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CRM Deduplication Ongoing Tool - Project Details / Task List

Tag: crm-dedup Total Hours: 15h Structure: Single Milestone (<=50h)


Milestone: CRM Deduplication Ongoing Tool

Description: A technical implementation project that deploys and configures dedicated deduplication software within the CRM environment to automate the ongoing identification, prevention, and merging of duplicate records across Contacts, Leads, and Accounts/Companies.


Task List: (CRM Dedup) 1. Assessment & Configuration

Contains: Parts 1-2

TaskEstDescription
1. Audit Current Duplicate Landscape1.5hAnalyze the existing CRM to understand the scope and sources of duplicate records. End state: Documented assessment of duplicate volume, affected objects, and root causes.

• Run duplicate reports in CRM for Contacts/Leads and Accounts/Companies
• Identify common duplicate patterns (email variations, company name inconsistencies, typos)
• Document duplicate sources (manual entry, imports, form submissions, integrations)
• Quantify the duplicate rate per object (e.g., "15% of Contacts have duplicates")
• Interview RevOps/Sales Ops on current manual deduplication pain points
• Review any existing deduplication rules or validation checks in place
2. Define Tool Requirements and Evaluate Options1.5hDocument requirements and evaluate deduplication tool options against client tech stack and needs. End state: Shortlist of 2-3 tools with feature comparison matrix.

• Document CRM platform (Salesforce vs HubSpot) and edition/tier
• List integration requirements (sync between CRM and MAP, third-party tools)
• Define key requirements: fuzzy matching, automated vs on-demand, preview capability, unmerge/rollback
• Research and compare tools: Openprise, Ringlead, DemandTools, Insycle, Dedupely, native CRM tools
• Evaluate on: matching algorithms, automation capabilities, audit trails, cost per user
• Create comparison matrix with pros/cons for client review
3. Select Tool and Secure Budget1hPresent tool recommendation and get client approval for procurement. End state: Tool selected with budget approved and procurement initiated.

• Prepare recommendation summary with top 1-2 options
• Document total cost of ownership (licensing, implementation, ongoing maintenance)
• Present to client stakeholders with business case
• Get budget approval and initiate procurement/trial
• Confirm admin access will be provisioned
4. Set Up Tool Account and CRM Connection1hCreate the deduplication tool account and establish connection to the CRM with proper API permissions. End state: Tool connected to CRM and ready for configuration.

• Create deduplication tool account (admin and user accounts as needed)
• Connect to Salesforce/HubSpot via OAuth or API key
• Grant required API permissions (read/write for Contacts, Leads, Accounts, Companies)
• Verify connection status in tool dashboard
• Document credentials and admin access for client handoff
5. Configure Matching Rules for Contacts/Leads1.5hSet up duplicate matching rules for person records (Contacts and Leads). End state: Matching rules configured to catch exact and fuzzy duplicates on person records.

• Define primary matching field (email address for B2B)
• Configure fuzzy matching rules for name variations (Sara K. vs Sarah Khan)
• Set matching thresholds/confidence scores for auto-merge vs manual review
• Add secondary matching criteria (phone, company, domain)
• Configure cross-object matching (Contacts vs Leads deduplication)
• Test rules with sample data to verify accuracy
6. Configure Matching Rules for Accounts/Companies1hSet up duplicate matching rules for company records. End state: Matching rules configured for Accounts/Companies with domain and name variations.

• Define primary matching field (domain/website for B2B companies)
• Configure fuzzy matching for company name variations (Inc vs Incorporated, typos)
• Handle parent/child account relationships appropriately
• Set confidence thresholds for auto-merge vs manual review
• Address HubSpot-specific setting: disable auto-create company from contact activity if synced
• Test rules with sample company data
7. Define Master Record Selection Rules1hConfigure rules for which record survives as the master when merging duplicates. End state: Master record selection criteria defined and configured.

