Just imagine what it would be like if we all had been treated like adults right from our birth. Lead a life without guidance or assistance, just trying hard to comply with expectations that are challenging to meet.
If this would have really happened, indeed none of us would have reached far, while others may have also found themselves disappointed by our lack of progress and more.
Now, the business processes based on technology that we use today on a day-to-day basis such as an easy to use CRM program, need the same kind of support, attention and care to flourish, just as we needed in our infancy, so that CRM solutions can provide the best experience for customers, and users of the software that predicts consistent business growth.
The Infancy Stage Of An Easy To Use CRM
At its very start of life, a brand new CRM solution and program will inspire enthusiasm and energy for a bright future of your company, which will make you and your teams think that something really exciting has arrived.
User adoption of the system boosted by positive encouragements, and regular check-ups around data compliance and quality of the CRM database , along with its usage will ensure it is developing in the right direction into a healthy system.
Therefore be it a robust enterprise-level CRM like Salesforce, or a price-performance leader like most Salesforce Alternative CRM platforms used by small businesses and startups, the basics of the program will be mastered during its infancy along with a few hiccups and late-night feedings, which will always remain, irrespective of any CRM you buy along the way.
The Adolescent Stage of An Easy To Use CRM
Now that the CRM program has been well adopted and established, and users have mastered the core skill sets of the system, it is time to start school and introduce certain challenges.
Well these challenges should be adult-sized challenges, and should be appropriate and at par for the development of the easy to use CRM program, as this is the right time to begin the evolving processes to take the CRM solution to the next level of functional complexities in terms of steps, tasks, and requirements, ask the software to provide reliable insights back to the business, and see what has been learned.
This is the time when the management should lead by example, and show their teams how an easy to use CRM can be used be it an enterprise-level tool like Salesforce or other popular Salesforce Alternative CRM to run the business, providing its users a role model by standing in front of the training class.
This is because; now that the CRM program has passed its infancy, it is already a part of your company’s culture, and working for your organization there can be lurking dangers of complacency.
Therefore as an executive owner of your CRM program, keep setting the homework(s) and let the users of your system in marketing, sales, support, and even accounts (if you are using a QuickBooks CRM that assists in accounting) keep turning it in, on a day-to-day basis.
The Teenage Years of An Easy To Use CRM
Often noted as the most rebellious years, this is exactly when an organization needs to begin showing the impact and business values found out of a CRM program.
This is because, if the customers see no value, they will begin questioning why they are using the easy to use CRM program, and if the software is worth its salt.
Therefore in this stage, if a process which has been introduced in the CRM’s infancy stage is no longer effective, it needs to be changed.
Well, this is also the most critical stage in any CRM program’s life when it can be disillusioning.
This is because; once the glamour and exuberances of a new CRM adoption has worn off, and the daily grind has set in, the executive owners of the CRM are required to show that they are just as energized and invigorated as they were before, when they primarily saw the program, and allow the program to keep moving on its upward journey.
The Adulthood of An Easy To Use CRM
It is time to expand, now that the easy to use CRM program has reached its adulthood. Therefore the developments and changes in this stage will be much less radical, which even if they happen according to the tastes and preferences of the organization.
For example, it might be that you started with a sales automation program with your CRM and this is the stage you want to bring in marketing automation that would help in providing greater visibility of your prospects.
Since, just because the CRM program has developed into a well-adopted and popular member of your company it necessarily does not mean that the scope for growth and expansion has stopped, which is truer as your customers and industry are constantly evolving and so your CRM program should also evolve and scale accordingly.
How will you know when your easy to use CRM program is ready?
All CRM programs develop from childhood to adolescence, teenage and then to adulthood just like us at different times.
Therefore there is no set timeframe as to when your CRM program should reach any of the above-stated stages, as the time needed to evolve and progress completely depends on how you as a user of the CRM manage the processes, implement the changes and also take care of the technology and people along with it.
The readiness of your CRM program will also be based on the speed of your industry and your customer ecosystem.
It must be remembered that there can be many hazards of speeding up your easy to use CRM program to develop and evolve before it and its users are ready.
For example just like you would never provide your children with sharp utensils to eat when they are young, exactly in the same way you should never provide the users of your CRM with tools that are advanced for the stage they are in.
Now, this does not mean that your CRM program should get stifled when you are ready to move on. Since while preserving the existing functionalities if you do not increase the advanced functionalities of our CRM platform, you will be left far behind as other aspects of your business and your competitors will get their driving permits and aim for the horizon to find rapid business growth .
Determine Your Stage And Take Action
In order to understand at what stage your organization is regarding the CRM program, you are required to go through a critical self-evaluation on these three key elements which need to be considered that includes:
This is because; evaluating and challenging an easy to use CRM program across these three elements mentioned above, along with the said four growth stages, will aid in highlighting any gap in the CRM adoption process.
Therefore, as a primary goal ensure that everyone in your organization is on the same page before taking your steps forward and have a clear road map to proceed and evolve the entire CRM program with all the stated elements in sync for business growth.
Hence to conclude, expecting any CRM program to have a well-established and intelligent process right from the day one is a perfect set up for a disaster.
Rather you must always ensure that your CRM program is well cared and nurtured as it scales up with your business and also ensure that it provides everyone, right from the executive owners, through the users of the software, to your customers with the service and experience they deserve and expect for boosting sale and customer experience from this awesome relationship-building tool.
