If you’re a nonprofit planning a digital transformation, you might be looking to update your website and CRM database. One key decision is whether to tackle both projects at once or break them into smaller, separate tasks.
Here’s why you might consider each approach:
Why You Might Separate the Projects
Less Planning Required Replacing both your CRM and website simultaneously requires extensive planning, including staff training and system switchovers. Doing them one at a time can make each project quicker and simpler, saving staff time and resources.
Flexibility in Execution Treating your CRM and website as separate projects allows more flexibility. You could hire different agencies for each task, potentially speeding up the process if you have a tight deadline.
Simpler Projects If your projects are simple and don’t need much integration, handling them separately might be easier, especially for smaller organizations with limited data needs.
Budget Management By starting one project now and delaying the other, you can spread out your spending over time, although this might increase overall costs.
Why Separating Might Not Be Ideal
Better Comprehensive Planning A single comprehensive plan is usually better than two separate plans. It ensures you don’t miss opportunities for integration and prevents complications from arising later.
Coordination Challenges Separate projects can lead to coordination issues between different agencies, especially if there are integrations required. This can complicate the project and lead to delays.
Higher Total Costs Separate projects often end up costing more overall due to the added complexity and potential for unforeseen dependencies.
Why You Might Do Both Together
Integrated Data Management Updating both your website and CRM together allows you to create a unified data system, improving security and reporting, and preventing data silos.
Simplified Management Working with one agency reduces the headaches of coordinating between multiple teams. One agency can handle both systems cohesively, making communication and project management easier.
Getting Started
Whether you’re planning to update your CRM, website, or both, it can be a daunting task. Our experts are here to help you decide the best approach for your nonprofit. Reach out to us for advice and to discuss your options. We’re always happy to help!