Salesforce Partner Tiers 2026: Select, Summit & Cost Guide

Publish date:

5th October, 2026

✦Quick answer

In 2026, Salesforce simplified its Consulting Partner Program from four tiers (Base, Ridge, Crest, and Summit) to two: Select Partner and Summit Partner. Select confirms proven, baseline delivery capability, while Summit is the highest tier, reserved for partners with verified customer outcomes, high satisfaction scores, and demonstrated expertise in priority areas such as Agentforce and Data 360.

BEFORE 2026

Base Ridge Crest Summit

→

FROM 2026

Select Partner Summit Partner

Salesforce also replaced its old Navigator badges with a smaller set of outcome-based competencies, each earned at one of two levels:

Accredited Expert

Together, the tier and the competencies now tell you far more about a partner than the old badge system did.

Salesforce Partner Tiers at a Glance

	Select Partner	Summit Partner
Position	Proven delivery tier	Highest tier
Replaces	Former Base and Ridge tiers	Former Summit tier (and top-performing Crest partners)
What it confirms	Meets Salesforce's core delivery and satisfaction standards	Consistently verified outcomes across a broader set of competencies
Typical strength	Focused expertise in specific clouds or use cases	Multi-cloud, enterprise-scale, and AI-driven programs
Best fit	Clearly scoped, single-cloud implementations	Complex, multi-cloud, integration-heavy, or Agentforce initiatives

!Here's the catch most buyers miss

A tier badge tells you a partner cleared Salesforce's bar. It doesn't tell you whether the people assigned to your project have solved a problem like yours.

A Select Partner with deep, verified experience in your exact use case can outperform a Summit Partner treating your project as a low priority.

This guide explains:

✦What changed in the Partner Program ✦What Select and Summit really mean ✦Competencies and the Trailblazer Score ✦What partners cost ✦A selection scorecard ✦Red flags to watch for

What Changed in the Salesforce Partner Program in 2026?

On March 2, 2026, Salesforce reduced its Consulting Partner Program from four tiers (Base, Ridge, Crest, Summit) to two tiers (Select and Summit), and replaced roughly 170 legacy Navigator badges with 28 outcome-based competencies. Advancement now depends on verified customer outcomes, satisfaction scores, and competency certification, not certification counts and deal volume.

4→2partner tiers

~170→28competencies

What Changed	Before March 2026	From FY27 (2026)
Partner tiers	Four: Base, Ridge, Crest, Summit	✓Two: Select and Summit
Expertise credentials	~170 Navigator badges	✓28 core competencies
Competency levels	One badge per specialization	✓Two levels: Accredited and Expert
How partners advance	Points from certifications and deal volume	✓Verified outcomes, CSAT, and competency certification
Scoring	Points-based Trailblazer Scorecard	✓Trailblazer Score, reweighted toward outcomes
AI and Agentforce	Minor factor	✓Central to Summit qualification

How Old Tiers Map to the New Structure

Former Tier	Status Under the New Program
Base	Reassessed; partners meeting the new standards become Select
Ridge	Reassessed; typically Select
Crest	Reassessed; Select or Summit depending on verified outcomes
Summit (FY26)	Retained Summit status into FY27

If a firm still calls itself one of these, that label comes from an older version of the program and is no longer an official Salesforce designation:

Gold Platinum Crest Ridge

✓The only reliable source for a partner's current status is its live Salesforce AppExchange listing.

Why Salesforce Made the Change

Salesforce describes the shift as part of its move toward the "Agentic Enterprise." According to Nick Johnston, SVP of Global Consulting Partners and Partner Sales, specialization is becoming the defining currency of the AI era for the partner ecosystem.

$1B+

in partner incentives to move from generalists to verified specialists

✦What it means for buyers

Under the old points system, a partner could climb tiers largely by adding certifications and closing deals. The new model puts more weight on whether customers actually got results, which makes a partner's tier and competencies a more meaningful signal than before.

Select Partner

What Is a Salesforce Select Partner?

