The phrase “Horses for Courses” refers to the idea that, in order to be successful, certain jobs require the selection of the best-fit person or tool. Alternatively, some jobs are so basic that they can be accomplished by almost anyone. Can this idea also be applied to Salesforce for higher education?
When it comes to Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) software, colleges and universities are often trying to figure out how to best deploy Salesforce for recruitment and admissions. In some cases, institutions have undertaken large implementation projects, staffed by teams of people who customize Salesforce to suit their CRM for higher education needs. In other cases, educational institutions choose to adopt pre-built solutions like Enrollment Rx that offer out-of-the-box functionality for transforming Salesforce into a platform for recruitment, admissions, and decisions (R.A.D.) in higher education.
What are some of the considerations that institutions should take into account when determining the best CRM for higher education strategy? How should they approach the evaluation of deploying Salesforce for recruitment and admissions? Is it realistic to expect smaller schools with limited resources to accomplish similar projects to larger institutions that have greater bandwidth and more staff members? Conversely, how can large organizations achieve quick wins while still ensuring future-proof strategies that do not impede their ability to further scale CRM for higher education across other areas of the institution?
Build or Buy a Higher Education CRM Solution
Within the Salesforce ecosystem, we see an array of strategies that educational institutions potentially have available in order to deploy CRM for higher education. Some companies may recommend a build-to-suit approach, while others may offer a productized, out-of-the-box approach. This evaluation is made more difficult without an apples-to-apples comparison of solutions. However, in the best of circumstances the “buy” option can prove superior. Enrollment Rx measures the effectiveness of its solutions based on the alternative options that are available to our clients in the market. We design our products to fill in the so-called “white space” that is not otherwise readily deliverable and controllable on the Salesforce platform. The alternative to our products would be for colleges and universities to custom-cobble functionality and wrestle with ongoing technical debt in order to replicate the functionality of Enrollment Rx’s products.
Ask the Ecosystem
Most organizations typically ask for client references before selecting a new CRM for higher education software. The problem with many reference calls, however, is that they are often focused on the wrong questions. For example, it seems reasonable to ask if a school “likes Salesforce”. A prospective client may even ask references to talk about which parts they “like the most”. This does not reveal details about the feasibility of the proposed statement of work that has been presented by the consulting firm. Do the intended deliverables match the expected scope of work and do the references agree that the prospective client has sufficient internal resources to complete the project successfully? Schools considering a CRM for higher education should ask other reference organizations if the scope of work under consideration contains sufficient resources to provide the deliverables that are required. An institution may love the platform, but the implementation project and available resources may vary drastically from school to school.
Ongoing Support and Upgrades for Your CRM for Higher Education Solution
Speaking of implementation staff and deployment resources, it is important to keep in mind that the CRM for higher education will not only require an initial implementation, but will also require ongoing support and upgrades. As a general rule, custom-built solutions are difficult to maintain on a long-term basis because the functionality is outdated from the moment it is delivered. On the other hand, products offered by Enrollment Rx are upgradable and therefore can continuously deliver enhanced functionality that innovates as the needs of the market shift.
Contact us today to learn how our out-of-the-box solution can streamline your recruitment and admission processes and consolidate your systems into one easy-to-use CRM for higher education.
