More and more companies - not only large corporations, but also small and medium-sized businesses - are deciding to implement a CRM system. The pandemic was a particularly important period, when the global situation mobilized companies to find new ways of connecting with customers, and the demand for CRM systems grew significantly.
However, simply having a CRM system is not enough to manage a company efficiently and generate profits.
If you have just created an account in Sugester, you are at the beginning of your journey of implementing a CRM system in your company. The next step is to tailor the system to your company's needs and make the most of the system's capabilities. Of course, all within reason.
Sugester has 11 modules, which doesn't mean you have to actively use all of them right away. It's better to start with the basics and then - with greater awareness and knowledge of the system - activate additional features.
To make the Sugester implementation process as short as possible, for the system to effectively support your teams, and for employees to look favorably upon the upcoming changes, we have created a series of articles where we want to show where to start with implementing Sugester, which features to activate at the beginning, what to customize, what to automate, and much more.
Each entry will be a separate article showing what to pay attention to at individual stages of system implementation.
The tips are based on our many years of experience gained through working with our clients operating in various fields.
So let's get to it!
See also: My First CRM... A Few Practical Tips and How to Successfully Implement Sugester. #2 Start with the Features You Really Need.
If you have just created an account in Sugester and are starting to use the CRM, we have a few tips on where to start before you populate the system with data. These few steps will help you get to know the system better and make the most of its potential.
At the beginning, before you start configuring, entering data, and activating additional modules, take a moment to answer 3 important questions that are often skipped, even though they are essential in the initial phase of implementation.
Think about what goal you want to achieve by implementing a CRM in your company - will it be improving customer communication, increasing sales, marketing activities, or something else entirely? Awareness of the current needs in the company and the shortcomings of the process guarantees success in implementing the right solutions. Talk to your employees and ask them what tools they are missing. Also think about what information you - as the owner - want to monitor.
Don't try to replicate your current process 1:1 in Sugester. Instead, think about how to improve existing procedures using the ready-made tools Sugester has to offer. Often, the change brought by introducing new software motivates changes within the company. Be open to them.
Think about which activities you want to improve first. Don't enter all data at once - set priorities. This way it will be easier for both you and your employees to transition smoothly to the new system.
Sugester offers a free trial period that allows you to test the system's capabilities. This stage is often skipped, which is definitely a big mistake. Sugester is a comprehensive tool with 11 modules and a wealth of functionality, so it's worth getting familiar with at least some of them during the trial period. Testing will allow you to make an informed decision about which modules you currently need and which ones you can wait to implement.
In Sugester, the trial period lasts 30 days. During this time, you and your employees can use most of the system's features without restrictions, with the exception of some macros, as they are configured individually for each client.
After this period, the account settings and entered data remain unchanged - only the limits change, depending on the plan you choose.
For testing, it's worth selecting one or - if possible - a few people, ideally from different departments. This gives you a broader perspective, and each employee can test the system in the context of their daily tasks in their department.
Also remember that you - as the owner - should be the one to create the trial account in Sugester. Even if you won't be testing the system yourself and delegate that to employees, you should have the highest level of permissions. This way you'll avoid a situation where, as a user with lower permissions, you have access to a limited amount of data - or worse - an employee who created the account leaves the company and takes all the access credentials with them.
After the trial period, collect feedback from employees, then choose the appropriate plan that will provide the features optimal for your company's development.
A very important element of the entire Sugester implementation process is clear and honest communication. Don't leave your employees guessing. Inform them of the decision to implement the system and the plan for how it will be done.
If you're convinced of the merits of implementing a CRM in your company, make sure your employees think the same way. After all, the CRM strategy is not only about centralizing activities around the customer, but also about making employees' lives simpler.
Make sure every employee has access to the system, properly assigned permissions, and actually uses the implemented tool on a daily basis. It often happens that employees, accustomed to old solutions, use both Sugester and their previous tools simultaneously.
This is problematic, firstly because they are storing data in multiple places, which instead of shortening service time significantly lengthens it. Secondly, the longer they work according to old rules, the harder it is to transition to the new solution. And thirdly - such behavior causes chaos and frustration. You won't be able to see the real benefits of implementing a CRM until all your employees are performing all their duties in Sugester. That's why it's so important that after configuring the account and assigning permissions, employees start working in Sugester immediately.
Also remember to share with all system users the link to the Sugester knowledge base (pomoc.sugester.pl), where they will find essential information about the system and contact details for our technical support team. Every Sugester user can get help by contacting our specialist via chat, email, or phone. This is very important. Your employees must know who to turn to with their questions. This will make them more willing to work with the system and take advantage of its features.
It's also important that they report issues directly - without going through you as an intermediary. This significantly shortens the time needed to diagnose and resolve any potential problem.
That's all when it comes to the preliminary steps before you settle into the system and start entering your first data.
In the next article, we'll tell you which modules to activate first and which features are worth starting to work with right away.
