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[CRM or Customer Relationship Management software](Top 11 CRMs in 2020: The Best for Your Business) is very crucial for the growth of any business.

It is one amongst the software that can help you in converting leads into customers. Still, according to many external sources, 63% per cent of all [CRM implementations](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/implementing-a-crm-system) face adoption issues and hence fail.

It's nothing new, whenever a new rule, update or software comes - it will take time for your staff to adapt to new changes, but that doesn't mean it will never work out it is all about learning, failing and repeating until and unless the goals are achieved.

Nothing works out in one go and if it fails once doesn't mean that it won't work out in future.

Did you know? Customer Relationship Management solutions are shifting the way organisations execute their marketing and sales processes. But this change comes at a cost, and that must be kept in mind before you roll out the system.

Most systems fail in making an impact basically because of majorly these reasons:

*   Lack of adequate governance
*   Lack of education & goals
*   No Follow ups
*   Lack of Data Discipline

### What Frustrates Sales Teams & Managers About CRM?

*   They require a lot of manual input of leads in detail, which turns out to be time-consuming and gets ignored by salespeople because they have more important things to do.
*   The implemented CRM software does no good for the sales teams as they can't analyze the behaviour of customers and their intentions so that they can make data-driven decisions.
*   Usually, the CRM systems are designed keeping sales managers in mind and not the teams - meaning collaboration is not quite easy.
*   The CRM is not easy to use and can not be [integrated into existing systems](https://www.cloudify.biz/workflow-automation).

Want to generate more leads and turn them into paying customers using CRM? Here we bring you the keys to successful CRM implementation based on constant research and [development by our CRM experts](https://www.cloudify.biz/book-consultation).

### CRM & Sales Strategy Should Be First Priority

Before you even think about adopting potential solutions, it is very crucial to have a clear vision of how your business will be interacting with the clients throughout their complete lifecycle (it will include all stages of buyers journey from acquisition, pre-sale, during the sale, post-sale services.

If we look at past scenarios, CRM was put in for various functions including sales automation, contact centre and marketing.

Delivering a seamless customer experience surely requires integrated support across multiple aspects of marketing, sales and customer service, so mapping your customer's journey is an essential aspect. You need to ask yourself

*   How do customers interact with you? The channel of communication.
*   What would be the best way for attracting your target audience and moving the prospects down the sales funnel?
*   From where does a sales transaction start and at what point would it end?
*   What about post-sales activities?
*   How would you define the opportunities for keeping them in the communication loop, building loyalty and starting the cycle again?

The journey for each industry will be different. There would be a drastic difference between B2B & B2C interactions and customer journeys.

And again, an essential question would be the channels you will use and how they will be supporting each other.

Again they all will be different across the industries, retailers would have web stores, on the contrary companies who manufacture goods and deal in bulk orders would surely avoid selling their products directly to the customers in small quantities.

Objective of the CRM strategy should primarily be what you want to use the CRM for - the functions you want it to support - whether they are sales or marketing. Apart from this - the key metrics you want to keep track of with your customers.

![](/uploads/choose_a_crm_3fa7a70c51.jpg)

### Choose a CRM that Fits Your Needs

Decided to implement a customer relationship management software? Be sure to set some goals. Before CRM implementation begins, ask your team and yourself some questions:

*   What is needed from CRM?
*   What do we want to achieve by implementing a CRM system?
*   What CRM features does my team or business need?
*   What are the problems that we want to solve with the CRM system?

By defining the goals, you would establish metrics that you can use for measuring progress. This is why it is required to identify your company’s needs clearly before beginning with the [CRM implementation process.](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/saas-implementation-challenges-best-practices)

That's why it's vital to identify your company's needs clearly before implementing a CRM.

There are different types of CRMs, and each offers specific features for achieving particular goals.

#### Operational CRM

Operational CRM streamlines the business processes that include Marketing Automation, Sales Automation and Service Automation. The main of these types of CRM's is to generate leads, convert them (into contacts) and capture the required data followed by providing service throughout the customer's journey.

#### Analytical CRM

Analytical CRM helps the top management, including, marketing, sales and support managers or personnel for determining the better way for serving customers. In these CRM's data analysis is the primary function; it analyzes customer data that comes from various sources for getting better insights about the current status of the company. It helps all top management in making better decisions based on data.

#### Collaborative CRM

Collaborative CRM's are often known as Strategic CRM's.

They enable an enterprise to share customer's information across various business units, including industrial units, support team, marketing team and sales team.

For example, the feedback provided by customers to support teams could turn out to be a resource for marketing teams that may help them in future for approaching targeted customers.

A collaborative CRM helps in uniting all groups to aim for one goal - using all the information for improving the quality of customer service, attain loyalty and acquire new customers for increasing sales.

So, before beginning with CRM implementation, you need to decide upon your future goals, strategy and purpose of CRM.

Want help in selecting the right CRM system for your business? Book a free consultation with Cloudify today.

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### Structure the Data That You Plan to Measure & Manage

Structuring data takes a lot of time and resources, which is money and CRM implementation partners or professionals do become frustrated when they get asked to input data they know is of no use.

What's the point of tracking something which is of no use? If you want your CRM implementation to go on smoothly, take into consideration how the information or data that you are structuring will get utilized for managing and improving business development.

Your CRM Implementation Strategy & System Should Also Include Having the Ability to Link Data & Records Across the System

This is one of the most crucial CRM implementation steps. The main point of having a database is directly proportional to linking the information so that any user can gain rapid insight into the context.

For example, if the manager asks a salesperson randomly about the deal he closed two weeks back, the revenue it generated then the salesperson doesn't have to go through data sheets in excel or multiple files for finding out the information. Here the point is a CRM provides management to measure return on investment, which is the key for every business.

### The CRM Should Integrate With Other Systems

For a successful CRM Implementation Strategy, knowing what Customer Relationship Functionalities people may value and what they probably lack can surely help you in improving and making the users love the new wave of change.

Let's take a look at the features that are popular and effective at the same time.

Did You Know?

Email marketing & Calendar management is one amongst the most widely used functionalities of CRM software, stated by a research conducted by [Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/). To make your systems more effective and profitable, we suggest you opt for some extra features.

Social Media & Monitoring Capabilities, along with the ability to pull in prospect's information from social media, is desired by 25% out of 500 CRM users, as per Capterra.

Update: Were you aware that you could add your Facebook leads into pipedrive automatically? If not, now, you know.

Mobile Access, in this fast-paced world, is essential. Sometimes your employee may be out of the office or travelling when suddenly an unplanned sales meeting pops up.

In this case, the staff can easily use their mobile phones for rectifying queries without any obstacles. According to a report by Capterra, more than 48% of CRM users now access it from smartphones and 45 from tablets.

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## Automate Redundant & Repetitive Tasks

Gone are the days for manual data entry work from one system to another system. Implementing Artificial Intelligence can help you in unlocking the full potential of your CRM.

Calendar Management, social media monitoring, email marketing or entering data is vital for any effective CRM implementation. However, it can take up too much of time, and if these tasks are not automated, they're still old school, not smart.

