If you haven’t already downloaded it, make sure to download a free copy of the CRM Buyer’s Guide that I wrote. It’s a great way to get insight on how to go about purchasing a CRM system for your organization or in some cases utilizing it to better evaluate what you already have.
In the CRM Buyer’s Guide I talk about establishing selection criteria for your CRM and the importance that it should weigh on your organization’s overall business strategy. I like to compare the process of purchasing a home to that of finding the perfect CRM. When you’re looking for a home you will typically sit down with a realtor. The realtor is going to ask you a number of questions to help him/her to determine where to begin the search for homes. Funny enough, if you’ve been looking for a CRM for awhile now you’ve probably noticed that there are a number of options out there that could probably rival the number of homes on the market at a given time in certain cities. As a CRM consultant, we look to do the same process as a realtor would try to establish criteria for your home purchase.