How to Find the Right Salesforce Implementation Partner: Insights from Certified Professionals

Salesforce is the world’s number one customer relationship management (CRM) solution, revolutionizing the way companies manage their customer relationships. It enables them to grow their sales effectively, close more sales, generate higher sales revenue, and improve sales forecasting. There’s no question that Salesforce offers powerful tools, yet taming the beast of Salesforce remains problematic for most companies. Salesforce is a challenging platform to navigate. Implementing and customizing Salesforce to meet your business needs can be difficult, which is why you need a trusted Salesforce implementation partner.

Choosing a Salesforce implementation partner is a decision that companies interested in the vast potential of Salesforce must make. This decision is not just about technical capabilities. It's not so much about finding a partner who knows everything about business operations, but rather finding someone who shares your vision of the business and who will understand your specific problems. Therefore, it’s essential to ask the right questions to determine how well they are positioned to deliver customized solutions.

A common question that new Salesforce users ask is: Can my company implement Salesforce on its own? Yes, if you have sufficient time to implement and are on a solid technical foundation. But what if you don’t have the technical support team? Choosing a Salesforce development partner is the right decision.

Picking the perfect partner to roll out and implement Salesforce is a big deal — depending on the nature and size of your business, it can even be make or break! Thousands of Salesforce consultants, tons of info on the web…where do you start? To make things easier, we’ve listed the most important things to consider when on such a mission: Read on to set your project up for success right from the start.

You will learn the benefits of linking with Salesforce partners for any implementation, in contrast with self-implementation, and what partnership is all about. We'll also share tips about how to select the right Salesforce implementation partner. Continue reading for more details.

This guide will be beneficial if you and your team aren’t Salesforce experts and lack the time or resources to become proficient, but still want to take advantage of the Salesforce platform.

It will explain the benefits of collaborating with Salesforce partners for any implementation project compared to self-implementation while shedding light on the concept of partnership. Furthermore, we will discuss tips on selecting the best Salesforce implementation partner. Just keep reading for more information.

What is a Salesforce Implementation?

A Salesforce implementation is a project that involves creating and deploying a new Salesforce instance for your organization to utilize. There may be an initial and ongoing cost for implementation and maintenance. The introduction stages may involve training employees and setting up technical accounts.

There will be other components that are maintained, such as data hygiene (e.g., Salesforce Opportunity management) or third-party integrations through HubSpot, Slack, or any other tools you’re using.

As the Salesforce platform is very complex and labor-intensive to manage, we suggest bringing in at least one in-staff Salesforce expert (or two) or a third-party implementer who is experienced in implementing Salesforce for you.

What is a Salesforce Implementation Partner?

Salesforce Implementation Partner: A Salesforce implementation partner is an independent operational consultation service with expertise in the implementation of Salesforce or a subset of Salesforce. Salesforce has its own partner program, where every implementation partner has been vetted and approved by Salesforce as a partner.

You can bring in a Salesforce implementation partner to help you configure and run your CRM, or to audit and tune your current Salesforce system.

Some of the fields in Salesforce’s complex CRM that implementation partners can specialize in are:

• Broad Salesforce implementation

• Salesforce automation consulting

• Einstein Analytics Consulting

• Field service lightning consulting

• Salesforce HubSpot integration

• Salesforce Clouds

In most cases, you’ll need to hire a Salesforce expert during your Salesforce journey – and the choice is up to you, either from a company or a freelancer.

Deciding whether to hire a Salesforce implementation consultant company or an individual comes down to what you need and how much you are willing to spend. A consultant might have expertise in additional areas and with more knowledge at their disposal to help you manage your whole Salesforce ecosystem.

On the contrary, they may be weaker in one specific area of Salesforce implementation that will save you money.

Like any industry, hiring a company can be cheaper on the front end, but bringing on a full-time staff member can be more expensive in the long term.

Best Strategies for Choosing the Appropriate Salesforce Implementation Partner

Choosing the perfect Salesforce implementation is a linchpin to your business success with Salesforce. These are the five best practices that demonstrate how you can do it.

Consider Experience and Expertise

Always ensure that you find a Partner That Provides the Right Depth and Breadth of Industry Experience. The right fit will understand your specific challenges and industry best practices, offer custom-made solutions, and do it all in a compliant manner. You can do this by reviewing the work history and examining the track records of successfully implemented services. You should also consider the number of certified consultants and the certifications and training they have received.

Verify client references and reviews

It is something to consider when selecting a Salesforce implementation partner. Ensure you verify references through their past clients and contact each one to gain insight into their experience, the type of deliverables they received in their projects, and their level of satisfaction with the deliverables. Additionally, you should not overlook reading online reviews and industry forums to assess the partner's reputation. Remember to evaluate both positive and negative feedback so that you can understand their strengths and weaknesses, as well as how they handle customer relationships.

Prioritize Support and Maintenance

Always ask for follow-up support after the implementation is complete. You need a reliable partner to help you in the long run. This partner should be prepared to resolve any issues, implement improvements, and provide training to end users as needed. Oh, and don’t overlook the service level agreements, which help clarify the response time, resolution measurements, and how technical assistance is offered.

