You have the decision to make. You need to find a Salesforce consulting partner, and you have no idea where to start. You could go online and search for the term “Salesforce Consulting Partner.” But how do you know if any of those companies are the right fit for you? You could ask your friends, but they might not have the same needs as you.
What you need is an insider’s perspective. Someone who understands the Salesforce ecosystem and can help you find the right partner for your business. That’s where we come in. In this article, we’ll give you 12 tips for finding the right Salesforce consulting partner.
Analyse Your Business Needs
The first step in finding the right Salesforce consultant is to analyse your business needs.
What are your goals for Salesforce? What processes do you want to automate or optimise? What are your biggest pain points?
Answer these questions and more to help define the scope of your project and get a better idea of what you need from a consultant.
Examine a Consultant’s Certifications and Qualifications
When looking for a Salesforce consulting partner, one of the most important things to examine is their certifications and qualifications. A good consultant will be certified in Salesforce and have experience with the platform.
Make sure to ask the consultant about their experience with Salesforce and the industries they’ve worked in. This will give you a good idea of their level of expertise and whether they’re a good fit for your company.
Research the Client Experiences of the Consultants
When you start your search, be sure to research the client experiences of the consultants.
You’ll want to read reviews and case studies to get an idea of the quality of their work. Do they consistently deliver on their promises? Are they able to solve complex problems? Can they think outside the box and offer creative solutions?
Keep in mind that not all consultants are created equal. The best ones will have a long track record of satisfied clients and glowing testimonials.
Investigate the Types of Services Available
Finding the right Salesforce Consulting Partner means assessing their offerings and services. Your partner should be able to provide the right types of services for your needs, including strategy and roadmap, implementation, support and maintenance, integration, and custom development. Make sure they can provide all these services while at the same time maintaining quality.
Also, look into their areas of expertise – do they have extensive experience working with similar systems? A good Salesforce Consulting Partner should not just understand the mechanics of Salesforce but also know about the different processes and strategies associated with it, as well as how to implement them properly. Be sure to ask for references and take a look at their portfolio so you can gain some insight into their skillset.
Ask for a Demo of the Consulting Team’s Work
Asking for a demo of the consulting team’s work is a must before deciding on any Salesforce consulting partner. Seeing firsthand the way a team operates and interacts with customers, as well as how they present their results and accomplish goals, can be incredibly helpful in narrowing down your selection.
Request demos of both successful and unsuccessful projects, if available, to get a better idea of the team’s capabilities. Not only will you be able to better evaluate their technical skills, but you’ll also get an understanding of their communication style and the overall customer experience they provide. Even if projects weren’t ultimately successful, it’s great to know how they handled it and what steps they took to solve issues.
Investing time in interviewing potential teams is invaluable when selecting the right Salesforce consulting partner for your business.
Consider the Cost and Pricing Model
The last thing you want is to find the perfect Salesforce consulting partner, and then have sticker shock when you receive a bill for their services. So, it’s important to understand the cost and pricing model of any potential vendor before signing on.
Different vendors offer different pricing models, so consider what’s best for your business and budget. One of the most common models is a fixed-price agreement, which allows clients to know upfront what they will be paying for their project. This is often beneficial if your budget isn’t flexible or if you want to hire a vendor to complete a specific task.
Then there’s the time and materials model where you are billed hourly or daily for the services of consultants or contractors. This pricing model is usually ideal if you’re seeking ongoing support with many different tasks, such as continual maintenance and optimisation of the system over time. Depending on the size and complexity of your project, this could be more cost-effective in the long run. No matter which pricing model you choose, make sure that you get clear expectations from your partner about what’s included in your agreement before signing up.
Evaluate the Consultant’s Knowledge of Salesforce Tools and Technologies
The seventh tip for selecting the right Salesforce Consulting Partner is to evaluate their knowledge of Salesforce tools and technologies.
Salesforce offers a wide range of different tools to help businesses achieve the result they need. You need to make sure that your chosen partner understands the ins and outs of each tool and can offer expert advice on how they might benefit your specific business. Ask them which ones they are familiar with and if they have used them on successful projects before.
You should also ask them what new technologies or products Salesforce is working on so that you can stay ahead of the curve and benefit from any new advancements. Being aware of these can help you ensure that you are taking full advantage of all Salesforce has to offer, as well as providing valuable insight into their level of expertise.
Observe Their Communication Style
The eighth and final tip for picking the right Salesforce Consulting Partner is to observe their communication style. Are they prompt, professional, and respectful when responding to emails? Do they answer all of your questions in a timely manner?
It’s important that the team you choose to work with is reliable and responsive, as this will have a huge impact on the outcome of your project. Observe how they communicate with you before, during, and after the sales process. A good consultant should understand that communication is key and that having an open dialog throughout the entire project is essential to its success.
Another sign of a great partner is if they provide clear deliverables in writing along with detailed timelines. If a consultant doesn’t take the time to be organised, then it’s likely that they’ll miss deadlines and not deliver what was promised. Good communication can go a long way when it comes to choosing the right Salesforce Consulting Partner.
Check for Proven Success Record
When it comes to picking a Salesforce consulting partner, you’ll want to double-check that the partner you’re considering has found success with Salesforce in the past. After all, the track record of a consulting partner says a lot about their abilities and can be invaluable in assessing if they are a good fit for your organisation.
Take some time to research their customer references and case studies as well as any awards they have won related to their Salesforce work. Doing this will give you an idea of how successful they have been in the past and whether or not they are truly capable of delivering on your expectations. Make sure to also read reviews from their current customers who have used them recently, so you can get an up-to-date picture of how satisfied customers are with their level of service.
Establish a Relationship Before Signing a Contract
The consultant-client relationship is key to the success of any Salesforce project, so it’s important to make sure you’re comfortable with the consultant before signing a contract. Make sure that the consultant understands your business goals, needs, and budget and is able to effectively communicate with you about them.
It’s also a smart idea to meet with the team that you’ll be working with since they are going to be the ones implementing your Salesforce project. Make sure you’re on the same page and have enough trust in each other to work together effectively. Don’t forget to ask questions and get references from their past customers, as this will help give you a better sense of their expertise, reliability, and overall quality of service.
Review Their Process for Measuring Results
Make sure to ask potential consulting partners about their process for tracking and measuring project results. How do they track client data? Are they able to provide reports on customer satisfaction, key performance indicators, and customer success stories?
Also, investigate the day-to-day progress of the project. What type of milestones do they employ? Is there a clear timeline for deliverables? Do they provide regular updates? The more details you know about progress tracking, the better informed you will be when it comes to selecting the right Salesforce consulting partner.
Conclusion
When it comes to finding a Salesforce consulting partner, it’s important to do your research. The right partner can help your business grow and scale, while the wrong partner can cause problems and delays. Here are 12 tips to help you pick the right partner:
- Do your research
- Ask for referrals
- Look for experience and expertise
- Check out the partner’s portfolio
- Make sure the partner is certified
- Ask about the partner’s methodology
- Find out about the partner’s resources
- Ask about the partner’s past projects
- Check out the partner’s social media presence
- Read reviews
- Contact the partner’s references
- Ask for a proposal
Smplicity specialises in Digital Transformation and Change Management. Implementations and customisations include Salesforce Sales Cloud, Salesforce Service Cloud, Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement, Salesforce Experience Cloud, Salesforce CPQ, and Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud.