All Your CRM Training Questions Answered [Types, Benefits, Cost & More]

You've got the CRM tools, you've got the CRM technology, and you kinda-sorta-maybe got the CRM training. It's a work in progress, right?

Level with us. How's that going? Low adoption rates, a not-so-hot ROI, and no consistency except that everyone is always confused?

We get it. Like most things, from microwaves to phones to video games, it's too tempting to skip the tutorial.

Also, a CRM is a power-up item specifically made for your sales team. How hard could it be?

Here's the thing. Without training, your CRM will morph into an infinite series of spinning and flaming hoops for your team to jump through.

Of course, it's possible to succeed this way.

But you don't have to.

That's why you're here, right? You know CRM training for your team is the secret side quest to level up your company's game.

Roll up your sleeves, do a power pose, and get ready. We're hitting the books.

What is CRM Training?

Okay, but first, a quick and fun CRM refresher.

Customer Relationship Management is a centralized platform that your team can refer to for in-depth information on your customers.

Yes, that does mean the basics like contact information and shipping addresses, and so forth.

But a CRM also provides insight into the trajectory of a customer's experience and, ultimately, the sale.

Also, with repeat customers, you can see loyalty take root in real-time. Some platforms can even help with sales coaching and training.

This all sounds pretty good, right?

Here's the not-so-fun part.

CRM adoption is still a struggle for companies. Probably because:

• 22% of users don't know what a CRM is
• Or 43% of users admit they're using less than half of its functionality

Think about it. If your employees don't know how to use your CRM system, they can't help your business or customers.

Good thing training can help flip the script on that and more.

Where to start? Keep reading.

5 Types of CRM Training

Zoom out and consider what you want to get out of CRM training…

The basics? An in-depth look that puts microscopes to shame? Maybe a tutorial that can talk about utilizing a CRM beyond data entry?

All of those options are out there waiting for you, we promise. But maybe you're also wondering, what the heck is the best way to learn CRM?

We've outlined five CRM training types below.

1. Vendor/Platform CRM Training

When it comes to learning the nuts and bolts of a platform, your vendor is a solid option.

Some vendors, such as Salesforce and Microsoft, have massive training libraries, including courses and certifications.

However, these certifications can be costly and take several months, if not longer, to complete.

More prominent companies often offer customized onboarding packages, but they usually cost a penny.

The good news is since it's more or less an expectation nowadays, most small platforms offer CRM onboarding as well.

The better news? Ringy takes training a step further.

We provide personalized onboarding for your company. We also hold multiple weekly webinars for your team to either learn more about our CRM or ask questions.

Within our platform, we've also attached training videos to individual sections.

And if you have questions, we will try to get back to you within 2 hours with a live-training video call.

Hey, we don't mess around when providing the best CRM software training for our platform.

2. In-Person, In-House CRM Training

Source

This CRM training type is attractive for three main reasons.

First, it's probably the most affordable. You don't have to budget for an outside consultant or online course since your team will develop the learning materials.

Second, you also can tailor the training to what your company needs. This means you'll probably be quicker and better at meeting employees where they're at.

Third, you know what they say - the best way to learn something is to teach it. This means you'll have team savvy on two fronts of using your CRM system.

Whether you have a manager or someone with enough hands-on knowledge to run the training, your best bet is first to determine what roles will need it and go from there.

Remember, you'll need to create and regularly update your documentation. This could be anything from creating videos, presentations, or documentation. Or all three.

This is not to put you off, but it is something to keep in mind.

If you want to brainstorm how you can better support your sales team in crushing their CRM goals and how Ringy can help you coach in real-time with upline support, read our blog post on 10 Sales Coaching Tips.

3. External CRM Consultants and/or Trainers

Did you know that over 91% of companies with ten or more employees have a CRM?

This also means a savvy subset of consultants and trainers just waiting to offer their specialized knowledge to help your company make better use of your CRM.

Since they are a hot commodity in high demand, they usually run you around $100 an hour or more.

Now, no one knows better than a consultant what to focus on and what to watch for. It's kind of their whole gig.

You could also use a consultant as a launching point and e-learning for ongoing CRM training.

4. Self-Paced Online Courses for CRM Training

E-learning is one of the best touchstones for upskilling, but you can also use it for employee onboarding and even as part of your in-house training.

From LinkedIn to edX to HubSpot Academy, you can find whole online courses dedicated to learning a CRM inside and out. Or you can choose a course based on an employee's level of knowledge or what applies specifically to their role.

Online courses also allow your employees the flexibility to learn on the job and on their time.

5. Online CRM Certification

CRM certifications are pricey but powerful. These in-depth programs are usually vendor-specific and skills-based.

Spanning months or even a year, online CRM training with a certification stands apart for a few reasons.

One, it motivates employees. Once they finish, they know they can add a shiny credential to their resume or LinkedIn.

It ends with an exam, so employees who pass know their stuff.

Finally, it gives them a focused set of skills so they can use your company's CRM in a way that best meets your bottom line and helps your customers.

5 Benefits of CRM Training

When it comes down to it, supporting your employees so they can support your customers is the crux of CRM training.

Think about it, though. This also means that you'll have a knowledgeable and motivated team ready to tackle any challenge.

Let's look at the five ways that often plays out.

1. Faster User Adoption

Technology moves fast, and the last thing you want is for your employees to get left behind.

Also, with the pandemic disruptions and the remote workforce shake-up, some 58% of workers will need new skills (ahem, training) to do their job successfully.

