Top 12 Salesforce Consultants in the USA with Strong AI Skills

Publish date:

• 1st March, 2024

Choosing the best Salesforce consulting partner is crucial for the success of your CRM implementation. The right partner can help you succeed, while the wrong one can lead to failures.

There are over 3,800 certified Salesforce partners on AppExchange. How do you choose the Best Salesforce consulting partner for your business from so many options?

To help you, we have gathered the top-rated Salesforce consulting partners on AppExchange in the USA. These partners have expertise in high-tech and AI for industries such as real estate, nonprofit, and education.

What is a Salesforce Consulting Partner?

A Salesforce Consulting Partner is a company authorized by Salesforce to implement, customize, and optimize its products for clients. They are experts who help businesses of all sizes maximize the value of their investment by tailoring the platform to specific needs and business goals.

Salesforce Consulting Partner vs. Salesforce Consultant: What’s the Difference?

At first glance, these terms seem similar: they both refer to providing consulting services to users or potential users of the Salesforce platform. While this is partly true, not all Salesforce consultants are Salesforce consulting partners.

Salesforce Consulting Partner 

• A certified company: An organization officially approved by Salesforce to sell, implement, and customize its products.

• Broad services: Offers a full suite of services, including strategy development, large-scale implementation, integration, customization, and long-term managed support.

• Team-based: Deploys a team of experts with diverse skills, such as developers, architects, and business analysts, to handle complex, large-scale projects.

• Official relationship with Salesforce: Has a tiered partner status (Base, Ridge, Crest, Summit) and early access to new features and resources.

• Higher cost: Generally more expensive than an individual consultant due to higher overhead, but provides more scalable and comprehensive value. 

Salesforce Consultant 

• An individual expert: A person, often working as a freelancer or for a consulting firm, who provides specialized knowledge.

• Specific tasks: Focuses on smaller projects or particular needs, such as configuring workflows, creating reports, or performing targeted support.

• Specialized skills: Often has deep expertise in a particular area of the platform (e.g., Sales Cloud, Marketing Cloud) rather than a broad, multi-disciplinary team.

• Individual certifications: Possesses personal Salesforce certifications to demonstrate expertise, but lacks the official partner status of a company.

• Lower cost: More cost-effective for short-term, well-defined projects. 

Key takeaway

• Choose a Consulting Partner for large, complex, and long-term strategic projects that require a comprehensive team and official support from Salesforce.

• Hire an individual Salesforce Consultant for smaller, short-term tasks or when you need specific, targeted expertise on a budget.

Salesforce Consulting Partner vs. Independent Salesforce Consultant: Key Differences

A Salesforce Consultant helps businesses implement and optimize their Salesforce use. They show their expertise by earning Salesforce certifications. A Salesforce Consulting Partner is a company that Salesforce has officially recognized to provide consulting services. To earn this status, the company must have certified Salesforce professionals on staff and be actively involved in the Salesforce Partner Program.

Salesforce Consulting Partner 

• Structure: An authorized company with a broad team of certified specialists, including administrators, developers, and architects.

• Scale: Capable of handling large, complex, and enterprise-level projects, such as end-to-end implementations and multi-cloud integrations.

• Expertise: Offers diverse and comprehensive knowledge across multiple Salesforce products and industry specializations.

• Relationship with Salesforce: Has an official partner status (Base, Ridge, Crest, Summit), which means vetted, tiered access to Salesforce resources and early product features.

• Services: Provides a full suite of services, including strategic planning, ongoing managed support, and robust change management.

• Cost: Generally more expensive due to higher overhead, often with blended hourly rates or fixed-cost projects.

• Reliability: Provides greater stability and continuity, with a dedicated team ensuring project knowledge is retained even if individual consultants change. 

Independent Salesforce Consultant 

• Structure: Typically a solo professional or freelancer who works independently.

• Scale: Best suited for smaller, project-specific tasks, such as specific configurations, reporting, or short-term support.

• Expertise: Usually specializes in a specific area of the platform (e.g., Sales Cloud, a particular integration) with a more limited scope of knowledge.

• Relationship with Salesforce: Has a relationship based on personal certifications, not the official partnership status of a company.

• Services: Offers more tactical, focused services on an as-needed or project basis, with less emphasis on long-term strategy or managed support.

