At no point has information been so readily available to us as it is now. Think about it, just 50 years ago, businesses were printing ads in newspapers, hoping their potential customers would be reading the Times. But now, businesses have access to unprecedented amounts of customer data.
As a business owner, you are no longer shooting in the dark. You can derive meaningful insights with the help of technologies, such as CRM software, to attract and convert clients effectively. To give you context, according to Statista, the CRM Industry is estimated to be valued at US$ 79.40 billion this year. It is slated to grow at 10.68% CAGR between 2023 to 2028, garnering a whopping US$131.90bn market volume.
But this demand also means that businesses are rapidly adopting CRMs. And that is where you need a competitive edge.
Hence, CRM software development services have become uber-useful. A cookie-cutter solution used by countless businesses across your industry will not cut it. You need a CRM tool tailored to fit your organization like a glove. You need dependable software that can transform relevant information into actionable insights. And then would deploy those insights to customer touch points efficiently.
But hiring a CRM software developer is only the first step. There is a lot more that goes into launching successful CRM software. Thus, this blog will uncover all the secrets to a successful CRM launch. Hopefully, by the end of this post, you will have a clear idea about everything you must do leading up to the launch of your CRM to ensure its success.
Secrets to Launching a Successful
CRM Application
CRM is not just software that stores the contact information of customers. It is a complete revamping of the enterprise systems. A CRM boosts productivity by performing repetitive tasks for the workforce, freeing them up to nurture client relationships. It saves time by automating workflows and minimizes errors by performing manual tasks with pinpoint accuracy.
The level of impact a CRM can have on the profitability of an enterprise is immense. Therefore, its implementation surely deserves careful planning and orchestration.
In the absence of due thought and planning, your CRM project may turn into background noise that barely contributes in any meaningful way to your business. Don't let that happen. Ensure your CRM project returns the industry average of $8.71 for every dollar you spend on it.
Below are the important things that you must keep in mind during every stage of launching a CRM application:
1. Recognize the Procedures Central to Your Business
The first thing you must note is how exactly the core business activities take place in your organization. Break down those processes into day-to-day actions and tasks. The point is to understand two things:
● What are the existing processes that track operations and collect that data as inputs;
● What are the existing processes that use the insights of those data inputs?
You are probably thinking,- "Why is this important?" Well, it is the only way to figure out where the gaps are. To make your enterprise workflows efficient, which is the aim of any CRM, you must figure out what the flaws are. Only then you can start planning the kind of CRM that suits your business. Think carefully about what you can change about the existing work methodologies in your company. It will give you an idea about the type of CRM that will fit you well.
2. Establish Clear, Meticulously Defined Goals
Now that you have figured out the flaws or limitations within your organization, you can start thinking about the fixes. But this is also a point where you will have to be realistic and think about what you can and cannot do. Not all flaws can be fixed overnight by waving a wand. You will have to decide what goals must take precedence.
Narrow down the goals that are most important for you to achieve. Lay it out clearly and meticulously so that when you hire CRM software developer teams, you know what you want them to deliver.
Basically, have a crystal clear idea of your CRM. Get answers to the following:
●
What are the objectives of the
CRM? Do you want it to align with and amplify the efficiency of existing
workflows? Or do you want it to give your business a complete overhaul?
●
What are the features and
functionalities you want the CRM to have?
● What outcomes or tangible results do you want the CRM to achieve?
3. Determine What Your Budget Will Be
Once you have figured out-
●
The flaws in your existing system
and;
● Defined what you need in order to fix those flaws,
It's time to fix a budget. The third secret to a successful CRM launch is determining a budget that makes sense for the project and your business.
When developed smartly by competent people in charge, CRM will save you a lot of money in the future. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't put a ceiling on the upfront investment you are doing right now. It is important to put a cap on spending, as the cost of CRM software development can quickly go out of hand.
But how exactly can you control development costs? One of the smartest ways to save money on a CRM software development project is by outsourcing it to an offshore company. Labour costs are different across different countries. By hiring an offshore firm, you can get equally skilled talent at much more affordable rates, if not better. All you have to do is hire CRM software development teams with a stellar record of delivering robust, high-performing CRMs.
