Questions continue to look at other CRM platforms, Don’t settle for sub-standard Software let us help you find a CRM that will meet and exceed all of your needs, A CRM that will not be obsolete in 5yrs time. Use our Comparison tool to Compare your choices so you make the right choice right out of the gate.

 

#5 Keep Things Simple

 

Don’t rush your Staff into a complex new Software and overwhelm them from the start, this will scare your team from wanting to use the new software altogether my advice would be to just find the most user friendly CRM that meets all of your needs.  If your staff is overwhelmed by the complexity of the software it will be doomed from the start, Remember not everyone is as computer savvy as we would like them to be, and that’s ok there are Simple straight forward platforms out there that will Make your work a breeze & provide you with every feature you need without being hard to use.

 

Main Takeaways To Avoid Failures During The Implementation Process

 

So we have looked at some very important Questions to ask while talking with these CRM companies, if the CRM Salesman becomes pushy or like he’s trying to talk you into a substandard boxed up CRM package you should look elsewhere, always keep your staff in mind when contemplating which CRM to purchase as they will probably be the ones using it 

Daily, your goal is to find something super user friendly that meets all your needs. Don’t think you are going to get a CRM and all your problems will be solved, a CRM is an excellent tool and can change the way you do business it can revolutionize the way you keep track of your data and market to clients.

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