• Cost: More budget-friendly with lower hourly rates due to minimal overhead.

• Reliability: Faces a higher risk of discontinuity if the consultant becomes unavailable, as there is no team to provide backup. 

When to choose each 

• Choose a Partner for... complex, long-term strategic projects that require a comprehensive team, scalability, and long-term support.

• Choose an Independent Consultant for... small, short-term tasks or when a specific, niche expertise is needed on a more flexible and cost-effective basis.

What Do Salesforce Consultants Do?

A Salesforce consultant helps clients plan and implement Salesforce. It includes moving data, setting up and customizing the software, integrating systems, or developing custom apps. They show their expertise through Salesforce certifications.

• Agentforce Specialist

• Business Analyst

• Community Cloud Consultant

• CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) Specialist

• CRM Analytics and Einstein Discovery Consultant

• Data Cloud Consultant

• Education Cloud Consultant

• Experience Cloud Consultant

• Field Service Consultant

• Marketing Cloud Account Engagement Consultant

• Marketing Cloud Consultant

• Nonprofit Cloud Consultant

• OmniStudio Consultant

• Pardot Consultant

• Sales Cloud Consultant

• Service Cloud Consultant

• Slack Consultant

How Can Salesforce Consulting Partners Help My Business?

Salesforce Consulting Partner helps your business by acting as an expert guide for implementing, customizing, and optimizing the Salesforce platform. They provide comprehensive services to ensure you get the maximum return on your investment and that the technology aligns with your specific business goals. 

Expert implementation and setup

• Strategic guidance: Partners begin by analyzing your business processes, workflows, and challenges to develop a customized Salesforce roadmap that aligns with your specific needs and objectives.

• Smooth deployment: Certified partners ensure a seamless implementation, handling all aspects from initial system design and configuration to final deployment. It prevents common, costly errors that can occur with a do-it-yourself approach.

• Faster time-to-value: With their specialized expertise and proven methodologies, partners can accelerate deployment, enabling you to start realizing the benefits of Salesforce sooner. 

Customization and integration

• Tailored solutions: They go beyond the standard features to customize the platform to your unique business operations. It includes building custom apps, dashboards, and workflows that boost productivity and efficiency.

• Seamless integration: Partners can integrate Salesforce with your existing business systems, such as ERP or marketing automation platforms, to create a unified view of your customer data and streamline processes.

• Industry-specific expertise: Many consulting partners specialize in specific industries, such as healthcare, finance, or retail. It means they understand the unique challenges and compliance requirements of your sector and can deliver more relevant solutions. 

Ongoing support and optimization

• Continuous optimization: Salesforce releases updates three times a year, and partners ensure your system stays current by incorporating new features and functionality that keep your business competitive.

• Proactive maintenance: After implementation, partners provide ongoing support and managed services, including bug fixes, system monitoring, and performance tuning.

• Enhanced user adoption: To address low user adoption—a common challenge with new systems—partners provide comprehensive training and change management programs tailored to different user roles. 

Business growth and ROI

• Increased productivity: By streamlining repetitive tasks, automating workflows, and providing a more efficient CRM system, partners help your team focus on core business activities.

• Improved data management: They help organize your data with effective structures, cleaning up outdated and duplicate records, which leads to more accurate insights for decision-making.

• Increased ROI: With expert guidance, tailored solutions, and ongoing support, partners help you maximize your Salesforce investment, ultimately driving higher revenue and greater ROI.

How Does a Company Become a Salesforce Consulting Partner?

To become a Salesforce Consulting Partner, a company must demonstrate expertise, meet specific program requirements, and follow a multi-step application and onboarding process. The program uses a point-based system, the Trailblazer Score, to evaluate a partner's performance across key metrics. 

Application and onboarding steps

1. Register for the Salesforce Partner Community: The process begins by signing up for the central hub for partners' resources, training, and tools.

2. Complete the application and due diligence: After joining the community, the company must submit a detailed application and complete the Due Diligence Questionnaire (DDQ) for review by the Salesforce team. The DDQ ensures the company's compliance with Salesforce's standards.

