Our ten years of experience of consulting with companies and implementing Dynamics 365 have shown that there are six keys to a successful CRM implementation.
6 Keys to a successful CRM implementation
- Choose your Champion
- Make a plan
- Start – Get started ASAP
- Explore Dynamics 365
- Partner – Work with a great partner
- Keep motivation
1. Choose your Champion
A lot of time, skill, and knowledge goes in to planning a successful Dynamics 365 implementation and it is vital that you put together a team that can juggle these tasks while simultaneously working together to make the project work. Your team may fluctuate based on your organization’s unique needs.
You will need to spend some time identifying roles and responsibilities within your organization. Some roles you may want to consider are
- Business manager
- Project manager (monitors budget and timeline)
- Project sponsor (or ultimate owner)
- Network technical staff
- Customization technical staff
- SME (in depth knowledge of business processes
2. Make a Plan
Many CRM implementation projects fail, not because the solution is a failure – but for lack of proper planning. With a little proper planning, you can ensure a successful Dynamics 365 implementation.
Having a well-organized deployment plan increases the odds for success by 90%.
The first thing you need to do when beginning your Dynamics 365 implementation project is to set goals. Spend some time assessing at your current processes and deciding what you want to do that you can not currently do.
It is also important when beginning a new project to think about the budget and time frame your organization has to work with.
3. Get started right away
Determining your MVP -Minimum Viable Product- and build your app to that MVP. Then get your users testing and eventually using it as their daily crm system.
Your MVP could be as simple as deploying Dynamics 365 for simple contact management to allow users to track their emails and phone calls with clients. YOU might deploy such a system within a few short weeks while you are working on Phase 2 – which might be lead and opportunity management. The key is to get your users using CRM every day as soon as possible. Start earning back a return on your investment
- Develop a project plan with defined phases and an MVP (minimum viable product)
- Phases should let end users quickly begin testing and using Dynamics 365
- Gather feedback from early end users for immediate updates
4. Explore Dynamics 365
Of course, when implementing Dynamics 365, effective training is key, but just as important is getting in and exploring Dynamics365.
Hands-on is always the best way to learn something. There are lots of great Microsoft resources.
Dynamics 365 applications are made to work together and with your existing systems – a comprehensive solution that connects to your entire business. Discuss best options with your partner.
5. Work with a great partner
Choosing the right implementation partner is crucial.
Working with an experienced and dedicated partner like enCloud9. We are one of the most experienced Dynamics 365 implementation partners in the field. We will work with you to assess your requirements, uncover your business processes, and develop a Dynamics 365 CRM implementation that is a complete solution to your business’s CRM problems.
enCloud9 has supported Dynamics 365 Sales since 2008 and has maintained Gold Competency with Microsoft Cloud Solutions through that period.
Just as choosing the right implementation partner is of vital importance, so is keeping the lines of communication open between your organization and your partner.
6. Keep motivated!
Don’t give up! Every project has roadblocks, communication breakdowns, and misunderstandings.
Keep the lines of communications open, attend meetings, and maintain a positive attitude!
Completion is satisfying, but it is important to focus on small, meaningful wins and bite-sized accomplishments. For other tips on staying motivated during a project, check out this great article.
For your project to go smoothly, it is also important to have full cooperation from everyone.
In conclusion
Deploying a customer relationship management tool such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 can be a complicated undertaking but with effective training and proper planning, you can easily ensure a successful CRM implementation. And then you can experience all the benefits of Dynamics 365.
How can we help?
If you’ve got an upcoming Dynamics 365 deployment and are looking to get the most out of your CRM, turn to enCloud9 for assistance.
From platform selection to licensing to implementation and go live, we guide you every step of the way. Once you are live, enCloud9’s Dynamics 365 Management Services support your users and keep your system up-to-date and running smoothly. To learn more, contact us today.
We’d love to hear about your business and discuss how our custom Microsoft Dynamics 365 solutions can work with your business and its specific needs.
