If you're trying to connect your CRM with your call recording or conversation intelligence tool, you already know: it rarely "just works." This guide is for people who want to actually get Praiz talking to their CRM, not just read marketing fluff. Whether you’re technical or just the most tech-savvy person on your team, you’ll find the practical steps—and a few warnings—right here.
Let’s get your sales calls, notes, and context where you need them: in your CRM, not lost in yet another tool.
1. Figure Out What “Integration” Actually Means for You
Before you start clicking buttons or copying API keys, get specific about what you want:
- Do you want call recordings and transcripts attached to contacts or deals in your CRM?
- Should Praiz trigger CRM workflows (like updating a deal stage after a call)?
- Do you just want links, or actual data (like call notes, sentiment, or tags) pulled in?
- Who needs access, and where do they expect to see these details?
Pro tip: Grab a piece of paper and sketch out what “good” looks like for your team. Saves a ton of headache later.
2. Check What Your CRM Supports (and What Praiz Offers)
Not all CRMs are created equal. Some have great APIs and webhooks; some barely let you add a custom field. Praiz, for its part, supports integrations with big names, but the depth varies.
Praiz integrations are best with: - Salesforce - HubSpot - Pipedrive - A few others via Zapier or Make (formerly Integromat)
If your CRM is something obscure or homegrown:
Prepare for more manual effort or custom API work. Sometimes it’s easier to switch CRMs than to force two unwilling tools to talk.
Things to check in your CRM: - API access: Is it included in your plan or an expensive add-on? - Custom fields: Can you add fields for Praiz call data? - Webhook support: Can your CRM receive incoming data? - Marketplace apps: Does Praiz already have a pre-built connector?
Things to check in Praiz: - Native CRM integrations (usually found in your Praiz dashboard under “Integrations”) - API docs (if you want to get fancy) - What data can be pushed/pulled: calls, transcripts, notes, links?
3. Prep Your Accounts and Permissions
You’ll need admin access to both Praiz and your CRM. This isn’t the time to realize you’re just a “viewer.”
- Get admin or integration permissions in both tools.
- Make a backup of your CRM data if you’re nervous.
- If you’re using a sandbox environment for testing, set that up now.
Don’t ignore this: If you skip permissions or try to “wing it” with the wrong accounts, you can waste hours chasing weird errors.
4. Connect Praiz and Your CRM
A. Use a Native Integration (If Available)
If Praiz offers a direct integration with your CRM, take it. This is almost always less painful than building your own.
Steps (generalized): 1. In Praiz, go to “Integrations” or “Settings.” 2. Select your CRM from the list. 3. Authenticate with your CRM account (OAuth pop-up, usually). 4. Choose what data to sync—calls, notes, recordings, etc. 5. Map fields if you get the option (more on this below). 6. Save and test with a single call.
What works:
- Fast setup, minimal tech hassle.
- Updates are handled by Praiz and the CRM vendor.
- Usually supports attaching call recordings and transcripts.
What doesn’t:
- Custom field mapping is sometimes limited.
- You may not get all the call metadata you want.
- If your CRM isn’t listed, you’re out of luck.
B. Use a Connector Tool (Zapier, Make, etc.)
If there’s no direct integration, these “middleware” tools let you build bridges between Praiz and your CRM.
Steps: 1. Sign up for a Zapier or Make account. 2. Connect your Praiz and CRM accounts. 3. Set up a trigger: “When a new call is recorded in Praiz…” 4. Set up an action: “Create/update contact/deal in CRM,” or “Add note/attachment.” 5. Map the fields—this part is fiddly. Double-check data types and formatting. 6. Test with a single call.
What works:
- Flexibility: You can do almost anything if you’re patient.
- Good for CRMs without native Praiz support.
What doesn’t:
- Zapier pricing gets expensive, fast.
- More points of failure.
- Rate limits can slow you down if you have lots of calls.
C. Go Custom: API to API
For teams with developers, or if you need something more robust, go straight to the APIs. Both Praiz and most major CRMs have decent docs.
General approach: - Get your API keys and set up authentication. - Use Praiz webhooks to push call data as soon as it’s available. - Write a script or small backend service to translate Praiz data into your CRM’s data model. - Handle errors, retries, and data validation (otherwise, you’ll hate yourself later).
What works:
- Ultimate flexibility.
- Can support complex workflows and custom fields.
What doesn’t:
- Maintenance burden: APIs change, stuff breaks.
- Dev time isn’t cheap.
- You’ll need to secure and monitor whatever you build.
5. Decide What Data Goes Where
Don’t dump everything. Be intentional.
Recommended: - Attach call recordings and transcripts directly to contacts, opportunities, or deals. - Add call summaries/notes where reps can see them. - Tag calls by type or outcome (demo, renewal, objection, etc.).
Skip or be cautious with: - Dumping full transcripts into CRM notes (nobody reads them, and it clutters things up). - Over-automation: If your CRM is flooded with “noise” data, people will ignore the good stuff.
Pro tip:
Start simple. You can always add more data later, but removing a mess is much harder.
6. Test with Real-World Scenarios
Don’t trust the “integration successful!” message. Run through real use cases:
- Record a test call in Praiz. Does it show up in your CRM, where you expect it?
- Are the right people notified?
- Can your sales or support team find and play back recordings easily?
- Do call notes, tags, and outcomes appear in the right format?
If something’s off:
Go back to your field mapping or integration settings. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get it right. Don’t be afraid to ask Praiz or your CRM’s support for help—they’ve seen it all.
7. Roll Out, Document, and Train Your Team
Don’t just flip the switch and hope for the best.
- Write a short internal doc or Loom video explaining how the integration works.
- Tell your team where to find call data in the CRM.
- Explain what’s automatic and what’s manual (e.g., do they need to tag calls in Praiz to show up in the CRM?).
- Set a time to check in after a week or two. Get feedback and fix anything that’s annoying or confusing.
8. Keep It Simple (and Iterate)
Most teams start with grand integration plans and end up with something that mostly works, some of the time. That’s fine. The point is to make your workflow easier, not to win an award for complexity.
- Start with the basics: calls and summaries linked to key CRM records.
- Add more automation only if people actually use it.
- Review and clean up your setup every few months—tools and needs change.
Bottom line:
Integration is never “set and forget.” But with a clear plan and a willingness to tweak things as you go, you’ll avoid the worst headaches and actually get value from Praiz and your CRM together. Just keep it practical, and don’t buy the hype.