3. Meet certification requirements: The company must ensure its team meets the minimum credential requirements. As of FY27 (starting February 1, 2026), new partners must meet one of the following criteria within six months:

   • 2 certifications + 1 Stage 2 Lead

   • 3 Stage 2 Leads

   • 2 certifications + 2 Qualified Projects

4. Accept the Salesforce Partner Program Agreement (SPPA): Once Salesforce approves the application, the company must accept the SPPA, which outlines the terms and conditions of the partnership.

5. Complete onboarding and training: After accepting the SPPA, the company gains access to onboarding materials, including exclusive Trailhead modules, discounts on certifications, and access to a Partner Business Org (PBO). 

Maintaining and advancing partner status

After becoming a partner, a company is assigned to one of four tiers based on its Trailblazer Score. These tiers, from lowest to highest, are: 

• Base

• Ridge

• Crest

• Summit

To advance to a higher tier, the company must earn points in the following four areas, which are evaluated quarterly: 

• Customer Success: Measured by customer satisfaction (CSAT) scores and successful project completions.

• Innovation: Based on the number of certifications held by the company's team.

• Growth: Earned by collaborating with Salesforce on lead generation and sales activities.

• Impact: Involves contributions to diversity and inclusion, as well as community initiatives. 

Demonstrating expertise and building a reputation

A company must also showcase its expertise beyond meeting the minimum requirements. 

• Build a strong portfolio: Partners must work on real-world projects and compile case studies and customer references to demonstrate their ability to deliver results.

• Earn navigator badges: Partners can earn Navigator badges (Specialist, Cloud Expert, and Implementation Expert) that validate their expertise in specific products or industries. These badges are featured on the AppExchange, increasing visibility with potential clients.

• Develop a niche: Focusing on a specific sector (e.g., healthcare or finance) or a particular Salesforce product (e.g., Sales Cloud or Marketing Cloud) enables a partner to deliver more targeted, valuable solutions, helping them stand out from the competition. 

Salesforce Consultant Certifications Required to Qualify for Salesforce Consulting Partner:

• Service Cloud Consultant

• Sales Cloud Consultant

• OmniStudio Consultant

• Revenue Cloud Consultant

• Slack Consultant

• Tableau Certified Consultant

• Marketing Cloud Account Engagement Consultant

• Marketing Cloud Consultant

• Nonprofit Cloud Consultant

• Education Cloud Consultant

• CRM Analysis and Einstein Discovery Consultant

• Data Cloud Consultant

• Experience Cloud Consultant

• Field Service Consultant

Salesforce Administrator Certifications:

• Order Management Administrator

• Slack Administrator

• Marketing Cloud Administrator

• B2B Commerce for Administrators

Key certifications for Salesforce Consulting Partners.

In addition to basic certifications, a partner may want to get extra Salesforce certifications. These certifications are applicable when clients need custom features that go beyond standard Salesforce options.

Salesforce Developer certifications are essential when a partner provides technical system upgrades alongside consulting.

Salesforce Developer Certifications: 

• OmniStudio Developer

• MuleSoft Developer I

• MuleSoft Developer II

• Slack Developer

• Marketing Cloud Developer

• Order Management Developer

• Platform Developer II

• B2B Commerce for Developers

• B2C Commerce Developer

• Heroku Developer

• Industries CPQ Developer

• JavaScript Developer I

Salesforce Architect Certifications are specific to enterprise-level projects that require expertise in complex system design and integration.

Salesforce Architect Certifications:

• Tableau Certified Architect

• MuleSoft Integration Architect I

• MuleSoft Platform Architect I

• Heroku Architect

• Application Architect

• B2B Solution Architect

• B2C Commerce Architect

• B2C Solution Architect

• System Architect

• Technical Architect

In addition to Salesforce Developer and Salesforce Architect Certifications, other certifications are beneficial for official Salesforce consulting partners. These certifications do not belong to either of the first two categories.

