A successful CRM implementation plan can be complex for many reasons. One of the most common reasons is the difficulty of finding and implementing a CRM which can provide the information employees need at the right time. Additionally, there are many other challenges like employee adoption issues, data migration, employee training, etc. With all this in mind, how can your company plan a successful CRM implementation?
5 Things Every CRM Implementation Plan Needs
The good news is that there are tried and tested methods and CRM implementation plans/best practices that, if followed, should help you avoid unwanted complexities. Keep reading to learn about the five most important things you need to be aware of to make your CRM implementation project a success:
A clearly defined project scope
The clear project scope will help you understand what’s involved in your project. You will know which specific departments will be impacted. By defining the scope of your project, you will be able to pinpoint your requirements, figure out the must-haves and nice-to-haves, and draw a clear budget and timeline for the project.
A CRM project kickoff meeting
Arrange a CRM project kickoff meeting to introduce users to CRM and get them excited about it. Clearly state the objectives of the project during this meeting while identifying the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. Set user expectations.
Stick within the original scope
While preparing the CRM implementation plan, it’s crucial to keep your project inside its scope. Sometimes long-term benefits may seem far more attractive than the more immediate quick wins, but you need to focus on and appreciate those, too. One step at a time!
Draw a timeline
Keep your project on time, on budget, and within your project scope when you establish an organized timeline your team can stick to. If the project extends too long, user adoption is jeopardized.
Develop a communication plan
Throughout the project, it’s crucial to have an effective communication plan. Communicate your needs to your partner from the start so they can respond to requests and get on the same page.
It might sound tempting to make a hasty decision and roll out a CRM to your sales and marketing team without any implementation plan, but it is certainly not the right way of going about it. The extra time you spend on integrating, customizing, testing, and training your employees will pay off when your CRM deployment is done thoroughly. It will be a success story rather than an unfortunate disaster.
