A CRM that only stores contacts is a notebook with login screens.
What changes the outcome
A useful CRM tells people what to do next, makes the pipeline legible, and removes ambiguity from follow-up.
The minimum viable CRM spine
- Lead source and owner
- Stage definitions that match reality
- Follow-up SLAs
- Activity history
- Simple reporting tied to business decisions
The best systems feel boring because the work starts moving without everyone needing to remember everything.
