A Comprehensive Guide to Finding the Appropriate Salesforce Partner

Salesforce became the leading vendor in the customer relationship management (CRM) applications market worldwide with a market share of 23.8 percent in 2021, as sourced from Statista.

Salesforce is one of the most prominent cloud-based platforms in the world with extensive capabilities and fascinating features. It is best known for its speed, scalability, and flexibility. With a significant number of users across the world, it has been ruling the sales and marketing software market for a while now. And, the process of enabling technology integration can be a challenging one unless you work with a reliable Salesforce partner.

However, getting the right Salesforce partner to work with can be a challenging task as there are ample options available in the digital space. While the existing Salesforce users get more options to choose from and negotiate to avail of the services, first-time Salesforce users get confused and easily get lured as they do not know how to differentiate.

Before learning how to find a reliable Salesforce partner in India, let's understand the various types of partners, the types of engagement models available, where to look for a partner, and so on so that you can choose the right partner for your organization.

Who is a Salesforce Partner?

As the name suggests, a Salesforce partner is a firm that can provide support and services for Salesforce deployments, which include implementing, customizing as well as integrating the software. The partner is also responsible for end-to-end delivery of the service as well as support and provides aftercare services too.

What are the Different Types of Salesforce Partners?

Before diving into the details of how you can find a reliable partner for your organization, it is important to understand the different types of Salesforce partners available. There are two types of partners—managed and non-managed ones.

• Managed Partners – These partners provide various services such as implementation, consulting, or training. Managed Salesforce partners help you get started with Salesforce, then take care of all the activities thereafter. Some of these partners also provide software maintenance as well as support once the implementation process is complete.

• Non-Managed Partners – These types of partners mainly work as a reseller for Salesforce products. This means that they do not provide any consultation or implementation services themselves but can help you find a managed partner if needed.

What to Look for in a Reliable Salesforce Partner?

Businesses in almost all verticals rely on Salesforce as it offers multiple out-of-the-box components and hundreds of easy-to-use features. On top of that, it seems easy to set up and run Salesforce, when it is not the actual case. So, the next big question is how to choose the right partner.

A wonky Salesforce implementation can be disastrous for running a scalable long-term software solution for organizations, irrespective of their sizes or scopes. Or, you might need certain enhancements, customizations, or other requirements. A Salesforce partner can tailor your instance as well as help you implement Salesforce flawlessly. However, choosing an appropriate partner is easier said than done and there is more than one variable to be considered. Some of these are listed here:

• Ensure that the Implementation, Development, or Consultation partners are Salesforce certified

• Check their Salesforce consultant tier such as registered, silver, gold, platinum, or global strategic
• Make sure that there is quality support during onboarding along with post-implementation
• Look for their tech acumen, development competencies, as well as the quality of past projects delivered
• Be double assured whether the partner company is ready to revamp solutions based on requirements as well as future upgrades

How to Find the Right-Fit Salesforce Partner?

Following the below-mentioned pointers can help you find a reliable Salesforce partner in India or anywhere in the world. Take a look:

• Check on the AppExchange Platform

AppExchange is a dedicated marketplace for Salesforce solutions including lightning components, apps, consulting services, and so on. Hence, you can begin the search with the best platform to find the right-fit Salesforce partner for your organization. The platform not only provides authentic reviews of partners but also offers a glimpse of their products and rankings.

• Ask for Referrals

The age-old method of marketing word-of-mouth is still valid and not going out of fashion. You can ask for referrals from your associates, partners, or other networks. Besides, you can also begin by shortlisting the companies from trailblazer communities, online sources, or social media platforms—narrow down the service provider options to a handful before proceeding further.

• Request for Proposal

After shortlisting a few reliable partners for your Salesforce deployments, take efforts to prepare an effective request for proposal. In the meanwhile, use this RFP to have a good discussion with prospective partners as only discussion can help you match your business needs to the capabilities of the potential partners.

• Look into Experience, Expertise, and Capabilities

Before finalizing a partner, check whether previous project deadlines have been met or not and if the vendor understands your company’s needs to provide the best-needed solutions accordingly. You can also if the service provider delivered for clients from a similar background as that of yours and has successfully worked and has enough team strength as well as tools to ensure timely deliveries.

• Verify Credentials and Certifications

As there are an array of options available in the market, it is advised to check the specific credentials of the Salesforce partner as an administrator, developer, consultant, architect, or marketer. Go through the periodic Salesforce rating of the partner. Also, look at their reviews, testimonials, as well as case studies to evaluate client relations and make an informed decision.

• Check Project Management Method

You should get to know the tech acumen and the project management methodologies of the partner you shortlist so that you can feel sure about the amount of participation you will have throughout the implementation of the project as well as post-implementation.

• Understand Support Capabilities

It is very vital to check if the Salesforce partner has a certified, well-trained, and skilled tech support team, can handle tickets and deliver reports promptly, and offers on-demand access to skilled experts as and when required under flexible contacts. Meaning, if the service provider offers the option to station the support team as per the requirement

• Examine Costs and Needs

Finally, businesses usually hire Salesforce partners to maximize their Salesforce investments without letting the costs spiral up. So, it is better to fix a budget for availing services of a Salesforce partner and ensure that costs are not underestimated or overestimated. If the budget suffices, discuss it with your finance department, and get prior approvals. Plus, opting for a long-term mutual commitment is a good option.

Ending Note

There are numerous Salesforce partners in India and abroad to choose from, so it can be a bit of a tough challenge to find the best one. However, you can use these tips to narrow down your options and find a reliable partner who will work with you to achieve your goals and co-create success mutually.