10 Tips for Choosing the Right CRM Partner

With so many CRM partners to choose from, it can be hard making the right choice for your business! So, we’ve made it simple for you.

Here are our 10 tips for choosing the right CRM partner for you and your business.

1. Do they understand your charity or non-profit organisation?

Does your potential CRM partner understand your charitable goals and needs? Can they recite your business objectives and understand the challenges you face in your industry? Has this partner completed successful projects with similar charities? 

TES are proud to be experts in the charity and non-profit CRM industry. With years of experience, we have been able to support many charities in achieving their goals, see more of the work we have done in our charity case studies.

2. What is their process and how will they take you on this journey?

Not only is it important that the CRM vendor understands you; it’s also just as important that you understand their processes. Do they guide you through the high-level requirement gathering? Or, do they offer a free tailored CRM trial?

To find out more on what to expect when implementing a CRM for a charity join our free webinar on the 23rd April 2020. There is limited space so be sure to sign up soon!

3. Can your CRM provider supply you with a clear functional scope to meet your objectives?

This is an important question to ask yourself – and your potential CRM provider! A scope will detail all your requirements, the processes to meet your business objects and will also form the foundation of your project.

Our friendly team here at Total Enterprise Solution provide you with a clear scope to make sure all your goals and objectives are covered. So you can be confident that you’re making the right choice for your business.

4. Can they give you clear pricing for professional services and any additional licenses?

Sometimes pricing isn’t clear, especially when there are additional licenses and fees that come with it. It’s important to understand what service you’re paying for and over what duration. Have the CRM vendors detailed the costs over a 2 to 3 year period?

TES value transparency and that’s why we provide you with clear and concise information about our pricing. Should you wish to talk to one of our experts about your tailored CRM costs, feel free to speak to our team.

5. Do they have experienced, easily contactable support post going live?

Congratulations, you’re live! Although this is a big step in your CRM timeline, it’s important to know that there is support there for you should you have any questions or issues – no matter how small – after going live. 

We’re here for you every step of the way, no matter what. Should you need to talk to someone, you can either fill in our contact form or contact your project manager.

6. Are they ensuring you understand what effort and resource will be required from you?

Getting you to the stage where you can go live is a team effort and it’s important that your CRM partner is clear on what is needed from you to get you there.

Our friendly CRM experts work closely with you and your not-for-profit organisation from start to finish, ensuring the process is smooth and effective for both parties.

7. What is the CRM vendor’s approach to implementation and project management?

As with any software implementation, there are always risks to be managed. Effective project management is required in order to be a success.

For over a decade, Total Enterprise Solutions have implemented large scale solutions and our implementation methodology has always enabled us to deliver success. Our team will be happy to share further details to give you the peace of mind you need.

8. Have you met with the key contacts who will be delivering your solution?

It’s important to meet the people you’ll be working with. Make sure to arrange a time to meet with your CRM provider, whether that be via a video call or face-to-face. This way you can be confident that they understand the needs of your company and you’ll be able to work well together.

We’re very social here at TES and love meeting with the charities and non-profit heroes that we get to work with. We make sure to arrange a time and date where we can meet and speak to you, so we can get to know one another!

9. How far can your CRM provider take you?

Keeping one eye on the future of your charity is important when engaging with a CRM partner. You likely have big plans, so understanding how far a partnership can go is a useful exercise.

Total Enterprise Solutions can share examples of customers starting small (basic contact management, for example), then growing their solution over time with us, adding fundraising, grant management, membership, marketing and case management, to name a few. And, it doesn’t stop there! TES are specialists at implementing charity focused finance systems too, so we’ve really got you covered.

10. Do you feel comfortable working with this CRM provider?

Most importantly – trust your instincts! Do these people make you feel safe and secure, or is there something you can’t quite put your finger on?

Here at TES, we understand the importance of having a good partnership with our customers. It is why we take the time to get to know your business and it’s needs. Combining this with our knowledge and experience of CRM for charities and NFP we are able to provide effective and practical solutions. 

Proud Supporters of Charities and Non-Profits

Whatever you decide to do, know that here at TES, we passionately support charities and non-profit organisations.

If you’d like to learn more about our services or how we can help implement your CRM, then you can sign up to our webinar on the 23rd April 2020, or alternatively, contact our friendly team.