Ensure Alignment in Company Culture and Communication Style

Even the most technically proficient partner may stumble if the communication is poor. As such, you should take into consideration how transparent communication is and the “flow” of work between your company and implementation partner, as well as the cultural fit. You will only have a successful partnership if you share common values and if your implementation partner understands your business culture. Instead, you’ll need to find people who desire a committed long-term relationship rather than a one-off project.

Look for a pricing structure that is clear and transparent

It’s not really rocket science that an ambiguous pricing model could steamroll the best of deployment plans. Thus, while choosing a Salesforce implementation partner, pricing and cost structure should be scrutinized. Check their fee structure to see if they charge a flat fee, an hourly rate, or a mix of both. Knowing how they expect payment can help you avoid unexpected costs as the project progresses.

The Benefits of a Salesforce Implementation Partner

Working with a Salesforce implementation expert makes your CRM journey easier and more successful from the start. These experts possess extensive experience and technical skills. They follow best practices to guide each step of the setup, ensuring the platform perfectly fits your business needs. By working with a Salesforce implementation partner, organizations gain access to customized solutions, faster implementation, and reliable ongoing support—all of which maximize the value of Salesforce while minimizing risks and accelerating return on investment.

Ninety percent of customers rely on a third-party app or advice to manage their CRM (Salesforce).

When you invest in a Salesforce implementation partner, your Salesforce CRM will be set up correctly so your data is being recorded and stored accurately—and you can make decisions on that data.

Overall, some of the advantages of hiring a Salesforce implementation partner are:

• Help with the implementation and training of Salesforce.

• Tailor Salesforce CRM to your company’s needs and model

• Enable seamless integration with other systems or data migration

• Manageability of CRM data within the organization

• Use the kind of automation that allows saving time and makes work easier

• Find issues with your internal procedures that may be affecting sales or marketing results

• Secure data and systems so we won't make the same mistakes (hopefully) in the future

• Cheaper than hiring a full-time Data Analyst or Salesforce pro

Salesforce has its own App Exchange platform, where customers can access more than 7000 third-party apps, experts, and consultants who can help you get started and manage your Salesforce cloud.

We’ll also share that it is critical to engage with a Salesforce implementation partner early on to avoid the expensive repairs or changes that will require even more upfront labor to ensure your system is functioning correctly.

So now that you’re aware of the benefits, how do you go about selecting the best partner for you?

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Knowing what is expected from a Salesforce implementation partner is vital for a successful partnership. This section lists a few of the roles they fulfill to make certain the phases of your Salesforce release make sense and are successful.

• Strategic planning. A Salesforce Implementation Partner assists in developing a strategy to use Salesforce effectively in your business. They collaborate with you to define long-term and short-term goals for the implementation.

• System setup. They will need to implement the Salesforce system rapidly to get you up and running, making changes and seeing benefits in short order.

• Customization and configuration. These partners tailor the Salesforce platform to meet your specific business needs. This could be fields, data models, and more in the system.

• Tool and feature selection. They help you pick the right tools and features in Salesforce and align your business needs with them.

• Integration. They will work with your key stakeholders to implement Salesforce into your current environment and provide full adoption and business process improvements.

• Training. After the system is implemented, they train end-users to use the new system properly.

• Project management. Most Salesforce Implementation Partners also provide consultation that can guide you through the entire process and oversee your project from start to finish.

• Success metrics and timeline. A good partner will help you define your success criteria and establish a reasonable yet logistical timeline for your implementation journey.

A Salesforce implementation partner is a trusted customer advocate who assists you in every aspect throughout your Salesforce journey. They provide end-to-end services to optimize ROI from planning to post-implementation support.

The Purpose of a Salesforce Implementation Partner

Deploying Salesforce to your business is a significant project that requires trained professionals to complete. Even as some firms try to go their own way, the complexity of the approach means that the results are generally suboptimal. Why Your Business Needs a Salesforce Implementation Partner, and why getting their support is not just nice to have, but a matter of survival.

Expertise and Real-World Experience

A significant reason for hiring a Salesforce implementation partner is the in-depth knowledge and real-world expertise it provides. Our certified consultants have years of real-world experience in implementing Salesforce for multiple verticals. It’s a skill that no in-house Salesforce consulting team, no matter how well trained, can easily match.

Customization Capabilities

Every business is unique, and a one-size-fits-all, off-the-shelf solution will not suffice when it comes to Salesforce implementations. Salesforce consultants and partners are generally well-suited to build custom Salesforce solutions and apps that align with your unique business requirements, given their technical know-how. This personalization is vital to the performance and productivity of your Salesforce implementation.

Minimizing Employee Downtime

Learning a new system can be a time drain and an inconvenience to your staff, hindering them from doing their jobs effectively. A Salesforce implementation partner does the heavy lifting for you, so your team can keep doing their jobs. This dual approach protects your business processes while the new system is being established.

Scalability and Long-Term Support

Your business needs and objectives will change, and so will how you use a Salesforce solution. One of the signs of a good Salesforce consulting & implementation partner is that it simply doesn’t go “missing in action” after the first few weeks. They provide ongoing support and help you scale your Salesforce system as your business grows. It is a long-term relationship that's priceless for keeping an agile and responsive business model.

