Directory of the Top Salesforce Parnters
Learn about the main types of Salesforce Partners, scenarios it makes sense to utilize each, and browse the top Partners by Use Case.
What is a Salesforce Consulting Partner?
It's important to start by acknowledging that the term "Salesforce Consulting Partner" is too brad - it's a catch-all definition that simply means any company focused on delivering Salesforce Professional Services.
Companies need to begin by defining the type of service they need for their Salesforce objectives, then begin identify the top vendors in that category.
Let's start with a quick clarification on the primary types of Salesforce Partners.
3 Types of Salesforce Partners
Common Mistakes When Selecting a Salesforce Partner
The problem that comes with selecting the wrong type of Salesforce Partner is that it results in a misalignment in the approach to delivery. In other words, they way they prefer to get work done differs from how you envisioned the partnership.
An Implementation Partner is looking to get the job done on their terms - coordinating with you when needed to gather requirements, specify proposed solutions etc but they tend to keep the client on the sidelines as much as possible.
In contrast, a Partner focused on supporting existing Salesforce customers in the ongoing optimization and management of their org will typically have a more collaborative, agile approach to managing the relationship.
Reasons a Salesforce Partner Might Be the Wrong Choice
There are scenarios when hiring a Salesforce Partner is absolutely the right decision. When kicking off a large-scale, new Salesforce deployment, engaging an entire team under a single vendor makes sense.
But for any work short of a large scale transformation, you want to ensure interests are aligned before starting a partnership. Misalignment occurs very quickly when companies engage a Partner that operations with a delivery methodology different from what the client wants.
In some scenarios, you could be looking for more hand-holding, proactive guidance, and someone to rely on for the strategic planning and hands-on build work. Other situations may simply need a highly qualified team to come in and execute on the plans you have in place.
These are a few very common reasons we see friction with Partners:
Their goal is to deliver the work and leave, not get bogged down in the ongoing change management or to support you after go-live
All deliverables are scoped upfront, which makes it difficult to deviate as new information is gathered throughout the project.
Partners want to execute 100% of the work, leaving your internal team on the sidelines and blocking the opportunity for you to learn what's going on.
Partners are insanely expensive - and no, it's not because they are the only way to find quality Salesforce Consultants.
For this reason, it's absolutely critical to conduct due diligence at a level that extends beyond just the type of Salesforce Product they focus on or the industries they have served in the past.
Salesforce Consulting Firm vs. Independent Consultants
The Partner approach is ideal for larger transformation projects where the team being engaged across strategy, business process optimization, and systems work exceeds 10+ Consultants engaged simultaneously.
At this scale, it's beneficial to have a single vendor accountable for managing the all workstreams and keeping things organized.
But you should strongly consider engaging Independent Consultants for any initiative that requires fewer than 10 Consultants - and especially those that only need a team of 2-3.
In these scenarios, you can take a surgical approach to hiring only the experience needed, while also partnering with someone that remains available to you long after the project is delivered.
How FoundHQ Can Help
Our approach gives you the best of both worlds.
The expertise of a Consulting Firm. The collaboration of an FTE.
And cost savings only a Freelancer can offer.
FoundHQ brings 10+ years of experience building Salesforce teams, including work with some of the top Partners globally. By partnering with us, you get access to a network of 8,000+ pre-vetted Salesforce Consultants, including talent from Slalom, Accenture, Deloitte, IBM, Kicksaw, Coastal Cloud, Salesforce, and hundreds of other Consulting Firms.
We possess the single largest Salesforce knowledge base and the ability to help you identify the right team needed to deliver any scope of work.
Get Matched to the Right Salesforce Consultant
FoundHQ is the easiest way to get work done in Salesforce.
Salesforce Partner Listings: Best Partners for Each Scenario
Below, we highlight some of the top Salesforce Partners for specific Product categories. As we have highlighted above, this is only one piece of the puzzle when selecting the right Consulting Firm.
Don't overlook the importance of vetting Partners on the specific type of work they specialize in delivering and how they engage with customers throughout the engagement.
If you're looking for guidance or any outside opinion on how to approach vendor selection, book a call with our team any time.
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FAQ on Salesforce Consulting Partners
How does FoundHQ Compare to a Salesforce Partner?
FoundHQ is similar to Consulting Partners in one way: we help you engage the best Salesforce Consultants in the world. We guide the end-to-end discovery process, recommend the correct resourcing strategy, and plug in the team needed to deliver.
But the way we deliver is very different and enables customers to work on their terms.
Working FoundHQ means you get:
Direct interviews with all Consultants, so you get to know who’s actually delivering work on your project.
Fully embedded Consultants that provide a seamless integration with your team, processes, and systems.
Payment only for approved work with no minimum spend or retainer lock-in
Transparent and reasonable rates 40%-50% lower than what Consulting Firms are charging you - because quality does not, in fact, cost $250/hour.
What if I need an NDA?
In most scenarios, we are executing NDAs between the client, FoundHQ, and any Consultants engaged on the project, in addition to implementing strict data security and data sharing agreements.
We have the same protocols in place at any Consulting Firm and understand the importance of privacy and security.
If I list a project on FoundHQ, does it become public?
Absolutely not. None of your communication with FoundHQ will be publicly available. The details provided will be used by the FoundHQ team only in order to identify and match you with relevant Consultants from our network.
Who is accountable if something goes wrong?
We get it - "nobody has ever gotten fired for hiring McKinsey". There is a level of comfort you have when a third party is taking responsibility - when working with FoundHQ, we are the ones that take on the responsibility.
If a Consultant doesn't work out, we will immediately terminate that engagement, provide a full or partial refund of hours billed, and replace the Consultant within 2-3 business days.
If you need additional skill sets throughout the project, we will help onboard those individuals within 48 hours.
We operate with complete transparency throughout the engagement, so you have visibility into all hours billed and how the time is being spent.
We promise to support you through all phases of the engagement, which includes post go-live - even if you just need a Consultant to hang around for 5 hours per week or on an ad hoc basis in case things pop up.
Get Matched to the Right Salesforce Consultant
FoundHQ is the easiest way to get work done in Salesforce.