A Salesforce Select Partner is a consulting firm that Salesforce has verified as a proven delivery partner meeting its core performance and customer satisfaction standards. It's the entry and mid-level tier in the two-tier program, replacing the former Base and Ridge tiers.

What Select confirms

Real, Salesforce-verified delivery capability, not just program enrollment.

What it doesn't guarantee on its own

Depth in your industry, your specific Salesforce cloud, or complex AI and integration work. Competencies and project history tell you that.

When a Select Partner Is a Strong Choice

A Salesforce Select Partner is often the right fit when:

✓

Your project scope is clearly defined

✓

You need a focused, single-cloud implementation, such as Sales Cloud or Service Cloud

✓

The partner holds relevant competencies and can show comparable completed projects

✓

Cost efficiency matters alongside quality

✓

Your project needs a small delivery team of two to five consultants rather than an enterprise program office

Where Select Partners Can Outperform

Specialization often beats size.

Select Partner

✓Expert-level Service Cloud competency

✓A dozen similar service projects

Summit generalist

!Higher tier overall

!Strongest work lies in other clouds

For a Service Cloud project, the Select specialist can deliver better results. The key is matching their verified strengths to your exact requirements.

✦Before hiring a Select Partner, confirm:

Which competencies they hold, and at what level

Two or three projects similar to yours

Who from their team will actually deliver your project?

Summit Partner

What Is a Salesforce Summit Partner?

A Salesforce Summit Partner is the highest tier in Salesforce's Consulting Partner Program. It's reserved for firms with consistently verified customer outcomes, high CSAT scores, and demonstrated competency in strategic priority areas, particularly Agentforce and Data 360.

The difference between Select and Summit comes down to the depth and breadth of evidence:

SelectProven baseline capability

SummitStronger track record, wider competencies

Summit typically spans multiple Salesforce clouds, complex integrations, and AI-driven delivery.

When Summit Status Matters Most

A Salesforce Summit Partner carries more weight when your project involves:

✦

Multiple Salesforce clouds, such as Sales, Service, and Marketing Cloud together

✦

Enterprise-scale or multi-region transformation

✦

Complex integrations or data architecture, including ERP connections

✦

Agentforce, Data 360, or broader AI initiatives

✦

Regulated, high-stakes industries such as financial services or healthcare

✦

Long-term, multi-phase programs rather than a single deployment

What Else Summit Partners Typically Bring

Beyond delivery depth, Summit Partners usually have closer access to Salesforce, including:

Priority escalation on support issues Deeper co-marketing Executive-level engagement

For large enterprises running business-critical programs, that relationship can help resolve platform issues faster and align your roadmap with Salesforce's product direction.

When Summit Isn't Necessary

For a simple, single-cloud rollout, Summit status isn't a requirement. A well-matched Select Partner can be equally capable and more cost-effective.

Even with a Summit firm, confirm that the team assigned to you has delivered projects like yours, because the badge belongs to the company, not to every consultant on your project.

Salesforce Summit Partner

Evaluating a Summit Partner for a multi-cloud or Agentforce project?

Codleo is a Salesforce Summit Partner. Talk to our architects about your scope, and we'll show you comparable projects and the exact team we'd assign.

Talk to a Salesforce Summit Partner

Salesforce Select vs. Summit Partner: Full Comparison

Summit Partners generally have broader competencies, a higher verified customer-outcome bar, deeper Agentforce and Data 360 experience, and higher rates than Select Partners. Select is usually the better fit for clearly scoped, single-cloud projects, while Summit suits complex, multi-cloud, or AI-heavy transformations.