Risk Mitigation

Industry reports suggest that 50% of Salesforce installations fail to deliver on their promise. A certified partner for Salesforce implementation can significantly mitigate that risk. Their knowledge means the install is done right the first time, without the expense of mistakes and second trips.

When to Hire a Salesforce Implementation Partner

When to Hire a Salesforce Implementation Partner that knows the exact time to do the magic? This article provides essential signs to help you distinguish between them.

• Defining objective. If you’re trying to roll out a new piece of software or improve your processes, it’s time to visit with a partner.

• Employee skill level. Take into account the level of skill your team possesses. The introduction of an expert is necessary if they do not have the expertise.

• Budget constraints. Either ensure you have the necessary funds now to facilitate a successful implementation or budget accordingly.

The ideal moment to engage a Salesforce implementation partner is when you have been able to define objectives, ascertain your team’s degree of expertise, and gauge your budget. All of these factors combined to create the scenario where your Salesforce+ implementation project can really shine.

An implementation partner can provide you with:

• Guidance on implementing a Salesforce solution tailored to your company’s specific requirements.

• Advice on finding the best Salesforce pricing options, as there are many details to consider and ways to significantly reduce costs if you don’t require the full range of functionalities.

• A selection of AppExchange applications to use instead of opting for custom development.

• Ensuring that your software solution is technically robust to prevent future issues related to updates, data architecture, security, and excessive customization.

• Managing the risks associated with the project's scope, timeline, and budget.

• Promoting and addressing change management if necessary for user adoption.

Depending on the intricacy of your project, the team from the Salesforce partner may include Salesforce administrators, Salesforce consultants, developers, architects, AppExchange consulting partners, or a combination of these roles. Now, let's discuss the functions these specialists fulfill and what the various Salesforce certifications might signify.

Salesforce administrators assist their clients in managing the platform. They solve problems, answer user questions about using Salesforce, and improve the platform with new tools and features.

Tips for Selecting the Right Best Implementation Partner

Find partners who can provide exactly what you need.

Are you looking for a Salesforce app developer, admin, or integrator? Before choosing a consultant, check their background and the services they offer. Browse Salesforce’s AppExchange to narrow your search for specific services.

Now, if you need something vast- or general-purpose, then we recommend going with a company that knows all aspects of Salesforce.

Read reviews and testimonials.

So, you've already shortlisted a couple of companies, focusing on Salesforce implementation, but now can't decide which to rely on. Leverage social proof of third-party reviews and testimonials.

However, be sure to search for reviews on third-party sites, such as Google or Salesforce’s App Exchange, as that’s where you’ll find a more impartial set of reviews.

Reviews of products, services, and businesses can easily be rigged on the native site, Dorse said, so look for numerous, detailed reviews on third-party sites.

Check the tutorials and learning content.

Sadly, reviews will not give us an honest look at the company we’ll be working for. Try reading up on that company's content for more dominance of knowledge and specialization.

Customers can troubleshoot their own Salesforce account issues with the extensive range of educational blogs, tutorials, and e-books available. Most significantly, this content demonstrates that these companies possess in-depth knowledge and can effectively troubleshoot issues you encounter with your Salesforce account.

We recommend searching for problems on Google, Reddit, or other platforms to see what content comes up first, as this is what users have found most helpful.

Consider searching in directories.

The App Exchange is just one of several dozen directories and websites that feature reviews and company descriptions of the leading Salesforce consulting providers in the industry.

Many sites also offer third-party service directories, such as Salesforce implementation/audit.

Of course, tread cautiously on sites that place their own company at the top of any list for individuals seeking out the best Salesforce implementation partners.

Ask your personal network.

Are there any companies you know of that also work with a Salesforce implementation partner? Request for real-life referrals to get you a third-party consultant through your individual network.

You could also use sites that function as social media, like Twitter and LinkedIn, to get further reach if you are unable to discover any consultants within your specific network.

Contact a Salesforce account executive.

A Salesforce account executive may be able to share insider knowledge on the best companies they’ve worked with or that they know about as well. Directly ask an executive to provide you with their endorsement of any outside consultant they’ve used or had a positive experience with before.

Seek a consultant who jibes with your culture and values.

The final thing that is often forgotten when it comes to finding a CRM partner is whether the company aligns with your company’s mission, culture, and values. The reality is that most Salesforce consulting relationships are long-term, involving a significant amount of back-and-forth. Therefore, ensure that you find a consultant with whom you feel comfortable, one who embodies the values you seek in your company.

Codleo Consulting is a certified partner for Salesforce implementation. We provide a full Salesforce setup. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and discover how we can assist your business.

Wrapping Up

Choosing a Salesforce implementation partner can be both complex and straightforward, particularly if you are seeking a technology partner for the first time.

To simplify this process, start with Salesforce specialists who can clearly explain complex ideas while taking your needs into consideration. This is where Codleo's Salesforce consultants can help. They have strong technical skills, practical experience, and a genuine enthusiasm for Salesforce.

Contact our Salesforce support team to learn how we can assist you.