Raise your hand if don’t like change! We are creatures of habit, so when you bring something new to us we are typically very resistant towards it. Implementing a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is no different. It’s very likely that you have received push back on a new system implementation. You’ve probably heard something like:
“But we already have a system.” “What we have works fine as is..”
Don’t forget yourself, too. Transitioning away from your current setup to something different can take its toll the boss, too. No matter how much we try, we never know how things will work out, how people will react, or what to expect when getting started on a new CRM. It’s enough to pull your hair out. It’s understandable and normal. However, there are ways to try and circumvent these frustrations and problems. I will give you two steps that will ensure implementing a CRM goes smoothly.
Choose the right CRM for your business
All CRM software is different, so you need the right one to match your specific needs. Choosing the right CRM solution will allow your business to reap benefits, but choosing the wrong one can cause more harm than good.
When choosing the right system you will see benefits such as:
- Streamlining your processes allowing you to work on more meaningful tasks
- Sales and marketing automation strategies
- Contact management
- Saving money
Every single business would love to see those benefits. You’ve seen what happens when you select the right CRM, so what happens when you select the wrong one?
You can find that the system would actually make work more difficult for you and your team. If the CRM lacks the capabilities that you truly need, then everybody would need to work around the system. This could result is creating entries in multiple applications, actually increasing the workload, and possible leads falling through the cracks due to an inconsistent sales process. Here are a few things to help you avoid this problem and pick the right CRM software.
- Identify specifically what you want a CRM to do
- Compare the various CRMs on the market and make sure they align with your needs
- Look for core functionality such as contact management, sales force automation, and marketing
RELATED: 5 Things NOT to do When Choosing a Marketing Automation Tool
CRM Training
You’ve identified your ideal CRM, and you’ve purchased it. Excellent! Now, it’s time to learn how to use it. You should absolutely take advantage of any training that the company who owns the CRM can provide. It is absolutely crucial to know how to use the features. Even a CRM with the most intuitive interface in the world can still confuse people. How many sales people do you know that are tech savvy? What happens when people end up frustrated with the system? They find out how to work around it and use something they do know. Don’t let people get frustrated over not knowing how to use the system when training can easily be available.
Many organizations have various forms of CRM training. Several companies have one on one training sessions where one of their agents will train your team. Some organizations have webinars or video demonstrations on specific features. There are also CRM software that have detailed help center guides about their product. Regardless, this is an excuse that can severely hamper productivity.
Soffront offers a Weekly Webinar covering CRM Basic Training, Marketing & Sales Automation.
Overall, CRM implementations take plenty of time and effort. However, once you find the right one it will be an incredible tool to boost your business to the next level.