Factor	Select Partner	Summit Partner
Program status	Proven delivery; meets core performance standards	Highest tier; strategic growth designation
Specialization depth	Often narrower, focused competency set	Broader, across multiple competencies and clouds
Customer outcomes bar	Meets Salesforce's baseline CSAT and verification standards	Higher, more consistently verified track record
Agentforce and AI delivery	Varies; verify directly	Central to maintaining Summit status
Enterprise-scale experience	Varies by partner	More commonly associated with large programs
Typical rates	Generally lower	Generally higher, especially at large onshore firms
Salesforce relationship	Standard support and co-marketing	Priority escalation and executive engagement
Best-fit project	Defined-scope, single-cloud implementations	Multi-cloud, complex integration, AI transformation
What to verify	✓Relevant competencies, references, industry experience	✓All of the above, plus verified Agentforce and Data 360 delivery

✦Rates depend on more than tier

Delivery model makes a big difference: a Summit Partner using a hybrid model, with local project leadership and global delivery teams, can cost less than a smaller onshore-only Select firm. Always compare the full proposal, not just the hourly rate.

The Nuance Most Comparisons Miss

A Summit Partner with no experience in your industry, or whose best specialists are committed elsewhere, can still be the wrong choice. A Select Partner with deep, verified experience in your exact use case can outperform a Summit firm that treats your project as a lower priority.

✦How to decide

First filterTier › Competencies › Comparable projects › Final decisionNamed delivery team

Salesforce Partner Competencies: What Replaced Navigator?

Salesforce now measures partner expertise through 28 competencies, which replaced the roughly 170 badges in the old Navigator program. Each competency is earned at one of two levels: Accredited, which confirms demonstrated capability, and Expert, which confirms scaled delivery excellence backed by multiple verified customer outcomes.

Level	What It Means	What to Expect
Accredited	The partner has demonstrated real capability in this area	Solid delivery on standard projects within that competency
Expert	The partner has delivered at scale, with several verified outcomes	Deeper experience with complex or high-volume projects

Examples of Salesforce Partner Competencies

Competency Area	Relevant For
✦Sales Cloud	Lead-to-cash, pipeline management, forecasting
✦Service Cloud	Customer support and case management
✦Marketing Cloud	Campaign automation and customer journeys
✦Data 360	Unified customer data and identity resolution
✦Agentforce	AI agents and autonomous workflows
✦Experience Cloud	Customer and partner self-service portals
✦Revenue Cloud and CPQ	Quoting, billing, and revenue operations
✦Field Service	Dispatch, scheduling, and mobile workforce
✦MuleSoft and Integration	System-to-system integration architecture
✦Financial Services Cloud	Banking and wealth management workflows
✦Health Cloud	Healthcare and life sciences
✦Nonprofit Cloud	Nonprofit and NGO operations
✦Manufacturing Cloud	Sales agreements and demand planning
✦Commerce Cloud	B2B and B2C digital storefronts

Why Competencies Matter More Than Tier

Two partners in the same tier can have completely different strengths:

Partner A

✓Service Cloud Expert

✕No Marketing Cloud experience

Partner B

✓Marketing Cloud Expert

✕No Service Cloud experience

So when you shortlist partners, don't ask how many competencies they have. Ask two sharper questions:

Which competencies match my project?

Map your clouds, integrations, and AI plans to the relevant competency areas.

Are they Accredited or Expert in those areas?

For complex or business-critical work, Expert-level recognition in your core areas is a strong signal.

✦A partner's competency profile on Salesforce AppExchange is often a more useful decision tool than the tier badge on its website.

How Salesforce Evaluates Partners: The Trailblazer Score

Salesforce evaluates consulting partners using the Trailblazer Score, a scorecard reviewed quarterly and built on measurable outcomes rather than certification volume. It scores partners across four pillars: Customer Success, Innovation, Growth, and Impact, for a maximum of 1,000 points.

1,000

maximum points

scoring pillars

Quarterly

review cycle

Trailblazer Score Pillar	What It Measures
1Customer Success	CSAT scores, verified completed projects, and customer retention
2Innovation	Adoption of newer Salesforce capabilities such as Agentforce and Data 360
3Growth	New business and expansion within existing accounts
4Impact	Overall contribution to customer outcomes and ecosystem health

What the Trailblazer Score Means for Buyers

The biggest change is who does the checking.

