8 CRM Implementation Mistakes to Avoid

8 CRM Implementation Mistakes to Avoid

A smartly implemented CRM helps streamline your sales pipeline, improve efficiency, boost your customer satisfaction ratings & build a long-lasting relationship with your customers… eventually resulting in more sales. Having a CRM also makes sure, you figure out who your valuable customers are & you have enough data to acquire more such customers over time.

However, implementing a CRM hasn’t always turned out to be game-changing for all businesses. A lot of factors need to be taken into account before you take the plunge. One wrong step could result in things going worse than before.

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Here are some mistakes that may result in CRM failure: 1. No Leadership Senior management should always be the trendsetters in using a CRM & show others the way.

It’s their job to set the strategies right, coach their teams & get the best out of the CRM. Passing a new CRM over directly to the middle management without any supervision is a recipe for disaster.

2. Lack of Goals Clearly defined goals are the foundations of choosing & implementing a CRM. Without goals, it’s tough for you to get the desired outcomes from your CRM project. It’s always recommended to list down all your goals before you start looking out for a CRM. Clarity is key!

3. Choosing a CRM only for its Price Many business managers ignore the fact that if you choose a CRM that’s in your budget but compromises on features, it may feel like a bargain but later goes on to result in mismanagement of clients data, lost deals/contacts/opportunities, incomplete projects & thus loss of revenue.

Yes, price is important but not at the cost of your business growth.

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4. Lack of Resources Contrary to popular belief, when a CRM fails… it has got less to do with the application but more with how it’s implemented & managed by the people using it. It’s always wise to have a project manager who understands the business flow, its needs & can test the implementation at any stage. It should be his duty to raise alarm bells before the process goes off tracks at any point of time.

5. Impractical Timelines Not everybody is equally good at adapting to changes. Once you begin with the CRM implementation process, assess where your team stands, analyze & only then set timelines.

Setting targets for your team even before they’re comfortable with the app can be suicidal. It may very well lead to frustration amongst the team members.

6. Ignoring User Adoption Involve your team members as early in the CRM adoption process as you can. Take their feedback, suggestions & work on it. Also, proper interactive training is absolutely necessary to move your teams from spreadsheets to a CRM.

One of the most common reasons for CRM failures is poor adoption rate by the users. And involving them in the implementation process is the best way to make sure your CRM goes on to become a hit.

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7. No Scalability CRM implementation is not a one-off thing. As your business grows… the CRM has to grow with you. Make sure the CRM you choose has the capabilities to grow w.r.t. your changing needs.

With time, the CRM has to become your only platform for the sales, marketing & support team to collaborate.

8. Fix your Existing Flaws A CRM delivers maximum value only when the processes around it are well planned & executed. Hence, it’s absolutely important to understand the business process, figure out the bottlenecks, shortfalls & address the same before coming onboard of the CRM of your choice.

There’s no room for mistakes when it comes to CRM implementation. After all, it’s the key to your business success.

Looking for an easy-to-use but powerful CRM to manage your customers? Try the 30 days free trial of Wakeupsales CRM right away.

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