Why do Sales Folks Resist CRM Adoption?

There can be many reasons why sales teams refuse to adopt a CRM. It may be their trust in age-old methods, or their refusal to rely on the automated Sales Processes. Let’s talk about a few reasons: 

Let’s admit, entering data is a cumbersome process

Not to discredit the CRM tools, but entering huge amount of data can be monotonous & tiring. Matter of fact – a sales rep spends as much as 40% of his time on manual reporting & administering tasks. But, with Wakeupsales CRM… importing all your lead info via a spreadsheet takes hardly a minute. 

Deal poaching is a legitimate fear

Every CRM has a centralized database. It’s like a mine of deal sensitive info that can be used by the sales team. And the team members fear their data is going to be misused in one way or the other. Most of them don’t realize that a CRM can be configured to provide data to only authorized users. The access levels can be customized and deal poaching can easily be prevented. 

Nobody likes being tracked like a fugitive

CRM ensures, there is swift communication between sales reps & managers. It improves the communication by 56.9%.

But, even after all its benefits sales folks have this misconception that their supervisors use Crms only to keep tabs on them. Yes, CRMs do keep track of analytics and employee performance, but supervisors do not always use it to focus on an employee’s failures. It’s a myth; It is too far fetched to think CRMs are like a noose tied around your neck. 

Now that we have debunked most of the perceived myths about a CRM, let’s talk about all the benefits that come along with it:

Make Spreadsheets a Thing of the Past

Get rid of lengthy, boring & tedious spreadsheets. There was a time when spreadsheets were everywhere, but as you grow you need something smarter. A CRM has a centralized repository where all the data is stored. You won’t need to keep shuffling back into your documents and scraps of paper. Why bother with a spreadsheet when you can get a  360-degree view of the entire database with a CRM?

Streamline Your Pipeline 

When CRMs weren’t used, managing sales processes used to be tedious & confusing. With a CRM, you can easily reduce the efforts you put into manual data entry, track the movement of a prospect through the sales pipeline and close deals like a pro. The tiring process becomes fun when you do not have to do, what can already be done automatically. 

Beat the Clock

Time is money. That is what the age-old proverb says. When you have time in your hand, you can perform a task with laser-like focus. CRMs, give you enough time to build your relationships with customers. All you have to do is work on a schedule and set priorities. 

A smart CRM will have integrations, like Gmail, Google Calendar, Twilio and many more,  so you can get a hold of your prospects in no time. Most of the CRMs have built-in calendars that can help you call or mail your customers and schedule an appointment instantly.

With benefits galore, it’s surprising that salespeople shy away from using CRMs. Here’s how you convince them to adopt a CRM that can be game-changing. 

Before implementing a CRM, it is essential that you follow the pre-implementation phase. In this phase, you get to inform your sales rep on how the CRM is to be used, and what are its benefits. Once your sales reps know all the goodies a CRM brings with it, they will welcome it with open arms. 

Don’t just opt for any CRM that you find around the corner. If you want your team to be on board with you, you need to ask their opinions as well. Test various CRMs and analyze which one suits your team’s needs the best. In this way, your team knows that you value their opinion and want to make things easier for them. If they choose the CRM themselves, they will love using it. Everyone loves free will, don’t they? 

How to do a proper onboarding?

Well, there is no golden formula to it. It is a process of adaptation, so you need to be careful with your team. Once you choose a CRM, guide your sales reps through the process. If they have problems using the CRM, help them through. Don’t expect your team to become CRM ninjas right away. It is impossible. Train them properly, so they start enjoying the benefits of it. 

If you demonstrate them how a CRM takes off their workload, they will instantly love it. Make sure you have at least one CRM champion in your corner. A CRM champion is that one team member who advocates the use of CRM to other team members. He will catalyze the CRM adoption by encouraging others. 

Confused about which CRM to go for? Give Wakeupsales a try, you will love it. 

The post How to Convince your Sales Team for CRM Adoption? appeared first on Wakeupsales Blog.