ExcelVisibility: Deploying and Integrating a Modern CRM System

Wednesday 29 November 2017

Deploying and Integrating a Modern CRM System

Brian Shultz is Vice President of Sales & Marketing at ABB, a pioneering tech company that is over 100 years old. The two main elements of ABB are electricity and process automation where Brian’s role resides. He leads his teams to optimize business while delivering a premium experience for ABB’s customers and partners. In this podcast episode, we discuss what it takes to deploy a modern CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system. The insights Brian provides may change the way you think about CRM systems regarding their value to a business.

Why Businesses Need a Modern CRM

Brian says it’s crucial to implement a modern CRM to:

Allocate scarce resources

Forecast properly

Improve the customer experience before, during, and after the sales cycle

Reduce SG&A (Selling, General & Administrative Expense)

The challenges to launching a modern CRM system relate to adoption within the organization and the technology. Brian points out that no one enjoys data entry, so the trick is to show the salesperson how inputting accurate data can benefit them. To facilitate adoption, he took it a step further at ABB and introduced Pipeline Manager as a layer on top of Salesforce. It reduces the need for data entry which has helped with adoption rates.

Tune into this podcast episode to discover Brian’s insights on overcoming resistance to adoption of a CRM.

The Customer’s Role in a CRM System

The customer is one of the most significant stakeholders when adopting a new CRM platform. They benefit from the customizations you deliver in the customer experience. With a global base of employees, an up to date CRM system comes in handy when addressing issues. ABB even created a portal to allow customers access to their information and history with the company.

Having a CRM system allows ABB to solve problems before they arise. Brian says that data drives what matters. It’s no longer enough to have a great product; brands need to provide a great experience too.

The modern CRM is much broader than a sales tool. Brian recommends forming a committee to decide on what and how to integrate a CRM system. He says your discussion needs to involve the customer to find out how to make it easier to work with your company. Get leadership involved and get buy-in from all customer touch points. Listen to episode 187 to learn more about the benefits and challenges of launching a modern CRM.