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Salesforce implementation can be quite challenging, especially if you don’t have the required expertise, resources, or in-house experts. What’s more, according to Merkle Group Inc., 63% of all CRM projects fail due to data migration issues, unaccountable project management, and hidden implementation costs.
Since you definitely don’t want your project to become a failure, it’d be a smart move to turn to an implementation partner to maximize your CRM investment, reignite the company’s growth, and accelerate the path to value. Still, while choosing a Salesforce consulting partner increases the chance of success, it might be hard to find one that would fit your domain, particular project, and existing team.
As a Salesforce implementation service provider, we put together some tried-and-true tips to provide you with guidance around how to choose the best partner and implement Salesforce for their organization.
Step 1. Start With the Basics
Start with your own research. To find the right Salesforce implementation partner that fits your business, you need to diligently follow a systematic approach. Once you’ve defined your business needs and goals for the future Salesforce project, it’s time to get a sense of what products and features Salesforce has to offer. One of your colleagues might have the relevant experience of working with this–or similar–CRM system; or at the very least the Salesforce website itself is riddled with free demo videos, presentations, and case studies helping you get the initial understanding of the whole process.
Step 2. Consider Salesforce Consultants
If you are a CRM newbie, then contact the Salesforce Account Executives that have been assigned to you and tell them a bit more about your project and ask who they can recommend. Also, with the help of Salesforce AppExchange, you can create a shortlist of the potential Salesforce Consulting Partners with the opportunity to visit their websites, videos, case studies, eBooks, blogs, and vision statements. Use the options of other sites and listings such as Upcity.com or other similar sites to choose from the top-rated Salesforce consulting companies.
Your personal network also matters as you can connect with peers who have similar needs and company size and ask for their recommendations; statistics say that 83% of customers are willing to refer after a positive experience.
Step 3. Remember That Proven Expertise Is Key
After extensive research, it may seem that the candidate with a fancy business proposal is a perfect match for you. But don’t jump to conclusions too fast! An established Salesforce Consulting Partner sure has a certain action plan for new clients that would meet their business expectations, so ask them whether they can provide you with demos, live sessions, case studies, or proof of concept. Though experts charge more money and ask tons of questions, they’ve dealt with hundreds of projects like yours and understand the process perfectly–which will definitely benefit you in the long run. Investing time at the initial stages is crucial if you want to capitalize on your investment in any technology.
Moreover, Salesforce has a strong certification program that offers credentials for Salesforce Administrators, Developers, Consultants, Architectures, and Marketers. Certifications highlight an overall mastery of a specific role and are a great way to help you cherry-pick candidates for defined jobs and projects, so ask if the potential candidate had achieved ones.
Step 4. Define Roles and Responsibilities
Both parties should be well-informed of the roles of in-house and consultant team members involved. Key roles such as strategic consultant, data or requirements architect, change management consultant, technical and organizational project manager, project administrators, and consultant manager should be well-defined and assigned based on the skill set team members possess.
Step 5. Lay the Foundation for the Lasting Partnership
Once you’ve finally decided on your Salesforce consulting partner, start developing a long-term engagement strategy. Establish regular calls and discovery sessions to exchange unique ideas and experiences you both have. Discuss all details and think ahead of what happens next while considering future improvements for the project. Trust your partners, as they have capabilities for proactively identifying risks before any changes are due to start.
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5 Tips to Choose the Right Salesforce Consulting Partner for Your Company
The above-outlined strategy will definitely help you move towards a better understanding of the qualities your future Salesforce implementation partner should possess. To assist you in the choice between many vendors, we’ve put together some really important points to consider:
1. Salesforce Team Seniority
If at least half of the team are senior-level pros with all the necessary certifications, that’s essentially a guarantee that they are up-to-date on the most recent Salesforce releases and know all the CRM weaknesses from a technical standpoint. Note that Salesforce Administrators and Developers Certifications are a must for any consulting agency.
2. Domain Awareness
It’s a great advantage if the consulting company has some expertise in your space. Powered by tried-and-true insights, it can create a winning Salesforce implementation strategy, helping you move from idea to execution–faster and with less overhead.
3. Expertise in Key Salesforce Clouds and Products
When your partner knows the Salesforce products (Sales Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Service Cloud, Community Cloud, Health Cloud, Pardot, and more) in all minutest details, they can advise you on the one that goes in line with your specific goals and needs.
4. Similar-Scale Projects in the Portfolio
It’s a great idea to look through the company’s portfolio and check what companies it works with. If the vendor partners only with startups, then it simply may not be able to handle your enterprise-scale project.
5. Customer-Responsive Culture
Don’t forget to pay attention to the potential partner’s response rate–how they address your concerns and are willing to go the extra mile to solve emerging issues. This will ensure smooth project management and high-quality execution of the Salesforce implementation in the future.
Ready to Digitally Transform Your Business?
Implementing Salesforce solutions is full of pitfalls. Luckily, you can turn to a Salesforce consulting company that will support and guide you through the whole digital transformation journey. With seasoned Salesforce specialists on board, you’ll be able to unleash the full power hidden behind the CRM system, while scaling your business, meeting growing customer and stakeholder demands, and growing revenue.