[Workflow automation](https://www.cloudify.biz/workflow-automation) for CRM systems can probably help you in increasing the productivity of your staff, increase ROI, save time so that they can focus on better tasks like generating leads. Automation can probably help you in:

*   Gathering and analysing massive data in real-time.
*   Provide you with accurate insights, wholly based on the analysis.
*   Rank or prioritise the leads that are more likely to turn into opportunities and deals.
*   Send emails to potential clients.
*   Recommend further steps to be taken to your professionals.

Related use cases: [Glycospot](https://www.cloudify.biz/case-studies/glycospot) | [CHS Container](https://www.cloudify.biz/case-studies/chs-container)

### Provide Your Staff With Ample Training & Give Them Time To Adopt

To achieve good results with your latest CRM, your employees need to be synchronized as well. There are tonnes of approaches for training, but nothing works better than a practical one.

You can talk to your CRM implementation partner for giving an overview to your employees and help in training them. Here are a few training methods:

*   Role-based training allows employees to easily understand what they exactly need to do in correlation to their job function.
*   It could also be a mix of official guidelines and some personal involvement by top management.
*   Bespoke training or fixed agenda training conducted by your CRM consultant and management.

Also, don't forget to have a dedicated person who will be running the project; it could either be a project manager hired by you or some external sources for managing things.

CRM Implementation process is a project that requires a lot of preparation, dedication and cooperation across your organization.

There are multiple things that you may need for being ready, which includes allocating resources, having people on board, rolling out a consistent and crystal clear plan of action, [choosing the right CRM and CRM consultant.](https://www.cloudify.biz/)

Most importantly, you need to prepare yourself for a shift and change your mindset and adopting a CRM would change the way you do business altogether.

Implementing CRM is not just adapting to a new system. Still, it is a new way of thinking and functioning, keeping the customer at the heart of your business and centralising the information in a database.

Hence, the right information is available at the right time to the right people. It is a strategic business approach which unites technology, employees, internal processes and data management across the entire organization, which is aimed at attracting and keeping customers.

Want to know more about CRM and CRM implementation?

[Book a free consultation and speak to our CRM experts.](https://www.cloudify.biz/book-consultation)

7 Things to Keep in Mind for Successful CRM Implementation

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When executives embark on building a [CRM system](https://www.hubspot.com/products/crm/what-is?__hstc=197451760.b42ee486f2e80839f9e73df97f14546a.1679321461592.1679321461592.1679321461592.1&__hssc=197451760.1.1679321461593&__hsfp=32358173), they often feel enthusiastic and open to embracing change. However, if they fail to take into account the entire scope of their project, their CRM may not yield the expected outcomes.

If you find yourself in this situation, don't worry - you're not alone. [Research indicates](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-70-all-crm-projects-fail-how-yours-one-them-anne-guethoff/?articleId=6662379840106188800) that an astonishing [70% of CRMs](https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2020-07-14-gartner-survey-reveals-82-percent-of-company-leaders-plan-to-allow-employees-to-work-remotely-some-of-the-time) are not implemented correctly. This is not surprising given that [HubSpot discovered](https://www.hubspot.com/state-of-marketing?__hstc=20629287.9574526076f6a8bedf2f949ab14801bb.1470072821049.1494546555009.1494610548340.275&__hssc=20629287.2.1494610548340&__hsfp=2644594231) that 22% of salespeople still do not know what a CRM is, and 40% continue to use informal methods such as spreadsheets and email programs to manage customer information.

In this article, we'll discuss the 5 key elements of a successful [HubSpot implementation strategy](https://www.cloudify.biz/hubspot).

### Define Your Goals and KPIs

The first step in any successful implementation strategy is to define your goals and key performance indicators (KPIs). This will help you determine what you want to achieve with HubSpot and how you will measure success. Some common goals for implementing HubSpot include:

*   Increasing website traffic
*   Generating more leads
*   Improving lead quality
*   Shortening the sales cycle
*   Increasing customer retention and loyalty

Once you have defined your goals, you can start setting KPIs to measure your progress. Some common KPIs for HubSpot implementation include:

*   Website traffic
*   Lead generation
*   Lead-to-customer conversion rate
*   Customer retention rate
*   Customer satisfaction

### Assess Your Current Processes and Tools

Before you can implement HubSpot, you need to assess your current processes and tools. The next step is to assess your current processes and workflows and identify the areas where HubSpot can add value. HubSpot is designed to automate and streamline many tasks, from lead capture and nurturing to deal tracking and customer support. However, to make the most of HubSpot, you need to align it with your existing processes and workflows. For example, you need to ensure that your lead capture forms are integrated with your website and CRM, that your lead nurturing workflows are personalized and effective, and that your sales and service teams are using HubSpot effectively. This will help you identify any gaps or areas that need improvement. Some questions to ask include:

*   What tools are we currently using for marketing, sales, and customer service?
*   How are we generating leads?
*   How are we tracking leads and customers?
*   What are our current marketing and sales processes?
*   How are we currently measuring success?

Once you have identified areas for improvement, you can start to map out how HubSpot can help fill those gaps and improve your processes.

*   How would you rate the quality of your customer base?
*   Can you provide information on the number of customers you have?
*   What are the rates at which customers stop using your products or services?
*   What is the percentage of total spending that each customer contributes to your business?
*   Have you seen an increase in revenue from your existing customers?
*   What is the level of satisfaction among your customers?
*   Are there any other metrics that indicate the overall health of your customer relationships, such as service levels or frequency of complaints?

Your analysis can identify any issues that your potential customers may be experiencing, such as difficulty accessing basic information on your website or incorrect information provided by your CRM. This assessment will help you learn from your current situation and determine whether your existing strategy is effective for your business.

It's crucial to be transparent in your assessment of the current state of affairs. Whether communicating with your internal team or an [external implementation partner](https://www.cloudify.biz/crm-implementation), providing accurate results from your audit can help ensure future success.

### Customer Research

After analyzing your current results, it's essential to assess the buyer's current experience. This is an excellent opportunity to [conduct market](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/market-research-buyers-journey-guide?__hstc=197451760.b42ee486f2e80839f9e73df97f14546a.1679321461592.1679321461592.1679379744583.2&__hssc=197451760.5.1679379744583&__hsfp=32358173) and [customer research](https://blog.hubspot.com/service/customer-loyalty-survey?__hstc=197451760.b42ee486f2e80839f9e73df97f14546a.1679321461592.1679321461592.1679379744583.2&__hssc=197451760.5.1679379744583&__hsfp=32358173) or utilize previous customer satisfaction surveys to identify pain points and issues that can be resolved through the CRM program.

Take the time to review the customer's current buying process:

Are there any confusing instructions or areas where the next step is unclear?

Understand how they perceive the journey and pinpoint any potential "leakage" in the process (e.g., customers dropping out of the buying process).

Are there any points where they are forced to take routes that complicate their buying journey, or are they given the opportunity to use the right channel?

Consider the different customer types you have and their respective processes. Develop a range of unique buyer personas and their corresponding journeys to achieve their desired outcome from your company.

