Risks of Self Implementing Salesforce
As an implementation partner, we are asked questions about why we are needed. Why do we need you to implement Salesforce for us? Isn't it a system that doesn’t require code? Yes, Salesforce is a system that does not require code to be written, and yes, you do not need a computer science degree to implement it, but it does require learning. Salesforce provides a ton of resources and a community of folks who are willing to answer and help with your education on the platform. But, if you do not have the time or willingness to invest in that education, you risk the possibility of an unsuccessful implementation. Before you decide on which route to go, please consider the following risks of self-implementing.
Time Cost with Experience
The effort required to implement may not require someone’s full-time job, but it will require an allocation of time that will impact a person’s ability to do their typical responsibilities. Something will need to be sacrificed or delayed in order to do this the right way. The lesson here is even though you have someone on staff who has experience with Salesforce, it doesn’t mean there are no costs.
Time Cost without Experience
If you decide to self implement and do not have experience, it is highly recommended that you have the person you tasked to implement attend training. Add up the person’s time spent at training, the time implementing the solution and the cost of training and you might be spending the same amount or more as if you hired an implementation partner. Unfortunately, if you don't get training and begin self-implementing, then realize you're in over your head, you may still end up needing to hire an implementation partner. And in that scenario, they may find they have to do extra work to undo some of the mistakes you've made which could cost you more.
Extended Timeline
As a consulting firm that has completed more than 700 implementations, we have become quite efficient at it. Even the simplest implementations will take longer than 6 weeks. Odds are the person you designated to take on the task will not have as much experience as the company you could hire to implement. This will lead to potential stops and starts due to time needed to research how to build out the solution. If this person isn’t fully dedicated to this project, you will see delays when they have to stop to handle those fire drills you deny will happen. Any which way you slice it, the implementation will take longer than if you hired a consulting firm. Lesson learned, be prepared to double the timeline if you choose to self implement.
Poor Adoption
This might be the biggest point to drive home. Whenever you apply any kind of change to an organization, it takes emotional and physical effort. If the implementation is not done properly, you risk poor adoption. If the configuration does not meet the needs of the organization or training isn't done in a way the users understand, they will push back. That leads to distrust of the system, and even if you were to try and right the ship by hiring a consulting firm to fix it, the distrust may be too much to overcome to make it a successful implementation. It will take strong leadership and a strong Salesforce Administrator to properly help the user base get over the hump. The lesson learned here is to ensure the implementation is set up properly and training is well executed to meet the needs of the users; otherwise, you risk poor adoption.
There are some key considerations before making the decision to self implement. It is doable, but you need to realize that it will take proper planning, training, and costs in both dollars and time. Once you have a grasp of the cost, weigh it against the faster option of hiring a partner before making a decision. Feel free to run it by your Account Executive, that is what they are there for. Please feel free to comment below, on the Salesforce Success Community, on our Facebook page, or directly at me on Twitter @Salvatoriello.
