More and more organizations are making the switch from SugarCRM to Dynamics 365, and with good reason. Microsoft’s CRM has a broad footprint, integrating products we all know like Excel and Outlook. For those who are familiar with the Microsoft ecosystem, migrating to Dynamics 365 makes sense, and integrating this CRM system into your organization could provide you with more accurate real-time customer intelligence.
But there’s an important process to consider before you use Dynamics 365 — migration. You might find it complicated, expensive, and time-consuming. Get migration wrong, and you could do irreversible damage to your business — lost data, downtime, and angry customers. Failure rates for CRM implementation can be as high as 63 percent, according to one study. Problems with field mapping, data transfer, training, and other factors can all contribute to failure.
Many successful organizations migrate from SugarCRM to Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM with no problems whatsoever. This is because they plan, create an effective migration strategy, and bring in outside help to facilitate the process. A little preparation could make all the difference between Dynamics 365 success and failure.
So it’s a great idea to use a Dynamics 365 partner like Dynamic Consultants Group that solves many of the problems with integration. This means a more successful transfer from SugarCRM to Dynamics 365.
In this guide, learn some best practices for migrating from SugarCRM to Dynamics 365 CRM.
Dynamics 365 vs. SugarCRM: Decide Whether Migration is Right for You
Don’t migrate just for the sake of it. Some organizations are content with SugarCRM because it’s an excellent system that expedites many sales, marketing, and customer-facing processes. But realize the benefits of incorporating Dynamics 365 into your business.
Dynamics 365 is such a popular CRM system because it integrates with all the Microsoft products we’ve grown up with and use in our day-to-day operations. These products include PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook, to name just a few. By incorporating these programs into a CRM system, users can execute more tasks for business growth.
Then there are the powerful insights that provide you with unparalleled customer intelligence. Dynamics 365 has a wide range of real-time reports and analytics that optimize operations throughout your business. As a result, you can:
- Solve customer service issues.
- Generate sales and marketing insights.
- Engage with customers on a deep level.
- Improve sales.
- Improve the reputation of your organization.
- Outrank your competitors.
There are far too many Dynamics 365 CRM features to list here. (We’ve included them in some of our other blog posts.) But the point remains: Migrating to Microsoft Dynamics 365 could have a hugely successful impact on your entire business.
Talk to Your Team About Migration
It’s important everyone agrees with Dynamics 365 migration. And by everyone, we mean customer relations, marketing, and sales departments; senior management; IT administrators; CTOs; and all decision-makers in your organization.
Find out what everyone wants to achieve from migrating to Dynamics 365:
- How will the system make life easier?
- Will you be able to generate better data insights?
- Will it save money?
- Do you think you can get the most from Dynamics 365?
Then discuss the Dynamics 365 features that will provide you with the most value. Few organizations use all the features in this CRM, so focus on the ones that maximize operations.
Create a Master Plan
Once you have decided to incorporate Dynamics 365 into your organization, it’s time to create a plan. So many CRM implementations fail because organizations don’t prepare. This is a massive mistake. Talk to different departments and managers in your organization and decide:
- When do you want to migrate to Dynamics 365?
- How will you reduce downtime/disruption during the migration process?
- What data do you want to migrate/delete/store elsewhere?
- How much will the project cost?
- Will employees be able to use the system? What about training?
Share your master plan with all decision-makers in your organization. Now is the time to discuss budgets, timelines, and other considerations.
Don’t Make the Same Mistakes as SugarCRM Integration!
If you’re migrating from one CRM to another, you’ve been through this process before. Think back to when you incorporated SugarCRM into your organization and learn from any mistakes you made.
- Was SugarCRM software implementation difficult?
- How much did it cost? How can you save costs this time?
- Were employees able to use the system?
- What problems did you encounter?
- How can you stop these problems from happening this time?
Looking back can provide you with useful insights. But, ultimately, SugarCRM integrations are very different than Dynamics 365 integrations.
Work With a Dynamics 365 Partner
Now’s the best time to contact a Dynamics 365 partner who can guide you through the migration process, step by step. Working with a partner might require an outlay, but choose the right team to work with makes all the difference. A Dynamics 365 partner can save costs during migration and implementation, reduce downtime and disruption, and increase the chances of a successful project.
Dynamic Consultants Group is the No.1 choice for many organizations looking to make the switch from SugarCRM to Dynamics 365 CRM. With years of experience, we can solve many of the challenges that so often arise during migration.
Are you looking to migrate to Dynamics 365 from SugarCRM? Schedule a Teams meeting today and discover more.
Think About Data
Migration downtime and disruption can negatively affect your everyday operations, but the greatest threat remains data loss. Losing sensitive data as you transfer from one database to another could destroy your business and lose customers. The good news is that you can prevent this from happening when you plan for migration and use an expert to guide you.
Dynamic Consultants Group can guide you on what to do (and what not to do) when migrating from SugarCRM to Dynamics 365, safeguarding your data as you move to your new system. You can also delete legacy data that doesn’t comply with legislation and industry frameworks such as HIPAA, GDPR, and CCPA. This is important because you could receive penalties or face legal action for non-compliance with some data regulations.
A partner like Dynamic Consultants Group can also help you categorize data for a more effective transfer and identify duplicated data that you don’t need.
Think About Training
Many organizations concentrate on a new CRM system like Dynamics 365 but forget about the people who will use it. Training is an important element of the migration process. If employees don’t know how to use the CRM, it could reduce productivity and slow down business operations.
Again, a good consultant will help you decide on the best training solutions for your business. This ensures more productive and engaged employees after you have incorporated the new system into your organization.
Don’t forget, you might need to train employees on how to use Dynamics 365 on mobile devices too. (Dynamics 365 has full mobile capabilities.)
Decide on the Best Time for Migration
Pick a date when you want to start the migration process. This gives you a deadline to work up to. If you work with a consultant, you can get a good idea of the best time to start the migration.
Some organizations choose a quieter time of the year to migrate to reduce any downtime and mitigate any problems that might occur. Ultimately, the decision is up to you. But a consultant can help you with your choice and provide expert advice.
Start the Migration!
Once you are ready, it’s time to start the migration process. How long this takes depends on various factors, such as:
- The size of your business.
- The number of users who rely on CRM.
- The amount of data you need to transfer.
By this point, you should have a back-up plan if you encounter any downtime. Employees will still need to carry out tasks if systems go down for a short while.
With a partner by your side, you can start the migration process with far fewer worries and get the most from Dynamics 365 in a quicker timeframe. Dynamic Consultants Group has helped many organizations incorporate Dynamics 365 into their organization successfully, and we could do the same for you.
Final Word
So you want to migrate from SugarCRM to Dynamics 365? Congratulations! There’s plenty to think about before you start, such as data loss, training, timelines, and budgets. To make the process less stressful, consider hiring a professional consultant like Dynamic Consultants Group, who can guide you through the process, and identify best practices for migration.
Dynamic Consultants Group is the No.1 choice for data-driven organizations that want to migrate to Dynamics 365 from SugarCRM. Schedule a meeting to discover more
