60 Days Until Your CRM Go Live, Here’s Your Two Minute Offense to Finish Strong

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August 2023 Article4 60 Days Until Your Blog Image

 

Your Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) implementation Go Live date is 60 days away. You’ve already put in a lot of work, but the last 60 days are no time to retreat.

 

We discuss a two-minute offense to help you finish strong.

Prioritization

Prioritization is your biggest asset to finishing your CRM implementation strong. There are many tasks left to complete, so you must know what will have the most impact and added value to the end users. Prioritize what will happen in the next 90 days (60 days until Go Live and the 30 days after.)

 

As you consider what to prioritize, remember these do’s and don’ts. 

  • Don’t hold out false hope.
  • Do communicate openly and clearly.

Training

At this point, your training plan is completed with scheduled dates, content, and delivery method. Your trainer’s schedule is committed and confirmed; facilities and equipment are secured.

 

User acceptance testing is likely already completed, and feedback has been vetted and prioritized. Users are comfortable with self-service reporting and training. Configurations before the Go Live date are done and documented.

 

As you approach your Go Live date, consider how you’ll ramp up training after going live. What will additional training look like 30, 60, and 90 days after Go Live? 

Resources

During this sprint toward the finish line, all resources on hand—whether information technology (IT) or other supporting team members—should have their calendars confirmed for Go Live.

 

Their skillset should be (if not already) evaluated and decided how they can best support the CRM implementation. Avoid classifying the bulk of your team resources under an “IT umbrella” without considering how they can help your Go Live date and activities.

 

There are three categories of knowledge sets that need to be considered.

  • Application: Team members understand how the CRM works best or should be used and will work with the end user. These team members can leverage areas of the application to complete specific operational tasks or business processes.
  • Technical: Team members understand the system itself. They are equipped to deal with errors during data integration and understand processes that make the CRM system work.
  • Security: Team members who identify and monitor those who are accessing the correct information.

Communication

Communication is key during all phases of your CRM implementation, but maybe even more so when it comes to sunsetting your legacy system and moving toward the new one. 

 

Legacy systems often don’t go away but are phased out—typically in stages. These stages must be communicated to end users.

  • Stage one: Set a standard date for the legacy system to remain available in view-only mode. This date is when no new data will be added, but will remain available for reference, comparison, or troubleshooting. Ideally, the first stage stop date should be shared 30 days prior. 
  • Stage two: This date is when the legacy system will be completely discontinued. At this time, there will be no new data entry into the legacy system, and the new CRM system will be the only resource for information.

Reaching a successful Go Live for your CRM requires a series of carefully planned steps that are communicated to all users and stakeholders. Use this two-minute offense to finish strong and reach your Go Live date with time to spare.