5 Reasons to Break Up with your Legacy CRM System
Liz Murray
Director of Professional Services
Sometimes you reach a point in a relationship where you need to ask yourself: “Is this really working?” Chances are that if you’re in a long-term relationship with a legacy CRM system, the answer is progressively: “No, not really.”
“But I’ve invested all this time,” you say. “And hey—I’m comfortable. So what if it’s not perfect. We can get by… right?”
Now might just be the time to break free from that system that’s holding you back. Still unsure? Here are five reasons why you should consider breaking up with your legacy CRM.
1. It’s too much work.
Has your team ‘Macgyvered’ so many processes, that you should have your own TV show? Are you spending more time in Microsoft Excel than in the actual database? A system that requires numerous workarounds and dictates your workflows makes for inefficient and frustrating operations.
2. You don’t have the time!
Does a simple report take hours to prepare? Do you have to manually re-enter data in multiple places? Or perhaps your system lacks the tools you need to manage your data efficiently? Most legacy systems were efficient when they were created, but as they age, can hinder productivity and process flow.
3. You don’t mesh well.
Modern fundraising systems deliver industry-standard functionality and integrate with best-in-breed finance, marketing automation, event, reporting, and business intelligence applications (to name a few). With integration tools like APIs, iPaaS, and duplicate matching algorithms, contemporary systems are better equipped to integrate with your technology ecosystem. Legacy systems, however, have a hard time playing with others.
4. It’s hard to connect… remotely.
The pandemic forced many organizations to pivot to remote work, and more than two years later, WFH is here to stay. With many nonprofits looking at a hybrid model in 2022, it’s clear that your CRM needs to be accessible and function remotely.
5. You’ve got a wandering eye.
Let’s face it: technology moves at lightning speed. If you’re on a system that is decades years old, there’s likely something new in the market with capabilities that your legacy system can only dream about. Maybe it’s time to search for greener pastures.
JCA can help you fall in love… again!
By defining your organization’s ‘must-haves’, we’ll help you find the right system to meet your needs. Our objective approach to evaluating and ranking solutions gets to the heart of each system’s benefits and drawbacks, allowing you to make the best choice for your organization.