BEFORE

Testimonials the partner chose to publish

→

NOW

Data Salesforce itself has verified against real project outcomes

That makes a partner's tier and competencies a more trustworthy starting point than marketing claims on a website.

"Verified" doesn't mean "matched to your situation."

A partner with excellent satisfaction scores on retail projects isn't automatically the right choice for a complex financial services compliance program. Use the score to confirm a partner is credible, then use their comparable projects to confirm they're right for you.

✦Practical tip

Because tiers and competencies are reviewed quarterly, check the "last reviewed" or "last updated" date on a partner's AppExchange listing. A badge earned a year ago may not reflect where the partner stands today.

Agentforce and Data 360: How Much Should They Matter When Choosing a Partner?

Agentforce and Data 360 expertise should weigh heavily in your partner decision only if AI agents or unified customer data are part of your near-term roadmap. For a straightforward Sales Cloud or Service Cloud implementation, proven experience in that specific cloud matters more than the number of AI projects a partner has completed.

AI or unified data on your roadmap

Weigh Agentforce and Data 360 delivery heavily

Straightforward Sales or Service Cloud

Prioritize proven experience in that specific cloud

Agentforce is now central to Salesforce's platform strategy and to Summit qualification. But a partner's AI credentials only matter to you if you plan to use them. If you do, certification alone isn't enough proof. You need evidence of agents running in production.

Six Questions to Ask If AI Is on Your Roadmap

Which Agentforce use cases have you taken into production, not just demoed?

What measurable business outcome was each agent designed to improve?

How do you assess data readiness, including sources, quality, access, and integrations, before building?

How do you handle security, permissions, and AI governance?

How will the agent be tested before go-live, and against what scenarios and acceptance criteria?

Who monitors and improves agent performance after launch?

Why Data 360 Expertise Goes Hand in Hand With Agentforce

An AI agent is only as good as the data and processes it can rely on. If your use case depends on customer data spread across Salesforce and external systems, such as an ERP, ecommerce platform, or support tool, your partner needs more than Agentforce configuration experience:

Data 360 + Integration architecture + Data governance → Agentforce that works

In practice, the strongest Agentforce partners spend as much time on data readiness and guardrails as on building the agent itself. If a proposal jumps straight to agent design without assessing your data, treat that as a warning sign.

✦Codleo has delivered Agentforce projects alongside Sales Cloud, CPQ, and Health Cloud implementations, including:

AI-assisted selling with real-time inventory data Multi-agent support for sales, billing, and operations

Learn more about our Agentforce consulting services.

What Is a Salesforce Partner?

A Salesforce partner is an independent company that Salesforce has reviewed and authorized to sell, implement, customize, integrate, or support the Salesforce platform for other businesses. Salesforce lists partners on AppExchange, where it maintains their tier, competencies, and customer satisfaction data.

Because Salesforce doesn't implement the platform itself for most customers, the partner you choose is often the biggest single factor in whether your investment pays off.

Well-matched partner

Shortens time to value

Mismatched partner

Can mean months of rework

A typical Salesforce consulting or implementation partner offers:

Implementation

Setting up a new Salesforce org or restructuring an existing one

Customization

Custom objects, Flows, Apex, and Lightning components

Integration

Connecting Salesforce with ERP, finance, marketing, or ecommerce systems

Data migration

Moving records safely from legacy CRMs or spreadsheets

Optimization

Improving adoption, performance, and reporting

Managed services

Ongoing administration and support after go-live

Agentforce delivery

Designing, building, and governing AI agents

Types of Salesforce Partners: Which One Do You Need?

Partner TYPE

Describes what a company does

Partner TIER (Select or Summit)

Describes how well Salesforce has verified it does it

Knowing which type you need helps you compare the right firms.

