Two Approaches To Automation
Approach 1: Big CRM. System selection, specs, tender, 3-6 month implementation, team training. Budget: $5,000 — $30,000. Results visible after 6 months.
Approach 2: MVP-first. Find the biggest pain, launch a narrow scenario in 3-7 days, see results, expand. First step budget: $100 — $300.
Why MVP-First Works Better For SMB
- Fast results — first automation works in a week, not 6 months
- Lower risk — if it doesn't fit, you lost $150 not $5,000
- Less team resistance — changes are small and understandable
- Real data drives decisions — expand based on what works, not on specs
Typical MVP-First Trajectory
- Week 1: Telegram bot for lead capture ($150)
- Week 3: Parser for competitor monitoring ($200)
- Month 2: Mini CRM with integrations ($800)
- Month 3: Auto-reports and dashboards ($250)
Total in 3 months: full automation for ~$1,400 instead of $15,000 for a big CRM.
Principle: start with the most expensive manual operation. Automate it. Verify the result. Repeat.