Common traps in Salesforce implementation and how to avoid them
Salesforce is the biggest and most complete CRM platform on the market right now. It’s used by millions of businesses across the world, but some struggle to implement it. If this is your first time using Salesforce, you may run into some common traps. So, we’ve created this short guide to help you avoid them and implement the software as best as possible!
Not understanding your goals
Why are you using Salesforce? What do you want to achieve via this platform?
If you don’t have any goals set before using Salesforce, you will implement it incorrectly. Setting goals and having a clear vision lets you know the best way to set everything up. It means you can implement the software with a clear focus on using certain features to achieve your goals.
Not using the right data
You are going to need to migrate lots of data to Salesforce for it to work correctly. Unfortunately, a common implementation mistake is using bad data. What this means is you have data that’s outdated or incorrect. In turn, this makes life more complicated for the system as you’ve got data in there that’s really of no use to anybody.
Therefore, you can avoid this by cleaning up your data before you migrate it. Ensure everything is up-to-date and accurate - discount anything that is not necessary. As a result, Salesforce can get the most out of your data to present positive outcomes.
Not undergoing training
You’re not an expert in Salesforce, nor do you need to be. But, you should have a basic understanding of how the system works and what features you need to use. So, undergoing some training will really help you throughout the implementation process.
If you implement Salesforce with zero training, that’s when things are likely to be problematic. Yes, your implementation partner can help you, but it pays to understand what they’re doing or suggesting. If you are clueless, you will never get the most out of this software.
Should I use an implementation Partner? Depends.
It is entirely possible to implement Salesforce on your own. However, most business owners are inexperienced and don’t know much about the platform. As a result, implementation can go awry as you make some silly mistakes.
Instead, you can use an implementation partner to get everything up and running. Put simply, this will be an experienced consultant that helps you set Salesforce up for your business, allowing you to get the most out of it. However when choosing the right implementation partner make sure they clearly understand how your team will be using the CRM. Too many times we have seen over specced Salesforce instances because an implementation partner didn’t listen.
A good CRM like Salesforce is critical for the success of your business. However, if you make these common implementation mistakes, you’ll never see the true benefits. Thankfully, they can all be avoided - and part of the problem is not being aware of them before you start the implementation process. Now, you know what to expect, so life can be much easier.