Although this list of questions is not exhaustive, it will help you identify the challenges you're facing and uncover the "low-hanging fruit."

#### Defining a vision

As you work on the present, your attention should gradually shift towards the future. To determine where you want your company to be, you must reorganize yourself, identify necessary process changes, and decide how you will utilise HubSpot or other technologies to achieve your goals. It's during this stage that you are likely to experience an "Ah-Ha" moment, realizing how HubSpot CRM can truly transform your business.

Customers of different types purchase products in different ways. Therefore, it's important to understand the types of customers you serve, their preferences, and their expected interactions with your business. For example, selling a t-shirt may involve a simple, low-value sales process, while selling a bespoke technology solution requires a highly customised approach, both in terms of the sales process and post-sales service.

To effectively implement your CRM, you should segment your customers, categorise your products, and define the buying scenarios to consider. This will help you organize and prioritize your CRM implementation. Mapping the importance of your CRM tasks, customer value, and service complexity using a grid can help you efficiently structure your tasks and teams.

### ESTABLISH PRIORITIES AND MAP OUT YOUR STRATEGY

At this stage, it's important to identify your priorities and determine the approach you will take to navigate the upcoming changes.

#### Waterfall versus Agile Development Approach?

Before embarking on software implementation or organizational changes, it's essential to decide on a development methodology that will govern how tasks are organized and executed in your CRM project. In simple terms, this involves choosing between two primary development approaches: waterfall and agile.

![waterfall.png](/uploads/waterfall_fb8b58a7cc.png)

### Implementing, Testing, and Training

#### Customer:

Even if you are confident that your buyer persona will prefer the new way of working, it is crucial to consider how your real-life customers will react to the changes. While these alterations are made to benefit them, sudden changes may create a jarring experience for your existing clients. For instance, a new website that is easier to navigate may not cause any issues, but changes in the process for requesting a service may affect them.

To introduce these changes to your existing customers, treat them as stakeholders in the communication plan. Use blog posts, videos, or emails to inform them about the changes in the customer journey and when they will be implemented.

Read about HubSpot implementation case study: [**How we helped Glycospot create professional invoices automatically**](https://www.cloudify.biz/case-studies/glycospot)

#### Process review and improvement:

In the previous stage, we learned that having a clear process is crucial for a successful CRM implementation. Your staff needs to be informed about the processes they are expected to follow as the new system introduces new ways of working.

Apart from system training, it is also important to consider implementing new policies and guidelines that align with your new technology. These should be documented, and your operating procedures should reflect the changes. Even small companies should have written policies in place to protect and guide their workers and clients. It is crucial to clarify what is mandatory and what is not.

To ensure that your process works effectively, you need to evaluate every area of your business. This requires asking questions such as:

What is the lead management process for creating a new lead?

What is the current sales process, and does it differ per deal or transaction?

Is the current process clearly defined by role?

What decision gates are there?

What approval processes need to be put in place?

How do you ensure that people sell within the rules?

What processes do you have for pricing/discounting?

What is the production handover and customer onboarding process?

Are your customer management processes effective?

How do you manage customer feedback handling, and is the current complaint-handling process effective?

What is the current account planning or renewal process?

Are your management and reporting processes effective for your team?

To evaluate every aspect of your process, go beyond this list and discover areas that can be improved for both your customers and your team. Create a seamless process that benefits both parties.

#### Technology:

It is important to recognise that technology plays a significant role in driving process change, just as process drives technology. To ensure success, it is crucial to configure HubSpot in a way that works for your business. This may involve setting up user profiles, teams, and roles, customizing the HubSpot database with custom properties, and creating user views.

Additionally, building automation tools with features like sequences and workflows can help customer-facing teams work more efficiently. Custom coding may also be necessary, and it is essential to ensure that the right content is available for users. Setting up targets and SLAs and tailoring reports and dashboards can help prioritize the data that matters most.

By tracking data, HubSpot provides a more accurate view of what is working and what is not, allowing businesses to make changes to their websites in the future. Before loading any new data into the system, it is important to cleanse and enrich the data to focus on clients and prospects that matter. Mapping potential clients and their journeys in the HubSpot database can also help.

During the implementation phase, businesses should develop, test, and deploy interfaces, ensuring that data flows correctly between various systems. By identifying where HubSpot needs to integrate with other systems to support the customer journey and implementing the right integration strategy, businesses can ensure a successful implementation.

### Checklist for Successful CRM Implementation

To ensure readiness for the next stage of CRM implementation, it is necessary to complete the following checklist:

*   Test the new process with current clients to ensure functionality and identify any issues.
*   Train staff on the new system to ensure effective use.
*   Update policies based on the new CRM and communicate changes to both clients and employees.
*   Configure HubSpot to meet business requirements.
*   Ensure that data flows correctly through the new system.
*   Confirm that the new CRM is live at the end of this stage.

It is important to complete these tasks in order to ensure a smooth transition and successful implementation of the new CRM.

### Summary

It is important to note that achieving successful results from your HubSpot CRM implementation may take a significant amount of time. The development of a comprehensive CRM system that effectively meets the needs of your prospects and customers can take several months or even years, as you work through the various stages of implementation.

Outlined below are four critical success factors that are essential to achieving success in this process:

*   Business direction - Establishing a clear strategy that outlines the processes necessary to deliver business benefits.
*   Digitisation - Ensuring that technology and data are properly implemented to support the processes.
*   User adoption - Ensuring that users effectively and properly utilize the new system.
*   Process engineering - Condition the organisation to properly adopt the new processes

By focusing on these critical success factors, you can improve your chances of a successful HubSpot CRM implementation that delivers long-lasting benefits for your business.

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[![hubspot-crm.png](/uploads/hubspot_crm_438b1181b1.png)](https://www.cloudify.biz/book-consultation)

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5 Key Elements of a Successful HubSpot Implementation Strategy

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Over the past few years, an increasing number of companies have embraced Software as a Service (SaaS) as a means to improve their services and stay competitive. However, adopting SaaS also comes with its own set of challenges. Since SaaS is a relatively new technology, proper implementation and management practices are essential for businesses to derive the expected value from third-party applications. In this article, we will explore ways to achieve a [successful SaaS implementation](https://www.cloudify.biz/crm-implementation) plan.

![saas-implementation-roadmap.png](/uploads/saas_implementation_roadmap_5b60c89d1d.png)

**Learn more:** [**7 things to keep in mind for successful CRM implementation**](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/7-things-to-keep-in-mind-for-successful-crm-implementation)

### Challenges and Pitfalls of SaaS Implementation

#### Integration with existing systems

One of the biggest challenges of SaaS implementation is integrating the new software with the existing systems. Organizations may have multiple legacy systems that need to be integrated with the new SaaS software, and this can be a complex and time-consuming process. To overcome this challenge, it's important to identify the integration points early in the process and involve IT teams in the decision-making process.

#### Data Security

Data security is a critical concern for any organization, and it's no different for SaaS implementations. With data stored on third-party servers, organizations need to ensure that the vendor has adequate security measures in place to protect their data. It's important to conduct due diligence on the vendor's security policies and procedures and ensure that they comply with industry standards and regulations.

