how to optimize salesforce implementation

Here Are 3 Proven Tactics To Perfectly Optimize Your Salesforce Implementations In 2022 And Beyond

  • Shoaib
  • Digital Transformation, Salesforce, Technology
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Salesforce implementations calls for heavy planning and investment thereof. Many organizations struggle with how to optimize Salesforce implementation. These organizations make heavy investments in the implementation phase intending to get tangible returns.

However, most have resulted in a minimal return on investment, contrary to the business’s expectations. This is due to license underutilization and data overload.

To achieve maximized Salesforce usage and optimize Salesforce implementation, organizations should prioritize adopting well-planned optimization practices, including but not limited to the creation of a change management strategy, adoption of suitable Salesforce org strategy and establishing and maintaining exemplary technical governance levels.

How to Optimize Salesforce Implementation In 3 Simple Steps

Our experts have proposed the following guide on how to optimize Salesforce implementation. We hope this will help you to change your post-implementation suboptimal and have a turnaround to optimize Salesforce implementation.

Defining Your Salesforce Technical Governance.

The presence or absence of technical governance is one of the greatest challenges to optimal Salesforce implementation. Technical governance is a tool for accountability. Every organization needs a technical governance structure to optimize Salesforce implementation.

There are several reasons why some organizations lack a technical governance guide. The number one reason is a failure by the business to engage experts for a demonstration regarding the administration and management of the system.

Some businesses also have the misguided assumption that governance may lead to the addition of an unauthorized complexity and cause additional functionality delays. Some believe that changes made in production instead of governance are highly effective as compared to administration changes.

Governance breeds accountability. Organizations must embrace technical governance to ensure optimal Salesforce usage and implementation. Investments must go beyond acquiring the software. The absence of technical governance can result in suboptimal license usage and performance.

Governance is a key aspect of Salesforce optimization strategy. Lack of requisite expertise in all matters Salesforce may ultimately lead to a suboptimal Salesforce implementation.

There is a greater need to onboard Salesforce specialists such as admins, consultants, and architects to assist in the seamless implementation of Salesforce. An effective governance strategy leads to the identification of system gaps hence planning for better optimization in the future.

Creation of a Change Management Strategy to Optimize Salesforce Implementation

End users are essential players in a successful Salesforce implementation. Any change in CRM must be end-user accepted. Therefore, end-users must be prepared in advance for the eventuality of change.

There is a need to partner with an administrator to work with teams and departments to facilitate and execute a proper change management plan.

Change management (CM) is the process of managing the overall program and the lifecycle of the project. Change management spans from the collection of business requirements to moving code from development through the production stage.

Several change management measures can be followed to oversee effective and better implementation of Salesforce. These measures include gathering ideas upon change requests, inspecting and prioritizing change requests, configuring, implementing the requests, testing change requests and finally developing a communication strategy for end-users.

The level of success of user adoption is highly hinged on an effective change management strategy. A Salesforce license can be optimized through passionate employees and a perfect adoption.

We, therefore, suggest that you test solutions and continually iterate to find satisfactory results. Assess the results of your tests and determine the ones that work for your organization.

Adoption of a Suitable Salesforce Organization Strategy

Companies often struggle with how to optimize Salesforce implementation. Obtaining and installing the platform is not enough. Organizations need to ensure that they optimize Salesforce implementation.

One of the ways to optimize Salesforce implementation is to adopt a befitting Salesforce organizational strategy. This strategy should be informed by your business needs and requirements as well as be backed up by sufficient business data.

Operational Models to choose when establishing a Salesforce Organization Strategy

There are several operating models to choose from when establishing a Salesforce organization strategy.

Low process integration, low process standardization (Diversification)

This model is majorly applicable to businesses with several different processes that have a low degree of correlation. The model also applies to businesses with diverse data models.

The independence of these processes implies that the effect of one process cannot interfere with the workflow of the whole organization.

Low process integration and high process Standardization (Replication)

This model assumes centralized control of the available business processes.  The model is characterized by different data and standardized processes. The model calls for data replication because of identical data models and processes.

While replicating, duplicating, and enriching data, customer 360 and Master Data Management (MDM) can be used to achieve this purpose.

High process integration, low process standardization (coordination)

This model is characterized by a well-defined, high degree of control across the organization and company service delivery. It is also referred to as the coordination model and is preferred for usage provided the businesses are independent.

However, businesses have access to transactions with each other. Shared data ensures that business units coordinate and communicate efficiently as opposed to other models.

High process integration, High process Standardization (Unification)

The unification model is characterized by a single org, similar processes, and same data. This model is founded on integrated groups of business activities where the clients and service providers are geographically spread worldwide. It is preferable for organizations whose business units run the same operations.

Final Thoughts

An improper organization strategy and a resistance to change are some of the few impediments that organizations encounter in their quest to optimize Salesforce implementation.

To achieve maximum usage and value from Salesforce, organizations need to adopt a few changes and measures. The adoption of technical governance and embracing organizational change is one of the ways in which organizations can optimize Salesforce optimization.

The last but not least measure is to adopt a proper and befitting org strategy that takes minimal effort to integrate into the current system but yields the most desired output. With the steps above on how to optimize Salesforce implementation, you should be good to go with your first step to revolutionizing your business’ operations.

Author: Shoaib
Shoaib Chaudhary is an entrepreneur and influencer with over two decades of experience in the technology industry. Shoaib founded Plumlogix with the help of the global 100 CIO, CTO, to empower businesses to eliminate today's barriers to efficiency, savings, growth, rich customer engagement, accountability, and data security. Before plumlogix, he built global businesses serving fortune 1000 companies, like Barns & Noble, Tenet Healthcare, Bloomberg, Sunnco, FannieMae, etc. Shoaib has been influencing global leaders to exceed organizational goals while advancing social responsibility. Shoaib also founded PlumlogixU.org for the advancement of in-demand digital skills globally.