CRM Software Success: 3 Frequently Overlooked Red Flags

Are you considering a new CRM software system?

CRM software (customer relationship management software) is designed to help organizations reach business goals like:

• Converting more prospects into sales
• Creating a collaborative sales process
• Improving inbound marketing and lead generation
• Getting a 360-degree view of customers
• Cutting service request costs and sales process costs.

 

The CRM software implementation is critical to its success or failure.

 

A well-implemented CRM software system can help you achieve your business goals.	A poorly-implemented CRM system will waste both time and money, PLUS cause needless frustration for your employees, partners and customers.

Why the CRM implementation and not the CRM software?

While the CRM software you select IS important, most failures come from lack of follow through on the software implementation. Companies try to save money by doing the CRM implementation themselves or cutting corners on user training.

Our company does lots of CRM rescue projects.

We see three red flags that are so common that they’re often overlooked as causes of CRM failure.

 

Red Flag 1: The CRM project is implemented by an internal IT team.

Now we’re not saying that a self-implemented CRM system can NEVER be successful, but what we’ve found is that they’re rarely run by the IT Department.

A CRM implementation is a line-of-business project. That means that the CRM Project must have an executive sponsor who is responsible for achieving corporate goals like increasing sales, cutting operational costs, improving customer service, etc. Even with an executive sponsor, often too much burden is placed on the IT Team.

Even if you have an amazing IT Team, you can’t compete with a CRM implementation partner who:

• Implements and supports CRM systems every day, staying on top of new features, releases and updates
• Has a cross-functional team with business and technical skill sets
• Understands the ins-and-outs of the CRM system so you can take advantage of all the time-saving shortcuts

 

The money you save in the CRM implementation often becomes a revenue leak that shows up as reduced efficiency.

In the worst-case scenario, your CRM system turns into digital dust, unused and unreliable.

 

Red Flag #2: The goal of the CRM Project is going live on CRM software.

You are not running a marathon.

The primary goal is NOT to reach the finish line in the shortest time. The goal is to achieve your business goals more efficiently.

The standard goals of “On time and on budget” mean NOTHING if you don’t accomplish what you set out to do with your CRM system.

In fact, if you look at the factors that contribute to the success of a CRM implementation, it breaks out to be:

• 20% CRM software / technology
• 40% Business process improvement
• 40% People / change management

 

This is an area where communication can break down between the CRM project sponsors and the CRM implementation team.

 

Whose job is it to define the business process improvements? 

 

The Client? Many CRM implementation companies expect their clients to come to them with the business processes and workflows defined.

The CRM Consulting Team? Many CRM project sponsors (the client) expect their CRM implementation team to act as business consultants as well as technology consultants.

Whose job is it to manage change and train users?

Same problem.

When expectations are mis-set, you create a cascading host of problems that range from bad feelings to lawsuits. The solution is to set clear expectations internally – and with your outsourced CRM partner. You’re both on the same team, working towards the same goals.

When you evaluate CRM partners, this is an area where you need to be sure you are making an apples-to-apples comparison. A CRM partner who is ONLY doing the technology implementation work will be much less expensive than a partner who is managing the entire CRM project.

You can’t drive a Lexus and pay for a Ford.

 

Red Flag #3: Unclear business value or unclear goals for the CRM project. 

A CRM system should be held to the same standard as the rest of your business systems. Software is a tool.

• What are the expected outcomes?
• How will success be measured?
• Are you committed to sticking with the project until you achieve your goals?

If you buy a piece of manufacturing equipment, you know how much it costs to purchase and operate, and you know how much it will produce every shift and every hour. Treat your CRM system the same way.

Let’s say you decide you want to grow revenue by 10%. You then have to know what actions will help you achieve that revenue growth.

• Faster shipping?
• More customizable options?
• Hiring more sales people?

Then you have to decide which features in your CRM system will help you perform those actions faster and easier:

• Sales opportunity workflows for approvals
• Easy product configuration
• Identifying your best sales people and replicating what they’re doing.

Sometimes when we take on a new client, even they don’t know how what those goals and business levers will be. The sales process is a mysterious black box and varies from sales rep to sales rep or territory to territory.

A CRM system helps you discover your secret ingredients, and then duplicate what works for maximum effectiveness.