How long does a Salesforce implementation take?
It depends on scope. A focused Sales Cloud setup for a technology-services firm went fully live within a 20-hour Jumpstart. A cybersecurity company consolidated sales and support and migrated 2,300 accounts in 6–8 weeks. Multi-cloud programs with ERP integration and several business units take longer, and we give you a timeline with the written scope.
Should we customize Salesforce or use it out of the box?
Configure first. Most requirements can be met with standard objects, Flow and page layouts, which are cheaper to maintain. Custom code is worth it when configuration cannot model the process, as with a broker-dealer that needed custom objects for both sides of capital-raising deals. We explain the trade-off in our guide on when to customize Salesforce.
What do you need from our team during an implementation?
A decision-maker who can settle process questions, a few people from each team who will use the system for workshops and testing, and access to the data you want moved in. Projects slow down when nobody owns decisions, so we agree on that owner at kickoff.
What happens after go-live?
We stay on for a stabilization period to fix issues and watch adoption. After that you can run the org yourself with the documentation and training we leave behind, or move to a managed services plan.
Do you implement Salesforce for small teams?
Yes. Our published work ranges from an insurance agency moving off Google Sheets to multi-cloud platforms for 60+ independent agents. Scope is sized to the team and budget.
What is the difference between a Salesforce implementation and a Salesforce migration?
An implementation designs and builds the org itself: data model, security, automation, reports and training. A migration moves records and history from an older system into that org. Most first-time projects involve both, but they are distinct workstreams with different risks. Implementation risk is mostly about fit and adoption, while migration risk is about data accuracy and cutover. We scope and staff them separately so neither gets squeezed when the other runs long.
Do we need a full-time Salesforce admin before we start?
Not before kickoff, but you should know who will own the org after launch. Some companies hire an admin partway through the project so that person can shadow the build and learn why decisions were made. Others assign a technically minded operations person and add training. Smaller teams sometimes rely on a managed services arrangement instead. Deciding early lets us tailor the documentation and handover to whoever will actually hold the keys.
Which Salesforce edition and licenses should we buy?
Buy licenses after discovery if you can, not before. Edition limits affect things like API access, sandboxes and some automation features, and the right mix of full and platform licenses depends on who actually needs which records. We map users to license types once requirements are clear. If you have already purchased, we design within what you own and flag any gaps before renewal rather than surprising you mid-build.
Can you work alongside our internal IT team?
Yes, and it often goes better that way. Your IT team typically owns identity and single sign-on, network and security policies, and the systems Salesforce will integrate with. We coordinate access, share the design, and can pair with internal developers so they learn the org as it is built. Clear lines of responsibility, agreed at kickoff, stop two groups from configuring the same thing in different sandboxes.
Is it better to launch everything at once or in phases?
Phasing usually wins. Launching the core sales or service process first gets people working in Salesforce sooner, and their feedback improves later phases. A big-bang launch can make sense when an old system is being shut off on a fixed date and running two tools in parallel would be worse. We weigh contract end dates, team capacity and integration dependencies before recommending an approach.