Partner Type	What They Do	Best For
Consulting / Implementation Partner Where tier matters most	Strategy, implementation, customization, integration, migration	Businesses deploying, migrating, or transforming Salesforce
AppExchange ISV Partner	Build and sell apps that extend Salesforce	Businesses needing a pre-built app or industry extension
Managed Service Provider	Ongoing administration, support, and release management	Companies already on Salesforce that need continuous care
Reseller Partner	Sell Salesforce licenses and guide edition selection	Businesses at the start of their license purchase
System Integrator	Connect Salesforce with ERP, marketing, and other platforms	Complex, multi-system environments

Most buyers comparing Select and Summit are evaluating consulting partners, because that's where tier and competencies matter most. ✦Some firms, including Codleo, operate across consulting, implementation, and Salesforce managed services, so the same team can take you from go-live through long-term support.

Does a Higher Salesforce Partner Tier Always Mean Better Service?

No. A partner's tier confirms it has met a verified Salesforce standard, but it doesn't guarantee the right fit for your project. The experience of the team actually assigned to your engagement matters more than the badge on the company's website.

QUESTION 1 · What tier answers

Has this company cleared a verified bar?

QUESTION 2 · What your results depend on

Will the specific people on my project clear that bar for my problem?

✓You need a confident yes to both before you sign.

The 6-Factor Framework for Choosing a Salesforce Partner

Use these six factors together. If even one is weak, a higher tier won't make up for it.

Factor	What to Check
1Requirement fit	Salesforce products involved, processes being transformed, integrations, data migration, AI scope, timeline, and support needs
2Competency match	Which competencies apply to your project, and whether the partner is Accredited or Expert in them
3Delivery evidence	Two or three completed projects similar to yours in scope, complexity, and industry, with measurable outcomes
4Delivery team	Named solution architect, functional consultant, developer, integration specialist, QA lead, and project manager
5Delivery model	A documented process from discovery and design through development, testing, deployment, training, and optimization
6Long-term ownership	Who handles support, Salesforce releases, custom code maintenance, and knowledge transfer after go-live

Salesforce Partner Evaluation Scorecard

Score each shortlisted partner from 1 to 5 on these ten factors after every conversation.

Evaluation Factor	Partner A	Partner B	Partner C
Project fit	__ /5	__ /5	__ /5
Relevant competency (Accredited or Expert)	__ /5	__ /5	__ /5
Comparable completed projects	__ /5	__ /5	__ /5
Customer evidence (CSAT and verified reviews)	__ /5	__ /5	__ /5
Delivery team quality	__ /5	__ /5	__ /5
Delivery process clarity	__ /5	__ /5	__ /5
Industry experience	__ /5	__ /5	__ /5
Integration and data capability	__ /5	__ /5	__ /5
Post-go-live ownership	__ /5	__ /5	__ /5
Commercial and pricing clarity	__ /5	__ /5	__ /5
Total	__ /50	__ /50	__ /50

How to read the total:

41–50

Strong fit. Move to reference checks and commercial review.

31–40

Potential fit. Dig into the weaker areas before deciding.

21–30

Significant gaps. Ask the partner to back up its capabilities with evidence.

20 or below

Reconsider your shortlist.

✦One rule

Don't add points just because a partner is Summit tier. A Summit Partner scoring 2 out of 5 on relevant competency and comparable projects shouldn't beat a Select Partner scoring 5 out of 5 on the same factors. Score what matters to your project, not the badge.

Real Salesforce Projects: What They Reveal About Partner Fit

In real Salesforce projects, the deciding factor is rarely the partner's tier. It's whether the delivery team has already handled a similar combination of Salesforce products, integrations, and business processes. These three Codleo engagements show what that looks like in practice.

1Multi-Cloud Fit for a Luxury Real Estate Company

3-person team5/5 on Clutch

The need: Connect Sales Cloud and Marketing Cloud around one core business process: matching client requirements with available property inventory.

What the team did: A three-person Codleo team set up Sales Cloud and Marketing Cloud end-to-end, aligning sales and marketing data around inventory matching.

The outcome: According to the client's verified Clutch review, inventory matching became significantly easier, and the client rated the engagement 5 out of 5 for quality, cost and value, and willingness to refer.

What it shows: A small team with the right multi-cloud experience can deliver more value than a larger team without it.

