Four patterns we see in almost every takeover engagement
- Built on the feature list, not on the process. Every HubSpot checkbox is switched on, and sales reps have to adapt to the tool instead of the other way around. We do it differently, first map the sales and service flow, then decide which modules and which fields. Many features stay off, and that is a feature.
- Eighty fields required, zero records complete. The previous admin wanted to capture everything. The result, reps skip deals or enter nonsense to get around the form validation. We start with fifteen fields that genuinely matter, and expand based on what we miss in reporting. Not the other way around.
- Go-live without go-back. The system was rolled out with an hour of training, and after that the team was left to figure it out. We plan four to six weeks of parallel support after go-live. On the floor, with the sales managers there, until the rhythm sticks.
- Nobody checks whether it works. Adoption only gets measured six months after go-live, once the silence has grown loud enough. We measure from week one, active users per week, filled fields, deal velocity. A monthly review with your leadership team, no satisfaction surveys.
How an engagement runs, week by week
Eight weeks from kick-off to go-live, plus four to six weeks of hands-on support afterwards. Two build sessions a week, fixed review moments with your leadership team and the team leads. No big bang, but a rhythm.
- Week 1, kick-off and scope. Map the sales, marketing and service flow, validate the blueprint with your team leads. Not an introductions week, a working week.
- Weeks 2 and 3, data model and properties. Objects, associations and custom objects in HubSpot. Redefine lifecycle and deal stages with marketing and sales at the same table.
- Weeks 4 to 6, build in sandbox. Pipelines, workflows, sequences, dashboards. Integrations and data migration in sandbox. Test runs with real users before we go to production.
- Weeks 7 and 8, production and training. Migration to production, training per team instead of plenary, manager playbooks. Support on the floor in the first week.
- Weeks 9 to 14, adoption support. Four to six weeks alongside sales managers and service leads. Monthly adoption measurement. Whatever does not work, we adjust before it becomes the standard.
Migrating is a redesign moment
From Salesforce, Pipedrive, Zoho or Dynamics. We only move over what adds value, and rebuild workflows so you do not import your old problems. Pipeline history is preserved, and we select the migration route on that basis.
- Weeks 1 and 2, data audit and mapping.
- Weeks 3 and 4, sandbox migration and workflow rebuild.
- Weeks 5 and 6, test runs and team training.
- Weeks 7 and 8, go-live and four weeks of parallel support.