Here’s the list of Salesforce Accredited Specialists rewritten in a clear, easy-to-read format:

• Accredited Professional in Process Automation

• Health Cloud Accredited Professional

• Financial Services Cloud Accredited Professional

• Consumer Goods Cloud Accredited Professional

• Net Zero Cloud Accredited Professional

• Media Cloud Accredited Professional

• Manufacturing Cloud Accredited Professional

• Loyalty Management Accredited Professional

• Energy and Utilities Cloud Accredited Professional

• Contact Center Accredited Professional

• Public Sector Solutions Accredited Professional

• Marketing Cloud Personalization Accredited Professional

• Marketing Cloud Advanced Cross-Channel Accredited Professional

Salesforce Certified Specialists:

• Tableau Desktop Specialist

• Marketing Cloud Account Engagement Specialist

• Marketing Cloud Intelligence Accredited Specialist

• CPQ Specialist

• Hyperautomation Specialist

All Salesforce consulting partners are tiered into the following levels:

1. Base Partners (up to 249 points)

2. Ridge Partners (over 250 points)

3. Crest Partners (over 500 points)

4. Summit Partners (over 750 points)

To earn a Consulting Partner Trailblazer Score (formerly called the Partner Value Score, or PVS), a partner must have at least 2 Certified Consultants. The score ranges from 0 to 1,000 points. These points are given based on three main categories:

Co-Sell ACV (Annual Contract Value) or “Engagement” is the number of new business opportunities that a Salesforce partner creates or significant selling interactions with a Salesforce Account Executive (AE).

Salesforce expertise is built through a range of certifications earned by individuals within a company. These certifications show different levels of knowledge and specialization:

• Expert Credentials are advanced certifications, such as the Certified Technical Architect, that demonstrate deep technical expertise.

• Professional Credentials are for Salesforce implementation specialists who work closely with customers, such as Community Cloud Consultants or CPQ Specialists.

• Associate Credentials include foundational certifications like Salesforce Administrator or B2C Commerce Developer.

• Emerging Product Credentials focus on newer Salesforce products where the company needs to build more expertise, like Field Service Lightning or B2C Commerce Architect certifications.

• Practice Growth measures how the number of employees with active professional certifications grows over time, reflecting the company’s expanding capability.

These credentials help companies prove their skills and deliver the right solutions to their customers.

Customer Success is an integral part of the Trailblazer score and is measured through several factors:

• Salesforce Navigator is earned based on verified industry expertise, deep knowledge of Salesforce products, certifications, and positive customer success feedback.

• AppExchange Solutions come from releasing or updating apps, bolts, flows, or components in the current or previous year.

• CSAT (Customer Satisfaction Score) is calculated based on customer satisfaction gathered through surveys.

A certified Salesforce consultant can be part of the Salesforce Consulting Partnership Community. However, being in a consulting partnership is not just about providing advice.

The Salesforce consulting partner program is becoming clearer about its different tiers. However, partners still have many ways to show what makes them unique in the market. Despite this, customers may find the classifications confusing when seeking the right Salesforce consultant.

To find Salesforce partners, the best place to start is AppExchange. This marketplace connects you with Salesforce apps and service providers, enabling you to hire experts, such as consultants and developers.

On AppExchange, there are over 3,800 registered consultancies. You can narrow your choices by considering their Salesforce and industry expertise, location, number of certified experts, and ratings on the platform.

You may not know what type of Salesforce consulting partner you are looking at on AppExchange because there is no filter for this. Salesforce suggests visiting their website to find suitable consulting partners. You can use filters based on industry, number of certified experts, or number of reviews. If the partner tier is vital to you, you can search Google for “[company name] Salesforce partner level” to see what tier the consulting partner belongs to.

You can find a Salesforce consultant on the Trailblazer Community. This platform allows you to see consultants "in action," check their answer history, view their Trailhead scores, and learn about their Salesforce skills and the company they work for.

If choosing a Salesforce consultant were easy, there wouldn't be an article about it.

The key point is this: having many skilled specialists on AppExchange and Trailblazer does not guarantee that you will pick the right partner for your project. It also doesn’t guarantee they will develop the appropriate plan for your implementation or integration.

That's why it's crucial to identify the most highly reviewed Salesforce consulting partners.

Top 12 Most Trusted Salesforce Consulting Partners in the USA

1. Best Rated — Codleo (Salesforce Consulting Partner)

• Founded: April 10, 2019.

• Headquarters: New Delhi (India) — with a U.S. presence registered in Lewes, Delaware. Offices/locations listed: New Delhi, Delaware (USA), Texas, Melbourne.

