Define the sales process
Document stages, ownership, qualification, handoffs and close criteria before touching configuration.
Clean the data
Remove duplicates, normalize fields, archive junk and decide which historical data is actually useful.
Configure permissions
Give teams only the access they need, especially across multiple client accounts.
Build essential automation
Start with high-value, low-ambiguity workflows such as assignment, reminders and status-based notifications.
Test before rollout
Use representative real-world scenarios before migrating every user or account.
Establish governance
- Named CRM owner
- Change log
- Field dictionary
- Workflow naming standard
- Monthly hygiene review
Choose software
Compare software against this workflow rather than choosing from a feature list alone.