Adopting DealCloud can be transformative for investment firms, private equity, and other capital markets professionals. It offers the opportunity to streamline deal management, centralise data, and empower teams with better reporting and insights. But like any platform, the value you get from DealCloud depends heavily on how well you onboard.
At it|venture, we’ve helped countless firms navigate this journey. Here are five key considerations to keep in mind when planning your onboarding:
1. Define your objectives early
DealCloud is highly configurable, which is both its greatest strength and biggest risk. Without clear objectives, firms can get lost in endless customization. Before onboarding, align stakeholders around:
- What success looks like (e.g., pipeline visibility, faster reporting, better collaboration).
- Which KPIs matter most.
- How you want to measure ROI from the system.
- A strong vision ensures configuration decisions always serve a purpose.
2. Map and clean your data
Data is the lifeblood of DealCloud. If you import messy, incomplete, or inconsistent records, the platform won’t deliver its full potential. A clean start means a more reliable and trustworthy DealCloud environment. We recommend:
- Conducting a thorough data audit before migration.
- Establishing rules for data quality and ownership.
- Planning how legacy systems (Outlook, Excel, CRM tools) will integrate or be retired.
We understand that data cleaning is a manual and time-consuming process. That’s why we support our clients in managing this critical step, helping to ensure your data is accurate, consistent, and ready to power your DealCloud platform.
3. Balance configuration with best practices
DealCloud’s flexibility means you can mirror your exact processes, but not every process should be replicated. Sometimes onboarding is the perfect time to streamline workflows. When configuring your system, make sure to:
- Challenge whether existing steps still add value.
- Lean on proven best practices for deal pipelines, contact management, and reporting.
- Avoid over-customisation that creates long-term complexity.
- Finding the right balance between familiarity and efficiency is key.
4. Prioritise user adoption
Even the most powerful CRM fails if the team doesn’t use it. User adoption should be a priority from day one:
- Involve end-users early in the design process.
- Deliver targeted training that matches roles.
- Create feedback loops to address pain points quickly.
- Celebrate early wins to build momentum.
Remember: adoption isn’t a one-time event, it’s an ongoing change-management effort.
5. Invest in reporting and insights
Many firms focus heavily on pipeline setup and data entry, but the real value often comes from reporting. Consider:
- Designing dashboards that provide real-time clarity for leadership.
- Building reports that support investor relations and fundraising.
- Establishing metrics that drive accountability and transparency.
Good reporting transforms DealCloud from a data repository into a strategic decision-making tool.
Laying the groundwork for success
Onboarding onto DealCloud is not just a technical exercise, it’s an opportunity to reimagine how your firm manages relationships, evaluates deals, and measures success. With clear objectives, clean data, smart configuration, strong adoption, and powerful reporting, firms can unlock DealCloud’s full potential.
At it|venture, we specialise in guiding firms through this process, ensuring you don’t just implement a system, you build a foundation for long-term success.
Contact us to find out how we can help you implement DealCloud.