• Clients / Reach: Serves 120+ clients globally across SMB and enterprise segments (testimonials include healthcare and education customers such as Caliber Autism).

• Salesforce partner status & ratings: Salesforce Summit (Platinum-level) partner listed on the Salesforce AppExchange — active consulting listing with customer reviews.

Salesforce expertise (high-level):

Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Experience Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Salesforce Implementation, Integration, Support, Lightning Migration, Accelerators, Agentforce / AI agents and custom AI solutions, CRM Health Checks, Training, QuickStart implementations.

• Industries they work in: Healthcare, Education, Professional Services, Manufacturing & Retail, Non-profits, Finance, and other sectors (multi-industry focus).

• Team & scale: Company size listed as ~51–200 on LinkedIn; the website highlights a “young, growing” certified Salesforce team and ISO certifications (ISO 9001:2015 / ISO 27001:2013) and other recognitions.

• Best for: Small-to-medium enterprises and U.S./India-based organizations looking for a human-centred Salesforce partner that combines implementation, ongoing support, and modern AI/Agentforce capabilities — especially where cross-border delivery (India + USA) and cost-effective certified delivery matter.

Why clients pick Codleo (quick summary):

• Summit-tier Salesforce partner with AppExchange presence and customer reviews.

• End-to-end services: consulting → implementation → integration → managed support.

• Active focus on Agentforce / AI agent solutions (Agentforce webinars, accelerators, and Agentforce consulting services).

• ISO-certified processes and a cross-continental delivery model (India + US offices) for flexible engagements.

Quick stats & proof points (from public sources):

• Launched April 2019; grew to a multi-location consulting firm with international clients.

• AppExchange consulting listing with client reviews and Summit Partner recognition.

• Offers dedicated Agentforce consulting and runs Agentforce-focused webinars/events.

What a typical engagement looks like (typical timelines & offerings they advertise):

• Discovery & workshop → QuickStart (40-hour) or full implementation → integrations (WhatsApp, Jira, QuickBooks, etc.) → training & support / managed services. (Codleo promotes QuickStart, Lightning migration, and CRM health checks on the site.) 

2. Kelley Austin

• Founded in 2020

• Headquarters: Richardson, TX

• Salesforce expertise: Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Experience Cloud, Revenue Cloud, Data Cloud, Sales Cloud, Agentforce, Salesforce Spiff, Managed Services, Field Service, Custom CRM Development

• Industries: Healthcare, Education, Nonprofit, Financial Services, Professional Services, Manufacturing, Technology, Retail & Consumer Goods, Energy & Utilities, Media & Entertainment, Communications

• Team: 76 Salesforce-certified experts, up to 200 employees altogether

• Best for: Large companies and medium-sized businesses that have many complex processes and need a quick way to implement and use Salesforce.
  
  Kelley Austin is a partner at Summit Consulting, which was co-founded by Hunter Austin and Waylon Kelley in 2020. The company became a Summit-tier Salesforce Consulting Partner in just 2.5 years. Usually, it takes about 8 years for companies to reach this level, so this is a remarkable achievement. Kelley Austin focuses on full-service Salesforce consulting and implementation. They also provide services like Agentforce implementation, custom CRM development, integrations, and managed services.

3. Passion Fruit Partners

• Founded in 2020

• Headquarters: Toronto, ON, Canada

• Offices: Toronto, ON; Vancouver, BC, Canada

• Salesforce expertise: Nonprofit Cloud, Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP), Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Experience Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Marketing Cloud Account Engagement (Pardot), Agentforce, Data Architecture and Management

• Industries: Nonprofits, including environmental organizations, faith-based ministries, healthcare and human services, educational institutions, youth services, food security, and economic development

• Team: 23 Salesforce-certified experts, up to 50 employees altogether

• Best for: Small to medium-sized nonprofits seeking specialized Salesforce implementation
  
  Passion Fruit Partners is a Canadian company that helps nonprofit organizations use Salesforce. It was founded in 2020 and has worked on over 100 projects since then. One of their biggest successes was helping Alpha USA increase its revenue by 50% in just 12 months. Passion Fruit Partners is also a Salesforce Impact Partner and a member of Pledge 1%.