#### Customisation

SaaS applications are designed to be standardized and easily accessible, but this can sometimes result in limited customization options. Organizations may have specific requirements that cannot be met by the standard features of the SaaS application. To overcome this challenge, organizations should identify their customization requirements early in the process and involve the vendor in the decision-making process.

#### Training and Support

With any new software implementation, training and support are critical to ensuring that end-users are able to use the software effectively. Organizations need to ensure that the vendor provides adequate training and support to end-users to minimize disruption to operations.

#### Insufficient Planning

Insufficient planning can be a major pitfall of SaaS implementation. Organisations may rush into the implementation process without adequate planning and preparation, resulting in delays, cost overruns, and even project failure. To avoid this pitfall, it's important to take the time to identify business requirements, evaluate vendor options, and develop a detailed SaaS implementation plan.

#### Lack of Communication

Effective communication is critical to ensuring a successful SaaS implementation. Organisations need to ensure that all stakeholders are involved in the decision-making process and kept informed throughout the implementation process. Failure to communicate effectively can lead to misunderstandings, delays, and project failure.

#### Underestimating Training and Support Requirements

Training and support are critical to ensuring that end-users are able to use the software effectively. Organizations may underestimate the time and resources required to provide adequate training and support to end-users, resulting in user frustration and decreased productivity. To avoid this pitfall, organizations should develop a comprehensive training and support plan that addresses the specific needs of end-users.

Many of our clients have overcome these pitfalls by implementing SaaS system with Cloudify: [Viperflex](https://www.cloudify.biz/case-studies/viperflex) | [Glycospot](https://www.cloudify.biz/case-studies/glycospot) | [CHSContainer](https://www.cloudify.biz/case-studies/chs-container)

### Best Practices for SaaS Implementation

![best-practices-for-saas-implementation.png](/uploads/best_practices_for_saas_implementation_fb03c3df3a.png)

#### Identify Business Requirements

The [first step in any SaaS implementation is to identify business requirements](https://www.cloudify.biz/digital-analysis). This involves evaluating current processes and identifying areas for improvement. By identifying business requirements early in the process, organizations can ensure that the SaaS solution meets their specific needs.

#### Evaluate Vendor Option

There are many SaaS vendors in the market, and it's important to evaluate vendor options before making a decision. Organizations should evaluate vendors based on factors such as cost, security, customisation, and support. It's also important to conduct due diligence on vendors to ensure that they have a track record of successful implementations.

#### Access Control

One of the hurdles that businesses encounter when moving to the cloud is access control. This is primarily due to the fact that the monitoring settings and access control mechanisms don't always transfer seamlessly from conventional software to a SaaS solution. It's crucial for administrators to have complete control over who can access what, but during the transition phase, they may not always be aware of access discrepancies.

#### Develop a Detailed Implementation Plan

A detailed implementation plan is critical to ensuring a [successful SaaS implementation](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/skilled-partner-simplify-crm-implementation). The implementation plan should include a timeline, a list of tasks and responsibilities, and a budget. It should also include contingency plans for potential issues that may arise during the implementation process.

#### Involve IT Teams and End-Users

IT teams and end-users should be involved in the decision-making process from the beginning to ensure that the [SaaS solution meets their needs](https://www.cloudify.biz/implementation). IT teams should be involved in evaluating vendor options, identifying integration points, and ensuring that security measures are in place. End-users should be involved in identifying customisation requirements, providing feedback on the user experience, and receiving training and support.

#### Pricing

When it comes to choosing a subscription plan and pricing for a SaaS solution, businesses need to be careful to avoid potential pitfalls. While a monthly plan may appear to be the most cost-effective option, it can actually end up costing more in the long run. Additionally, there may be hidden costs and fees associated with subscriptions that are not immediately apparent but can significantly increase the total cost. To avoid this pitfall, it's important to properly identify business needs and match them with what the provider offers.

For businesses that plan to use a solution for more than a year, an annual subscription is generally the better option. On the other hand, monthly subscriptions are more suitable for businesses that need more time to determine what works best for them. For further information, check out our guide to SaaS pricing models.

#### Conduct User Acceptance Testing

[User acceptance testing (UAT) is an important part of the SaaS implementation process](https://www.techtarget.com/searchsoftwarequality/definition/user-acceptance-testing-UAT). UAT involves end-users testing the SaaS solution to ensure that it meets their requirements and works as expected. UAT can help identify issues and ensure that the solution is ready for deployment.

#### Provide Adequate Training and Support

Adequate training and support are critical to ensuring that end-users are able to use the SaaS solution effectively. Organizations should develop a comprehensive training and support plan that addresses the specific needs of end-users. This may include online training, in-person training, and ongoing support.

#### Monitor and Evaluate Performance

After the SaaS solution has been deployed, it's important to monitor and evaluate its performance. This can help identify areas for improvement and ensure that the solution is meeting business requirements. Organisations should establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and regularly monitor and evaluate performance against these KPIs.

**Read more:**

*   [5 Key Elements of a Successful HubSpot Implementation Strategy](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/successful-hubspot-implementation-strategy)
*   [5 Steps to a Successful Pipedrive Implementation for Your Business](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/5-steps-to-a-successful-pipedrive-implementation-for-your-business)
*   [Determining the Ideal Timing for Implementing Inventory Management Software](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/implementing-inventory-management-software)
*   [Considerations for Implementing a New Accounting System](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/implementing-a-new-accounting-system)

SaaS implementation can be a complex and challenging process, but with the right approach, organizations can ensure a successful implementation. By identifying business requirements, evaluating vendor options, developing a detailed implementation plan, involving IT teams and end-users, conducting user acceptance testing, providing adequate training and support, and monitoring and evaluating performance, organisations can overcome the challenges and pitfalls of SaaS implementation and realise the many benefits of this delivery model.

[![saas-cta.png](/uploads/saas_cta_fa9087268f.png)](https://www.cloudify.biz/book-consultation)

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SaaS Implementation: Challenges, pitfalls and best practices

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[CRM (Customer Relationship Management)](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/introduction-to-crm) is an essential part of any business strategy. It helps companies manage their customer data, interactions, and relationships effectively. However, implementing a CRM system is not always an easy task. Companies face many challenges during the implementation process, including selecting the right CRM system, configuring it to meet their specific needs, and training their employees to use it effectively. In this article, we will explore whether having a skilled partner simplifies CRM implementation like implementing popular CRMs like HubSpot or [Pipedrive sales CRM](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/5-steps-to-a-successful-pipedrive-implementation-for-your-business).

### Introduction

CRM implementation is the process of integrating a CRM system into a business's existing operations. It involves various activities, including selecting the right software, configuring the system, and training staff on how to use it effectively. A successful CRM implementation can help businesses streamline their operations, enhance customer service, and increase revenue. However, the process is not always straightforward and can be complicated, costly, and time-consuming.

### Explaining CRM implementation

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a strategic approach used by organisations to manage their interactions with customers and prospects. It involves using technology to organise, automate, and synchronise sales, marketing, customer service, and technical support processes.

