Salesforce Managed Services vs. In-House IT: What’s Best for Your CRM?

Salesforce Managed Services vs. In-House IT What’s Best for Your CRM

An insider scoop from IDC confirms that Salesforce is the leading CRM in the market today, having a market share of  23.8% which makes it the most sought-after by businesses around the globe. However, it is important that a Salesforce CRM is implemented and internal teams are empowered to help maximize efficiency and scalability. The big question is: Should you go for Salesforce managed services or create your own in-house IT department? This guide compares both approaches in detail to help you find the best solutions.    

What Are Salesforce Managed Services?  

Salesforce managed services mean handling the management of your Salesforce platform by a third-party provider. They are focused on Salesforce solutions and have expertise in maintenance and support, configuration, customization, integration and more.  

Key Features of Managed Services for Salesforce:  

  1. Expertise on demand: Certified Salesforce professionals with specialized knowledge ready to take your legwork.  
  2. Scalability as needed: This feature allows you to easily scale up or down your business services.  
  3. Cost efficiency: Throws the ball in your court by helping you avoid the overhead costs of full-time employees and infrastructure.  
  4. Proactive monitoring: Provides system monitoring on a continuous basis to prevent problems from becoming big issues.  
  5. Customization facility: Gives you the leverage of implementing tailored solutions to your business processes and goals rather than going for a solution that doesn’t sit well with your business.

What is an In-House IT Team? 

An in-house IT team consists of your employees who oversee your Salesforce environment. This approach gives you direct control of your CRM operations and ensures that the CRM system is in sync with your ways of working.  

Key Features of In-House IT:  

  1. Complete control of operation: It includes the ability to oversee CRM processes and data security.  
  2. Immediate availability for issue resolution: On-site teams that you hire are more likely to solve an issue quickly without waiting for or relying on external resources to respond.  
  3. Alignment with work culture: Your in-house employees know the ins and outs of your company’s ways of working better than external providers, so they can blend in easily.  
  4. Long-term investment: It’s a long shot however, developing internal expertise can be useful if you are a large enterprise and have sufficient resources to invest in training and retaining employees without breaking the bank.  

Managed Services vs. In-House IT for Salesforce 

To assist you in deciding between these two approaches, here is a detailed comparison: 

Aspect

In-House IT

Salesforce Managed Services

Cost/ Expenses

Higher as compared to outsourcing (involving salaries, training, infrastructure, and tools)

Predictable pricing models (Standard, Advanced, Premium)

Expertise

Limited to skillsets of those who you hire full-time 

24/7 access to certified Salesforce experts

Scalability

Tedious and expensive

Easily scalable

Proactivity

Mostly reactive

Proactive issue prevention

Availability

Limited by on-site working hours 

Often 24/7 support

Time Efficiency

Juggling multiple priorities

Dedicated focus on your Salesforce needs

Tired of paying for Salesforce features you don’t use? We’ll customize your setup to maximize ROI.

 

Advantages and Disadvantages of In-House IT Teams

In Favour

Against


  • You’ll have full control over CRM processes and data security.  
  • The handful of consultants that you hire might have limited expertise in advanced Salesforce features like AI-driven analytics or complex integrations.  
  • Immediate response to urgent issues without external delays is also a plus point.  
  • Scalability challenges during rapid growth or downsizing phases due to the aforementioned reasons.  
  • It’s a long-term investment to get the results that you want as it involves building internal expertise from scratch. 


Advantages and Disadvantages of Salesforce Managed Services  

In Favour

Against

  • You’ll have access to a team of certified experts who are skilled in different Salesforce Clouds and tools like Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and Einstein Analytics and go the extra mile to make things work for you.
  • You might feel less direct control over CRM processes compared to an internal team, but you’ll be the one who’ll be calling the shots.  
  • Less costly than building up your own in-house team (businesses have been able to save as much as 40%).
  • Dependency on external providers or Salesforce experts for critical tasks or customizations that might be urgent.
  • Proactive monitoring guarantees that there is a low level of downtime and that business runs without a hitch.
 
  • The flexibility to respond quickly without having to worry about delays in change requests.
 

Read More: How Salesforce Managed Services Reduce Operational Costs & Maximize ROI

Which Approach Is Best for Your Business?

There are two approaches to leveraging your Salesforce platform. If you’re contemplating what might be the right approach for your business then we have made it easier for you by listing the following factors:

Choose In-House IT If:  

  • You want to keep an eye on all Salesforce-related operations and data security issues.
  • Your Salesforce environment is not very complex to understand and does not have many customizations.
  • You have a strong IT department that is well-versed in Salesforce and you don’t feel like having an extra hand.
  • You have the financial resources and feel content to invest in long-term salaries, training, and infrastructure to manage your Salesforce needs.

Choose Salesforce Managed Services If:  

  • Your business is growing rapidly and you need adaptability vis-a-vis guidance from qualified Salesforce experts.
  • You don’t have the resources for a full-time in-house team, but you need enterprise-level support at a fraction of that cost.
  • Your CRM is characterized by intricate customization or integration or you need to implement customized tools so as to make Salesforce management easier.
  • You desire close observation and round-the-clock assistance without incurring extra expenses.

Why Choose Plumlogix?

If you are looking for a solution that incorporates the positive aspects of both approaches, expertise, flexibility, scalability, and cost; Plumlogix is one of the best Salesforce managed services partners. Why? Let’s answer that question!

 What Makes Plumlogix Different?

  1. At Plumlogix, we provide a team of certified Salesforce professionals in Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Pardot, and many others to make Salesforce implementation a breeze for you.
  2. We also have AI Specialists and AI Associates who help you to leverage the power of Agentforce within your Salesforce platform, to increase efficiency and automation.
  3. We are professionals in Salesforce CRM management, developing tailored strategies that are in line with your industry challenges so that you can make the most out of your Salesforce investment.
  4. Our team offers clear and understandable pricing for CRM solutions that is affordable rather than creating and managing large in-house teams.  
  5. At Plumlogix, we also engage your internal teams with comprehensive training to ensure they feel fully equipped and that the outsourced services we provide are seamlessly integrated into your current processes.

Conclusion:

In a nutshell, it’s not just about the cost of Salesforce managed services or in-house IT;  it’s about aligning your CRM strategy with your business goals without cutting corners. So, if you are searching for a reliable partner who can provide professional solutions specifically for you at affordable prices, then Plumlogix is here to help you succeed.

Maximize your ROI by fully utilizing your Salesforce platform by opting for our managed services.