{"id":18580,"date":"2020-03-18T16:01:59","date_gmt":"2020-03-18T05:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bullhorn.com\/au\/?p=18580"},"modified":"2020-03-18T16:29:37","modified_gmt":"2020-03-18T05:29:37","slug":"3-tips-for-a-smooth-crm-implementation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bullhorn.com\/au\/blog\/3-tips-for-a-smooth-crm-implementation\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Tips to Help You Prepare for a Smooth CRM Go Live"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve committed to a new CRM (and probably invested a significant amount of money in it), completed all of the background work, maybe added a few customisations in, and your valuable data has been transferred So, you should be ready to go live, right? Not necessarily! I recommend carrying out a few checks<\/a> before you make the all-important decision to hit the \u2018go\u2019 button on your CRM implementation.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s often pressure to get a new CRM live, but before taking the final step, it\u2019s important to remember that you can\u2019t reverse it. When you\u2019re at the stage that you think you\u2019re ready to go live, you should stop and think about how the impending digital transformation will affect your end-users.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Services Delivery Manager at Kyloe, I have worked with clients of all shapes, sizes, and complexities, and my aim is to ensure a smooth process before, during, and after go-live, enabling clients to get the very best out of their CRM.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My top pointers for achieving a successful CRM implementation are:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Communicate early to maximise adoption<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Check all touchpoints for gaps<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Have a post-go-live plan in place<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Communicate early to maximise adoption<\/b><\/h3>\n

    People tend to be creatures of habit, and by default, wary of change. Encourage engagement from internal resources and end-users by providing regular project updates so that they\u2019re prepared for the change when the time comes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Kyloe Solutions Consultant, Bullhorn alumni, and former Bullhorn client, Paul Sabatino, advises:

    \r\n
    \r\n As you approach and prepare for go-live, it's time to create internal buzz and excitement about your transition to a new CRM! As someone that has previously managed the migration from a legacy ATS to a new ATS\/CRM, I'd recommend having your Product\/Project Owner set the tone and control the narrative whilst leaning on your Project Lead or \u2018Champions of Change\u2019 (as I like to call them) types to drive the message deep and wide within your organization.<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\nPaul Sabatino<\/span> Kyloe Partners<\/span>\r\n<\/div><\/span><\/p>\n

    Communication should always be two-way; in addition to keeping people up to date, give them a place in which they can ask questions.<\/p>\n

    I also recommend pre-go-live demos for super users, giving them the opportunity to experience the new CRM whilst providing you with the chance to identify any real issues before you launch.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Check all touchpoints for gaps<\/b><\/h3>\n

    Consider any gaps that switching CRM systems might expose and work to close them. It\u2019s unlikely that your existing and future CRM will contain exactly the same functionality, but by identifying the differences, you can build new processes and best practices ahead of go-live.\u00a0 Prepare for the learning curve associated with any changes by incorporating them into your go-live training so that users are armed with the knowledge needed from day one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Extra tip: Build a CRM that seamlessly combines recruiting, business development, and finance processes by integrating external applications to create one platform that houses your entire recruitment workflow.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Have a post-go-live plan in place<\/b><\/h3>\n

    The project doesn\u2019t end once you\u2019ve gone live. For success, it\u2019s essential that you provide support for people after the big day has passed. The company facilitating your CRM implementation may provide on-site support, during which they\u2019ll be on hand to answer any questions and make sure people are using it properly. This is something that\u2019s included as part of Kyloe\u2019s post-go live care package and we regularly get positive feedback on its value.<\/span><\/p>\n

    If there are any issues, make sure you have something in place for logging and tracking them, and communicate any fixes to the person who raised the issue. But, where appropriate, don\u2019t be afraid to push back and encourage people to acclimatize before acting on any issues. Quite often, it\u2019s a case of adapting to the changes, rather than a problem with the tool itself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Remember that you won\u2019t always please everyone and it\u2019s difficult to prepare for all issues, but by taking the above steps, you should be on track for a successful CRM implementation. If in any doubt, ask your CRM partner (such as Kyloe) for help \u2013 they\u2019ll have a wealth of experience that you can draw on to support you in getting up and running.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    About Kyloe Partners<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

    Kyloe Partners<\/a> are recruitment platform experts with 40+ years of Bullhorn experience. We help recruitment agencies get more out of their Bullhorn platform by offering pre-built products and bespoke solutions that give real tangible advantages.<\/span><\/p>\n

    There\u2019s almost nothing we haven’t done; our teamwork with companies of all sizes and complexities to:<\/span><\/p>\n