### Importance of successful CRM implementation

![importance-of-crm.png](/uploads/importance_of_crm_7e62585a53.png)

[CRM implementation is a critical process](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/implementing-a-crm-system) for organisations looking to improve their customer relationships, increase customer satisfaction, and drive business growth. Successful implementation can help organisations gain a competitive edge, while poor implementation can lead to lost opportunities, increased costs, and a negative impact on customer relationships.

### Successful implementation of a CRM system can have numerous benefits for businesses, including:

**Enhanced Customer Experience:** A well-implemented CRM system can help businesses offer personalized experiences to their customers. By providing relevant and timely information to customers, businesses can build stronger relationships and increase loyalty.

**Increased Efficiency:** A CRM system can automate many tasks, such as data entry, which saves time and reduces errors. This can help businesses to focus on more critical tasks, such as sales and customer support, and improve overall efficiency.

**Improved Communication:** A CRM system can help businesses to communicate more effectively with their customers. It allows businesses to track customer interactions and preferences, enabling them to tailor their communication to meet individual needs.

**Better Sales Management:** A CRM system can help businesses to track and manage sales opportunities more effectively. It can also provide valuable insights into customer behaviour and preferences, enabling businesses to make more informed sales decisions.

**Enhanced Marketing:** A CRM system can help businesses to target marketing efforts more effectively. It can provide insights into customer behaviour and preferences, enabling businesses to create more targeted marketing campaigns that are more likely to resonate with customers.

The topic of whether having a skilled partner simplifies CRM implementation is a critical consideration for organizations looking to implement CRM successfully. In this guide, we explore the challenges of CRM implementation, the benefits of a skilled partner, the key skills they should have, and how to select the right one.

### The Challenges of CRM Implementation

[CRM implementation](https://www.cloudify.biz/crm-implementation) can present several challenges, including resistance to change, data quality issues, lack of training, and poor adoption rates. These challenges can result in poor user adoption, decreased productivity, and ultimately, a failed implementation. Businesses that struggle with CRM implementation risk damaging their customer relationships and losing their competitive edge.

#### Common implementation challenges

CRM implementation can be challenging due to various factors such as lack of user adoption, data quality issues, and resistance to change. These factors can result in delays, cost overruns, and failure to meet project goals.

#### These challenges can include:

**Resistance to Change:** Implementing a CRM system can require changes to existing business processes and workflows. Employees may resist these changes, and their reluctance to adapt to new systems can hinder the implementation process.

**Data Quality:** A CRM system relies heavily on accurate and complete data. Poor data quality can lead to errors, duplicate records, and incorrect analysis, which can impact decision-making and overall business performance.

**Integration with Existing Systems:** A CRM system may need to integrate with other existing systems, such as accounting or inventory management software. This can be a complex process, and any integration issues can delay the implementation process.

**Training and Adoption:** Proper training is critical for successful CRM implementation. Employees need to understand how to use the new system and how it fits into their workflows. Adoption can be challenging if employees are not comfortable with the system or see it as an additional burden.

**Cost:** Implementing a CRM system can be expensive, particularly for small businesses. Costs can include software licensing fees, hardware upgrades, and training costs.

![image-risks-of-implementation.png](/uploads/image_risks_of_implementation_b62a6b7994.png)

#### The role of expertise in mitigating these challenges

Expertise is crucial in mitigating the challenges of CRM implementation. Working with a skilled partner can help organizations navigate these challenges more effectively and increase the chances of successful implementation.

### The Benefits of a Skilled Partner

A skilled partner can play a crucial role in simplifying the CRM implementation process. They bring expertise, experience, and a proven methodology to the table, helping businesses to avoid common pitfalls and achieve a successful implementation.

A skilled partner can provide several advantages, including customized solutions, training, ongoing support, and best practices for system configuration. They can help businesses to save time and money, enhance customer service, and improve user adoption rates.

### The advantages of working with a skilled partner

Working with a skilled partner can simplify the CRM implementation process by providing organisations with access to expertise, experience, and resources that they may not have in-house. A skilled partner can also help organizations overcome implementation challenges, ensure user adoption, and optimize system performance.

### How a skilled partner can simplify CRM implementation

A skilled partner can help organizations simplify CRM implementation by providing services such as requirements analysis, project management, data migration, customization, and training. They can also provide ongoing support and maintenance to ensure the system remains optimised.

![image-cost-benefits.png](/uploads/image_cost_benefits_92cfe44795.png)

### The cost-benefit analysis of investing in a skilled partner

Investing in a skilled partner may require additional costs, but the benefits can outweigh the costs in the long run. 

Working with a skilled partner can lead to 

*   faster implementation, 
*   reduced risk, 
*   increased user adoption, and 
*   improved ROI.

### The Role of Skilled Partner in CRM Implementation

The key skills that a partner should have to include technical expertise, experience in the industry, project management skills, and communication skills. It's crucial to select the right partner for your business, and this involves a thorough evaluation of their qualifications, experience, and track record.

Collaboration and communication are essential when working with a skilled partner. They should work closely with the business to understand their goals, challenges, and requirements and tailor their services to meet those needs. A skilled partner can help businesses navigate the complexities of CRM implementation, ensure a smooth transition, and deliver a successful outcome.

The key skills that a partner should have

A skilled partner should have expertise in areas such as CRM strategy, implementation methodology, system integration, data management, and user adoption. They should also have experience working with organizations in the same industry and size.

### How to select the right partner

Selecting the right partner requires careful consideration of factors such as expertise, experience, reputation, references, and pricing. Organizations should conduct a thorough evaluation process and select a partner that meets their specific needs.

### The importance of collaboration and communication with a partner

Collaboration and communication are critical to the success of CRM implementation with a skilled partner. Organizations should establish clear expectations, roles, and responsibilities and communicate openly and frequently with the partner.

### Case Study of Successful Implementation with Skilled Partner

A real-world example of a successful CRM implementation with a skilled partner is a manufacturing company that was struggling with an outdated, manual system for managing customer relationships. They partnered with a skilled CRM implementation provider who worked with them to identify their unique requirements, select the right software, and customize the system to meet their needs. The skilled partner provided training and ongoing support, and as a result, the company was able to streamline their operations, improve customer service, and increase revenue.

See how we helped [Glycospot](https://www.cloudify.biz/case-studies/glycospot) and [CHS Container](https://www.cloudify.biz/case-studies/chs-container) implement [HubSpot](https://www.cloudify.biz/hubspot).

The company experienced an increase in customer retention. The CRM system allowed for better collaboration between sales and marketing teams, leading to more targeted marketing campaigns and increased customer satisfaction. The system also provided real-time insights and analytics, enabling the company to make data-driven decisions and optimize its business processes.

![CTA-hubspot-crm.png](/uploads/CTA_hubspot_crm_93fa5e5e44.png)

### Conclusion

CRM implementation can be a complex and challenging process, but with the right partner, it can be simplified and successful. A skilled partner brings expertise, experience, and a proven methodology to the table, helping businesses to avoid common pitfalls and achieve a successful implementation. Investing in a skilled partner can save time and money, enhance customer service, and improve user adoption rates. We encourage businesses to seek out a skilled partner for their CRM implementation project to ensure a successful outcome.

