What Do Salesforce Consulting Services Include?

Introduction

When you hire a Salesforce consultancy, you aren't just buying hours; you are buying a suite of services designed to ensure your CRM delivers value. But "Consulting" is a broad term. What exactly does a typical engagement entail? This breakdown clarifies what you can expect.

Core Pillars of Salesforce Consulting

1. Strategy and Roadmap

Before touching a single setting, consultants work to understand your business.

• Gap Analysis: Identifying where your current process fails.
• Solution Design: Architecting how Salesforce will solve those problems.
• Roadmapping: Planning a phased rollout to manage complexity and budget.

2. Implementation and Configuration

This is the "build" phase.

• Setup: Configuring users, profiles, and security.
• Customization: Creating custom objects, fields, and page layouts.
• Automation: Building Flows to automate repetitive tasks (e.g., auto-assigning leads).

3. Data Migration and Management

Moving data is often the hardest part. Services include:

• Data Cleansing: De-duping and formatting legacy data.
• ETL (Extract, Transform, Load): Safely moving data from Excel or old CRMs into Salesforce.
• Data Governance: Setting up rules to keep data clean in the future.

4. Integration

Salesforce shouldn't be an island. Consultants build bridges to:

• ERP Systems: (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) for order and inventory data.
• Marketing Tools: (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo) for lead flow.
• Communication Tools: (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams).

5. Custom Development

When standard configuration isn't enough, consultants use code.

• Apex Classes/Triggers: For complex backend logic.
• Lightning Web Components (LWC): For custom user interfaces.
• Visualforce: For generating custom PDFs or legacy pages.

6. Training and Change Management

The best system fails if users don't adopt it.

• User Training: Hands-on sessions for sales reps and support agents.
• Admin Training: Teaching your internal team how to maintain the system.
• Documentation: Creating user guides and process maps.

7. Managed Services (Post-Go-Live)

After the launch, many partners offer ongoing support.

• Bug Fixes: Resolving issues that arise.
• Enhancements: Adding small features as requested.
• Health Checks: Periodic reviews to ensure the system remains optimized.

Conclusion

Salesforce consulting services are comprehensive, covering the entire lifecycle of your CRM from concept to continuous improvement. Whether you need a full implementation or just some expert coding help, understanding these categories helps you scope your project and communicate effectively with your partner.