Privacy and Nimble CRM

Most CRMs, and Nimble CRM is no exception, have some levels of privacy controls. These can include …

Who, besides yourself, can see your emails
Who can see or edit your deals
Who can see or edit your account contact records

Typically, managers will have access to all of this information except maybe for email messages (depending on your CRM). In Nimble, the user can set their emails to be either private or public. However, they can also choose to lock or unlock individual messages.

So, if a manager wants to see ALL contact details and interactions, the simple answer is to make email messages public. However, keep in mind that this means that everyone will be able to see these messages.

Another option would be for the manager to log into that person’s account when they wish to evaluate salesperson activities. Or, you could have the salesperson share their screen with you.

Either way, you are still dealing with privacy concerns and you had best be prepared to get some pushback. Salespeople are notoriously private and protective of their accounts and their information.

Call me old school but … are those accounts yours or theirs? Do you …

Pay them to work for your company?
Provide benefits?
Provide them with a workspace and tools?
Give them a company email address?
Offer them support via your other staff members?

If yes to any or all of these … those accounts belong to you and not to them. You are giving them the opportunity to work these accounts and to profit from them. Sounds harsh? Have you ever pulled an account from a sales rep? Sure you have. While I’m not going to win any salesperson popularity contests, I prove my point.

I have always been of the opinion that CRM works best as a transparent and open database. No privacy. This enables the entire team to maximize the common goal of exceeding customer expectations. For the record, I have spent my entire life as a salesperson or as a manager or owner with sales oversight.

Consider this. What happens when the salesperson is on safari n the Amazon, no internet or cell service, and your customer has a question on an issue that needs to be addressed? A closed database prevents other team members from viewing prior engagements and activities that might enable them to better serve that customer.

Ideally, CRM is not just for salespeople. A unified database allows sales, marketing, and customer service departments to care for your clients. It minimizes silos and that is a goal worth pursuing!

If you would like to chat with me to determine if Nimble CRM might be right for your business, please book a free 30 minute Zoom consultation with me.

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Craig M. Jamieson

Managing Member at Adaptive Business Services

Craig M. Jamieson is a lifelong B2B salesperson, manager, owner, and a networking enthusiast. Adaptive Business Services provides solutions related to the sales professional. We are a Nimble CRM Solution Partner. Craig also conducts training and workshops primarily in social selling and communication skills. Craig is also the author of "The Small Business' Guide to Social CRM", now available on Amazon!