Why Sales Teams Are Abandoning Legacy CRMs (And Where They're Heading Instead)
After two decades of Salesforce dominance, sales teams are doing something their vendors never expected: they're leaving. Not because the economy is bad. But because their CRM is actively working against them.
Introduction
Something is shifting in the world of sales technology.
After two decades of Salesforce dominance, sales teams are doing something their vendors never expected: they're leaving. Not because the economy is bad. Not because they're cutting costs. But because they've realized a hard truth: Their CRM is actively working against them.
In 2025, research from Gartner found that 43% of sales organizations were actively evaluating CRM alternatives—the highest percentage in a decade. The reasons weren't mysterious: bloated features, endless customization complexity, and prices that climb faster than close rates.
Key Takeaways
- 43% of sales organizations are actively evaluating CRM alternatives
- True legacy CRM costs often 4x the sticker price when you add admins, consultants, and add-ons
- Modern CRM platforms offer AI-native capabilities, faster deployment, and transparent pricing
- Migration is faster and safer than legacy vendors want you to believe
- The gap between legacy and modern CRM capabilities is accelerating
Frequently Asked Questions
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atonCRM Team
Helping sales teams navigate to success since 2022.