8 Common Mistakes When Implementing a CRM System (and How to Avoid Them)

8 Common Mistakes When Implementing a CRM System (and How to Avoid Them)

A CRM system can be a great way to streamline your business processes and gain valuable insight into your customers. However, if you don't take the time to make sure it's implemented correctly, you can end up with a lot of wasted time and money on a tool that isn't working for you. We've identified the most common mistakes companies make when rolling out a new CRM system by surveying our clients and industry experts. In this post, we'll discuss each mistake in detail so that you can avoid making them yourself:

Not building an effective sales process

A sales process is the foundation of a CRM, and it should be designed to match your business model. If you're selling products or services in different countries (each with their own laws), then you need to make sure that your sales team has access to all the information they need in order to sell effectively.

A poorly-designed sales process can lead to failed customer relationships because there isn't enough information available for potential or existing customers at key points in the buying cycle. This could mean losing out on deals because someone can't find what they need when they need it, which will leave both parties frustrated and unlikely ever again choose your brand over another competitor's offering.

Not integrating your CRM with other critical systems

When implementing a CRM system, you need to consider how it will be integrated with other critical systems. For example, if you're using HubSpot and have an online store through Shopify or Squarespace, then integrating those two platforms is crucial for customer service and sales productivity. Here are some other systems that should be integrated with your CRM:

  • Customer Service Systems (i.e. HubSpot)
  • Marketing Automation Tools (HubSpot)
  • Accounting Software (QuickBooks Online)

Not automating the right things

  • Don't automate the wrong things.
  • Don't automate too much.
  • Don't automate too little.
  • Don't automate too soon (or late).

There are many ways to get this wrong, but here are some common mistakes:

  • Automating without a plan - If you don't have a clear understanding of what needs to be automated, you'll end up with a lot of unnecessary processes that are difficult to change or remove later on in your CRM implementation journey;
  • Automating everything at once - This can lead to confusion among users as they try to figure out how all their new tools work together;
  • Automating too little - If there is one thing you want from automation in your CRM system, it's consistency across all teams within an organization so everyone understands how each task fits into the bigger picture;

No Clear Goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

Before you begin implementing a CRM system, make sure to define your goals and key performance indicators (KPI). This is important because it will help guide your implementation process and make it more likely that the CRM will be effective.

It's important not to worry about what other people's goals are at first. Just focus on defining your own goals as best as possible in order to start building momentum and motivation around these tasks. You can always adjust them later if necessary, but having something concrete in mind will help motivate yourself through the difficult parts of creating change in your life or business.

A common mistake we see when people try setting up their goals is that they're too ambitious - they want results overnight without taking any action toward those results! In reality though, most changes take time and effort before seeing significant progress; so keep this fact in mind when deciding on how long it takes for each goal (3-6 months is usually good).

Ignoring the importance of customer data quality

One of the most common mistakes companies make when implementing a CRM system is to ignore the importance of customer data quality.

A clean and accurate database is a key component of any CRM strategy, as it allows you to create more personalized experiences for each customer. And while some data errors are unavoidable, there are ways to improve your company's customer information management practices so that you have fewer errors in your database--and fewer headaches down the road.

For example: if you're using a CRM like HubSpot or Pipedrive (or even Excel!), there are tools available on those platforms specifically designed with this goal in mind - such as HubSpot Data Quality tools or Pipedrive Data Quality rulesets feature set (which we'll talk more about below). These tools can help ensure that all new records added into these systems contain only high-quality information before being passed along into another system like ClickUp or QuickBooks Online where they will likely be used again later on down the line!

Not Enough Time

One of the most common mistakes made when implementing a CRM system is not having enough time. While it may seem like you can just throw your system into place and begin using it, that's not always the case. It takes time for people to get used to new processes, especially if they're unfamiliar with them or aren't sure why they are necessary.

If you don't give yourself enough time for this process, then there's a good chance that your CRM will fail before it even gets started - and that would be tragic! The best way around this issue is by making sure that you have sufficient resources available during implementation so as not only meet expectations but exceed them as well (which will lead down an awesome path).

Lack of Training and Support

Training and support are crucial for the success of any CRM implementation. Without proper training, your team will have a difficult time using the system effectively, which could result in lost productivity and wasted resources.

For example, if you're using HubSpot as your CRM platform but don't provide adequate training for your employees on how to use it properly (or if you hire people who don't already know how), they may struggle with basic tasks like creating accounts or setting up tasks within HubSpot. This is why it's important that all new hires receive adequate training before being allowed access to the software, and even more important that existing staff receive ongoing guidance from someone who knows how everything works inside-out!

The best way for companies looking into implementing a new CRM system would be working closely with a team of certified experts throughout this process so they can offer advice based on their experience working with similar businesses over time."

Lack of an Ongoing Process

  • CRM is not a one-time project. It's an ongoing process which needs to be monitored, updated and improved.
  • CRM needs to be integrated with other systems in place (like ClickUp, Slack, QuickBooks Online).
  • You need to have someone on your team who is responsible for maintaining the system and doing the updates as needed. This could be your IT department or another member of your staff who has been trained in CRM best practices and procedures.

Make sure you have a dedicated team that can implement, train and monitor your CRM system.

When you implement a CRM system, it's important to have a dedicated team that can implement, train and monitor your CRM system. This is because these three steps cannot be handled by one person or two people. You need a team of people who are well-versed in both the technical aspects of implementing the software and also knowledgeable about how businesses operate.

To find the right people for this job, consider these tips:

  • Look for someone who has experience with businesses like yours. If they've worked with other companies similar in size, then they should be able to provide valuable insight into how best to set up your CRM system for success from day one--and beyond!
  • Consider hiring a team of certified experts: this will allow you more flexibility when hiring new employees as well as giving them more freedom when working remotely on projects together (which may not always be possible if everyone works out of one office).

CRM systems can be a great tool for any business, but they need to be implemented properly and monitored carefully. If you make the right choices and put in the effort, it will pay off in the long run by helping your company grow faster than ever before!

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Roman Avetisov
Founder, Avedero Consulting