By Martin H. Morrissette, Sirocco CMO – Book time with me
With 91% of businesses employing over ten employees currently using CRM systems, one might assume that successful digital transformation is within reach. However, a recent study reveals that over 70% of digital transformation initiatives fail to meet their goals, resulting in significant losses. In fact, for every $1 invested in digital transformation, businesses are losing an average of $20 due to failed initiatives. This staggering statistic underscores the importance of a strategic approach, highlighting how trusted advisors play a crucial role in ensuring that your CRM implementation is a success. Successful CRM implementations require more than just technical expertise; they demand a strategic partnership with a trusted advisor who can guide you through the complexities of transformation and ensure the technology aligns with your broader business goals. In fact, businesses that engage in strategic CRM planning and advisory services see a 40% increase in ROI compared to those that don’t.
Moreover, organisations working with trusted advisors are 2.5 times more likely to complete their digital transformation projects successfully, translating into significant long-term savings. At Sirocco, we’ve witnessed firsthand how the distinction between task execution and strategic advisory can determine the success of a digital transformation project. It’s not merely about implementing a system; it’s about ensuring that it’s designed to scale, foster user adoption, and drive continuous value throughout your organisation.
So what’s the difference between ‘task execution’ and ‘trusted advice’?
A task-based consultant may get the job done. He/she configures features, imports data, and sets up integrations as requested. But this approach is shortsighted. Without understanding the bigger picture or challenging the client’s assumptions, a task-based consultant risks delivering a system that satisfies immediate needs but fails to support the business in the long term. Trusted advisors go beyond this. They are partners in your success, questioning, probing, and guiding decisions to ensure that every action taken aligns with your overarching business strategy. Rather than just doing what’s asked, a trusted advisor works collaboratively to uncover hidden opportunities, anticipate future challenges, and create a roadmap for sustained growth.
Our consultants are trained to act as trusted advisors. That’s where Sirocco is different. We don’t just deliver projects, we ensure that the solution we build is scalable, adaptable, and designed to support your business objectives both now and in the future.
Your benefits of working with a trusted advisor
Partnering with a trusted advisor during your CRM implementation can have far-reaching benefits that go beyond the immediate task of setting up a system. Unlike consultants who simply focus on technical execution, trusted advisors take a strategic view of your business, ensuring the solution they provide not only meets your current needs but also positions you for future success. Here are three critical benefits that businesses gain when they work with a trusted advisor:
Increased ROI: Trusted advisors ensure that every aspect of your CRM implementation is optimised to deliver maximum value. By aligning the system with your business goals and long-term strategy, they help you avoid unnecessary costs while maximising the return on your investment. In fact, a recent study by Salesforce found that businesses engaging in strategic CRM planning see a 40% increase in ROI compared to those who take a purely operational approach.
Improved Customer Satisfaction: When you work with a trusted advisor, your CRM system becomes more than just a technical solution; it transforms into a powerful tool for enhancing customer experiences. Trusted advisors help you leverage CRM features in a way that drives faster response times, enables personalised interactions, and fosters deeper relationships with your customers. The result? Higher customer satisfaction, increased loyalty, and a better overall reputation for your brand.
Enhanced Operational Efficiency: Trusted advisors bring an expert understanding of best practices and can help create more streamlined workflows within your CRM. By automating routine tasks and improving data flows, they enable your teams to work more efficiently, reduce bottlenecks, and make faster, more informed decisions. This increase in operational efficiency frees up resources to focus on what matters most—delivering value to your customers and driving growth.
By ensuring that your CRM implementation is not just a short-term fix but a future-ready solution, trusted advisors transform your CRM from a functional tool into a strategic asset that drives growth, enhances customer relationships, and increases operational agility. The long-term impact is clear: your business is not only better equipped to meet today’s challenges but is also primed for success in an evolving marketplace.
Addressing potential counterarguments
As you evaluate the value of working with a trusted advisor, you might be considering the cost or wondering if your internal team could handle the CRM implementation. These are valid concerns, but it’s important to look at the bigger picture and think long-term. Let’s tackle two common counterarguments and show why trusted advisors are essential to your digital transformation success:
Cost Justification: You may feel that hiring a trusted advisor comes with a higher price tag compared to bringing in a task-focused consultant. However, think of this as an investment in your business’s future. Trusted advisors offer a strategic perspective that ensures your CRM implementation is built to scale with your business, avoiding costly mistakes and reducing the need for expensive rework later on. Research shows that businesses engaging trusted advisors are 2.5 times more likely to complete digital transformation projects successfully. That’s a clear path to long-term savings, not just a short-term cost. By partnering with an advisor, you’re making a smart investment in a system that will continue to deliver value well into the future.
Internal Resources: You might believe that your internal teams have the capability to manage CRM implementation, but even the most talented teams can benefit from an outside perspective. Trusted advisors bring objective insights and a wealth of experience from working with businesses like yours. They challenge the status quo, spot potential blind spots, and offer strategic advice that your internal teams might overlook. By working with a trusted advisor, you’re ensuring that your CRM implementation isn’t just good—it’s the best it can be. Together with your internal team, they’ll help you unlock the full potential of your CRM, ensuring it supports your long-term business goals.
In the end, while relying on internal teams or a task-focused consultant might seem cost-effective in the short term, working with a trusted advisor gives you the advantage of expertise, foresight, and strategic insight. You’ll not only mitigate risks but also position your business for sustained growth and success in an increasingly competitive market.
Why we believe trusted advisors are critical for your digital transformation
You already know that digital transformation isn’t just about implementing new technology; it’s about strategically aligning your people, processes, and technology to drive sustainable, long-term success. But without the guidance of a trusted advisor, there’s a risk that you might focus too much on short-term gains rather than building a solution that’s scalable and future-ready. Trusted advisors bring more than just technical expertise, they provide a holistic view of your organisation’s transformation. They help you navigate the complexities of organisational change, ensuring that your teams aren’t just adopting a new CRM system, but embracing it fully. From fostering user adoption to providing hands-on training, they make sure your employees are not only confident but also capable of using the system to its full potential. This results in smoother integration of the CRM across all key areas of your business – from sales to marketing to service – ensuring that your investment delivers measurable value at every level.
Moreover, trusted advisors play a critical role in mitigating risk. By anticipating potential roadblocks and addressing them before they become significant issues, they help you avoid costly missteps that could derail your digital transformation. Their forward-thinking approach ensures that your CRM solution is built to last, setting your business up for continued growth and success in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
Sirocco’s way of working
At Sirocco, we embody the role of trusted advisors through a combination of scaled agile methodologies and our commitment to critical thinking and inquiry. With over 15 years of experience, our consultants are trained to ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and think strategically, ensuring that every CRM implementation is not only effective today but also aligns with your long-term vision. Our scaled agile approach allows us to deliver fast, iterative value while prioritising high-impact features based on client feedback. We work closely with clients to manage and refine their backlog, enabling us to adapt solutions as business needs evolve. All our consultants are scaled agile certified, and we possess deep expertise in leading CRM platforms such as Salesforce, Microsoft, and HubSpot. This ensures that our clients receive solutions designed to support their ongoing growth, empowering them to thrive and succeed.
If you’re ready to ensure your digital transformation is more than just a checklist of tasks, it’s time to partner with a trusted advisor. At Sirocco, we work alongside you to create a CRM solution that’s built for your business today and tomorrow. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help your business achieve lasting success through CRM expertise and strategic guidance. Don’t wait, delaying your digital transformation could cost your business-critical opportunities in a competitive marketplace. Reach out to us now to secure your business’s future.
