Salesforce managed services are a set of business services offered by third-party companies that help businesses manage their Salesforce implementation and ensure it is running smoothly. These services can include things like data migration, customization, integration, training, and ongoing support.
A key benefit here is that these services are bundled into a simple monthly subscription cost, which is often more affordable and easier to manage than hiring internal Salesforce talent or having to pay expensive consulting fees, which are the other two main options for managing Salesforce CRM.
Tailwind IT is a great choice as a Salesforce managed services partner because we offer multiple plans to suit our clients' needs. We understand that every business is unique and has different requirements for their Salesforce implementation. Our team of experts can work with you to create a customized plan that meets your specific needs and budget.
What To Look For In A Partner
When looking for a Salesforce managed services partner, there are a few key things to consider: Experience, Customization, Support, Scalability, Certifications and Partnerships and Cost.
- Experience: Look for a company that has a track record of successfully implementing and managing Salesforce for other businesses.
- Customization: Make sure the company offers the ability to customize their services to meet your specific needs and goals.
- Support: Choose a partner that offers ongoing support and maintenance to ensure your Salesforce implementation stays up-to-date and runs smoothly.
- Scalability: Consider a company that can scale its services as your business grows and evolves.
- Certifications and Partnerships: Make sure the company is certified by Salesforce and has partnerships with other industry leaders to ensure they have the latest knowledge and resources.
- Cost: Compare prices and services offered by different companies to find the best value for your budget.
Salesforce Talent Shortage & Why Partners Matter
Salesforce CRM is widely considered to be one of the most successful and widely used CRM platforms on the market. With its powerful suite of tools and robust feature set, it has become the go-to solution for businesses of all sizes looking to streamline their sales, marketing, and customer service operations.
However, as the popularity and adoption of Salesforce CRM continues to grow, finding qualified and experienced talent to manage and maintain it has become increasingly difficult. This is why finding a good partner, who already has a well-trained Salesforce team on staff that can service your business, is often the best way to get the most value for your money. The partner has the resources to hire, manage, and retain the best Salesforce talent, so you don't have to.
The shortage of talent for Salesforce CRM is due to a combination of factors. One reason is the rapidly growing popularity and adoption of the platform. As more and more businesses turn to Salesforce to manage their customer relationships, the demand for Salesforce-skilled professionals has skyrocketed.
However, the supply of qualified individuals to fill these roles has not kept pace. Another reason is the complexity of the platform. Salesforce CRM is a powerful and feature-rich solution that requires a deep understanding of its capabilities in order to manage and optimize it effectively.
Additionally, because Salesforce is a constantly evolving platform, the skills needed to manage it are also constantly changing. This makes it challenging for businesses to find and retain experts who have the most up-to-date knowledge.
Because the Salesforce platform is widely used across many industries, the overall competition for Salesforce-skilled professionals is fierce, with many companies vying for the same pool of qualified candidates. This has led to a high demand for Salesforce experts and a shortage of available talent.
Asking Questions & Making The Right Choice
A best practice, one which we strongly recommend, is to ask as many questions as possible when interviewing potential Salesforce managed services partners. You know your business and what it needs, so ask questions to make sure any partners you are looking at have a right-fit alignment with your business needs, goals, objectives, and communication style.
Here are some example questions you can ask to help establish a constructive dialogue and explore which partners would best suit your business needs.
- What experience do you have managing and maintaining Salesforce implementations?
- Can you provide examples of how you have customized Salesforce solutions to meet the specific needs of other businesses?
- What kind of ongoing support and maintenance do you offer?
- How do you ensure that your team stays up-to-date with the latest Salesforce features and best practices?
- Can you explain your approach to data migration and integration with other systems?
- How do you handle training and user adoption for new Salesforce users?
- Do you have any industry-specific experience and expertise?
- Are you certified by Salesforce and do you have partnerships with other industry leaders?
- What are your pricing plans and how do you determine the cost for your services?
- Can you provide references or case studies of your previous clients?
- Do you have a service level agreement(SLA) and how do you handle escalations and issues?
- How do you handle security and compliance for Salesforce implementation?
By asking these questions, businesses can gain a better understanding of a potential Salesforce managed services provider's experience, capabilities, and approach, and can make an informed decision about whether they are a good fit for their specific needs.
About Tailwind
Tailwind is a global provider of managed IT services and cybersecurity solutions, offering industry-leading support, cybersecurity, cloud, Salesforce, infrastructure and compliance services. As one of the top MSPs, Tailwind's 24/7/365 US-staffed support team designs technology solutions to accelerate business and reduce IT risks.
Taking The Next Step
If you are considering Tailwind IT to be your Salesforce managed services partner, the best way to get started is to book a time on our calendar. Tell us about your company, your Salesforce needs, and ask us as many questions as you like.
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