Helping with CRM Selection and Consolidation
By following a structured approach to developing a target operating model, defining migration plans for current workflows and datasets, managing a collaborative procurement process, and executing with a focus on business value realization.
Problems Companies Face
When They Need Help with CRM Selection and Consolidation
Companies turn to ElevatIQ when they lack CRM pricing and licensing expertise or feel unsure about CRM tech procurement decisions. They may worry about vendor leverage, overcommitments, or failed implementations. Others feel overwhelmed by confusing CRM demos or stuck in a never-ending selection process. In these cases, ElevatIQ helps simplify choices, reduce risk, and guide teams toward the right CRM solution.
Limited Subject Matter Expertise with CRM Pricing and Licensing
CRM vendors frequently change their pricing and licensing models. If you're not tracking their contract terms and updates regularly, you risk unexpected charges. Companies turn to ElevatIQ when they lack in-house expertise in navigating complex CRM pricing and licensing structures.
Afraid of Failing Implementation Due to CRM Vendors’ Overcommitment
Most CRM vendors don’t involve their implementation teams during the sales process. As a result, sales reps—often lacking real-world implementation experience—unknowingly overpromise. This leads to hidden technical and financial risks that fall on you. ElevatIQ helps identify these overcommitments early—before they turn into costly surprises.
Unsure of the Changes Required with the As-Is State to Avoid Financial Risks
Existing processes and data structures often lead to CRM project failures and unexpected costs. Aligning them with the target operating model reduces both technical and financial risks. Companies engage ElevatIQ when they’re unsure how to align their current operating model with the target state of the CRM technologies they’re adopting.
Confused with Overlapping CRM Technologies
Most CRM vendors offer overlapping capabilities, making it difficult for customers—who often lack deep technical expertise—to distinguish meaningful differences. This uncertainty can erode confidence during the procurement process. Companies rely on ElevatIQ to bring clarity and confidence to their CRM technology selection and contracting decisions.
Worried About the Superior Leverage of CRM Technology Vendors
CRM vendor sales reps are highly trained professionals, skilled in anticipating your negotiation tactics. Often, when it feels like you’ve won the deal, you may have actually conceded more than you realize—without even knowing it. ElevatIQ brings the same level of subject matter expertise to your side, ensuring a fair and informed outcome.
Internal CRM Selection Process Feels Like Spinning Wheels with Limited Confidence
Companies often spend months—or even years—on internal selection efforts, yet still lack confidence in the outcome. While it may seem cost-effective on the surface, the real loss comes from missed opportunities and delayed decisions. Organizations typically turn to ElevatIQ after internal initiatives stall, seeking the clarity and momentum needed to move forward with confidence.
Want to learn more about why independent advisors have a higher success rate with CRM initiatives?
Our Case Studies for
CRM Selection and Consolidation
ECommerce Supply Chain Transformation With ERP Selection
Download the eCommerce Supply Chain transformation case study and learn how LockNLube transformed its inventory and supply chain challenges by consolidating over 20 systems. As well as by creating business, process, information, and system architecture as they prepare for the next phase of their growth.
Omnichannel eCommerce Customer Experience Transformation
Download the omnichannel eCommerce customer experience case study and learn how fashion retailer AKIRA built a digital roadmap and managed stakeholder expectations to transform its processes and systems to explore newer business models such as buy-online-pickup-in-store and curbside pickup.
ERP Implementation Failure Recovery
Download the ERP implementation failure recovery failure case study and learn how Frederick Wildman struggled with Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP implementation failure even after spending over $5M and what options they had for recovery.
Our Methodology
for CRM Selection and Consolidation
The process begins with an assessment of current needs and a high-level validation of the CRM target operating model. ElevatIQ facilitates strategic alignment through a series of workshops before launching a formal CRM vendor selection process. Following demos, vendor briefings, and target operating model recalibration, teams make informed decisions using a structured selection framework based on agreed-upon critical success factors.
1 Assessment
In this brief data‑collection phase, we validate the approach and present multiple options, each with clear advantages, drawbacks, risks, and potential rewards.
3 RFP Development and Sourcing
This phase identifies the initial CRM vendors and solutions to be reviewed, builds agreement on the critical success factors and decision framework, and briefs vendors on the core objectives of the project.
5 SOW and Contract Negotiations
This phase entails a detailed analysis of contract terms, assessing their impact on the target operating model and identifying potential financial risks. Teams receive briefings on each vendor’s discounting rationale and the concessions customers may be making for seemingly attractive offers. Based on these insights, a tailored negotiation strategy is developed to secure the best possible terms from each vendor.
2Alignment Workshops
These workshops cover multiple dimensions—reviewing current Cx workflows, addressing key issues and assumptions, and training core teams on essential CRM concepts. This equips them to anticipate adoption risks and make more informed strategic decisions.
4Vendor Demos and RFP Response Briefings
This phase involves a thorough review of CRM vendor responses while refining initial assumptions and the operating model. It also delivers the necessary data and scripts to ensure both parties share a common understanding of the solution, enabling a fair and consistent comparison across all vendors and offerings.
6Award of the Contract and Implementation Prep
This phase finalizes the contract through negotiations and aligns the target operating model with the data and process constraints of the newly procured systems. It also defines and organizes work items logically, aligning them with the RACI matrix to ensure a clear, coordinated plan of action for all parties involved.
Ready to learn how we can help With CRM Selection and Consolidation?
Our Other
CRM, Cx, and eCommerce Services
Customer Experience Digital Strategy Roadmap
This offering helps with CRM, Cx, or eCommerce strategy, whether you need help defining customer journeys to improve the effectiveness of your sales and marketing channels or you need a comprehensive strategy for your front-end operating model.
CRM Optimization and Project Recoveries
This service helps recover derailed CRM or eCommerce projects by reassessing the target operating model, analyzing the current implementation plan in depth, and realigning stakeholder expectations to optimize workflows and prevent further investment in technical and process backlogs.
Experience Design and Cx Transformation
This service helps design the customer experience regardless of touch points. It takes a comprehensive approach to experience design by defining the overall vision for customer experience, identifying the right KPIs. And then implementing the tactical strategies to improve Cx whether UX needs to be improved of different apps or much deeper transformation is required.
Digital Commerce Business Model Transformation
This service helps eCommerce brands enable business models such as D2C, buy-online-pickup in-store, buy-online-return-in-store, or subscription-based business models.
eCommerce Platform Selection and Re-platforming
These services help identify the suitable eCommerce systems for your enterprise architecture. These services also help uncover technical and financial risks deeply embedded in your contracts, and manage change for your organization.
E-commerce Implementation and Integration
This service helps with the implementation of an eCommerce platform whether you need help with one of the SMB platforms such as Shopify, BigCommerce, or Magento. This service also helps with the integration whether you need to connect your eCommerce platform with ERP, CRM, or customer data platform.
CRM Implementation and Integration
Whether companies have already followed a structured CRM selection process or chosen a preferred CRM system, this service helps design and execute a tailored target operating model aligned with that specific platform and ecosystem. It involves close collaboration with technical vendors and end users to continuously recalibrate the model as business context shifts and assumptions evolve.
Headless Commerce Strategy and Architecture
This service helps eCommerce brands with headless architecture enablement whether you need a custom headless solution or integration with monolithic platforms such as SAP Hybris and Oracle ATG. Or utilizing a newer breed of headless platforms such as commercetools, Spryker, or VTEX.