4. Prolocity

• Founded in 2010

• Headquarters: Covington, KY

• Offices: Cincinnati, OH; Toronto, ON, Canada

• Clients: Child Bridge, HealthFinders Collaborative, Gift of Hope, Food Banks of Alaska, Leadership North Carolina, Youth Guidance, Quilez and Associates Inc.

• Salesforce expertise: Customer 360 Platform, Experience Cloud, Education Solutions, Managed Services, Nonprofit Solutions, AppExchange App Development, Custom App Development, Custom Salesforce App Development, Custom Salesforce Product Development, Sales Cloud, Service Cloud

• Industries: Financial Services, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Nonprofit, Professional Services

• Team: 39 Salesforce-certified experts

• Best for: Nonprofit organizations seeking a comprehensive Salesforce implementation with business process optimization
  
  Prolocity is a national Salesforce partner that was founded in 2010. They help businesses and nonprofits use Salesforce to improve their sales, marketing, and service. As a Salesforce Summit Partner, Prolocity offers strategy, design, implementation, training, and optimization services. They work with clients across many industries, with a particular focus on nonprofits. Prolocity has been recognized as a Best Place to Work for five years in a row.

5. Elevation Solutions

• Founded in 2016

• Headquarters: Denver, CO

• Offices: Frisco, TX

• Salesforce expertise: Education Solutions, Experience Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Nonprofit Solutions, Sales Cloud, Service Cloud

• Industries: Education, Nonprofit

• Team: 30 Salesforce-certified experts, up to 50 employees altogether

• Best for: Small to medium nonprofits, K-12, and higher education institutions
  
  Elevation Solutions is a Salesforce consulting partner that started in 2016. The company helps nonprofit and educational organizations. It works remotely with over 30 professionals who hold 195 Salesforce certifications. The main areas of focus are Education Cloud, Nonprofit Cloud, and K-12 solutions.

6. Centelon

• Founded in 2015

• Headquarters: San Jose, CA

• Offices: Singapore; Melbourne, Sydney (Australia); Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram (India)

• Salesforce expertise: Sales Cloud, Service Cloud

• Industries: Nonprofit, Retail, Governmental

• Team: 44 Salesforce-certified experts, over 400 employees altogether

• Best for: Centelon is a global technology partner that helps medium and large companies with digital transformation. They focus on industries like financial services, education, government, and nonprofits. Centelon has over 10 offices in Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, India, and the US. The team includes more than 370 employees who bring over 200 years of combined experience.

7. NTT DATA

• Founded in 1988

• Headquarters: Plano, TX, USA.

• Offices: 50+ countries globally

• Salesforce expertise: Managed Services, MuleSoft, Multi-Cloud Integration, AppExchange App Development, Custom App Development, Custom Salesforce App Development, Custom Salesforce Product Development, Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Salesforce Commerce

• Industries: Communications, Engineering, Construction & Real Estate, Financial Services, High Tech, Media & Entertainment

• Team: 29 Salesforce-certified experts, up to 200,000 employees globally

• Best for: Big international enterprises worldwide
  
  NTT DATA is a global leader in IT services and a top Salesforce partner. The company started working with Salesforce in 2001 and now helps clients in many industries, including finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and the public sector. NTT DATA offers a range of digital transformation services, including updating legacy applications, modernizing legacy systems, and handling complex integrations.

8. ShellBlack

• Founded in 2010

• Headquarters: Lewisville, TX

• Salesforce expertise: Customer 360, Industry Products, Sales Cloud

• Industries: Financial Services

• Team: 29 Salesforce-certified consultants, up to 50 employees altogether

• Best for: ShellBlack is a consulting partner for Salesforce that primarily works in the financial services industry, focusing 95% of its efforts there. The company is located in Lewisville, Texas, and has a team with 115 Salesforce certifications. They have completed over 2,700 projects for more than 850 clients in the United States. ShellBlack specializes in using Financial Services Cloud, moving data, automating marketing, and creating custom solutions for wealth management firms, banks, credit unions, mortgage companies, and insurance providers.

9. Momentum

• Founded in 2022

• Headquarters: New York, NY

• Offices: Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario (Canada)

• Salesforce expertise: Customer 360, Managed Services, Nonprofit Solutions, AppExchange App Development, Custom App Development, Custom Salesforce App Development, Custom Salesforce Product Development, Sales Cloud, Service Cloud

• Industries: Nonprofit

• Team: 17 Salesforce-certified consultants, up to 50 employees altogether.

