Avoid These Mistakes When Hiring a Salesforce Consulting Partner

Imagine this: You’ve made up your mind to invest in Salesforce CRM to break new ground in business. However, soon you encounter low user adoption, delay in implementation, and cost overages. Nowadays, this situation is too common among companies that overlook vital factors when hiring a Salesforce consulting partner.

Certainly, collaborating with a consultant can help you optimize your business operations and reach new heights. But what if you face challenges in picking the right Salesforce consulting partner? Today, the market is flooded with Salesforce consultants of all types — ranging from those who deliver Salesforce managed services to custom app developers. As a result, choosing the right one has indeed become difficult. 

One wrong consultant can wreck your entire business, derail projects, and obstruct progress. Therefore, to help you navigate this maze, the blog explores 7 common mistakes to avoid when choosing an ideal Salesforce consulting partner.     

6 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting a Salesforce Consulting Partner

Hiring a Salesforce consulting services provider can make or break your CRM success. Here are six questions you must ask before choosing the right fit:

1. Not Defining Clear Goals or Requirements

One of the most crucial mistakes organizations make is rushing into the hiring process without defining business objectives. When you don’t understand your business needs or what you need help with, you won’t be able to choose the right Salesforce consulting partner.

So, before driving straight to search, list your business requirements and what you aim to achieve with Salesforce CRM.

• Do you want to automate email campaigns, segregate the audience, and offer real-time reporting and analytics?
• Do you want to automate manual tasks such as appointment scheduling, transaction management, and record-keeping?
• Are new features like AgentForce integration part of your requirements?

Clearly documenting your Salesforce goals, like configuration services, administrative jobs, data management, and Salesforce chatbot integration, allows companies to build a well-defined project scope. 

Contrarily, ignoring this critical step may result in misalignment between your goals and the partner’s abilities. For instance, companies launching a new product line might need to reduce proposal generation time to stay competitive. 

2. Ignoring Consultant’s Salesforce Expertise

Another big mistake business owners usually make when hiring a Salesforce consulting partner is ignoring the consultant’s Salesforce certifications. When you overlook whether they have any proven experience in the field, it can imperil your implementation efforts. 

Therefore, collaborate with consultants who have valid Salesforce certifications, such as Salesforce Marketing Cloud expertise, Salesforce Development, AgentForce experts, Salesforce Lightning Service, and more.

In addition, having a strong track record of successful Salesforce implementation makes a consultant a trusted choice. Also, make sure you check testimonials and case studies. They provide reliable insights into the consulting partner’s ability to deliver results. For example, a client case study showing how a reliable partner implemented Salesforce Sales Cloud for a retail startup, boosted their conversion rate by 30% through automation.

Here are a few things to consider when selecting a Salesforce consulting partner:

• Check Certifications
• Request a Case Study
• Ask for references

3. Not Considering Long-Term Partnership

Many businesses focus primarily on Salesforce implementation but overlook the importance of regular support. However, continuous maintenance and optimization are vital to keep up with business changes and platform updates.

Ask potential Salesforce consulting partners about their post-launch support, including managed services, admin help, and training. Review their SLAs for response times and resource availability. This is especially for complex tools like Salesforce Marketing Cloud or Salesforce Service Cloud.

Additionally, ensure the consultant can scale with your business. As your Salesforce needs evolve, their flexibility and long-term support will be key to sustained success.

4. Focusing Solely on Price

Focusing solely on cost when hiring a Salesforce solutions consultant is a common mistake that can lead to long-term setbacks.

While a lower price tag may help you stay within budget initially, the hidden costs of working with an inexperienced or underqualified consultant often outweigh the savings.

Problems such as project delays, budget overruns, and subpar implementations are all too common, and in severe cases, can even result in complete project failure.

For instance, choosing low-cost Salesforce developers who lack comprehensive knowledge of both the platform and your specific business domain can lead to solutions that miss the mark or fail to gain user adoption.

Although budget-friendly options may be tempting, Salesforce strongly recommends working with certified partners. These professionals have the skills to manage complex development and implementation challenges, reduce risks, and deliver sustainable value. While they may require a higher upfront investment, their expertise ensures your project is set up for long-term success.

Therefore, don’t just evaluate cost. Look for a consultant who offers the right mix of affordability, capability, and alignment with your business goals.

5. Neglecting Reviews from Past Clients

Company portfolios often appear flawless but rarely tell the whole story. To gain a well-rounded view of a potential partner’s expertise and experience, explore trusted platforms like AppExchange and Clutch.

Customer reviews on AppExchange offer deeper insight into satisfaction levels than traditional surveys. They reveal genuine client experiences, highlighting both strengths and areas of concern in a company’s performance.

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6. Not Considering Consultant’s Size & Scalability

When choosing a Salesforce consulting partner, it’s important to consider their size and scalability. A smaller partner might offer more personalized service but may not have the capacity to support large-scale or complex implementations. On the other hand, a larger firm may have ample resources but might not deliver the tailored solutions that align with your specific project needs.

To avoid potential mismatches, align the partner’s size with the scope of your project. For example, if you’re implementing Salesforce Marketing Cloud or developing a custom app, opt for a consulting firm that offers both sufficient scale and a personalized approach. Mid-sized partners like Manras often provide a good mix of these qualities.

Lastly, think about your long-term goals. If your organization plans to grow or predicts a need for ongoing Salesforce development, like mobile app integration or new feature rollouts, choose a partner that can evolve with your business. Scalability shouldn’t just be a project consideration; it should be part of your long-term strategy.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right Salesforce consulting partner is a critical decision that can significantly impact your business’s success with Salesforce. Avoiding common mistakes, such as overlooking certifications, failing to define clear goals, or focusing solely on price, can help ensure a smooth and effective implementation. By collaborating with the right consultant, you set your business up for long-term growth and efficiency.

At Manras, we specialize in providing personalized, scalable Salesforce solutions tailored to your unique business needs. Our team prioritizes expertise, scalability, and ongoing support to maximize the value of your Salesforce investment.

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