First of all: I wouldn’t migrate. I’d pick the right CRM from the start.
I’d call friends in the industry. I’d ask what it really costs once things scale. I’d find out what breaks, what integrates, what sales teams actually use.
But sometimes you don’t get that luxury. You join after the decision. The CRM is already in place, and it’s slowing down everything—reporting, onboarding, follow-ups, forecasting.
And now you need to migrate.
If that’s you, keep reading. Here’s what I’d do again—and what I’d never touch twice.
DO: Choose Based on Your GTM Motion, Not Brand
Don’t pick based on who has the best logo. Pick based on your sales motion. Inbound-heavy? Look for deep marketing automation. Complex B2B? Prioritise deal intelligence, not email templates.
One-size CRM doesn’t exist. Map your funnel first. Choose second.
DO: Treat Migration Like a Product Launch
You’re not “moving data.” You’re rebuilding process. Treat it like a sprint:
- One owner
- Cross-functional input
- A clear “go-live” definition
- A sandbox period with test data
Skipping this creates a graveyard of half-mapped fields and broken integrations.
DO: Clean the Data—Then Migrate
If your CRM is full of ghosts, duplicate contacts, and ancient deals, migrating it won’t help. You’ll just transfer the mess.
Audit. Archive. Compress. Then move. Less data, more signal.
DO: Write the Playbook Before You Migrate
CRM fields are where your GTM process lives. Define:
- What stage means “deal is real”
- Who owns what in multi-threaded accounts
- When to log activity vs. when to automate
If you can’t write this before the migration, don’t expect anyone to follow it after.
NEVER: Let Integrations Drive the CRM Choice
“We picked it because it integrates with X” is how you end up with tools no one logs into.
You’ll end up building your process around the plugin, not your people. Prioritise UX, not checkboxes.
NEVER: Launch Without Training—and Accountability
Every user should go through the same onboarding. Every lead, every deal, every activity should be reviewable. If it’s not logged, it didn’t happen. And if it’s logged wrong, it’s a system issue.
NEVER: Migrate in a Rush
Rushed CRM moves don’t save time. They cost it in every future quarter. Plan for a pause. Run parallel systems for two weeks. Let one person own final validation.
Would I ever migrate again? Maybe. But only with my eyes wide open.
If you can avoid it, start right. If you can’t, rebuild it like it’s your sales engine, because it is. And your team can’t drive revenue with broken dashboards.
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