4. Choose Your Development Companion Wisely
Many business owners often make the mistake of doing everything themselves. They have difficulty letting go of control. But in this case, the best option is to outsource the job to expert CRM software developer teams. Why? Because-
●
You will have to dedicate time,
energy, efforts, and resources towards hiring and managing an in-house team of
CRM software developers.
●
It will take away crucial time and
attention from your core business activities.
● Hiring an in-house team would be cost and time exhaustive compared to hiring an offshore outsourcing firm with years of proven expertise in CRM development.
Now that you know why you should outsource the project instead of doing everything in-house, make sure you choose the right development partner.
You can check the credibility of an offshore CRM software development company by:
●
Take a look at their website and
check out their past work;
●
You should also read the case
studies on their website if they are provided;
●
You should reach out to the
company and ask them pointed questions about your project. Their answers will
tell you a lot about their knowledge level and skill set.
● Ask them to provide you with references from previous clients. If they are a company that has satisfied clients with their quality work in the past, then they surely will be able to give you references. You can reach out to their old clients and ask them about their work experience with the company.
There are many other ways you can do a background check on the company to know whether they are worth their salt when it comes to CRM software development.
5. Ensure Seamless Third-party Integrations
Once you have carefully picked a capable offshore CRM development company, you can go full speed ahead with developing your CRM software. But as the company gets near the finish line, it is time for you to gear up for the implementation. The first thing to take care of is the integrations.
Third-party integrations are one of the most crucial parts of an efficient and effective CRM. Without integrations, your existing enterprise systems won't be able to work with the CRM. That would defeat the whole purpose of the CRM. The goal of a CRM is to collect and process data from every single department of the business. Hence, seamless integration is imperative.
Make sure your CRM integrates seamlessly with your existing systems and:
●
Centrally stores all the data so
that no data silos are formed;
●
Enables you to switch seamlessly
between different applications and services without losing record of
conversations, whether it is with customers or among employees;
● Enables your employees to collaborate and work with one another.
6. Land a Successful Launch on the Back of High Morale
Everyone knows how crucial it is to “sell” a customer on a product or service. After all, there is a reason why sales executives are paid so much, right? But what about “selling” internally to your own employees, staff, and management?
A successful CRM launch requires everyone within your organization to be on the same page. They must be brought wholesale for the CRM to be adopted and used. And this does require some "selling". That is where you would need all the internal marketing prowess you have.
Following are some of the hacks you can try:
●
Arrange a get-together and invite
everyone to celebrate the launch. It would excite employees about the new tool
they would be using.
● Give small incentives or distribute shirts or mugs or similar merchandise too early adapters. It will encourage others to jump on the bandwagon and learn faster. You can even conduct competitions within the organization and, at the end of the week, distribute rewards for the fastest learner.
7. Provide In-House Training and Support
Self-motivation is all well and good. But sometimes, employees need real support and training to adapt to the new CRM. Hence, be ready to provide them with what they need. The process of training must be as frictionless as possible. It would make the transition much more easy and simple.
Your end goal with the training process should be to communicate with the employees:
●
The utility of the new CRM in
day-to-day functions(This would be personalized to each employee, depending
upon the particular tasks they do use the CRM)
●
The goal you are trying to achieve
by implementing the CRM.
●
The initiatives you would like them to take to
fasten the learning process.
●
The kind of support that is available
for them to rely on when they get stuck somewhere.
If you communicate the above to your team, there
is no reason for them not to deliver better results. Nothing prevents your CRM
software launch from becoming successful and multiplying your productivity and
profitability.
Conclusion
Launching a CRM demands a lot from a business, its employees, and even the development company responsible for building the project. It needs patience, perseverance, and cooperation from multiple groups of people. But if you can get it right, it will open the doors of opportunities for your business.
Investing in CRM software development services is a big deal for any business, big or small. On top of that, there is a lot that a business has to do in order to ensure its successful implementation. But if you take the above steps to mitigate those challenges, you can easily implement your project without any hassles. So stop waiting, and start planning your custom CRM development project today!
If you have any doubts or queries, reach out to
us. We will be happy to help you out.