Think about it. You want to give them a way forward with their career at your company – not a roadblock.

A one-off CRM training is good, but upskilling helps your employees stay on their game since platforms are constantly evolving.

Also, it almost goes without saying, but we'll say it.

The better-trained someone is on a CRM platform, the more they'll know it, and the more they'll use it.

Suddenly you're not worried about poor CRM hygiene anymore. Pretty sweet, huh?

2. Improved Data Accuracy

You know what kills a CRM? Bad data. Missing fields, duplicated contacts, inconsistent lead statuses, you name it.

Proper CRM software training helps users understand why it's important to enter clean, complete data, not just how. They learn how to use automation, tagging, lead scoring, and more, reducing the margin of error and the time you'll spend cleaning up the mess later.

3. Enhanced Sales and Marketing Alignment

A CRM isn't just a glorified contact list. With the right CRM online training, teams start seeing it as the central nervous system of your customer experience.

Sales knows when marketing sent that last drip email. Marketing sees which leads the sales team marked as "hot." And both teams stop pointing fingers.

4. Stronger Customer Relationships

When your team knows how to work the system, they stop fumbling and start connecting. Customers get faster follow-ups, personalized communication, and smoother service. That's because CRM training shows your reps how to use data in a meaningful way, not just stare at it like it's an Excel sheet from the underworld.

Imagine being able to see a customer's full history, preferences, and past interactions before you even pick up the phone.

With the right CRM training module or course, even new hires can build meaningful customer experiences that drive loyalty.

5. Better ROI on CRM Investment

CRM platforms aren't exactly cheap, and unused features are like gym memberships for people who never work out. With proper CRM training, you actually use the bells and whistles you're paying for.

Features like workflow automations, pipeline forecasting, lead segmentation, and customer journey mapping aren't just there to look pretty.

Even if you're bootstrapping, there's a ton of free CRM training out there to help your team extract value from every login. But if you want deeper insights or specialized help, adopting a certified online CRM training program or hiring a CRM coach can turn your CRM from a cost center into a revenue engine.

How Much Does CRM Training Cost?

The truth is, the cost of online CRM training can vary wildly depending on who it's for, how deep you want to go, and whether you're after a DIY crash course or an instructor-led bootcamp that holds your hand through pipeline hell.

Let's break it all down so you don't get hit with sticker shock, or worse, pay for a course that your team ghosts halfway through.

Cost Breakdown

CRM training isn't one-size-fits-all. There are different levels, formats, and goals, and yes, different price tags. Whether you're looking for free CRM training to get started or a more intensive MS CRM training program for your entire sales team, here's a breakdown of what you can expect:

Pricing for Individuals vs Teams

Now, if you're just a lone sales wolf looking for CRM software training free to polish your skills, there's plenty out there that won't cost you a dime. Great for individuals, freelancers, and people trying to make their CVs sparkle a little more.

But for businesses training entire departments, the pricing model shifts. Team training usually comes with:

• Volume discounts (yay!)
• Role-based learning paths
• Admin tools to track progress (or guilt-trip your team into finishing the modules)

Some CRM training for teams includes optional certification tests, sandbox environments, and dedicated support. Worth the price? Usually, yes, especially if it means your whole crew is finally using the CRM instead of working out of 12 browser tabs and a spreadsheet.

Potential Hidden Costs

Let's talk about what doesn't show up in the invoice: time away from selling. Whether you're deep into a 5-day workshop or just setting aside an hour for online CRM training, that's time not spent closing deals.

Other hidden costs to consider:

• Lost productivity during ramp-up (especially for non-tech-savvy users)
• Training fatigue if the course is too long or not engaging
• Follow-up coaching (because one session doesn't fix bad habits)

That's why it's important to balance depth with efficiency. Choose a program that's engaging, practical, and directly tied to your CRM goals, don't just throw your team into a 40-hour video course and hope for the best.

Pros and Cons of Free CRM Training

Free CRM training can be a lifesaver, especially when budgets are tight or you just want to dip your toes into the world of CRM software without committing to a paid course.

There are tons of great resources out there, from YouTube tutorials to vendor-specific onboarding videos. But as with anything "free," there's a tradeoff between accessibility and depth.

Here's a quick look at the pros and cons of free CRM software training options:

Free doesn't mean useless. But if you're trying to build deep CRM expertise across a team or optimize a complex system, you might eventually hit a wall.

Top 5 CRM Training Programs

Whether you're just starting out or trying to wrangle a sales team that's barely touched the CRM dashboard, the right training program makes all the difference. And thankfully, the market is packed with options, some completely free, others with premium perks, and all designed to make CRM tools less intimidating.

Here's a side-by-side look at five of the best CRM training programs out there today, from vendor-led academies to hands-on onboarding:

Unlike most CRMs that throw you a user manual and wish you luck, Ringy offers free onboarding and CRM training built into your subscription, no extra fees, no third-party course hunting. You get tailored guidance, real-time support, and hands-on help setting up your sales pipelines, workflows, and integrations from Day 1.

Get Started With a User-Friendly CRM Today!

When it comes to CRM training, you now know that there are plenty of options to choose from. Not to mention a lot of price points to consider.

Don't forget how training can help you level up your team's CRM game.

And hey, if you are looking for a CRM that understands the importance of exercise and upskilling, check out Ringy.

We're an intuitive, easy-to-learn CRM that offers in-platform, informative videos, two webinars a week and live training support within two hours.

Request a demo today and let us wow you.