Salesforce is a highly customizable and extendable Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software. It allows companies to manage and streamline a wide range of processes and helps to integrate all business-related aspects on one platform like — sales processes, tracking customer interactions, lead acquisition and conversion, and marketing. Implementing CRM software can sometimes be a challenge but hiring the best Salesforce Implementation partners along with careful planning and preparation can ease the process. Best practices for productive and successful implementation are:
1. Organizing a team
It is crucial to have an organized and effective implementation team to achieve significant outcomes. The team includes the following participants:
• Executive sponsor — An executive sponsor helps to overcome the organizational hurdles that might occur during implementing the cross-functional project.
• System Administrators — System Administrator understands the business processes and requirements from managers and users.
• Project Managers — Project managers typically keep projects on the right track and ensure that the project is completed within the specified deadline.
2. Define your goals
Goals should be specific, achievable, and realistic based on the Scope of Work and the workflow. Smart goals allow you to divide the project into smaller milestones and then track the implementation as per the deadline. Additionally, it will help you stay organized.
3. Communicate with your end-users
The end-users play a significant role in the determination of the success or failure of the new CRM system. So, it is recommended to share the plan and the rate of work progress with them at the right time. Including end-users within the Salesforce implementation process can offer a deeper and real insight for the companies, their valuable feedback can help to provide better utility to the customers.
4. Data clean up
Data cleansing is vital before the migration of data. Data clean-up means record entries, databases, spreadsheets, and financials all must be free of irrelevant and superfluous data. Redundant or dated information in the system can lead to errors, misled projections, and duplicate data. This makes updating of data more difficult and can also cause data inconsistency. However, analyzing critical data ensures faster decision-making and helps generate more leads.
5. Choose the right approach
Salesforce implementation can be carried out via two different approaches Waterfall and Scrum. These are the project management methodology that helps to facilitate the completion of projects with a different sequence of stages.
• Waterfall approach –In a waterfall approach, the project is implemented in a sequential manner where each phase is completed before the next phase begins so that there is no overlapping in the phases. It is used for simple unchanging projects.
• Scrum approach –With Scrum, the product is built in a series of fixed-length iterations called sprints. It provides a flexible framework and delivers quality service to the customer faster.
6. Post-implementation plan
The objective of the Post-implementation plan is to maintain and enhance the system to meet the needs of the user. This includes helpdesk support, fixing the bugs, and respond to the queries as well as challenges that the users face. Also, ensure that the documentation should be done for the issues that are not addressed before as well as for the repeated ones.
Salesforce, when implemented correctly, can potentially lead to significant sales growth and provide the best user experience. Following the above steps and enlisting the best Salesforce Implementation Partner can really add value to the process and also create a real competitive advantage for your business.
