When you want to grow your sales, your customer relationship management (CRM) software is a good place to start. Having accurate, up-to-date data is essential for personalizing communications, tracking interactions and focusing on the most important tasks. Some sales reps use their CRM haphazardly or inconsistently, forgetting to update records or entering incorrect information. This can lead to not only inaccurate reporting but potentially missed opportunities.
A post on the Scratchpad blog explains some of the many benefits of accurate CRM data entry, including improved data quality, enhanced data segmentation and more accurate forecasting. Want to improve your CRM data entry process? Read on. In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we highlight some best practices from a Scratchpad blog post.
Establish guidelines. Make sure everyone on your team understands your CRM entry guidelines. The Scratchpad post says this ensures consistency and accuracy.
Provide ongoing training. Is your team using your CRM to its fullest potential? By training reps continuously, you can keep your team efficient and current on new features.
Use templates. Consistency is key. By using templates, the Scratchpad post says you can ensure all information is entered in the same format, which can reduce errors and improve data quality.
Regularly clean and update your data. Outdated or incorrect data won’t help you. That’s why it’s important to routinely go through your CRM to make sure your data is current.
Leverage bulk update features. This is a big efficiency booster, according to the Scratchpad post. Whether it’s updating activity logs or statuses, use bulk update features to make changes to multiple records at once.
Implement role-based access control. This could be helpful depending on the size of your company. If everyone doesn’t need access to sensitive customer data, make it accessible only to those who need it. This helps your team work more efficiently within their designated roles.
Incorporate real-time data entry verification tools. Help prevent mistakes from slipping through by being proactive. The Scratchpad post recommends using tools or systems that automatically checks data as it’s being entered.
Improving your CRM data entry can help you stay organized and focused on the right opportunities. You can more easily personalize outreach, track follow-ups and prioritize leads. Follow the tips above to ensure you always have the best insight at your fingertips.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: The Scratchpad blog. Scratchpad is a sales toolkit that automates manual data capture and coaching.
