When investing in a Salesforce implementation partner, gathering all the right information is key to success.

Choosing a Salesforce implementation partner that is reliable and trustworthy can be a lengthy process of interviewing various partners and consultants. Learning the processes and familiarizing yourself with the Salesforce lingo while getting acquainted with partners can be a lot to take in. Here at Kadence Collective we aim to make this process easy and seamless for clients inquiring about our services.

We thought we’d help those choosing a Salesforce implementation partner by providing key questions to help guide the decision process.  

9 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Salesforce Implementation Partner

1. What is your implementation methodology?

It is important for you to understand the partner’s implementation method. Do they aim to get you up and running as fast as possible? Do they have a strategic approach to ensure you’ll get the most of your implementation? Knowing this will help you decide if their methodology meets your expectations.

2. What is your implementation process?

Have the partner walk you through what an implementation entails. Make sure to understand what will be required of you and your team to keep the process moving. Ask questions regarding the various steps to understand what it takes to complete an implementation.

3. How many people are typically a part of this process?

Know the key players of who will be a part of the implementation – on your team and the partner’s. You’ll typically be assigned a project or account manager keeping track of the project, as well as developers and consultants to help carry out the project. Often the size and complexity of the project will determine who and how many people should be involved in the implementation.

4. What differentiates you from other implementation partners?

Understanding the unique value and differentiating factors a partner brings is especially helpful if you are caught between more than one option for implementation. You can really take note of what the partner values and if their key differentiators are best for your unique business.

5. Do you have experience doing what I need?

Once you have an idea of what exactly is needed, ensure that the partner has the skills and capabilities to accomplish your implementation. This could also be a great opportunity to ask for a reference. Oftentimes, if the partner is a part of the Salesforce demo and discovery process, you may have an opportunity to gather this information from how they participate in conversations

6. I have this much data to migrate. How does that impact my Salesforce environment and implementation? If I have your team migrate that data for me, are there additional costs for it?

If you are moving CRMs or you’ve been using spreadsheets to keep track of your customers, it’s important for you to decide how you’d like that data to be migrated into your Salesforce environment. Determine beforehand if you would the partner to migrate the data or if you would like to do it on your own. This could depend on how much data you have and if you have staff available to do such work. Some partners may have a training at the end of their implementation process where they can train you to do it on your own. Note that there are data limits in Salesforce, and your partner should be able to help you navigate that information as well

7. This is the timeline I’m working with. Is this achievable through your process?

Most partners have set timelines of how long typical implementation projects should take. Sometimes implementations can be done quicker depending on the size of the project and sometimes they can take longer depending on add ons like integrations, application configuration, data cleanup, etc. It is good to begin this conversation from the beginning so that timelines can be aligned with your expectations

8. Is there additional support offered after the implementation is complete?

Once the implementation is complete and you start to get comfortable in your new Salesforce environment, if something were to go wrong would you be able to get support from the partner? It is important to know if there is a window where you can reach out for help should something go wrong, or if you can rely on the partner for ongoing administrative and technical support.

9. What is your pricing?

It’s easy to tiptoe around the conversation about pricing; however, it’s critical to know the costs associated with Salesforce implementations and if it will fit your budget. Prices can vary between partners and also depend on any customization you need beyond a standard implementation. Make sure you get a very clear quote and understand exactly what is included for that price. Your Salesforce account executives can often give you more information on baseline pricing, as well.

We hope this helped you gain more insight on choosing a Salesforce implementation partner. Throughout the process, you should feel comfortable and supported in the questions you ask. As a Salesforce implementation partner, our top priority is the best solution and success for your business. If you are interested in learning more about us and our Salesforce implementations, let’s get in touch.