As you adopt a new CRM software into your home improvement business, it’s important you avoid common mistakes that can get in the way of your success.
It’s a no-brainer that COVID-19 has accelerated the adoption of technology across the world. Making the switch to a digital environment is more than important for your business, it’s necessary for your company’s survival! By adopting a CRM system into your company, you can digitally store all of your prospect and customer information and automatically track all interaction history. However, the process of implementing CRM software into your day-to-day can be tricky. There are several common mistakes that you should avoid making as you transition to a CRM system – which is why we’re here to help.
Set Up Successfully!
Implementing a CRM system into your business can be both an exciting and challenging time. While it’s easy to get caught up in the potential benefits of a CRM, keep in mind they do require some level of setup up-front. Like most things, you’ll get out of your CRM what you put into it. If you take a lazy approach to your implementation, don’t expect to get the maximum value out of your system. If you put real effort into training and system setup, you’ll be more likely to reap the benefits of a CRM software. To increase your odds of success with a CRM, we’ve outlined 5 common mistakes that can occur during implementation, and guidance on how to avoid them:
1. Not Spending Enough Time Training Staff
CRM software can be complex! Without proper training, using a CRM system can be frustrating and unproductive. To ensure you and your employees are your most productive when using a CRM, it’s crucial that anyone logging into the system has completed the recommended training for that software. Plus, with all your precious data in one location, you’ll want to learn how to keep it safe and accurate. Improveit 360 training, for example, shows you what to do if you find duplicate data or accidentally delete vital information. Whether your CRM training consists of instructional videos, how-to guides, interactive training or all of the above, be sure to utilize your resources. Even if you consider yourself tech savvy, training exists for a reason: to ensure you use your CRM to the best of its ability!
2. Not Integrating Your CRM with Other Systems
One of the biggest perks of a good CRM software is that it can be integrated with your other systems. Depending on the software, a CRM has the potential to seamlessly connect to your inbox, calendars, payment processing tools, accounting system, web forms or social media channels! If you skip out on the integrations, you’ll spend more time jumping between systems to find information and end up entering more data manually! Improveit 360, for example, can be integrated with a lead provider like HomeAdvisor to allow new lead information to flow directly into improveit 360. The bottom line: If you use a CRM, leverage integrations! As a result, you’ll have enhanced your already powerful CRM system and made your job even easier.
3. Having a Lazy Attitude Toward Data
Your data is precious; don’t let it get skewed when you transfer it to your CRM system! Upon moving your data into your CRM, you’ll need to audit your data to ensure it is both accurate and complete. While this can be time consuming, double-checking your data may expose mistakes or duplicate information. By skipping the data review, you put your information at risk of being incorrect. Should your teams see inconsistent information from your CRM, they’ll lose confidence in how reliable the system is. If your teams can’t trust the new system, they will want to go back to whatever was used before and your new CRM tool will collect dust.
4. Going Overboard with Customizations
When working with a customizable CRM system, like improveit 360’s, you have the ability to tailor the system to better fit your business. If you have a policy to confirm an appointment twice before it’s ran, you can incorporate that process into your CRM software. However, you should approach each customization carefully by asking yourself “how will this help my overall vision for my business?”. As each customization takes time to complete, excessive customization requests can wind up lengthening the CRM implementation process. To avoid delays in using your CRM, assess your current business processes prior to making any changes to the software. Doing so will help you narrow down the functions crucial for your success needed within the system and prevent you from over-customizing.
5. Not Being Open to Change
PSA: adopting a CRM software may require you to modify some of your processes! While many CRM systems tailor their platforms to specific industries and business needs, they most likely won’t mimic your existing processes to a tee. Improveit 360, for example, was designed for home improvement pros and uses industry best-practices within the system. While it can be customized, a system like improveit 360 was created by industry experts and designed to grow your business. So, before you resort to customizations, consult with CRM experts who use the software daily for advice on how you can adapt your processes to fit the system. Your CRM vendor will have worked with many businesses like yours and can help you adjust your processes to better align with the software. If there’s room for improvement across your operations, don’t be closed off to the idea of change!
In order to be more successful with a CRM system, it’s important you’re prepared for the potential pitfalls that can derail your progress. By avoiding the mistakes above, you’ll get more out of your CRM with less hassle. For a stress-free implementation, consider using a CRM like improveit 360.
Improveit 360 is the industry-leading CRM system for home improvement businesses. With features designed to help you effortlessly manage your cash flow, nurture leads, and grow at your own pace, improveit 360 can help your business reach its fullest potential. Plus, improveit 360 offers robust training, live consultations and many other resources to ensure you’re as successful using the CRM as possible.
Schedule a demo with one of our representatives to learn more about improveit 360’s implementation process!
