Why do so many CRM implementations fail—even after significant investment? In this episode of Growth Systems Podcast, host Daniel sits down with CRM consultant Sarah Mitchell to unpack the most common reasons CRM projects fall short. From lack of strategy and poor user adoption to overcomplicated setups and weak leadership buy-in, they explore the real challenges businesses face during implementation.

More importantly, they share practical solutions to fix these issues—how to set clear goals, simplify deployment, train teams effectively, and turn your CRM into a true growth engine. If you're planning a CRM rollout or struggling with one, this episode delivers actionable insights you can apply immediately.

Investing in a CRM system is a smart move — but only if it’s used the right way.

In this episode, we break down the most common CRM mistakes businesses make, from poor data management and lack of team training to overcomplicated setups and weak integrations. Many companies blame the software when results don’t show — but often, the real issue is strategy and execution.

Whether you’re using a CRM to manage leads, automate follow-ups, or improve customer experience, this episode will help you identify gaps, avoid costly errors, and turn your CRM into a true growth engine.

In this episode, host Alex sits down with CRM expert Sarah to explore why implementing a CRM system often takes longer than most people expect. They discuss how CRM rollouts reveal hidden gaps in processes and workflows, and why getting internal alignment is often the first step before any system can be effectively implemented.

The conversation also dives into the challenges of data migration, customization, and integrations. Sarah explains how messy or inconsistent data, decisions about fields and pipelines, and connecting multiple tools can all add time to the process. These behind-the-scenes factors are often overlooked but play a critical role in the success of a CRM implementation.

Finally, Alex and Sarah highlight the importance of user adoption and ongoing refinements. A CRM isn’t truly implemented the day it goes live—it becomes effective only when teams consistently use it and processes are adjusted based on real-world feedback. This episode provides practical insights to help listeners set realistic expectations and navigate CRM implementations more smoothly.