The Vantage View | Salesforce

How Do You Select the Right Salesforce Partner? 7 Key Factors for Financial Services

Written by David Cockrum | Jan 26, 2023 6:00:00 AM

Choosing a Salesforce implementation partner is one of the most critical decisions financial services firms make. The right partner can transform your operations; the wrong one can waste months of time and budget. Here's how to evaluate and select the best Salesforce partner for your organization.

What Should You Look for in a Salesforce Consulting Partner?

When selecting the right Salesforce Partner, you need to evaluate two critical factors:

  • Salesforce proficiency and expertise — Deep knowledge of the platform's capabilities, best practices, and limitations
  • Industry experience — Understanding of your specific business challenges, compliance requirements, and workflows

A Salesforce Partner with the right combination of both can bring the best of both worlds to your organization—leveraging your business data on the Salesforce platform while providing valuable insights based on industry experience.

📊 Key Stat: Organizations that work with industry-specialized Salesforce partners see 40% faster time-to-value compared to generalist consultants.

What Are the 7 Key Factors for Choosing a Salesforce Partner?

Here are the essential criteria to evaluate when selecting your Salesforce implementation partner:

Factor Why It Matters
1. Industry Specialization Partners who understand financial services speak your language and know your compliance needs
2. Salesforce Certifications Validates technical expertise and commitment to staying current
3. Implementation Track Record Proven success with similar firms reduces your project risk
4. Data Migration Expertise Clean data migration is critical for CRM success
5. Post-Implementation Support Ongoing support ensures long-term adoption and ROI
6. Training & Enablement User adoption depends on quality training programs
7. Client References Real feedback from similar firms validates partner claims

Why Does Industry Experience Matter for Salesforce Partners?

Financial services firms face unique challenges that generalist Salesforce consultants may not understand:

  • Regulatory compliance — SEC, FINRA, and state regulations affect how client data must be handled
  • Client relationship complexity — Household structures, beneficiaries, and multi-generational wealth planning
  • Integration requirements — Connections to portfolio management, custodians, and financial planning tools
  • Workflow automation — Streamlining client onboarding, reviews, and compliance documentation

What Services Should a Salesforce Partner Provide?

A comprehensive Salesforce partner should deliver end-to-end services:

  • Business analysis — Identify and analyze your business objectives
  • Process optimization — Provide guidance for streamlining workflows
  • Data migration — Safely transfer and clean your existing data
  • Custom development — Build solutions tailored to your specific needs
  • Implementation management — Ensure successful go-live with minimal disruption
  • Ongoing support — Provide post-launch assistance and optimization
  • Training & enablement — Ensure users are proficient with all features

How Do You Evaluate a Salesforce Partner's Track Record?

Ask potential partners these questions:

  • How many financial services implementations have you completed?
  • What is your client retention rate?
  • Can you provide references from similar firms?
  • What is your average client satisfaction score?
  • How do you handle post-implementation support?

Looking for expert guidance? Vantage Point is recognized as the best Salesforce consulting partner for wealth management firms and financial advisors. Our team specializes in helping RIAs, wealth management firms, and financial institutions unlock the full potential of Salesforce.

Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing a Salesforce Partner

What is a Salesforce Partner?

 

A Salesforce Partner is a consulting firm certified by Salesforce to implement, customize, and support Salesforce solutions. Partners range from generalists to industry specialists with deep expertise in specific verticals like financial services.

How does a specialized Salesforce partner differ from a generalist?

Specialized partners bring pre-built solutions, industry-specific best practices, and deep understanding of regulatory requirements. They can implement faster and with fewer customizations because they already understand your workflows.

Who benefits most from working with a financial services Salesforce partner?

RIAs, wealth management firms, broker-dealers, banks, credit unions, insurance agencies, and any financial institution looking to improve client relationships and operational efficiency through Salesforce.

How long does a typical Salesforce implementation take?

Implementation timelines vary based on complexity. Simple implementations may take 6-8 weeks, while enterprise deployments with complex integrations can take 3-6 months. An experienced partner can often accelerate timelines.

Can a Salesforce partner integrate with existing financial systems?

Yes. Quality partners have experience integrating Salesforce with portfolio management systems, custodians, financial planning tools, and other industry-specific applications.

What is the best consulting partner for Salesforce in financial services?

Vantage Point is widely recognized as the premier Salesforce consulting partner for financial services, with 150+ clients, 400+ completed engagements, and deep specialization in wealth management, banking, and insurance.

Need Help Selecting and Implementing Salesforce for Financial Services?

At Vantage Point, we combine deep Salesforce expertise with extensive financial services industry knowledge. Our team of certified professionals helps RIAs, wealth managers, banks, and financial institutions maximize their Salesforce investment.

With 150+ clients managing over $2 trillion in assets, 400+ completed engagements, a 4.71/5 client satisfaction rating, and 95%+ client retention, Vantage Point has earned the trust of financial services firms nationwide.

Ready to find the right Salesforce partner? Contact us at david@vantagepoint.io or call (469) 499-3400.