Is a Salesforce Needs Analysis Right for You?

Aug 1

No one knows your business quite like you. So if your current systems are causing pain, you’re probably on the frontlines dealing with it. With so many business processes and users reliant on these systems, leadership can feel the pressure to commit to a decision that will solve the ongoing issues before they’re able to make an informed one.

While decisiveness is considered one of the most important qualities in a great leader, there’s an approach that can get the ball rolling quickly while not committing to a solution until you have more info to base that decision on. A needs analysis conducted by an external Salesforce expert can help illuminate the root of the issue, how it can be fixed, how much that work might cost, and how long it will likely take.

In other words, a needs analysis can give you a well thought out plan for maximizing your investment in Salesforce. And it provides more detail about how and why those solutions are best for your specific organization.

Because it’s less time and financial commitment at the outset, a needs analysis can also be a trial run for any relationship you may enter with an outside Salesforce expert. You can build trust, establish how you’ll work with one another, and set expectations for the engagement during that timeframe.

If that relationship isn’t the right fit for your organization, you can walk away with minimal impact too. It’s like wading into the shallow end of the pool and swimming further out once you know how deep it goes. You can certainly dive right in, but it can’t hurt to spend a little time getting your bearings first.

There are some clear instances when a needs analysis can be especially valuable for getting your bearings and determining a path forward.

They include when:

You’re interested in implementing new functionality and want to know how it will affect your current system.
There’s been a large organizational change (particularly in Sales) in the past six months or year that will drastically affect your configuration.
You’re considering a new line of business or switching a line of business.
Your system relies on custom code and there’s no developer in-house or contracted.
Your system has lots of integrations over the course of the years that have changed.
Your business has been acquired or has acquired other businesses.
You’ve considered hiring an outside expert but want to test out the relationship.
Your business has had Salesforce for many years and the business has changed or grown significantly during that time.

Another instance where a needs analysis might prove worthwhile is if your organization needs to hire a Salesforce admin. Before this new hire is onboarded, a needs analysis can outline the current state of your org so things can be cleaned up or so you can better determine the skill set you’ll need for your new hire. An org with lots of custom objects, code, and integrations, for example, will need a more advanced admin as opposed to someone with one to two years of experience who could handle out of the box management.

You already know that strategy and planning for the good of your organization is crucial. By working with a partner on a needs analysis, you can develop a cohesive direction, prevent bad hires, and establish a list of priorities to work toward in the future. A small commitment initially, a needs analysis can signal to your users that you feel their pain and have a plan for making an informed decision about how to solve it.

Interested in how a needs analysis might be right for your investment in Salesforce? Let’s chat about your unique business needs and what your users may benefit from the most. Contact us today to get the ball rolling or join us for a free one-on-one working session with a Salesforce consultant at our upcoming office hours on August 6th from 8:30 to 10 am at The Frontier.