How to Implement Salesforce Successfully and Boost Your Business

The CRM landscape has changed significantly in the past few years, with Salesforce leading the pack as both a top CRM platform and SaaS solution. The sheer investment numbers speak volumes about this market leader’s success: Salesforce boasts more than 150,000 customers worldwide (including companies like Uber, Microsoft, and Ford), and current year-over-year revenue has increased more than 20%.

Here are some tips on how to succeed in the Salesforce world.

Take advantage of Salesforce’s tour feature

The first step to learning a new platform is familiarizing yourself with it. Whether you’re considering switching to Salesforce from another CRM or implementing it for the first time, take advantage of its built-in tour feature. This will introduce you to its key features and capabilities while highlighting some of its best-kept secrets.

Know your user personas

Every business is unique, but most have at least one thing in common: a user person. In the case of Salesforce, there are three fundamental types of users you need to be aware of: decision-makers, frontline employees, and administrative assistants. Understanding how each type uses the platform will help you make design decisions that will resonate with them.

Know your process(es)

One of the best ways to get started is to map out how your business currently works (or doesn’t work). It will help you understand which functionalities are most important to implement and whether you need more than one instance for your Salesforce implementation. Think about what aspects of customer relationships are most critical to your business, and prioritize them accordingly. However, if Salesforce implementation feels like a daunting task, you can always seek the help of a NetSuite consulting agency or service.

The setup

One of the easiest ways to get started with Salesforce is to use its setup wizard. It’ll walk you through a series of questions that help determine your key goals and needs, as well as the functionalities you need most. As with most things in life, it’s best not to try and do everything at once. Instead, start by making a list of your most essential needs and the functionalities that best address them.

Connect with a reputable partner

Once you’ve selected your key use cases and features, it’s time to connect with a Salesforce partner. While you could attempt an implementation on your own, there are many benefits to partnering with a company experienced in Salesforce. Not only will you be able to focus your internal resources on your core business, but you’ll also be involved every step of the way — from initial setup to training and support as needed.

Salesforce is not super hard to use for new users (though some features require a bit more training), and its analytics capabilities make it an indispensable tool for businesses of all sizes. While it’s one of the larger CRM platforms on the market, Salesforce offers far more than just SFA/CRM functionality thanks to its robust set of platform capabilities. Once you’ve given yourself a quick tour and familiarize yourself with your key user personas, consider partnering with an experienced company to help get you started and set you up for success!