Salesforce Consulting Partner: 5 Things to Look for
Once you’ve decided that Salesforce is the right CRM for your organisation, it’s time to start looking for a consulting partner. A consulting partner is critical to the success of your Salesforce efforts since they have the skills and experience you need to create the best possible solution. They take care of every aspect of the project – from initial design through to implementation – so you can achieve a smooth deployment in your desired timeframe. But, with all the partners out there, how do you know which one is right for you?
We’re glad you asked.
Choosing the right consulting partner is an important decision that goes well beyond the technical work. It’s about finding a business ally that will benefit every aspect of your organisation, and treat your success like their own.
Here are a few things to consider:
1. Consulting Partner's Work History
The first thing you should look at, when hiring anyone, is their work history. How long have they been a Salesforce.com partner? Have they worked on similar projects to yours in the past? We recommend browsing through their profile on Appexchange to get a sense of their work history. You can determine a lot by reading what their previous clients have to say. At the same time, don’t let a disgruntled user completely impact your opinion.
2. Consulting Partner's Certifications
Certifications are important to all Salesforce professionals because they show their dedication and level of expertise. Salesforce training requires arduous testing and takes time to complete. Working with a partner whose team is highly certified means that you are in great hands. At the very least, your consultant should hold both Administrator and Developer certifications.
3. Consulting Partner's Values
When choosing a new company to work with, it doesn’t hurt to consider their values and ethics. Take a look at the company’s core values and social media pages to determine how well their culture matches up with yours. It’s important to look for a credible partner who values honesty and transparency and practices good business ethics.
4. Consulting Partner's Methodology
Choosing a partner based on methodology comes down to what you’re looking for. There are a few different ways of managing a project lifecycle, either agile or waterfall. While both techniques have their advantages, we strongly believe in agile scrum methodology because of its speed and effectiveness. You should also consider the communication tools used during a project, quality assurance methods, and team size. If you can’t find details about the company’s process on their website, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask. Any professional consulting partner should be happy to share this information.
5. Consulting Partner's Location
It might go without saying, but location is a key factor to consider when choosing a partner. If your business is located in Australia, it doesn’t make sense to work with someone in Germany or Mexico when you have a tight timeline. Time zones can be a pain to work around, especially when you need something done immediately. (Did we mention that we’re five minutes away from the Sydney Opera House?)
You’re about to embark on an exciting journey, and we congratulate you on taking the next steps to improve your business! Whether you’re new to Salesforce or already using it, we’d be happy to work with you and answer any questions.
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Based in Sydney, ProQuest has performed more than 140 successful Salesforce.com implementations and knows how to align the system with the unique goals of your organisation.
