In part two, let’s take a look at even more steps your business can take when going through the process of a CRM implementatation.
As with the above step, this one’s really already fulfilled by creating the RFP document. Regardless, assessing the benefits and deciding which benefits and facial appearance are the most important to your business is a huge step in selecting the right solution. Typically, it’s best advised for you to create a list of benefits and categorize them as either wants or needs. some time ago you’ve categorized each of the benefits and features that you’re seeking to find, you’ll know the absolutely needs for your business, which any vendor must have in order for them to even be considered, as well as the wants for your business, which help distinguish the vendors that already have the basic needs you’re looking for. With these two lists of items, you’ll be well on your way to narrowing down vendors and picking a software partner.
A major part in the decision-making process is the budget that you’re willing to spend on a CRM realization. Don’t get me wrong: a budget is incredibly important and necessary. However, some people hold the cost of an implementation as the utmost priority and only focus on the price tag. If you’re guilty of this, you need to reconsider why you’re looking for a new software solution in the first place. Cost should never be the top priority when you’re making a major software decision. The results and benefits that your business will receive should always be held in top priority, with cost as a major consideration.
In addition, be sure to discuss as openly as possible with your chosen CRM vendor about your expectations in terms of a financial investment so you can both work to meet your funds and stay on the same page.
One of the most common reasons as to why a customer relationship management tool implementation fails is because there’s a lack of communication or a recurring confusion between vendor and business. During the vendor selection process, it’s up to you to understand which vendor is going to treat you like a partner and which one’s going to treat you like just another customer. From there, both you and the vendor need to hold open lines of communication in order for the implementation to go smoothly and for all expectations to be out in the open.
So, the first phase of the software implementation has been completed. Now’s a great time to consider what you need customized further to fit your business’s unique difficulty, any additional users that you think should be added to the program, where you see the system evolving in the near future, and any feedback regarding what you think should be different or customized. This helps the vendor know next steps and gives you a chance to listen to the feedback from your users (as well as any concerns or challenges that they’re facing).