What Is A Salesforce Consultant?
A Salesforce consultant improves business processes by ensuring the efficient use of the Salesforce platform. They can either work as in-house consultants for the company or they can be hired externally as independent contractors. Obviously, there are differences between these two. For example, an in-house consultant would usually be entitled to more benefits such as using FMLA leaves.
Their primary role is to understand a client’s business goals and processes and conduct business analysis to further improve lagging areas. Consultants are usually in a position of authority as they possess technical knowledge that can improve customer service and company performance. While high proficiency in Salesforce is a must, a consultant must equally be skilled at business analysis and project management to solve organizational issues.
6 Tips To Hire The Best Salesforce Consultant
When it comes to Salesforce, hiring a consultant might be the best fit for you, especially if you’re looking for your business to grow. Choosing the right consultant shouldn’t always be so difficult. Here are the best tips you must remember before hiring a Salesforce consultant.
Do Your Research
To find the best consultant for you, it’s crucial that you do your own research. Look for a list of Salesforce consultants that you are interested in working with. You can search agencies and other websites to find this information. With so many options to choose from, hiring the right consultant for you may be difficult. That’s why it’s best to narrow down your choices. Know what you’re looking for and create a shortlist of consultants that you can see yourself hiring.
Take Note Of Your Budget
To find the best consultant for you, it’s crucial that you do your own research. Look for a list of Salesforce consultants that you are interested in working with. You can search agencies and other websites to find this information. With so many options to choose from, hiring the right consultant for you may be difficult. That’s why it’s best to narrow down your choices. Know what you’re looking for and create a shortlist of consultants that you can see yourself hiring.
Look For Certifications
Here’s another thing that you must not overlook – the consultant’s qualifications. It’s worth going through their qualifications to see if they’re the right company for you. Salesforce provides up to 23 certifications, so be sure to ask for this information from prospective consultants. A tiered system exists that caters to different business needs. In ascending order, the tiers are: Registered, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Global Strategic Partner. The higher the tier, the higher the level of expertise. For a consultant to climb up the ranks, they must reach a certain number of points through certifications, evaluations, customer satisfaction scores, and so much more. For example, if you’re looking for expertise on high-complexity Salesforce projects, ensure that the consultant is a Global Strategic partner.
Check Their Available Forms Of Communication
In case you missed it, don’t forget to check their available forms of communication. It’s best to look for one that fits your preference. Whether it’s in person, via Zoom calls, e-mails, or mobile, don’t forget to ask about the best way to communicate with them. Also, consider how easy it would be to schedule meetings with the consultant so you know what to expect when communicating with them.
Ask About Their Implementation Approach
One question you have to ask any prospective consultant is about their implementation approach. Ask them how their strategies can benefit your business. Allow them to share their success stories with you so you can have an idea of how they can improve your organization’s processes. An example of an implementation approach is Agile incremental delivery. It’s an established method and considers phases that ensure that the delivery of projects is done on time, while also taking the budget into account.
Don’t Decide Too Quickly
If it’s your first time hiring a consultant, it’s easy to be swayed by buzzword-filled business proposals. Here’s a little tip: take your time. You don’t have to make a decision quickly. Be sure to verify information by asking for proof of concept or demos. Inquire about the Salesforce consulting services they offer. Ask about their general plan of action to streamline your company’s processes using Salesforce and determine if they’re a good fit for you. Make it a habit to ask questions – and that goes both ways. You must allow them to interrogate you about your requirements so they can further tailor the plan to meet your organization’s needs.
Final Word
Choosing a Salesforce consultant is far from easy. An important decision to make, it sure has an overwhelming amount of factors to consider. The solution to this? Know your business priorities. Whether it be the budget or their level of expertise, you can only find the perfect fit for your business by knowing your organizational needs.
