As the life sciences industry evolves, so do its digital needs. In response, Veeva Systems has introduced Vault CRM, a modern, composable platform built for agility, scalability, and long-term compliance. For companies currently using Veeva CRM, the shift to Vault CRM is not just a software upgrade; it’s a strategic migration that redefines how commercial teams operate.

Here’s everything you need to know about making a smooth transition from Veeva CRM to Vault CRM.

Why Move from Veeva CRM to Vault CRM?

Veeva CRM has served the industry well for years. However, Vault CRM is a next-generation solution built from the ground up to address new challenges, such as:

• Greater demand for Real-time data access: Vault CRM’s Direct Data API can serve 1 million+ records in under 2 seconds, allowing reps to access metrics without waiting on a slow dashboard
  
   
• Need for customization without complexity: Vault CRM lets admins add new fields, picklists, and page layouts by updating JSON metadata and running a single Veeva CLI command—global deployment in under 30 minutes with zero custom code.
  
   
• Integration with AI, machine learning, and modern APIs: The Vault CRM Bot taps into your activity history and ML-scored engagement models to recommend the “next-best action” for each HCP, delivering personalized suggestions via chat or voice in seconds.
  
   
• Enhanced cross-functional collaboration: Vault CRM’s native Microsoft Teams connector and PromoMats integration mean sales, marketing, medical, and service teams share the same record views, content libraries, and comments in real time, no more chasing versioned slide decks or email threads.
  
   

Vault CRM is cloud-native, mobile-ready, and fully integrated with Veeva Vault, making it a future-proof platform for global commercial operations.

Key Differences Between Veeva CRM and Vault CRM

While both Veeva CRM and Vault CRM are designed for the life sciences industry, they differ significantly in terms of architecture, flexibility, and ownership.

1. Platform Ownership
Veeva CRM is built on the Salesforce platform, meaning it relies heavily on Salesforce’s update cycles, limitations, and licensing. In contrast, Vault CRM is entirely developed on Veeva's own infrastructure, which specializes in life sciences, giving life sciences companies complete control over how the system evolves and operates.

2. Customization & Flexibility
Veeva CRM users often face constraints when trying to tailor workflows or modules to specific needs due to Salesforce’s rigid data structure. Vault CRM introduces modular customization, allowing businesses to configure features without complex workarounds or dependencies.

3. Integration Ecosystem
Vault CRM seamlessly integrates with other Veeva Vault applications such as PromoMats, MedComms, and QualityDocs. This creates a unified digital ecosystem, making it easier to manage content, compliance, and commercial activity all in one place.

4. Performance & Speed
Because Vault CRM isn’t layered on a third-party platform, it offers improved system performance, fewer dependencies, and faster update cycles. Companies can push changes more frequently without waiting for external vendor releases.

5. User Experience (UX)
Vault CRM is designed with mobile-first logic, making it more intuitive for field reps and remote teams. It reduces clicks, improves navigation, and supports offline functionality for better productivity on the go.

Benefits of Migrating to Vault CRM

Total Control Over Platform
Companies are no longer dependent on third-party infrastructure (like Salesforce). Vault CRM runs on Veeva’s own architecture.

Industry-Specific Configuration
Out-of-the-box configurations for life sciences eliminate the need for complex custom builds.

More Flexibility, Faster Updates
Custom modules and workflows can be deployed faster without downtime.

Seamless Data Unification
Better data connectivity with other Vault applications like PromoMats, MedComms, and QualityDocs.

Improved Mobile Experience

Field teams can now access data, log activity, and collaborate effortlessly, anytime, anywhere.

Challenges You May Encounter During Migration

Though the benefits are significant, moving to Vault CRM requires planning and precision. Some common hurdles include:

Data Mapping Issues – Mismatched data models between Veeva CRM and Vault CRM can lead to field and picklist level discrepancies, risking loss of data integrity and historical audit trails during migration

Compliance Risk – Transferring regulated records and e-signature metadata without gaps in challenging situations– any missing audit events or misaligned timestamps could jeopardize 21 CFR Part 11 and GDPR compliance

Integration Gaps – Legacy systems and custom middleware often lack native connectors for Vault CRM’s APIs, creating technical complexity when rewiring event-driven data flows and real-time integrations.

Training Needs – End users must adapt to Vault CRM’s new UI paradigms and workflow logic, which can impede adoption, increase errors, and extend ramp-up times for sales teams. 

Steps for a Successful Migration

1. Assessment & Discovery
   Identify key workflows, data sets, and user roles in the current CRM. Conduct stakeholder workshops and process‐mapping sessions to document all system touchpoints before migration

    

2. Data Cleansing & Preparation
   Archive irrelevant records and ensure clean, compliant data sets for migration. Profile and dedupe your data with specialized tools (e.g., OpenRefine) to validate accuracy and consistency prior to migration.

    

3. Custom Configuration in Vault CRM
   Build tailored modules, fields, and processes to match your business logic. Store all metadata in version-controlled repositories and deploy via the Veeva CLI for repeatable, auditable configuration releases.

    

4. Testing & Validation
   Run sandbox trials with actual users. Perform test migrations in full-data sandboxes and automate integration and performance tests to surface issues early. 

    

5. User Training & Change Management
   Provide tutorials, help desks, and real-time support during go-live. Engage pilots and super-users in advance, and maintain open feedback channels to drive adoption. 

    

6. Go-Live & Post-Migration Support
   Launch in phases to minimize disruption and maintain continuity. Establish a hypercare period with a dedicated support team and ticketing system to monitor and resolve any post-go-live issues under agreed SLAs

    

Why to Choose Cloud Rank as a Migration Partner? 

Migrating from Veeva CRM to Vault CRM isn’t a copy-paste project; it’s a transformation. That’s why leading pharma and life sciences companies trust Cloud Rank to lead the transition with clarity and confidence.

With deep domain expertise in Veeva platform services, ETL pipelines, and custom workflow mapping, Cloud Rank ensures:

Minimal disruption during the migration
100% compliance with industry standards
End-to-end support: planning, execution, and optimization
Faster adoption through hands-on training and documentation

Contact Cloud Rank today to schedule your migration assessment and future-proof your CRM strategy.