“Kate, where is the elegant tan? Didn’t you just return from
the Tropics?” I asked.
Before she could say a word, her colleague Corrie said, “I’ve
traveled with Kate. She only goes out at night because of her delicate skin.”
Before the argument got into the second inning I suggested, “Tell
me how things are going in the office. We haven’t had time to chat in months.”
Kate came right to the point, She asked, “Do you still
consult on Contact Management systems?”
“Yes. For CRM I work with primarily solopreneurs, ensembles and mid-level
companies. When you get to enterprise size operations there is a level of customization
necessary that I don’t want to contend with. Why do you ask?”
That opened the flood gates. Both of them began a rant. Let
me try to sum it up in this list:
How to completely muck up a CRM implementation
- Don’t
allow people from all parts of the organization that will have to use it
try it first. - Don’t
buy enough seats so that all people that deal directly with clients will
have access. - Don’t stop
individuals or departments from restricting data from others. - Get so
invested in the solution that you can’t admit it is not working. - Refuse
to consider other options that are easier to use, lower cost and provide
marketing solutions you can’t afford because of the current choice.
Both of these ladies are heavy hitter consultants. Each of
them have more alphabet stew after their names than I will ever have. Each is someone
that clients turn to for specialized business advice.
But they were stymied. Their company had done all the things
noted above. Someone had made the “you can’t get fired for picking (company)
decision” and now it was making lives miserable throughout this 200+ staff firm.
Contact Management is essential in today’s business. There
is a solution that is right for every type and size of business whether it is a
start up or an enterprise. There are many options to choose from.
Before you sign up for one, learn how to evaluate the
offerings out there and get an idea of how it will work out in your
organization. I’ll give you an hour of my time to cover the basics. Note your
interest in a comment along with contact information and I will get in touch.
Speaking: www.NetworkingNinja.com Consulting: www.JerryFletcher.com