Salesforce Managed Services: A Clever Solution for SMBs

We all know the reality of managing a powerful CRM like Salesforce. It's a megalithic platform that requires a lot of skill, time, and training to master.

Sure, you can use it for just some basic features like importing leads, logging activities, setting follow-up tasks, and creating basic reports, but that's just the beginning of what Salesforce can do.

Having an effective and well-maintained Salesforce org that drives your business forward and gives you that all-important competitive edge can be a difficult and costly thing to create. 

Moreover, hiring and retaining a seasoned Salesforce administrator can be easier said than done. The difficulties in hiring and retaining a good Salesforce administrator can be attributed to the high demand for such individuals and the resulting competition for such talent.

These Salesforce platform experts are required to have a greater level of technical expertise, experience, and certifications, making them difficult to find and costly to hire.

Even if you're able to hire the best of the best -- the golden unicorn of Salesforce administrators -- they may still struggle with a lack of available time and resources to do all the things the business needs.  

The Reality of Most Salesforce Administrators: 

What commonly ends up happening in many small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs), whether due to lack of budget or lack of available talent pool, is that some tech-savvy employee from Sales, Marketing or Operations will end up getting tasked with managing the Salesforce CRM as an additional high-priority duty on top of their core job description.

These well-meaning and enduring individuals may suddenly feel overwhelmed and in over their heads when it comes to various features of the Salesforce platform, without a clear understanding of best practices or how best to optimize/streamline their Salesforce org to serve the larger needs, goals, and objectives of the business. 

This is exactly the kind of scenario Tailwind helps our clients with. We provide that "extended team" of Salesforce resources who become a natural extension of your in-house team.

While you stay laser-focused on your core business objectives, Tailwind handles your CRM needs. It's a win-win partnership built around our love for technology and helping clients succeed.

Quite sincerely, it can make all the difference in taking things to the next level and it's a clever solution for any small-to-medium sized businesses to consider.  

Humor - 5 Things Salesforce Administrators Never Say:  

1. I sure have a lot of free time!  
2. I crushed my backlog, no more to-dos!  
3. I sure don't need any help; this CRM is easy!  
4. I passed all the Salesforce certifications easily!  
5. I am stress-free, this job is Zen! 

We wish Salesforce was that simple and easy, but the reality is that businesses and Salesforce administrators are often better off getting help from experts who can understand their specific business needs and processes and implement solutions that make a difference for their bottom line.

Whether that is done through a consulting engagement (time and materials) or through Salesforce Managed Services (fixed monthly rate), the benefits of having that "extended team" of experts are manyfold.  

Top 5 Reasons to Consider Salesforce Managed Services:  

1. Time constraints –Salesforce administrators are often overwhelmed due to a lack of time to effectively manage their Salesforce org. 
   
   
2. Expertise – Lack of expertise can lead to Salesforce administrators feeling overwhelmed as they try to keep up with the latest best practices and trends. 
   
   
3. Resources – Limited resources can make it difficult for Salesforce administrators to complete their tasks effectively and on time. The backlog can be a nightmare to overcome.  
   
   
4. Change management – Constant changes within the Salesforce platform can be difficult to keep up with, resulting in feeling overwhelmed and underprepared. 
   
   
5. Data management – Salesforce administrators are responsible for maintaining data integrity and security, which can be a daunting task. If things aren't configured correctly or IT security is neglected, a CRM data breach can be devastating to a business.  

In conclusion, effectively managing a CRM as powerful as Salesforce can be a daunting task for any administrator, not to mention that hiring a dedicated internal team can be prohibitively costly and difficult to maintain, which can be attributed to many factors including skilled talent shortages, high salary expectations, and the ever-increasing complexity and scale of the Salesforce platform itself.

Why go through that alone and keep things in-house when there are better solutions available?  

The best way to get started is to have a friendly conversation and complimentary consultation with our team at Tailwind. Tell us about your business needs and challenges, and we'll share how we can help.  

Connect with us today and let's talk about your Salesforce needs.