Throughout this article, we have explored the importance of having a skilled partner in CRM implementation. We have discussed the benefits of having an experienced partner who can help you navigate the complex CRM landscape and ensure a successful implementation. We have also looked at some of the challenges that businesses face when implementing CRM and how a skilled partner can help overcome them. Additionally, we have explored the key traits that businesses should look for in a CRM partner, including their expertise, experience, and communication skills.

In today's competitive business environment, having a successful CRM implementation is critical for business growth and success. However, implementing CRM can be a challenging and complex process, and the stakes are high. That's why it's essential to have a skilled partner who can guide you through the process, provide expert advice and support, and help ensure a successful outcome.

A skilled partner brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, which can help you avoid common pitfalls and make the most of your CRM investment. They can help you customize your CRM solution to meet your unique business needs, provide ongoing support and training, and help you stay up-to-date with the latest CRM trends and best practices.

[![crm-cta (1).png](/uploads/crm_cta_1_d77faad3e7.png)](https://www.cloudify.biz/book-consultation)

### FAQs

#### What is a CRM system?

CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management. It is a set of strategies and tools used to manage interactions with customers and potential customers, with the goal of improving business relationships and driving sales growth.

#### Q: What is the importance of CRM implementation?

A: CRM implementation helps businesses to streamline their sales, marketing, and customer service processes. It also helps to gain a better understanding of customer behaviour and preferences, which can be used to create personalised marketing campaigns and improve customer satisfaction.

#### Why is CRM implementation challenging?

CRM implementation can be challenging due to several factors, including resistance to change, data quality issues, lack of training, and poor adoption rates.

#### Q: What is the role of a skilled partner in CRM implementation?

A: A skilled partner can simplify the CRM implementation process by providing expert guidance and support. They can help businesses to choose the right CRM software, customise it to fit their specific needs, and train employees on how to use it effectively.

#### Q: What are the benefits of having a skilled partner for CRM implementation?

A: Some of the benefits of having a skilled partner for CRM implementation include faster implementation time, reduced costs, improved user adoption, and access to specialised knowledge and resources.

#### Q: What are some tips for selecting a skilled partner for CRM implementation?

A: When selecting a skilled partner for CRM implementation, it is important to look for a partner with experience in your industry and with the specific CRM software you plan to use. You should also consider factors such as their track record, customer reviews, and pricing structure.

#### Q: How long does it take to implement CRM?

A: The time it takes to implement CRM varies depending on factors such as the size of the organisation, the complexity of the business processes, and the level of customisation required. On average, CRM implementation can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

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Does Having a Skilled Partner Simplify CRM Implementation? 

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As a business owner, you understand the importance of sales for the growth and success of your organization. To manage sales effectively, you need an efficient and robust sales management system. This is where [Pipedrive CRM](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/what-is-pipedrive-2) comes into the picture. Pipedrive is a popular sales CRM that helps businesses manage their sales process efficiently. However, implementing Pipedrive successfully requires careful planning and execution. In this blog, we will discuss the five steps to a successful Pipedrive implementation for your business.

### Step 1: Identify your business needs

[Before implementing Pipedrive,](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/pipedrive-top-10-reasons-why-pipedrive-is-the-best-crm) it is essential to understand your business requirements. Identify the pain points in your sales process and determine how Pipedrive can help you overcome them. Consider factors such as the number of sales reps, sales cycle, lead sources, and sales goals while assessing your business needs. Once you have a clear understanding of your requirements, you can customise Pipedrive to suit your business needs.

[Book a free consultation](https://www.cloudify.biz/book-consultation) call with Cloudify Pipedrive implementation experts, and we will help you decide at what point needs to be implemented based on your business needs. 

**Must read use case:** [**How Cloudify Automated CHS Container's Sales with Pipedrive implementation**](https://www.cloudify.biz/case-studies/chs-container)

### Step 2: Set up your Pipedrive account

**![deal-creation-pipedrive (2).png](/uploads/deal_creation_pipedrive_2_657e1d297d.png)**

Setting up a Pipedrive account is straightforward. You need to provide basic information about your business, such as company name, industry, and location. Once your account is set up, you can start customising it based on your business needs. You can create custom fields to capture the data relevant to your business, such as lead source, product interest, and deal size. You can also configure your sales pipeline stages to match your sales process.

### Step 3: Import your data

If you have an existing sales database, you can import it into Pipedrive. Pipedrive supports CSV, Excel, and Google Sheets formats for data import. You can import your contacts, leads, deals, and activities into Pipedrive. Once you have imported your data, you can clean and categorise it to ensure accuracy and completeness.

### Step 4: Train your team

Your Pipedrive implementation will be successful only if your sales team is comfortable using it. Provide comprehensive training to your sales reps to ensure they understand how to use Pipedrive effectively. Train them on the different features of Pipedrive, such as creating and managing deals, setting up activities, and tracking leads. Encourage them to use Pipedrive regularly and provide them with feedback on how they can improve their sales performance using the CRM.

### Step 5: Monitor and optimise your performance

![Capture111.PNG](/uploads/Capture111_d4e8501933.PNG)

Source: [Pipedrive's global sales performance review](https://www.pipedrive.com/en/blog/global-sales-performance-review)

Once your team starts using Pipedrive, monitor your sales performance regularly. It helps saving you time. Use Pipedrive's advanced reporting and analytics features to track your progress and identify areas for improvement. Monitor your sales pipeline velocity, conversion rates, and deal flow to understand how [Pipedrive is helping you achieve your sales goals](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/what-is-pipedrive). Based on your performance, optimise your sales process by tweaking your pipeline stages, setting up new activity types, or adding custom fields.

In conclusion, implementing Pipedrive can help you streamline your sales process and improve your sales performance. By following these five steps, you can ensure a successful Pipedrive implementation for your business. Identify your business needs, set up your Pipedrive account, import your data, train your team, and monitor and optimise your performance to achieve sales success with Pipedrive.

[![CTA-pipedrive-implementation (1).png](/uploads/CTA_pipedrive_implementation_1_994369de27.png)](https://www.cloudify.biz/book-consultation)

5 Steps to a Successful Pipedrive Implementation for Your Business

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As businesses grow, it becomes increasingly important to manage customer interactions effectively. This is where a [CRM system comes in](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/introduction-to-crm). A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system is software that helps businesses organise and manage their customer interactions. Implementing a CRM software can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. 