2Technical Depth for an AI Transformation Company

2–5 person team5/5 cost and value

The need: Ongoing Salesforce support, data architecture cleanup and technical debt reduction, and help implementing Agentforce.

What the team did: Handled ticket-based development, improved resource-flow architecture, and cleaned up legacy code.

The outcome:

30%

better data accuracy

90+

Apex classes cleaned up

custom objects restructured

What it shows: For AI initiatives, cleaning up data and architecture first is often what makes Agentforce viable.

3Process Understanding for a Manufacturing Company

Sales CloudSupplier360

The need: Reflect the full sales-to-order lifecycle in Salesforce, including supplier information, quotations, approvals, and connected documents.

What the team did: Implemented Sales Cloud with a unified Supplier360 profile, automated quotation and document management with version history, configured approval processes, and integrated key systems.

The outcome:

✓Faster, more accurate order processing ✓Single source of truth for supplier data ✓Quicker approvals ✓Significantly less manual work

What it shows: Industry process knowledge, not just product knowledge, is what turns a CRM into an operational system.

✦The lesson for buyers

In all three projects, success came from matching the team's past experience to the client's specific mix of products, integrations, and processes. That's the evidence to ask every partner for, whatever their tier.

Red Flags and Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Salesforce Partner

The biggest red flags when hiring a Salesforce partner are generic claims without comparable projects, meeting only the sales team, using certifications in place of outcomes, a low price with vague scope, unclear governance, unverifiable case studies, and no plan for after go-live. Each one should prompt a direct question and a request for evidence.

7 Red Flags to Watch For

✕Red Flag	?What to Ask Instead
✕Generic "we've done hundreds of projects" claims	"Show us two or three projects most similar to ours."
✕You only meet sales, not the delivery team	"Who exactly will be assigned: architect, consultant, developer?"
✕Certifications used as a substitute for results	"What measurable outcomes came from comparable projects?"
✕Attractive price, vague scope	"What's explicitly included: integrations, testing, training, support?"
✕Unclear delivery governance	"Who owns requirements, approves architecture, and escalates risk?"
✕Case studies you can't verify	✓Check verified reviews and CSAT on Salesforce AppExchange directly
✕No post-go-live plan	"Who owns production issues and ongoing optimization?"

A single red flag isn't an automatic rejection. It's a signal to dig deeper before you sign.

10 Questions to Ask a Salesforce Partner Before You Sign

What projects have you delivered that are most similar to ours?

Which Salesforce competencies apply to our project, and are you Accredited or Expert in them?

Who will actually work on our project, and will those same people stay on after we sign?

What will you need from our team during discovery, testing, and training?

How do you handle scope changes, and what triggers a change request?

How will you manage integrations, data migration, and technical risk?

How will we measure success beyond "it went live"?

Can we speak with customers who had similar requirements?

If the project starts going off track, who gets escalated to?

What happens after go-live, including hypercare, documentation, and ongoing ownership?

Tip: Ask every shortlisted partner the same ten questions and record their answers in the scorecard above. Vague or inconsistent answers often reveal more than polished presentations.

How Much Does a Salesforce Partner Cost?

Salesforce partner services typically cost $10,000–$30,000 for a single-cloud QuickStart, $40,000–$150,000 for a mid-size implementation with integrations, and $150,000–$500,000 or more for a multi-cloud enterprise transformation. Ongoing managed services usually run $2,500–$15,000 or more per month. These figures cover services only; Salesforce licenses are a separate, recurring cost.

QuickStart

$10K–$30K

Mid-size

$40K–$150K

Enterprise

$150K–$500K+

Managed services

$2.5K–$15K+/mo

Project Type	Typical Partner Fit	Approximate Cost (services only)
Single-cloud QuickStart (Sales or Service Cloud)	SelectSummit	$10,000–$30,000
Mid-size implementation with integrations	SelectSummit	$40,000–$150,000
Multi-cloud enterprise transformation	Summit	$150,000–$500,000+
Agentforce initiative	Summitor Select with Agentforce competency	$15,000–$40,000 first agent $80,000–$250,000+ multiple agents
Data 360 initiative	Summitor Select with Data 360 competency	$30,000–$75,000 simple $150,000–$400,000+ complex
Ongoing managed services	Either	$2,500–$15,000+ per month

Directional US benchmarks. Actual costs depend on scope, data quality, integrations, and delivery model. For a full breakdown, including licenses, hidden costs, and a three-year cost model, see our Salesforce implementation cost guide.