• Best for: Small to large educational, nonprofit, and public sector organizations
  
  Momentum Worldwide is a Salesforce consulting partner that helps businesses and public organizations make a positive impact. The company has over 200 happy clients and a strong record of successful projects. Guided by trust, a focus on people, and the idea of shared success, Momentum offers Salesforce services in Sales, Service, Nonprofit, Public Sector, Experience, Manufacturing, and Financial Services Cloud.

10. Plumlogix Inc

• Founded in 2016

• Headquarters: Reston, VA

• Salesforce expertise: Experience Cloud, Service Cloud

• Industries: Education

• Team: 22 Salesforce-certified consultants, up to 50 employees

• Best for: Small to medium companies in the public & government sector, education, nonprofit, retail & ecommerce.
  
  Plumlogix Inc., founded in 2016, is a certified Salesforce partner that helps businesses with digital transformation. The company has over 50 consultants in the US, Pakistan, and India. Plumlogix was named the #1 Impact Accelerator Partner by Salesforce. They focus on managed services, DevOps, and the implementation of industry-specific cloud solutions. With 77 Salesforce certifications and AI skills, Plumlogix serves clients in the public sector, education, nonprofit, and retail industries.

11. Idlewild

• Founded in 2015

• Headquarters: New York, NY

• Salesforce expertise: Managed Services, Nonprofit Solutions, Sales Cloud

• Industries: Nonprofit

• Team: 26 Salesforce-certified experts, up to 50 employees altogether

• Best for: Nonprofit fundraising organizations
  
  Idlewild Partners is a consulting company based in Brooklyn, New York. They specialize in helping nonprofit organizations. The team has 92 Salesforce certifications and focuses on solutions for fundraising and program management for nonprofits.

12. Vanguard Cloud Consulting

• Founded in 2019

• Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland

• Salesforce expertise: Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Experience Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Data Cloud, Agentforce, Net-Zero Cloud, Field Service

• Industries: Manufacturing, High Tech, Telecommunications, Travel & Hospitality, Transport, Media, Nonprofit, Healthcare, Professional Services, Business Services, Legal, Marketing, Energy & Utilities, Public Sector, Financial Services, Retail, Automotive

• Team: 30 Salesforce-certified experts, 40+ employees altogether

• Best for: Small to medium organizations seeking low-risk, agile Salesforce implementations
  
  Vanguard Cloud Consulting is a Salesforce Summit Partner. The company specializes in setting up various Salesforce services, such as Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, and Experience Cloud. In addition to Salesforce, Vanguard is an Asana Gold Partner and an Agentforce Implementation Partner, enabling them to implement AI automation within the Salesforce ecosystem.

What Are the Top Mistakes While Choosing a Salesforce Consulting Partner?

Mistake #1: Ignoring What Your Business Really Needs

If you think a consultant will show you how to run your business, you are mistaken.

Before you decide to implement Salesforce, it's essential to understand why it's needed for your business. Think about the problems it will solve, which areas of your operations it will improve, and how it will help you reach your corporate goals.

If you don't carefully consider these factors, you might waste money and time on a CRM system that you don't use much.

Before you write your RFP, clearly outline your business goals, project timeline, budget, partnership model, project stakeholders, and the roles of any consultants involved.

Mistake #2: Not Having a Clear Understanding of Salesforce

To communicate effectively with your Salesforce consulting partner, you need to understand the platform's standard terms and technical features.

It's a good idea to watch free product demos and introductory videos on Salesforce. It will help you understand the features this platform offers for your business.

When talking to potential clients, focus on 4 to 5 main points. Keep it simple and avoid diving too deep into technical details. A good Salesforce consulting partner can handle the specifics.

Mistake #3: Choosing Cost Over Real Value

If you're on a tight budget and choose to save money by hiring a less experienced Salesforce consulting partner, you might spend more in the long run. It could lead to longer project timelines or even project failure.

If a company only hires Salesforce developers, it may end up creating a solution that end users do not adopt. It happens because the project wasn't examined in its entirety.