• Define master record criteria: most complete data, most recent activity, earliest created
• Configure field-level survivorship rules (which field values to keep)
• Ensure work email addresses are prioritized over personal for B2B
• Set rules for preserving opt-out/unsubscribe preferences (critical for compliance)
• Configure handling of related records (activities, opportunities, notes)
• Document master selection logic for team reference

Task List: (CRM Dedup) 2. Automation & Rollout

Contains: Parts 3-4

TaskEstDescription
8. Configure Real-Time Duplicate Prevention1hSet up preventative deduplication to stop duplicates at point of entry. End state: Validation rules active to alert or block duplicate creation.

• Enable real-time duplicate detection on record creation
• Configure alert behavior: warn user, block creation, or auto-merge
• Set up prevention for web forms/lead capture sources
• Configure prevention for data imports/bulk uploads
• Test prevention with sample form submissions and manual entry
• Verify alerts display correctly to end users
9. Configure Automated Merge Workflows1hSet up scheduled automation to identify and merge duplicates on an ongoing basis. End state: Automated deduplication running on defined schedule with appropriate thresholds.

• Define automation schedule (daily, weekly) based on data volume
• Set confidence thresholds for automated merges (high confidence only)
• Configure lower-confidence matches to queue for manual review
• Set up notification for manual review queue
• Enable preview/dry-run mode for initial automation runs
• Document automation logic and schedule
10. Build Manual Review Queue and Process0.5hCreate a workflow for human review of uncertain duplicates. End state: Review queue configured with clear process for RevOps team.

• Configure manual review queue in tool
• Define which duplicates route to manual review (below confidence threshold)
• Set up assignment rules (who reviews which record types)
• Create review checklist/criteria for merge decisions
• Configure unmerge capability as safeguard for incorrect merges
• Document manual review SOP for RevOps team
11. Conduct Thorough Testing1.5hTest all deduplication configurations before production rollout. End state: All matching rules, automations, and prevention validated with test data.

• Run matching rules against test data set (known duplicates and non-duplicates)
• Verify false positive rate is acceptable (not merging non-duplicates)
• Verify false negative rate is acceptable (not missing actual duplicates)
• Test master record selection on merge scenarios
• Test prevention rules with form submissions and manual entry
• Test automated merge workflow in preview mode
• Document test results and any rule adjustments needed
12. Run Initial Deduplication with Preview1hExecute first production deduplication run with preview review before committing merges. End state: Initial duplicate backlog cleared with audit trail.

• Generate preview report of all detected duplicates
• Review preview with client stakeholders for approval
• Address any unexpected matches or false positives
• Execute merge operation on approved duplicates
• Verify related records (activities, opportunities) transferred correctly
• Generate post-merge report showing records merged
13. Train RevOps Team on Tool Usage1hTrain the RevOps/Sales Ops team on using the deduplication tool for ongoing management. End state: Team trained and confident in using the tool.

• Schedule training session (30-45 minutes)
• Cover: how to review manual queue, how to run on-demand deduplication, how to adjust rules
• Walk through dashboard and reporting features
• Demonstrate unmerge/rollback process for incorrect merges
• Create quick-reference guide for common tasks
• Record session for future team members
14. Hand Off to Client and Establish Monitoring0.5hTransfer ownership to client team with documentation and establish ongoing monitoring cadence. End state: Client self-sufficient with clear monitoring routine.

• Transfer admin credentials to client RevOps
• Deliver documentation package (configuration settings, matching rules, automation schedule)
• Set up monthly/quarterly review cadence for rule tuning
• Configure dashboard or report for ongoing duplicate metrics
• Schedule 30-day check-in to review tool performance
• Close out project

Summary

  • Total Task Lists: 2 (consolidated from 4 Parts)
  • Total Tasks: 14 (one per Step)
  • Total Hours: 15h
  • Generated from: playbook_crm-deduplication-ongoing-tool.md
  • Generated on: 2025-12-31