Four people you need on a good CRM team

A good CRM team will help with implementation immensely - make sure yours contains the right people with this free guide from the experts at Discover CRM

When implementing new software, the first thing you need to do to ensure a successful project is to get a strong team together and develop a strong CRM implementation plan. Your CRM team should include:

Management

Even if your top management doesn’t need the CRM software for their daily tasks, they should be involved in the planning and implementation process, to help ensure the results of the investment meet expectations.

Create a CRM project team and implement new software efficiently using our seven-step guide to CRM implementation

End-users

Figure out who in your organization will be using the system. You need to input from representatives in every area/department to ensure a solid CRM implementation plan. Planning to satisfy all potential end-users is valuable, because the CRM system will only be effective if everyone uses it.

A project manager

One person should be responsible for the implementation process overall. They’re in charge of planning the meetings, organizing your CRM team and making sure the implementation goals are met. This doesn’t necessarily have to be someone from management, but someone with the skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm to take on the role.

A sponsor/champion

An important member of your CRM team will be someone who is really invested in the project. This is someone who wants to learn everything about it, so others can refer to them when there are problems or questions. This role isn’t the same as the project manager. A sponsor/champion (or super-user) of the product can be a contact point with  the vendor and help explain important features to the rest of the team.

Once you’ve built a complete team, you can start developing an implementation approach. Begin by determining which other internal software/systems the CRM solution needs to interact with, such as human resources and accounting. You can discuss the integration process with your CRM vendor to plan the process.

Beyond that, implementation usually works best using a trickle down approach. Begin implementation with the top levels of management. If upper management is already trained and using the software before it’s introduced to the rest of the company, it will show every end-user the importance of adopting the system.