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When it comes to implementing a new CRM system, small companies have several options. If they have enough resources and experience to devote to the task, they can implement the system themselves. If they choose not to go that route, a third party can be brought in to help them implement it, Craig Klein, president and CEO of SalesNexus, told CRM Buyer. In many cases, however, the CRM vendor helps to implement the system. “We try to make the experience relatively straightforward and simple,” Klein said.

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CRM for the Small Business, Part 4: Getting the New System Up and Running

SaaS and cloud solutions continue to represent key drivers in the CRM market, up from 8 percent of the CRM market in 2005 to 20 percent of the market in 2008, according to Gartner. SaaS and cloud CRM solutions spurred the evolution of computing — with no more software installations, no infrastructure management and no more upgrades to test. With SaaS and cloud CRM solutions, development and implementation can now be accomplished in a fraction of the time required for on-premise solutions. And, users will love the new solutions, right?

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Cloud CRM: Ready, Steady, Roll It Out

As anyone familiar with CRM knows, adoption is the key to whether you live or die by your CRM solution. You can make detailed plans, do arduous research, negotiate great deals, execute a deployment plan flawlessly — and then see it all go for naught when your users fail to use the system. The reasons users shy away from using CRM are many and varied, and many of them have to do with the idiosyncratic ways that people work. Change is tough — but not changing is much tougher.

5 Painfully Common Ways Managers Sabotage CRM

Companies considering CRM systems often view them as a way to improve customer satisfaction and retention, boost sales and accelerate employee productivity. However, as with many technology-enabled business process, success is a complicated and interdependent proposition. When companies are winning — demonstrating growth and gaining market share — the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality can breed complacency. Conversely, when sales are sluggish and customer churn is high, CRM solutions are often the first thing in management’s sights.

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Who to Blame When CRM Fails

Small businesses frequently rely on a haphazard assortment of tools to manage their CRM processes, such as email, contact managers and spreadsheets. However, such methods are usually not sustainable or scalable. “Their customer data ends up fragmented across 10 different applications and physical locations,” said Dmitri Eroshenko, CEO of Relenta. A good CRM solution can help small businesses tremendously by reducing data fragmentation and administrative tasks. Team and individual productivity will then increase.

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CRM for the Small Biz: Turning Agony Into Ecstasy