Why the Cheapest Proposal Is Rarely the Cheapest Project

The lowest quote isn't always the lowest total cost. Vague scope on integrations, data migration, testing, or post-launch support usually resurfaces later as change requests. When comparing proposals:

☐

Line them up on the same scope before comparing prices

☐

Look for costs broken out by phase, not a single lump sum

☐

Check that discovery, testing, training, and hypercare are clearly included

☐

Confirm the seniority of the team behind the price

✦Comparing Salesforce partner proposals?

Send us any proposal you've received, from us or another partner, and a Codleo Salesforce architect will review the scope, flag gaps and risks, and tell you whether the price is realistic, free of charge.

Get a Free Proposal Review

How to Verify a Salesforce Partner's Current Status

To verify a Salesforce partner's current status, look up the company on Salesforce AppExchange and check its tier, competencies and their levels, verified customer reviews, CSAT score, and the date the listing was last updated.

!Don't rely on badges shown on the partner's own website, which can be months out of date.

Search the partner's name on Salesforce AppExchange.

Check the current tier, Select or Summit, on the live listing.

Review the competency list and confirm Accredited or Expert levels for the areas that matter to your project.

Read verified customer reviews and the CSAT score, which Salesforce collects directly.

Check the listing's last-updated date, since Salesforce reassesses tiers and competencies regularly.

Ask the partner directly if anything on AppExchange looks outdated or unclear.

Select or Summit: Which Salesforce Partner Should You Choose?

There's no universal rule. Choose a Select Partner for clearly scoped, single-cloud projects where cost efficiency matters, and give Summit more weight for multi-cloud, integration-heavy, Agentforce, or enterprise-scale programs. In both cases, verified competencies, comparable projects, and the named delivery team should make the final decision.

Consider a Select Partner when

✓Your scope is clearly defined

✓You need a focused, single-cloud implementation

✓Cost efficiency is a priority alongside proven competency

Give Summit more weight when

✓Your program spans multiple Salesforce clouds

✓Agentforce or Data 360 is central to your roadmap

✓Integration and data complexity is high

✓The project is business-critical or enterprise-scale

Whichever tier you lean toward, before signing:

Verify competencies on AppExchange

Ask for comparable project evidence

Interview the actual delivery team

Tier is your starting filter, not your final answer.

✦

Working With Codleo

Salesforce Summit Partner CMMI Level 3 Appraised ISO 9001 ISO 27001

500+

Salesforce certifications

275+

engagements delivered

4.9/5

customer satisfaction

We deliver:

✦Consulting ✦Implementation ✦Integration ✦Agentforce ✦Managed services

24x7

L1 to L5 support after go-live

We'd encourage you to evaluate us the same way you'd evaluate any partner: check our AppExchange listing, ask for projects similar to yours, and meet the team who would actually deliver your work.

✦ ✦

Planning a Salesforce project?

Talk to a Codleo Salesforce architect. We'll review your requirements, share comparable projects, introduce the team we'd assign, and give you an honest view of scope, timeline, and budget.

Discuss Your Salesforce Requirements

About the Author

Gaurav Pundir

Gaurav is a 7x Salesforce certified Developer with an experience of 3 years in the Salesforce ecosystem. He has worked on projects in the insurance and manufacturing domain.

FAQ

What are the levels of partner status in Salesforce?

Salesforce partner status has four levels: Base, Ridge, Crest, and Summit. Each level shows a different amount of expertise and offers distinct benefits. Higher-level partners, like Crest and Summit, provide the best support and have a proven track record with Salesforce implementations.

