How to Migrate from Instantly to Ceven
Migrating from Instantly to Ceven involves rebuilding your workflows and re-authorizing connected apps, but it also offers an opportunity to enhance your automation capabilities. Instantly is an AI sales and outreach platform that specializes in cold-email campaigns and lead intelligence, providing features like unlimited inboxes, a B2B lead database, and AI sales agents. Ceven, on the other hand, is a versatile AI workflow automation platform that connects to over 1,000 tools, runs end-to-end workflows on a schedule with AI steps and human-approval gates, and can build and host no-code pages/apps. This guide will walk you through the migration process, helping you leverage Ceven's advanced capabilities to automate your sales and outreach processes more effectively.
Before you begin, understand that there is no automatic import feature. Migrating means rebuilding your workflows on Ceven and re-authorizing the same connected apps. It's crucial to run both systems in parallel on real data and switch over only once the Ceven version is proven. This approach ensures a smooth transition and minimizes disruptions to your sales and outreach efforts.
Migrate from Instantly to Ceven in 7 steps
Inventory Your Current Workflows
Start by listing all the outcomes you achieve with Instantly. Focus on the results, not the steps. For example, note that you enrich leads, send follow-up emails, or generate reports, rather than listing the specific emails sent or databases queried.
Connect the Same Apps in Ceven
Ceven connects to over 1,000 tools, so you can re-authorize the same apps you use with Instantly. This includes your email providers, CRM, and any other relevant systems. This step ensures that your data flows seamlessly between Ceven and your existing tools.
Describe the Outcomes to Rebuild
Instead of recreating your Instantly workflows one-for-one, describe the outcomes you want to achieve in Ceven. For example, if you want to enrich leads and send follow-up emails, design workflows in Ceven that achieve these goals. This approach allows you to take advantage of Ceven's advanced features and AI capabilities.
Add AI Steps and Approval Gates
Identify areas in your Instantly workflows where automation was brittle or prone to errors. In Ceven, add AI steps to handle these tasks more intelligently. Additionally, incorporate human-approval gates to ensure that critical actions, such as writing to systems of record, are reviewed before execution.
Validate in Parallel
Run your Instantly and Ceven workflows in parallel for a set period. This allows you to compare the results and ensure that Ceven's workflows are functioning as expected. Monitor the performance of both systems closely and make any necessary adjustments to your Ceven workflows.
Schedule and Cut Over
Once you are confident that your Ceven workflows are performing reliably, schedule a cutover date. Communicate this date to your team and ensure that everyone is prepared for the transition. On the cutover date, disable your Instantly workflows and rely solely on Ceven for your sales and outreach automation.
Monitor and Optimize
After the cutover, closely monitor your Ceven workflows to ensure they continue to perform as expected. Use Ceven's analytics and reporting features to identify areas for optimization and make continuous improvements to your automation processes.
Why teams switch from Instantly to Ceven
Teams often switch from Instantly to Ceven to take advantage of a more versatile and powerful automation platform. While Instantly excels in cold-email campaigns and lead intelligence, Ceven offers a broader range of automation capabilities. Ceven's ability to connect to over 1,000 tools and run end-to-end workflows with AI steps and human-approval gates makes it a more comprehensive solution for teams looking to automate various aspects of their sales and outreach processes.
Additionally, Ceven's no-code page and app builder allows teams to create custom applications and landing pages without requiring extensive coding knowledge. This feature can be particularly useful for teams looking to enhance their outreach efforts with personalized and interactive content. By migrating to Ceven, teams can consolidate their automation efforts into a single, more capable platform, streamlining their workflows and improving overall efficiency.
What moves over and what doesn't
When migrating from Instantly to Ceven, the focus is on transitioning your workflows and automations, not moving your CRM database or lead intelligence data. Ceven is not a CRM and does not replace your system of record. Instead, it runs alongside your existing systems, automating the busywork around them. This includes tasks such as lead enrichment, follow-up emails, and reporting. Your data remains in your CRM and other systems of record, with Ceven orchestrating the automation around them.
What doesn't move over is the specific configuration and settings of your Instantly workflows. Since there is no automatic import, you will need to rebuild these workflows in Ceven. However, this process allows you to consolidate and optimize your workflows, taking advantage of Ceven's advanced features and AI capabilities. Your connected apps and integrations will need to be re-authorized in Ceven, but the data and outcomes achieved by your workflows will be preserved.
Avoiding the common pitfalls
One of the most common pitfalls when migrating from Instantly to Ceven is attempting to recreate your workflows one-for-one. Instead, focus on describing the outcomes you want to achieve and designing workflows in Ceven that deliver those results. This approach allows you to take full advantage of Ceven's capabilities and optimize your automation processes.
Another pitfall is rushing the migration process. It's crucial to run both Instantly and Ceven in parallel for a sufficient period to validate that your Ceven workflows are performing as expected. Monitor the performance of both systems closely and make any necessary adjustments to your Ceven workflows before fully committing to the transition. Additionally, ensure that your team is well-prepared for the cutover and that all stakeholders are aligned on the migration plan.
Frequently asked
Can Ceven automatically import my workflows from Instantly?
No, Ceven does not offer an automatic import feature for workflows from Instantly. Migrating involves rebuilding your workflows on Ceven and re-authorizing the same connected apps. This process allows you to consolidate and optimize your workflows, taking advantage of Ceven's advanced features and AI capabilities.
How long does the migration process take?
The duration of the migration process can vary depending on the complexity of your workflows and the extent of customization required. It's recommended to allocate sufficient time for inventorying your current workflows, rebuilding them in Ceven, and validating the results in parallel with Instantly. This process can take several weeks to a few months, depending on your specific needs and resources.
What happens to my data during the migration?
During the migration, your data remains in your existing systems of record, such as your CRM. Ceven does not store or replace your CRM database. Instead, it automates the busywork around your CRM, such as lead enrichment, follow-up emails, and reporting. Your data flows seamlessly between Ceven and your existing tools, ensuring that your sales and outreach processes continue to function smoothly throughout the transition.