Five Tips for Successful Implementation of CRM at Schools
As public funding for higher education continues to decline, admissions officials are under pressure to increase enrollment and retention rates. Since most public funding options relate to enrollment, it is imperative to keep each program or course completely filled. Unfilled places lead to missed opportunities and fewer resources for schools.
Because of the increased competition, getting students through different entrances - and keeping them in classrooms - is more difficult than ever before. This is the reason why more and more schools are studying the ability to implement Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) systems. The thought process behind this survey is to:
• Leverage the power of technology to identify and interact with potential students
• Make a high quality first impression with leads who can generate excitement
• Build a relationship with students until they become alumni
However, as with any other technology implementation, effective CRM implementation and integration requires a lot of time, effective planning, and strategic thinking.
If you want to get the most out of your school's CRM implementation, here are five tips to consider:
1. Effective planning
Technology is an incomplete engine without proper planning and implementation. This is the reason why schools must plan ahead. Develop a well-defined roadmap that outlines the achievement of your goal and the technology that can guide and help you. Gather your support staff and assess your existing business processes and assess how they can progress.
2. Identify and integrate business silos
Admission procedures are puzzled. To attract new students, admissions staff need to accumulate data from different departments in the school, from recruiting and academics to accommodation and student support. Use technology to align the goals and priorities of all different departments in schools. Schedule training sessions early and frequently to ensure that everyone who will be using the system is aware of their role and the action to be taken. The more departments integrate and work together, the better the results.
3. Create a culture of change
Apprehension is inevitable. Maintaining an open and fair dialogue with all campus members is the most ideal approach to addressing these concerns. Hold regular meetings, take feedback and offer clear updates on the implementation process. Stay in touch with people on campus exclusively, so those affected by the change know the impact and results it can bring to the effective functioning of their department.
4. Start small
Technological integrations are always scary and complex; that's why it's important to start small. Perform a full breakdown of important elements such as systems to be integrated, roles, features, etc. which will be a key to your planning-integration process. Give your staff plenty of time to settle in with the technology, then start from there.
5. Set clear milestones
Start developing performance metrics and milestones. Every step you take in the right direction gets you closer to your final goal, but there are plenty of milestones along the way to achieving your goals.
Thanks for this informative post! It was fascinating to read about the experience of implementing SRM even in educational institutions. In general, CRM is becoming necessary in all industries to establish a precise operation of all processes, so the question of how much a CRM implementation cost arises more and more often.