[Successful CRM implementation](https://www.cloudify.biz/crm-implementation) process can aid businesses in analysing customer interactions, effectively tracking leads, and streamlining processes. To experience the advantages of implementing CRM software, it is necessary to follow these ten steps: 

### Determine the Reasons for Your Organisation's Need for a CRM System

![crm-stats.png](/uploads/crm_stats_76ff3f66a7.png)

Source: [Statista](https://www.statista.com/statistics/605933/worldwide-customer-relationship-management-market-forecast/)

The results of the [2022 Sales Strategy and Trends Survey](https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/hubspot-sales-strategy-report?hubs_content=blog.hubspot.com%2Fsales%2Fwhy-your-company-needs-a-crm-system-to-grow&hubs_content-cta=2022%20Sales%20Strategy%20and%20Trends%20Survey) indicate that sales teams who perform well are more likely to view their CRM as a vital component of their sales process. This was revealed by the responses of participants who were asked why they use a CRM and how it benefits them. Those who achieved their sales goals in 2022 were more likely to express the opinion that their CRM played a very important role in their success compared to those who underperformed or did not meet their targets.

To fully leverage the advantages of a CRM tool, it is essential for your organisation to first identify the areas that require improvement or the problems that need to be addressed.

To fully benefit from a CRM system, it is crucial for an organisation to identify the areas that require improvement or the issues that need to be addressed. This can be achieved by conducting a thorough analysis of the organisation's current customer management practices and identifying the pain points that customers and employees face. Some of the common areas where a CRM system can help improve include:

Customer communication: Identify the current customer communication channels and analyse their effectiveness. Determine whether there are gaps or inconsistencies in communication, which could lead to poor customer experience.

Sales and marketing: analyse the sales and marketing strategies, identify the areas that are not effective, and determine how a CRM system can help to improve them.

Data management: Evaluate the current data management practices and identify the areas that need improvement. Determine whether customer data is being captured accurately and consistently.

Customer service: analyse the customer service processes and identify the areas that need improvement. Determine whether there are any gaps in customer service which could lead to poor customer experience.

Collaboration: Identify the departments that need to collaborate more effectively and determine how a CRM system can facilitate communication and collaboration.

By identifying the areas that require improvement, an organisation can better understand how a CRM system can help to address these issues and achieve its business goals. It is essential to define clear objectives and KPIs before developing a successful CRM implementation plan.

### Conduct research on the various vendors in the CRM market to identify the one that best aligns with your organisation's needs:

When selecting a CRM vendor, it is crucial to take into account various factors to ensure that you choose the right vendor. Some of the critical factors to consider include:

The quality of the vendor's product: You should evaluate the vendor's CRM product to ensure that it meets your organisation's needs. Look for features such as ease of use, customisation options, scalability, security, and integration capabilities.

The vendor's level of experience in the CRM market: Choose a vendor with a proven track record in the CRM market. Look for vendors with several years of experience and a reputation for delivering high-quality products and services.

The expertise of the vendor's staff: The vendor's staff should have the necessary expertise to support your organisation's needs. Look for a vendor with a team of experienced professionals who can help you implement and maintain your CRM system.

The vendor's corporate vision: Look for a vendor whose corporate vision aligns with your organisation's values and goals. A vendor with a long-term vision and commitment to innovation is more likely to provide you with a CRM system that can evolve with your organisation's changing needs.

The vendor's experience in serving companies of a similar size to yours: Choose a vendor with experience serving companies similar in size and industry to yours. This will ensure that the vendor understands your unique needs and can provide tailored solutions.

Customer references: Ask the vendor for customer references and speak to other organisations that have implemented the vendor's CRM system. This will give you an idea of the vendor's reputation and the quality of their products and services.

Read more: [Using your sales CRM for more than sales](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/using-your-sales-crm-for-more-than-sales) 

### Establish sound business practices prior to implementing your CRM strategy

Business procedures are the established methods and process an organisation uses to accomplish its goals. These procedures can be flawed or inefficient, leading to wasted time, resources, and money. Before the successful implementation of CRM, it's important to assess the quality of your business procedures and identify any inadequacies that may be hindering your organisation's success.

Once you have identified areas that require improvement, it's important to address them before developing the implementation strategy. This is because a CRM system is only effective when integrated with optimised business processes. [Automating flawed or inefficient procedures](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/guide-to-creating-business-process-automation) will only lead to further inefficiencies, as the system will simply replicate the existing issues.

Furthermore, it's important to select a CRM platform that can adapt to your current practices rather than forcing you to change the way you do business. This is because each organisation has its own unique set of business practices and workflows that may not be compatible with a one-size-fits-all CRM system. The best CRM is a tool that is flexible enough to adapt to your organisation's specific needs and practices.

In summary, evaluating the calibre of your business procedures and addressing any inadequacies before implementing a CRM system is crucial to ensuring the success of the system and the organisation as a whole. By improving your business procedures and selecting the right CRM that can adapt to your practices, you can maximise the benefits of CRM technology and improve your organisation's overall efficiency and profitability.

### Develop a Formula for Evaluating the System's Benefits to Your Company

Stating intangible benefits, such as enhanced productivity and improved communication, is relatively simple; however, measuring tangible benefits, such as a million-dollar revenue boost or a 10% rise in customer retention, necessitates some forethought. Understanding how to calculate the system's benefits is critical since it establishes a benchmark for the success of your customer strategy and confirms the system's significance.

### Determine the Departments or Areas in Your organisation That Will Utilise the System

Collect feedback from all departments to ensure that everyone's requirements are addressed. It is essential to ensure that all users are content with the system's features since everyone's cooperation is necessary for its success. Since there are various types of customer relationship management systems, you must choose the one that best suits your organisation's requirements.

### Create a practical budget that considers all expenses related to CRM implementation for your business

Implementing a CRM system can be a significant investment for any organisation. To ensure that the implementation process stays within budget, it's important to create a practical budget that takes into account all expenses related to the CRM system implementation.

First, consider the costs associated with the CRM software itself, including licensing fees and any necessary upgrades. Additionally, factor in any hardware or infrastructure costs, such as servers or networking equipment, that may be required to support the CRM system.

Other expenses to consider include training and onboarding costs, as well as any consulting or customisation fees that may be necessary to tailor the CRM system to your organisation's specific needs.

Once you have created a comprehensive budget, communicate your expectations with your selected CRM partner. This includes discussing your budget limitations and any specific requirements or goals that you have for the system. By collaborating with your CRM partner, you can work together to find cost-effective solutions and ensure that the implementation process stays within budget.

It's also important to be flexible and willing to adjust the budget as needed throughout the implementation process. Unexpected expenses or changes in requirements may arise, and it's important to have a contingency plan in place to accommodate them.

When planning the initial phase of your CRM implementation, it's important to consider how you may want the system to evolve in the future.

When planning the initial phase of your CRM implementation, it's important to consider how you may want the system to evolve in the future. This includes anticipating any changes or customisation needs that may arise as your organisation grows and your business needs change.

One important consideration is whether you will need to customise certain areas within the CRM system to cater to your specific requirements. For example, you may need to customise the system to reflect your organisation's unique sales process or to integrate with other tools or systems that you use.

Additionally, you should consider whether you will need to add more users to the system in the future. This may require additional licensing fees or upgrades to the system to support the increased user load.

It's important to verify that the CRM system you choose can adapt to these changes and customisation needs. This may involve discussing potential future needs with your CRM vendor or conducting thorough research on the system's capabilities.

By considering these future needs and verifying that the CRM system can adapt to them, you can ensure that your initial investment in the system will continue to provide value as your organisation grows and evolves over time.

