There are many different reasons why you may need to hire a CRM consultant. Such an expert can bring technical mastery, strategic planning, analytic thinking, objectivity, and clarity to any customer-based process. However, this is only going to be the case if you choose a CRM consultant with care. There are a number of different factors you need to consider when looking for a CRM consultant, so let’s take a look at what these are:
Experience
There is only one place to begin, and this is with experience. However, experience should not be viewed in a simplistic manner, i.e. how long the person has been in business. Yes, this is important. But there are plenty of other critical elements that need to be considered too. You may be interested in a particular CRM product, and so you need to find out whether the consultant is certified for it. You should also find out about their experience with regards to the industry that you work in. Also, have they worked with companies of your size? If so, what sort of experience do they have? An individual may have years and years of experience in the game, but they may never have worked with a company like yours before, so you really need to dig deep into the CRM consultant’s past working history.
Specialised implementation
Nowadays, finding an out-of-the-box CRM that does not require little personalisation is virtually impossible. You need to find a CRM consultant that can ensure the software is thoroughly adapted to suit all of your processes and needs.
Onboarding and training
You also need to find out how they make sure that users adopt the software, i.e. whether or not they have an onboarding process. Simply putting the software in place is not enough. They need to make sure that all users know how to operate the software successfully. Do they provide training? You need to make sure that the consultant offers the full package, as there are some that do not provide proper support or training.
Support
In addition to the points that have already been mentioned, you need to ensure that the consultant provides support for technical issues and upgrades. Your consultant is meant to be your support system, as well as being your main point of contact if you require any upgrades or you are suffering from any technical issues. Quicker resolution to issues can be the difference between effective implementation and falling flat.
Reviews
The final piece of the puzzle is to read reviews that have been left by people that have used the services of the consultant before. This is a great way to get a complete insight into the level of service the consultant provides and what he or she is like to work with. Do not merely rely on the feedback that has been posted directly on the consultant’s website. You should head to independent review platforms so that you can be confident that all of the comments that have been left are 100 percent genuine.
So there you have it: there are lots of different factors that need to be considered when looking for a CRM consultant. From the person’s experience in general to their experience within your industry, many different facets come together to determine whether or not you have found the right CRM consultant for your business and the problem you are facing. However, if you follow the steps that have been presented above, you should have no trouble finding the perfect consultant for you.
Image credit: Free-Photos