Webinar Shorts Recap - How Do I Begin the Switch From My Current CRM to Salesforce?
May 9, 2023
Many organizations struggle with when and how to approach a digital transformation if their existing system appears to be working fine. Is there ever a perfect time? Who should lead the charge? What do we need to consider before we start? Frank Lombardo, Vice President of IT and Digital Ecosystems at Canadian National Institute for the Blind and Karl Feltmate, Senior Manager, Stewardship and Donor Retention at The Mustard Seed answered these questions and more when they sat down to share their CRM migration experience with Sterrin Bird, Senior Director, Nonprofit Advisor at Salesforce. Here are their top tips for other organizations considering a change. For more details, check out the full video of our Blackbaud to Salesforce, Eh? Webinar.
Hosted by:
Sterrin Bird - Senior Director, Nonprofit Advisor at Salesforce
Speakers:
Frank Lombardo - Vice President of IT and Digital Ecosystems at Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
Karl Feltmate - Senior Manager, Stewardship and Donor Retention at The Mustard Seed
5 Key Considerations Before Embarking on a Digital Transformation
Does the Perfect Timing Exist?
“There is no ideal time, but organizations have to invest in themselves or else somewhere down the road… they will start to fail,“ says Frank Lombardo of CNIB. If you need to make the transition, pick a specific date, whether it be 6 months out or 2 years out, and try your best to plan towards it.
Identify Your Project Team
Have a dedicated individual oversee the project and let them take initiative to engage with the relevant decision makers. Frank advises that “doing some of these transformational things of the side of your desk is not the right way to do it all the time.” Look for interest, aptitude, and leadership both internally and externally to build a well rounded team. CNIB hired an experienced Salesforce Business Analyst to lead the charge. Other organizations have seen great success with internal project leads who have no Salesforce experience, but their passion for innovation and growth led them to become internal champions and provided a powerful professional development opportunity.
Have Trusted Partnerships
Having an experienced, supportive partner is key! Frank and Karl agree; it’s always an important opportunity to have someone come in with a fresh perspective who can bring valuable insights and best practices from outside the organization. Having partners audit your current system can be a great place to start.
Seek Support When Needed
You’re not alone! Salesforce has an abundance of nonprofit customer success programs for users, providing access to individuals and resources for continued learnings and to address any questions or concerns throughout your project. Events, user groups, and an online community also connect you directly with other organizations going through the same thing.
It's a Journey, Not a Destination
Digital transformation doesn’t happen overnight. Migrating to a new CRM is just the beginning of your organization’s evolution. Having a central source of truth empowers your team to constantly make data-driven decisions and identify opportunities to increase revenue, drive engagement, and achieve your organizational goals. Karl Feltmate at The Mustard Seed notes that after switching to Salesforce, their team continues to try new things on the platform, sharing that “if we have clean data and we’re using it to the best of our ability, we can literally double our donation revenue… we’ve seen that in the call centre and with lots of different tests and campaigns we’ve done.”
View the 7-minute conversation on YouTube here:
For more insight on digital transformation, check out these resources:
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