- Customer relationship management (CRM) suites are an indispensable part of a holistic strategy for managing end-to-end customer interactions.
- After defining an approach to CRM, selection and implementation of the right CRM suite is a critical step in delivering concrete business value for Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service.
- Despite the importance of CRM selection and implementation, many organizations struggle to define an approach to picking the right vendor and rolling out the solution in an effective and cost-efficient manner.
- IT often finds itself in the unenviable position of taking the fall for CRM platforms that don’t deliver on the promise of the CRM strategy.
Our Advice
Critical Insight
- IT needs to be a trusted partner in CRM selection and implementation, but the business also needs to own the requirements and be involved from the beginning.
- CRM requirements dictate the components of the target CRM architecture, such as deployment model, feature focus, and customization level. Savvy application directors recognize the points in the project where the CRM architecture model necessitates deviations from a “canned” roll-out plan.
- CRM selection is a multi-step process that involves mapping target capabilities for Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service, assigning requirements across functional categories, determining the architecture model to prioritize criteria, and developing a comprehensive RFP that can be scored in a weighted fashion.
- Companies that succeed with CRM implementation create a detailed roadmap that outlines milestones for configuration, security, points of implementation, data migration, training, and ongoing application maintenance.
Impact and Result
- A CRM platform that effectively meets the needs of Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service and delivers value.
- Reduced costs during CRM selection.
- Reduced implementation costs and time frame.
- Faster time to results after implementation.
Member Testimonials
After each Info-Tech experience, we ask our members to quantify the real-time savings, monetary impact, and project improvements our research helped them achieve. See our top member experiences for this blueprint and what our clients have to say.
10.0/10
Overall Impact
$3,779
Average $ Saved
3
Average Days Saved
Client
Experience
Impact
$ Saved
Days Saved
Baldwin Wallace University
Guided Implementation
10/10
$3,779
3
Brethren Benefit Trust
Workshop
9/10
N/A
120
Value Logistics LTD
Guided Implementation
9/10
N/A
23
Katz Media Corporation
Guided Implementation
9/10
$12,399
10
M. Holland Company
Guided Implementation
10/10
$11,339
5
Spartan Controls Ltd.
Guided Implementation
10/10
N/A
5
City of Saskatoon, SK
Guided Implementation
10/10
N/A
N/A
Benchmade
Guided Implementation
9/10
$12,599
10
Daifuku North America Holding Company
Guided Implementation
10/10
$34,099
10
UBT
Guided Implementation
9/10
$31,833
20
Pace Suburban Bus Service
Guided Implementation
10/10
$12,399
20
Federated Co-operatives Limited
Guided Implementation
8/10
N/A
5
Performance Trust Capital Partners
Guided Implementation
10/10
$61,999
5
Scientific Games Corporation
Guided Implementation
9/10
$30,999
20
Knights of Columbus
Guided Implementation
10/10
N/A
N/A
Kuvare US Holdings
Guided Implementation
10/10
$2,546
2
Auditor General IT Services
Guided Implementation
8/10
N/A
N/A
eGov Jamaica Ltd.
Guided Implementation
10/10
N/A
10
Academic Partnerships
Guided Implementation
10/10
N/A
2
RICOH Canada Inc.
Workshop
10/10
N/A
N/A
National Council on Aging
Guided Implementation
9/10
N/A
N/A
Government of New Brunswick
Guided Implementation
9/10
N/A
N/A
Statistics Canada
Guided Implementation
10/10
N/A
N/A
Workshop: Select and Implement a Customer Relationship Management Platform
Workshops offer an easy way to accelerate your project. If you are unable to do the project yourself, and a Guided Implementation isn't enough, we offer low-cost delivery of our project workshops. We take you through every phase of your project and ensure that you have a roadmap in place to complete your project successfully.
Module 1: Launch the CRM Selection Project
The Purpose
Discuss the general project overview for the CRM selection.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Launch your CRM selection project.
- Develop your organization’s CRM requirements.
Activities
Outputs
Facilitate activities from the “Launch the CRM Project and Collect Requirements” phase, including project scoping and resource planning.
- CRM Procurement Project Charter
Conduct overview of the CRM market landscape, trends, and vendors.
- CRM Use-Case Fit Assessment
Conduct process mapping for selected marketing processes.
Interview business stakeholders.
Prioritize CRM functional requirements.
Module 2: Plan the Procurement and Implementation Process
The Purpose
Plan the procurement and the implementation of the CRM solution.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Select a CRM solution.
- Build a plan for implementing the selected CRM solution.
Activities
Outputs
Complete marketing process mapping with business stakeholders.
Interview IT staff and project team to identify technical requirements for the CRM suite, and document high-level solution requirements.
- CRM RFP
Perform a use-case scenario assessment, review use-case scenario results, identify use-case alignment, and review the CRM Vendor Landscape vendor profiles and performance.
Create a custom vendor shortlist and investigate additional vendors for exploration in the marketplace.
- Vendor Shortlist
- Vendor Evaluations
- Selection of a CRM Solution
Meet with project manager to discuss results and action items.
- CRM Projected Work Breakdown
- Implementation Plan
- Framework for CRM Deployment and CRM/Marketing Management Suite Integration