CRM implementation for CMOs: 6 Really Simple Questions Apart from the detailed functionality, there are six Really Simple criteria that a CMO should make sure are addressed before the company commits to a new system. Will the evaluation succeed? If Marketing runs the evaluation, chances are Sales and Customers Teams won’t want to use the system. If Sales, Marketing, Customer Services and everyone else is involved in the choice, the final solution risks being overly complicated and will die a slow death once rolled out. Focus on making the system Really Simple to use, and get the balance right between keeping everybody happy and committee paralysis. Will my people use it? Sadly, the number one cause of CRM failure is that the people on the ground won’t use it. Make sure that system is fast and Really Simple to use, does not have features that get in the way of usability that people are bought in to the project, that management reinforces the system’s use and importance. Can we get the data out? Sooner or later you’ll need to get the raw data out of the CRM system, Really Simply, either for analysis or for migration. If you have an in-house system, make sure that the data is stored in an industry standard file system, such as Microsoft SQL Server. If you choose a hosted system, make sure that you can get a complete copy of your data whenever you want in a sensible format. Possession is nine tenths of the law. Will it always be available? If the CRM system goes down, it’s Really Simple, your sales people can’t sell. If you have an in-house system, make sure that your IT staff understand the data structure and can rebuild the system if it fails. If you choose a hosted system, check the vendor’s Service Level Agreement, standby procedures and disaster recovery plans if their main datacentre fails, and regularly get a local backup of the data for your own piece of mind. Can it expand with us? Make sure that the technology can cope Really Simply with multiple offices and, if expanding internationally, local time and date formats. From the pricing viewpoint, check whether additional user licenses are available Really Simply and at the same price, a cheaper price or a more expensive price if the system that you are acquiring has expansion limited to a certain number of users. Does the vendor value us? Really Simply, make sure that the vendor understands your business, so can help your team set the system up. Make sure that the vendor cares about your company.

1. ABOUT REALLY SIMPLE SYSTEMS
CRM
s a le s
m a rk e ting
s upport
At Really Simple Systems, we don’t believe
technology should be allowed to get in the way of
great Sales and Marketing. Invented by John
Paterson, after he despaired of existing software
solutions, the Really Simple CRM allows you keep
to track of your sales leads and email marketing
Really Simply. So allowing you to get on with the
important business of selling things.
Really Simple Systems Cloud CRM is aimed at
small and medium sized organisations or
departments of larger organisations who want a
Really Simple web-based CRM sales, support and
marketing system. The hosted CRM model is
particularly suitable for companies with multiple
locations and people who work remotely or at
home. Really Simple prices start from £5 per user.
John Paterson, CEO Really Simple Systems: John
has used, implemented and overseen more CRM
systems than he cares to admit to as a salesperson,
sales manager, sales director, COO and CEO.
As founder of Really Simple Systems he receives
feedback from thousands of CRM users, and like
them uses CRM to combine sales and marketing
systems into one efficient Really Simple process.
blog: www.reallysimplesystems.com/blog
twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/reallysimplesys
Six Really Simple questions a CMO should
ask before CRM implementation.
See more at: http://www.reallysimplesystems.com
Really Simple Systems
The Long Barn, Ramsdean
Petersfield GU32 1RU
ask@reallysimplesystems.com
www.reallysimplesystems.com
+44 (0)1 730 823300
CRM
sales
marketing
support

2. CONNECTING YOUR BUSI NESS WITH REALLY SIMPLE T ECHNOLOGY
WILL
THE
EVALUATION
WILL IT ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE?
SUCCEED?
If the CRM system goes down, it’s Really Simple,
If Marketing runs the evaluation, chances are
your sales people can’t sell. If you have an in-
Sales and Customer Services teams won’t
house system, make sure that your IT staff
want to use the system. If everybody is
understand the data structure and can rebuild the
involved in the choice, the final solution risks
system if it fails. If you choose a hosted system,
being overly complicated and will die a slow
check the vendor’s Service Level Agreement,
death once rolled out. Make sure you focus
standby procedures and disaster recovery plans
on making the system Really Simple to use,
if their main data center fails, and regularly get a
and get the balance right between keeping
local backup of the data for your own piece of
everybody happy and committee paralysis.
mind.
W ILL M Y P EO PLE US E IT?
The number one cause of CRM
failure is that the people won’t or
don’t use it. Make sure your system
is fast and Really Simple to use.
Ensure features do not get in the
way of usability. Bring a wide that
people are bought in to the project,
that management reinforces the
system’s use and importance.
CRM S UPPO RT SO L UTI O NS
Six Really Simple questions that a CMO should ask
before committing to a new CRM
•
CONTACT MANAGEMENT

OPPORTUNITY MANAGEMENT

MARKETING

SERVICE & SUPPORT

INTEGRATION

MOBILE CRM

EMAIL SYNCHRONISATION
expanding internationally, local time and date

ACCOUNTING INTEGRATION
formats. From the pricing viewpoint, check

CRM API
CAN IT EXPAND WITH US?
Make sure that the technology can cope
Really Simply with multiple offices and, if
whether additional user licenses are available
DOES THE VENDOR VALUE
US?
The answer is Really Simple. Make
sure that the vendor understands your
business, so can help your team set the
system up. Make sure that the vendor
cares about your company
Really Simply at the same price, a cheaper

CALENDAR

ONLINE CRM
CUSTOMISATION
With a hosted system, you can
get a complete copy of your
data whenever you want in a
sensible format.
to a certain number of users.

With an in-house system, you
will have your data stored in an
industry standard file system,
such as Microsoft SQL Server.
that you are acquiring has expansion limited

CAN WE GET THE DATA
OUT?
Sooner or later you’ll need to
get the raw data out of the
CRM system, Really Simply,
with for analysis or migration.
SUPPORT
price or a more expensive price if the system
REALLY SIMPLE SYSTEMS
Really Simple Systems Cloud CRM is aimed at small and medium sized businesses who want a Really Simple, easy to use
web-based CRM sales, support and marketing system. With over 5,000 users Really Simple Systems is one of the world’s
largest providers of Cloud CRM systems and has offices in the UK and Australia.
As well as providing sales and marketing systems, Really Simple Systems has the same challenge of all businesses - to
generate new sales through marketing. We use both eMarketing/Digital Marketing and traditional techniques such as
exhibitions and PR.
TELEP HO NE SU PPO RT
+ 44 1730 823 300
Open dur ing UK offi ce hour s
Or tweet us
@Real l ySi mpl eSys