Choosing The Right Salesforce Implementation Partner

Salesforce implementation partners are crucial parts of management, and the right partner can improve your productivity.  However, trying to pick the right partner can be tricky and there is so much information to sift through it can lead to information overload.  Here are a few things to look at to help you make a choice on the right partner for you.

• Do Your Due Diligence

The first thing you need to do is to take the time to do your own research. Fancy proposals and highly crafted sales pitches are all well and good, but they are made with the aim of selling you the company. It’s worth taking time to look at case studies, proof of concepts, and references in order to get a more open view of the organization and its ability to meet your needs.

• Check Certifications

While there are no specific courses or degrees that make you eligible to become a Salesforce professional, Salesforce does have its own rigorous certification program that offers credentials for administrators, developers, consultants, and marketers.  As such, you want to ensure that any company you are considering partnering with has the relevant certifications required and that they are up to date.  Take some time to review the system of certification and make sure you know what is right for you. 

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• Create a Budget

This is key for any outside party you want to work with, make sure you have a clear and well-understood budget for work.  It should still be flexible enough to evolve as needs change, but it shouldn’t be left uncontrolled.  This is important as well in making sure everyone is on the same page as to what the expectations are and what you are looking to get out of the project.

• Continuous Support

The next thing you will want to consider is the amount of support the company can offer you as a partner.  It’s not going to be worth the time and money to work with a partner if they leave you in the lurch with no support when updates occur, or problems arise. As Salesforce updates about three times a year, this is a vital service that should be implemented seamlessly into the partnership as it goes forward.  Look for a partner offering 24/7 support where you can in order to make sure you get the help you need when you need it.

• Industry Expertise

This ties back to doing due diligence, but it’s important to make sure the partner you are working with knows about the industry you work in and is able to provide you with the services and support you need in relation to that industry.  It may not seem like a big deal, but if your Salesforce Implementation Partner does not have experience or knowledge of your industry then they may not be able to understand some of the issues you deal with that are industry-based.  It also helps when discussing projects to have someone who understands the sector details and can use them to help with implementation. Project Manager John Albers, Last Minute Writing, recommends “If you can specifically find cases related to your company and industry this is even better as it can help you make sure they are a good fit for your company.”

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• Evaluate Implementation Approach

Finally, you want to evaluate what their approach to implementation is.  Every business has different budgets, timescales, and project management methodologies that are used in their business. Trying to match the wrong approach in implementation can lead to more stress and time wasted trying to get everything in line.  Look for a system that allows you to work closely with your Salesforce Implementation Partner, as well as provide you with detailed notes on the project from the timescales of work to the delivery systems to dealing with updates and support.

Overall, finding the right Salesforce implementation partner can be a daunting task but there are some simple ways to try and find the right partner for you.  Take time to look at what is being offered, the support being provided and their expertise in the industry you work in.  This will give you an initial list of potential candidates that you can then use to look at further to check up on certifications and do due diligence research.  Every business is unique in its needs and there is no one-size-fits-all approach.  Make sure you do your own research and choose the right company for you.