In today’s dynamic agribusiness environment, effective customer relationship management (CRM) isn’t just a convenience—it’s a necessity. This was the core takeaway from Bushel’s recent webinar, “CRM: Leverage Data to Navigate Turnover, Leadership, and Business Unit Collaboration.” The event gathered agribusiness leaders Corey Winstead (FS Grain), Kristen Hoffman (Maplehurst Farms), and Tess Jarmin (United Quality Cooperative) to discuss how technology supports smoother transitions and better teamwork.

The roundtable began with a familiar pain point: managing customer data during transitions. Winstead reflected on his early days at FS Grain, where the reliance on sticky notes and scattered documents often led to disjointed customer experiences. Hoffman shared a similar story, receiving a spiral notebook as a handoff when she stepped into her role. These anecdotes highlight the need for centralized, accessible customer information to ensure continuity and trust.

Jarmin shared how her organization recently shifted from manual methods to using a CRM, streamlining communication across departments. Whether it’s a sales rep accessing a farmer’s propane and grain needs or an agronomist cross-referencing field data, CRM systems allow agribusiness teams to operate with a unified understanding of customer needs.

A common thread was how CRMs facilitate collaboration. For Hoffman at Maplehurst Farms, Bushel’s CRM solution has bridged gaps between grain marketing and agronomy teams, fostering stronger customer relationships. Winstead described how workflows in their CRM improved operational efficiency during harvest, ensuring seamless communication between grain buyers, customer service, and logistics.

The panel also discussed the benefits of using CRMs to manage staff turnover and leadership transitions. Winstead’s team leveraged their system to onboard new hires efficiently by arming them with historical data and customer insights as Jarmin noted that having the right tools in place shifts the focus from chasing data to building meaningful customer relationships.

Key Takeaways

The webinar wrapped up with actionable advice for businesses considering a CRM implementation:

• Start with Buy-In: Identify champions within your team to lead adoption.
• Prioritize Data Quality: A CRM is only as good as the data it holds. Invest time in setting up accurate and comprehensive customer records.
• Use Workflows: Integrate day-to-day processes into the CRM to ensure consistent usage across teams.
• Think Long-Term: The short-term effort pays off in improved customer service, operational efficiency, and team collaboration.

What’s Next?

Bushel’s CRM is built for agribusiness, integrating seamlessly with ERP systems to reduce manual data entry and deliver actionable insights. If you missed the webinar, view the recording here. You can also access our CRM Implementation Guide today to start simplifying your decision-making while setting your team and farmers up for success

Ready to see how a CRM can transform your agribusiness? Learn more about Bushel’s CRM solution.