What�s the difference between a Salesforce ISV Partner and a Consulting Partner?

The Independent Software Vendor Partner creates custom apps and solutions for Salesforce AppExchange to improve Salesforce's capabilities. On the other hand, a Salesforce Consulting Partner offers expert advice on planning the Salesforce implementation and provides complete customization services.

What criteria should I look for in a Salesforce Summit Partner?

Look for your partner�s expertise in Salesforce and check if they have a record of successful projects. Also, make sure they understand the latest Salesforce services and products well.

What benefits do higher-tier Salesforce partners receive?

Higher-tier partners, such as Crest and Summit, receive more visibility, chances for co-marketing, access to advanced Salesforce resources, and priority support.

FAQ

What are the current Salesforce partner levels in 2026?

As of March 2026, Salesforce has two consulting partner tiers: Select Partner and Summit Partner. The previous four-tier system of Base, Ridge, Crest, and Summit has been retired as part of Salesforce's partner program overhaul.

What happened to Salesforce Gold and Platinum partner designations?

Gold (Ridge) and Platinum (Summit) partner names were retired in March 2026. Partners previously holding those designations are being transitioned into the new two-tier system based on their Agentforce delivery competency and verified project outcomes. Partners without Agentforce capability are being placed in the Select tier by default.

Is a Salesforce Select Partner good enough for my implementation?

For most small to mid-sized, single-cloud implementations with a well-defined scope, a Select Partner can deliver excellent results. The case for Summit Partners strengthens significantly for enterprise deployments, multi-cloud environments, complex integrations, and any project involving Agentforce and AI agent deployment.

What is Agentforce, and why does it matter for partner selection?

Agentforce is Salesforce's autonomous AI agent platform. In 2026, Salesforce made verified Agentforce delivery competency a requirement for Summit Partner status. This reflects a broader shift in the Salesforce ecosystem: partners are now expected to deliver AI-driven outcomes, not just traditional CRM configuration. A partner's Agentforce capability is an increasingly important quality signal regardless of your immediate project scope.

How do I verify a Salesforce partner's current tier?

Visit appexchange.salesforce.com, search for the partner by company name, and check their official listing. Their current tier � Select or Summit � will be displayed. You can also use the Find a Partner tool on salesforce.com. Be cautious of any partner who describes their tier using the old naming system (Gold, Platinum, Base, Ridge, Crest) without referencing the new structure.

How are the 28 core competencies different from the old 170 badges?

The old 170 badges covered general Salesforce product knowledge across a wide range of topics. The 28 new competencies are narrower and more specific � focused on products, industries, and AI capabilities. Each competency has two recognition levels: Accredited (demonstrated capability) and Expert (scaled delivery excellence). Partners are evaluated based on actual project outcomes, CSAT scores, and certifications within each competency area.

What should I ask a Salesforce partner about Agentforce before hiring them?

Ask for at least one live Agentforce deployment they have completed, the measurable business outcome it achieved, how they handled the Data Cloud foundation for trusted agent inputs, and what governance framework they use to ensure AI compliance. A partner who can only discuss Agentforce in theoretical terms has certification but not operational delivery experience.

How much does a Salesforce Summit Partner charge compared to a Select Partner?

Rates vary significantly by geography, project scope, and partner size. Summit Partners typically charges higher day rates reflecting deeper expertise and the cost of maintaining Summit-level certifications and program requirements. The right question is not which is cheaper, but which delivers better ROI for your specific project. For complex, enterprise-scale implementations, underinvesting in implementation quality consistently produces higher total costs than the initial savings suggest.

Can Codleo help with both Salesforce implementation and ongoing management?

Yes. Codleo offers end-to-end Salesforce services: consulting and strategy, implementation, integration with third-party platforms, Agentforce deployment, Data Cloud setup, training, and ongoing managed support. Our support services are available as post-project retainer engagements or as standalone managed service agreements for organizations that need continuous Salesforce administration.

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Salesforce Partner Levels 2026: Select vs Summit — Which One Should You Choose?