### Planning for Additional Phases of CRM Implementation Rollout After the First Phase

Once the initial phase of [implementing your CRM system](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/7-things-for-successful-crm-implementation) is completed, you can start planning for additional phases to further develop and improve the system's functionality. This may include adding new features or integrations, expanding the system to additional departments or teams, or customizing the system to better suit your organisation's unique needs.

Assess the Need for Integration: Determine If Your CRM System Needs to Work With Other Software, Such as Accounting or Human Resource Systems.

Consider discussing the ease and cost of integrating the CRM system with other software, such as your accounting or human resource systems, with the vendor. Determine what type of software integrations will be beneficial for your business operations. One example of a software integration is QuickBooks CRM, which assists finance departments by consolidating business and customer financial data, eliminating data duplication, and generating invoices and estimates.

### Implement the CRM System with a Top-Down Approach

The implementation of the CRM system requires the support of top-level management to establish a sense of significance and dedication to utilising the system.

Related use cases from our clients: [Glycospot](https://www.cloudify.biz/case-studies/glycospot) | [CHS Container](https://www.cloudify.biz/case-studies/chs-container)

[![crm-cta.png](/uploads/crm_cta_46b5d3bc2d.png)](https://www.cloudify.biz/book-consultation)

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The 10-Step Process for Implementing a CRM System

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In today's business world, [accounting systems play an integral role](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/what-is-an-accounting-system) in the success of a company. An efficient and accurate accounting system can provide businesses with valuable insights into their financial operations, helping them make informed decisions that drive growth and profitability.

Implementing a new accounting system can be an overwhelming task, but proper planning, leadership, and implementation schedules can ensure a smooth transition from your old system while also preparing you for future digital successes. To help you with this task, here are some insights from the experience of professionals who have handled hundreds of clients.

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### Determine Your Business Needs

The first step in implementing a new accounting system is to determine your business needs. What are your current pain points with your existing accounting system? What functionality do you need that your current system doesn't provide? What are your goals for the new system? Understanding your business needs will help you select the right accounting system that meets your requirements.

To know your business needs, [book a free consultation](https://www.cloudify.biz/book-consultation) with us

### Evaluate Different Accounting Systems

Once you have determined your business needs, you should evaluate different [accounting systems](https://www.cloudify.biz/accounting-software-implementation) that are available in the market like Visma e-conomic, Microsoft Business Central, Fortnox, etc. Consider factors such as cost, features, scalability, and ease of use. It's also essential to ensure that the accounting system you select integrates with other software applications you use, such as your ERP or CRM systems.

### Take time to plan the implementation of your accounting system

To ensure the successful implementation of a new accounting system, it is important to allocate sufficient time for planning. It is commonly acknowledged that [effective planning constitutes 80% of any project's success while implementation only takes up 20%](https://opentextbc.ca/projectmanagement/chapter/chapter-3-the-project-life-cycle-phases-project-management/). Therefore, it is recommended to invest ample time in identifying and defining system requirements. Here are a few suggestions to assist you in focusing your planning efforts and positioning yourself for success.

### Plan Your Implementation

*   The first step in implementing a new accounting system is to plan thoroughly. Here are some tips for effective planning:
*   Identify a project lead who knows the business well and has the authority to direct the rest of the team.
*   Do your pre-sale research and due diligence to ensure that your technical requirements will be fulfilled with the product you're moving to.
*   Identify key stakeholders and involve them early on, including process owners in different departments.
*   Engage with your consultant to agree on the Chart of Accounts, BI codes, user profiles, and consolidation requirements during the design process.

### Prepare Before Implementation

To ensure a punctual and well-budgeted implementation, it's essential to prepare comprehensively before the accounting system implementation begins. Here are six things you should prepare:

*   Chart of Accounts structure
*   Subsidiary structure
*   Tax and regulatory requirements
*   User information and roles
*   Data clean-up
*   Data migration

### Plan for Data Migration

If you are moving from an existing accounting system to a new one, you need to plan for data migration. Data migration is the process of moving data from your current system to the new one. It's essential to ensure that your data is migrated accurately and all data is accounted for. This process can be time-consuming, and you need to plan for it in advance.

### Define Your Accounting Processes

As part of the implementation process, you should define your accounting processes. This includes processes for accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial reporting, and other accounting activities. Defining your processes will ensure that the new accounting system is configured to meet your requirements.

### Provide Adequate Training

Training is critical to the success of a new accounting system. You should provide adequate training to all users, including accounting staff and other employees who will use the system. The training should cover system functionality, data entry, reporting, and other relevant topics.

### Implement the System in Stages

Implementing a new accounting system can be overwhelming, especially if you are migrating from an existing system. It's important to implement the system in stages to ensure that everything works as intended. This approach allows you to identify any issues and fix them before moving to the next stage.

In conclusion, implementing a new accounting system requires careful planning and execution. By considering the factors mentioned in this blog, you can ensure a smooth transition to a new accounting system that meets your business needs.

### Importance of Communication in New Accounting System Implementation

Effective communication is crucial for the successful implementation of new accounting software by the implementation team and its positive adoption. Unverified rumours can spread rapidly, causing confusion and hindering the accounting system implementation process. To prevent this, it is essential to identify key stakeholders such as finance users, suppliers, customers, directors, senior managers, and other relevant parties.

Throughout the implementation process, it is important to keep stakeholders informed and ensure that they fully understand how the changes will impact them. To achieve this, a robust communication plan should be established, with regular updates and a provision for feedback. It is also important to prioritise the needs of key stakeholders and address their concerns promptly to ensure a smooth implementation process.

### Tips for Successful Implementation

Once you've planned and prepared for your new accounting system, [here are some tips to ensure a successful implementation](https://www.cloudify.biz/blogs/post/implementing-a-crm-system):

*   Start with your reporting requirements to ensure that your new chart of accounts and BI structure align with your business and reporting needs.
*   Choose a time that suits your business and internal resources, such as year-end or end of VAT period.
*   Import what you need and remove the need for running parallel systems, such as starting with an opening trial balance and bringing in monthly movements for reporting purposes.
*   Give your project lead time and scope to focus on the tasks at each stage.
*   Implement in phases and celebrate successes to avoid overwhelming your team and to prioritise future changes based on business benefits.

### Assistance Provided for Businesses in Implementing New Accounting Software

We offer our support to businesses in the process of migrating to new accounting software. Our experienced implementation and success teams have aided numerous companies in this endeavour and are ready to assist you too.

We begin by conducting a thorough fact-finding exercise to comprehend your finance management system requirements. Based on this information, we collaborate with you to create a detailed plan for migrating to the new accounting system, and we will be by your side throughout the implementation process.

Our project management teams possess in-depth knowledge of the product and are capable of customising it to meet your specific needs.

Once the project is completed, our customer success team will continue to monitor your software to ensure it remains at peak efficiency. Additionally, they may suggest utilising additional functionality that can help you work more efficiently.

[![crm-cta (3).png](/uploads/crm_cta_3_005aeab9c1.png)](https://www.cloudify.biz/book-consultation)