Salesforce has a Pro Bono Volunteer Program that allows you to get free help from Salesforce consulting partners. However, this program only works for short-term projects in Nonprofits and Education. You can only hire an expert for up to 20 hours.

At Codleo, we provide flexible pricing options for businesses of all sizes. It allows us to deliver high-quality services at affordable rates through various engagement models.

Mistake #4: Overlooking the Impact of Client Feedback

Many companies showcase impressive portfolios on their websites, but that only tells part of the story.

To get a complete view, check independent reviews on AppExchange. You need a Salesforce login to access these reviews, and partners cannot change them.

A good way to get feedback is to check IT services review sites like Clutch.co or G2.com. These sites show what clients liked and didn’t like during their interactions with the consultancy.

These platforms show what clients liked and disliked at each stage of working with the consultancy. It gives you a clearer view than relying solely on the partners' chosen references.

Mistake #5: Rushing Into a Decision

Investing in Salesforce is a big decision. It requires careful consideration of your budget, time, and effort.

Take your time to make a wise choice.

Ask people in your business network for recommendations. Look at Salesforce platforms such as AppExchange and the Trailblazer Community. Review the portfolios and case studies of Salesforce consulting partners. Talk to potential partners about your needs. Finally, weigh the pros and cons before choosing a reliable Salesforce consulting partner.

Mistake #6: Ignoring Partners Who Truly Know AppExchange

To assess a Salesforce consulting partner’s expertise in your industry, check if they have created their own solutions on AppExchange. Partners with their own apps demonstrate strong technical knowledge, an understanding of user needs, and the ability to launch products successfully.

Consulting partners with AppExchange applications have faced the same challenges you will face. They know how to build, deploy, and maintain Salesforce solutions at scale. This experience makes them better equipped to help you than those who have not gone through this journey.

We help thousands of users every day on AppExchange. This experience enables us to offer specialized app development and Salesforce consulting services.

Mistake #7: Choosing a Salesforce Consultant Without the Right Experience

Technical skills and certifications are essential, but industry knowledge matters too.

If your company works in a specific area, such as Commercial Real Estate (CRE), and needs tailored solutions, find experts who understand your unique business requirements.

Lacking the right industry experience can lead to overlooking important details, which can affect software adoption and return on investment (ROI).

Keep in mind that “bigger” does not always mean “better.” Larger consulting firms may ignore smaller projects in specialized areas and often lack the specific industry expertise to deliver them.

Mistake #8: Opting for a Yes-Man Rather Than a True Professional

You need a Salesforce consultant because they have more skills than your team.

You don’t want someone who agrees with everything you say and takes orders.

Look for a real expert who will dig deep into your business, take charge when necessary, and recommend the best actions based on their previous projects—even if it’s different from what you initially thought was right.

Mistake #9: Aiming for a Short-Term Partnership

Working with your Salesforce consulting partner doesn't stop after your CRM is set up.

After implementation, you will move into the post-implementation phase. During this time, you need support to help users adopt the system, ensure your platform is set up correctly, update it after each Salesforce release, and troubleshoot any issues that arise.

As your organization grows, your Salesforce implementation partner will help you scale. Always look for opportunities to collaborate and build a long-term partnership.

At Codleo, we help our clients at every stage of implementation with our Salesforce support and Concierge Services. Our team values your time and assists with everyday tasks, including CRM data entry, data loading, scheduling, system configuration, and report generation.

Mistake #10: Ignoring the Value of AI and Agentforce When Picking Salesforce Consultants

When choosing Salesforce consulting partners, adopting AI is essential for staying competitive. Salesforce’s Agentforce is a significant advancement in AI that helps automate repetitive tasks.

Not all Salesforce consultants are proficient with Agentforce. Many can set up basic CRM workflows, but they may struggle when asked to build intelligent agents.

Your consultant should know how to implement AI solutions effectively and ideally have experience with their own AI projects and frameworks. Ask them specific questions about how they implement Agentforce, integrate data, measure performance, and what realistic timelines they expect.

Final Ideas

Choosing a Salesforce consulting partner is an important decision that requires careful planning. Proper implementation and long-term use can bring many benefits.

The relationship with your Salesforce partner should be balanced. Your partner-consultant should be seen as a trusted advisor with shared goals and responsibilities. This way, the consultant can help you achieve long-term value.