Leveraging Salesforce to
Help Solve for the Messy Middle Office
Finding the right Salesforce implementation partner is a critical decision that can significantly impact the success of your organization’s digital transformation. With a vast array of Salesforce partners available to customers, companies often need help in identifying the best-fit team. We recognize that as you go through the selection process you may start asking yourself questions to help you make the final decision, but that you may not have all the answers: How well will this partner know my industry, and speak our business language? Is this partner familiar with Salesforce industry-specific solutions, and overall Salesforce design best-practices? Do we care if the work is being outsourced, if the cost to implement is cheaper? How much will the budget actually determine which partner we end up selecting? Will the partner team pair well with our internal teams, in terms of working styles and cultural alignment?
While many questions such as these may arise when navigating the partner identification and selection process, it is critical to keep in mind the most common pitfalls when selecting an implementation partner. V2, an industry-first Salesforce implementation partner, will guide you through the top pitfalls to avoid when selecting your next Salesforce partner.
7 Pitfalls to Avoid When Selecting Your Next Salesforce Partner
Selecting a Partner Without Industry Knowledge: One of the most common pitfalls is partnering with a Salesforce consulting partner who lacks industry-specific knowledge. Understanding the nuances and complexities of your industry is essential for crafting Salesforce solutions that align with your business goals. An industry-focused partner can also get up to speed more quickly, as they come prepared with an understanding of your prospect-to-cash flow, key teams involved, revenue models, challenges, and solutions. Industry-oriented partners can operate as a more natural extension of your team, as they understand key industry-specific jargon. Overall, an industry-focused partner will execute a more efficient implementation project, and deliver better outcomes that align to your business goals. At V2 Strategic Advisors, our expert consultants bring their relevant industry backgrounds to each project, enabling us to design architectures that precisely fit your requirements.
Selecting a Partner Without Salesforce Expertise: Choosing a partner without sufficient Salesforce expertise can lead to subpar implementations and missed opportunities to maximize your Salesforce investment. It is crucial to collaborate with a partner well-versed in the latest Salesforce Clouds, products, and features, but most importantly, the best practices. Our consultants at V2 Strategic Advisors have been operating in the ecosystem for many years, stay up-to-date with Salesforce advancements regularly, and leverage purpose-built Salesforce Industry products, ensuring your organization receives cutting-edge, tailored solutions.
Disregarding Your Needs for Project Flexibility: A common pitfall is selecting a rigid partner that adopts a one-size-fits-all approach. As every organization has its unique challenges and requirements, it is critical to find a suitable Salesforce partner that can be flexible and able to adapt to your specific needs. While a partner should have proven methodologies and frameworks for working through projects, it is critical that their approach offers some level of flexibility to handle the inevitable unknowns that arise throughout implementation work. At V2 Strategic Advisors, we build relationships that stand the test of time, working with you as a business partner invested in your success, and ensuring the Salesforce solution evolves with your organization.
Ignoring Your Long-Term Support Needs: A successful Salesforce implementation goes beyond the initial project phase. A common challenge Salesforce customers face is working with partners who lack long-term support and post-implementation service offerings, or who do not communicate what is to be expected post-launch in terms of support needs. A reliable partner like V2 Strategic Advisors will provide upfront advisory on what to expect post-launch, and can also provide continuous support, maintenance, and ongoing enhancements if needed to keep your Salesforce organization running smoothly.
Overlooking the Partner’s Reputation and Feedback from Other Clients: When searching for a Salesforce partner, it’s crucial to consider their reputation and client feedback. Reviews, testimonials, case studies, and 1:1 references can offer valuable insights into the partner’s track record. V2 Strategic Advisors takes pride in our strong reputation and the lasting relationships we have built with our clients, which speak to our commitment to excellence.
Failing to Prioritize Communication: Effective communication is the backbone of a successful partnership. It is essential to choose a partner that prioritizes clear and consistent communication throughout the project lifecycle. Our team at V2 Strategic Advisors emphasizes open dialogue, actively involving your in-house team to ensure a collaborative and transparent approach.
Disregarding Cultural Alignment: Ignoring cultural alignment between your organization and potential Salesforce partners can hinder progress. A harmonious working relationship leads to a better understanding and alignment of goals. V2 Strategic Advisors takes an industry-first approach, ensuring that our team shares your business values and speaks your language, fostering a positive and productive collaboration.
In closing, it’s crucial to address one of the most significant traps we’ve observed in this realm: the tendency for customers to make their partner selections based solely on cost considerations alone. While cost is undeniably a factor, Salesforce customers would be wise to factor in the partner’s overall maturity, as well as their experience and expertise, when evaluating project bids.
Although less seasoned partners might present seemingly attractive, budget-friendly quotes, these costs often arise from restricted scoping due to a lack of grasp on the intricate facets of solutions and project delivery. To ensure a comprehensive and successful outcome, it’s advisable to seek out a partner that not only approaches scoping with integrity but also draws upon their extensive familiarity with analogous clients and projects to construct a well-defined project scope.
By following this approach, you pave the way for a streamlined implementation process and substantially curtail the need for disruptive change orders throughout the project’s progression. In the grand scheme, this approach can safeguard you against potentially higher costs down the road, resulting in a more cost-effective and successful project overall.
Building Trust Starts With A Conversation.
Selecting the right Salesforce implementation partner is a critical step toward achieving a successful digital transformation. By avoiding the pitfalls mentioned above, you can make a well-informed decision that aligns with your organization’s goals.
At V2 Strategic Advisors, our industry-first approach, deep Salesforce expertise, and commitment to long-term success make us the ideal partner for your Salesforce journey. Let us help you tailor a Salesforce solution that revolutionizes your business.
Get in touch with our expert consultants today to learn more about how we can support your organization.
