Lack of user participation

As I outlined earlier, CRM projects often fail due to this simple reason. It is one thing to onboard a CRM application; adopting it is another thing altogether.

This may involve the following causes:

• Lack of training on how the software can enhance their operations
• Accessibility constraints, such as difficulties in data entry or non-responsive design
• Disincentives and misconceptions, such as micromanagement or concerns of being replaced

Often, these issues can be traced back to the project stage, where the business users (or their teams) were not part of the application design and usability discussions.

CRM is not part of your long-term revenue strategy

Automotive CRM implementation is expected to drive "revenue maximization”. This includes after sales service, which is a big component of the industry’s revenue. It bodes well for any OEM or dealership to make CRM a key part of their revenue growth strategy. We have observed several instances where the change management communication around CRM implementation failed to inculcate the revenue angle, and this commensurately impacted CRM adoption.

Integration issues

In the world of "Just In Time" information, integrations between systems is a critical contributor to the success of any CRM implementation. This is especially true in the auto industry, which thrives on complex webs of contacts – both internal and external. The level of leadership acceptance in allowing this integration to happen will determine the success of CRM adoption as well. In my own experience, there were numerous occasions where we really had to push the leadership to move away from an "island” or siloed implementation mindset.

Lack of integration with social media

Millennial or not, today’s user experiences are centered on "new-age" communication channels, including social media. In the era of autonomous vehicles and real-time interactions, customers expect round-the-clock information, made available through these unconventional channels. This requires a CRM system to integrate seamlessly with social media applications – be it for sales or service.

Absence of self-service

Beyond the service personnel, customers too need to be able to access their past records, including service requests or feedback, on-demand. Inability to access historical data is a major deterrent to customers embracing a CRM application. Uninterrupted flow of communication – anytime, anywhere – is key. Self-service capabilities like self-booking, two-way interactions through chatbots, or relevant push notifications, are today the bare minimum that users as well as sales and service personnel expect.

Lack of analytical insights and custom reports

I have seen instances where business users had to extract data from the CRM system to manually build a more informative report for leadership or for daily consumption. This time-consuming exercise, which deprives businesses of on-time competitive intelligence, is a critical reason behind the eventual abandonment of the application.

Concerns of information privacy

We all know that cyber threats are on the rise. Naturally, companies and business users will be wary of this – especially with cloud hosting and mobility on the rise. It takes a seasoned technology partner to advise companies of cautionary measures, address their concerns with utmost transparency, and assure them of data privacy.