The holiday season is fast approaching and the mad rush to the
closest department stores has begun. For the business world,
finding new and innovative tools to achieve success in the New
Year is #1 on their shopping list. Becoming more productive,
competitive and proactive is their prime focus and thus the hunt
for the latest technologies begins. While putting together a
list of potential investments, I would advise any company to
consider one crucial tool that will ensure your competitive edge
is as sharp as a razor blade- CRM or Customer Relationship
Management.
Like most things, CRM comes in all shapes and sizes and
searching for the best solution for your company can become
quite overwhelming. In attempt to make things easier, I've
decided to provide a quick and comprehensive list of the Do's
and Don'ts of Shopping CRM.
The DO's:
DO create a complete list of your company's needs, requirements
and expectations when implementing a CRM solution. Think about
what you want to achieve with the CRM in place and how you plan
on measuring it.
DO allocate internal resources, budget and schedule staff time
specifically dedicated to your hunt for CRM. Make sure every
department is involved and has full buy-in and support for a
CRM.
DO consult a variety of CRM resources and publications that
provide user reviews, video captures and product overviews of
CRM solutions that complement your needs list.
DO investigate SaaS (Software as a Service) options, which may
be more cost-effective, quicker, and easier to use than building
an in-house system.
DO embrace CRM as a long-term partner and select a system that
will adapt as your business changes. Easy customization should
be a requirement and be open and accepting of the changes that
the CRM will bring to your company.
The DON'Ts
DON'T perceive the CRM solution as magic. Although you may
expect instant results, you can only get out what you put in, so
ensure that all users are willing to continually update and
maintain the CRM database.
DON'T select a CRM solution solely based on brand recognition.
The larger the vendor, the less amount of attention and support
they are capable of providing their customers. Assess your needs
and choose a vendor whose capabilities match up.
DON'T think that you can build an entire CRM system by yourself.
Not only will you be tying up all your IT resources, but your
expenses will outweigh the end result. If you don't want an
off-the-shelf package, than find a solution that offers superior
flexibility and customization.
DON'T forget that the CRM solution is in place to enhance your
communication, NOT replace it. Keep the lines of communication
open both internally and externally and continually tweak the
solution to meet your ever-changing needs.
If you take some of these points into consideration when
shopping for CRM, you should end up with a solution that matches
your needs, complements your entire team and will be
successfully deployed. Happy shopping!
Source: Corie Kaftalovich
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