Ensure your CRM system is properly configured

Planning the roll-out of a new CRM system is a multi-step process. It doesn’t matter whether you are switching from one CRM system to another or you’re stepping up from pen and paper. Take time to get the fundamentals right and the integration of the CRM System with your business processes will go smoothly.

Whichever CRM system you choose, it is bound to come with some configuration options. These are settings that will control how the CRM behaves and how it looks. For some CRM systems, particularly those that are setup-and-go CRM systems there may be a number of things that you need to configure for the entire business. At the other end of the spectrum, a customised CRM system may already contain the company-wide settings that you need.

Some settings, however, may relate to user preferences or permissions. For new CRM systems you may need to spend time setting up your user permissions so they can access only what they need to.

Oversight on these kinds of configurations are relatively straightforward to rectify – simply make time to visit the appropriate setting and correct it. However, there may more fundamental configuration options that must be explored before going live.

Configuring things like custom fields or sales stages should always be configured in advance, and with eye to your business operation and overall data structure. Some CRM system plans provide for these to be either baked when the CRM system is delivered, or set up as part of a project management implementation.

None of these steps are particularly stressful yet omitting them may cause problems with your CRM roll-out. Remember it’s much easier to get user buy-in to your CRM system if things go smoothly, so advance planning is highly recommended.