How to Choose a Salesforce Implementation Partner for Your Company

What is a Salesforce Implementation Partner?

SalesforceA Salesforce implementation partner has an expert understanding of Salesforce and can help you with the implementation of a Salesforce system. Salesforce implementation is the process of understanding company goals and pain points, developing a strategic solution and deploying the Salesforce platform within an organization.

In addition to implementation, Salesforce partners offer a variety of valuable services to make implementing and adopting Salesforce a seamless experience. They can assist with developing custom Salesforce applications, integrating existing and external systems, and provide ongoing managed services for Salesforce.

As a Salesforce Implementation Partner, Bolt Data works with you to review your current sales and business processes. As we understand your company goals, we recommend specific modifications that will improve your workflow without compromising your values.

What Makes a Qualified Salesforce Implementation Partner?

Salesforce is one of the most popular CRM platforms in the market today. It has a growing number of cutting edge cloud products, but it also has its own limitations. Salesforce implementation partners are a great way to get the best out of your CRM software. But what makes a Salesforce Implementation Partner qualified to complete the project successfully?

First, it is important that you find an implementation partner who is willing to take the time to truly understand your business’ needs. By developing a deep understanding, an implementation partner can transform an out-of-the-box software into a customized tool that empowers your workforce. An implementation partner should be someone who will help you along the way, answer all your questions, and provide value-added services like training, consulting and more.

Second, a qualified Salesforce Implementation Partner will have reviews and customer references to showcase their experience. The Salesforce AppExchange is a great resource to see a partner’s reviews, completed projects and to learn more about the services they offer. You should also explore the implementation partner’s website to see past projects they’ve completed and to find out if they have helped similar companies to yours. For instance, you can check out Bolt Data’s 5-star rating on the Salesforce AppExchange and explore past projects here.

Third, it is very important to ask an implementation partner if the employees assigned to your implementation project are Salesforce certified. Salesforce provides extensive training and requires certification exams in order to obtain a certificate in their speciality. Bolt Data has many  certified Salesforce experts all located within the United States that are ready and able to help with your implementation project.

How to Find Your Ideal Salesforce Implementation Partner

The Salesforce AppExchange is a great way to find the right partner for your specific needs. The AppExchange has all the information you need to find your ideal partner. You can filter by industry, location or solution and get a list of partners that specialize in your niche. You can also see how many certified experts they have on staff.

If your organization is in a niche category or industry, it is recommended to find a partner that is flexible and specializes in your niche. For instance, Bolt Data is a Salesforce Field Service Implementation Partner that specializes in connected field service and implementing Salesforce Service Cloud. With over 10 years of experience in field service implementations, we have completed hundreds of Salesforce implementation projects across dozens of industries. Bolt Data also built Bolt Data Connect: a Salesforce application to manage connected assets and provide real time alerts, predictive maintenance alerts, automated work orders and much more. Additionally, Bolt Data also offers prebuilt Bolt Data Accelerators which are plug-and-play options for Salesforce so you do not need to build custom applications.

13 Questions to Ask a Potential Salesforce Implementation Partner

Use the list of questions below when interviewing candidates for your implementation project to make the screening process easier. It also will ensure you ask the right questions to ensure they are a good fit for your company.

  1. What does your project management process and delivery methodology look like?
  2. How will you make sure our project is successful?
  3. Have you completed similar implementation projects?
  4. How many total implementation projects have you completed?
  5. Do you have experience in our industry?
  6. Can you share customer success stories and references?
  7. How many Salesforce Certified Experts do you have on staff, and what certifications do they hold?
  8. Where are the staff located that would work on my project? Are they available for onsite support, if needed?
  9. Will I have a dedicated project manager assigned to my implementation project?
  10. What makes an implementation challenging and how do you overcome those challenges?
  11. Do you work with any other Salesforce partners?
  12. Do you provide training to to make sure we understand how to use Salesforce?
  13. How long do implementation projects typically take to complete?

Conclusion

While it can be a long process to find the right Salesforce Implementation Partner, it is a worthwhile investment in your time. Ultimately, you want to make sure they will understand your needs and provide sufficient resources to complete the project in a timely manner.

Bolt Data Salesforce Partner Since 2017As a Salesforce partner since 2017, Bolt Data has the right resources and experience to make Salesforce work for your company. Whether you need to manage assets on Salesforce, or integrate ServiceMax, Bolt Data can help make your vision a reality. Reach out today to learn how we can help.