Worried about switching CRM? 3 myths about moving CRM

When it comes to CRM, the truth isn’t always pretty. Our latest research revealed 62% of sales and marketing leaders feel stuck with their CRM.

People are putting up with poorly implemented software, spiraling costs, and poor user experience.

But why are so many leaders putting up with failing software and support?

The biggest reason is fear of disruption. Ultimately, moving CRM software has a reputation of being a giant pain in the backside, and it’s putting people off so much that they’re willing to overpay or use software that doesn’t meet their needs.

We spoke to one Sales Director from a B2B marketing agency. He said:

“Is our CRM crap? Absolutely. It’s costing us a huge amount, we’ve had a nightmare with support, and we’re not getting the functionality we need. Are we going to switch CRM? Absolutely not. It would take too much time and effort to move elsewhere. We’re stuck.”

So, is moving to new CRM software really that difficult? Are sales and marketing leaders eternally trapped with their vendor or is there another way?

Here’s an honest account of the myths and facts behind making the switch so you can decide for yourself.

1. Myth: CRM implementations mean months (or even years) of disruption

The thought of taking on a CRM implementation is daunting if you think it’s going to include months or years of working with a provider to trawl through your processes.

But there are options out there to simplify and speed it up.

Workbooks offer a JumpStart program which helps you get up and running in 28 days or less. It keeps disruption to a minimum, but you still get the CRM you need at the end of it. Check out more on JumpStart here.

2. You can only switch CRMs with a big budget

If you Google what the average implementation costs, you can see figures up to £200k /$200k. So, it’s no surprise that people get put off.

Our survey showed 45% of sales and marketing leaders said they wouldn’t change due to cost impact.

But the reality is that the costs can be as low as £6-10k. It all depends on several factors:

How big is your business? The more users you have and the bigger your business, the more it’s likely to cost. Some of the most well-known CRM brands are built for enterprise businesses, so they’re likely to cost more even if you have less users. Make sure you do your research and find a CRM provider that offers affordable solutions designed for your size business.

Do you need a customized solution? If you want to start with an out-of-the-box CRM the costs are much lower. You can add levels of customization to that at a reasonable price with many providers. But if you’re in an industry where there are specific integrations, features or functionality you might need, it’s likely to cost more. Make sure the CRM provider you pick has flexible pricing models that reflect what you need. Workbooks offers three different implementation approaches so there’s options for all budgets and requirements.

Make sure you’re only paying for what you need. With some CRM solutions, it’s easy to end up paying for extras. This is often because all users need to be on the same license – so you’re paying the highest price with the most functionality for users that may not even need it. Make sure you look into CRM providers that give you more flexibility. Workbooks let you mix and match licenses to help you keep the costs down.

3.Myth: Switching CRM disrupts staff

Worried that your sales and/or marketing team are going to face big disruption? It’s a valid concern that lots of others share – 55% said they wouldn’t switch CRM due to the disruption of staff.

But a CRM implementation is a time where you can get them involved and use their expertise to build a platform that works in the best way for your business.

Workbooks offer Shared Success workshops ahead of signing any contracts. This is to help you work out exactly what you need from a CRM, create an execution plan, and get a clear idea on timings and cost. It keeps the disruption to staff down because everyone is on the same page before the implementation even starts.

Be sure to check out the full survey report to learn more about how sales and marketing leaders are driving CRM success.