Long before technology became a part of our everyday lives, businesses sought solutions to manage and promote the experiences of their customers. Salesforce, Inc., transformed the landscape more than two decades ago after introducing a broad suite of customer relationship management (CRM) applications and software solutions. Tools available from Salesforce expand the potential of automating analytics, sales operations, customer service, marketing, business-to-business (B2B) transactions, and other processes.

Many businesses use and embrace the Salesforce platform. However, some managers may not be aware of two important business solutions that will allow their firms to expand the potential of these valuable tools: Salesforce Managed Services and Salesforce Staff Augmentation. Let’s learn more about these options, and how they may benefit your business.

Salesforce managed services allow companies to maximize the potential of Salesforce CRM applications and software. This occurs when a trusted outside managed services provider administers operational issues externally for a company’s Salesforce system. This entity helps you get the most out of Salesforce by handling updates, ensuring system security, and proactively addressing other systems-related administration matters.

Having a complex and powerful resource such as Salesforce but not using it to its potential is similar to having an airplane on the tarmac without a talented flight crew to navigate it. A reliable company you partner with that has the talent pool and resources available to offer managed services for the Salesforce system has the ability to guarantee your Salesforce system integrity and prevent disruptions or downtime.

When selecting a Salesforce managed services firm, you should consider the ability of their talented, specialized team to meet your needs in these six critical areas:

1. Consulting: You need customized solutions to your unique situation, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Consultants with certifications and specializations can tailor solutions to meet your needs.
2. Implementation: Services should respond to challenges you face and proactively prevent new ones from appearing.
3. Custom Application Development: You rely on a variety of applications and customized workflows, need a team to manage these processes, and create other company-specific applications.
4. Integration: Managed services professionals understand the importance of seamless and secure interactions with third-party systems.
5. Optimization: When Salesforce works at full capacity, it allows all facets of your enterprise — including your employees — to reach a higher level of productivity and success.
6. Support and Evolution: You want a managed services firm to provide the necessary level of support to keep it humming, while also proactively making modifications and updates.

When considering a firm that covers these six areas of Salesforce managed services, CLOUDSTREET offers the best option for you.

Augmentation is a way to expand your Salesforce capabilities without needing to hire additional technical support staff onsite. You may require an expert in a specific area of Salesforce for an extended period of time or, conversely, you may anticipate the need for a talented Salesforce expert to offer brief intensive team training. In either case, posting a job ad, reviewing resumes, negotiating contracts, and onboarding these talented experts is a timely and expensive process.

Staff augmentation offers an ideal solution. This process allows you to work with a firm that can immediately add Salesforce resources to your existing projects or teams with established leadership. This is a much better option than hiring someone who has the expertise you need today, but will need time away from the office in the future to maintain a rigorous awareness of Salesforce best practices.

Work with a company that already has a wealth of Salesforce professionals onhand. With this talent readily on demand, these professionals can assume a variety of information technology and staff training responsibilities that are tailored to your needs at that moment. They can work on short-term contracts that outline specific assigned duties or training responsibilities.

Salesforce staff augmentation works best when you partner with a firm that has a wide variety of certified Salesforce talent that can provide their expertise on a contractual basis without a long-term commitment. There are five important factors that make Salesforce staff augmentation a great alternative:

1. Salesforce Optimization: Acquire the Salesforce talent you need when you need it. These professionals can provide the professional development, training, and IT support you require on a real-time basis, so your commerce and B2B activities continue uninterrupted.
2. Cost-Effective Strategy: You get the professional talent you need at a critical time, without having to anticipate the long-term budgetary commitment required of adding employees. Get the skillsets you require without having to assume responsibility for the administrative costs, benefits, and overhead expenses one would incur if staff were added to the payroll.
3. Scalability: Having too few experts results in costly overtime; having more than needed on the payroll lowers productivity. Augmentation allows you to bring on the talent you need for the amount of time required and strike that perfect balance.
4. Salesforce Expertise: Most people do not keep a locksmith on their payroll, but they want one immediately when they forget their keys. Similarly, through staff augmentation, you can secure the Salesforce expertise you need on short notice, without losing precious time waiting for human resources to hire them.
5. Enhanced Flexibility: Benefit from needed talent without needing to pay for skill sets that are no longer a priority. With the internet, this talent does not have to relocate onsite to share their expertise. Indeed, offshore professionals who are employed by a reliable company can do the work you need.

When considering a firm that covers these five areas of Salesforce staff augmentation, CLOUDSTREET offers the best option for you.

Salesforce improves the customer management experience for businesses. Salesforce managed services allow you to partner with an external firm to keep your instance of Salesforce running smoothly. Salesforce staff augmentation provides talented experts to work with your present staff and teams. Consider these options to get the most from Salesforce.