Salesforce CRM

Implementation
Checklist
This step-by-step process is based on our experience helping
hundreds of clients implement Salesforce and will help you get
started with your CRM the right way.

ebq.com | [email protected] | 512-637-9696

 SALESFORCE CRM IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST

Questions to Ask Before

Implementing Salesforce
These questions are here to help you gain a better
understanding of the Salesforce implementation process
before you begin.

• Executive sponsor • Administrator

Who should be on my • Project manager • Pilot group

implementation team?

• Clearly define your implementation goals

• Keep your KPIs realistic and specific

• Example KPIs:
% user adoption
What are my goals % faster sales cycle
% faster inquiry response time
for Salesforce?

• A standard implementation can take

1 to 2 months

What is my implementation • For complex configurations, implementation

can take 3+ months
timeline?

ebq.com | [email protected] | 512-637-9696 01

 SALESFORCE CRM IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST

7 Steps for a
Successful Salesforce Implementation
This checklist is designed to help you successfully implement Salesforce. Fill out information about
your business in the spaces provided below.

STEP 1 SET UP USERS AND USER PROFILES

STEP 2 CUSTOMIZE THE SALESFORCE INTERFACE

STEP 3 CONFIGURE OBJECTS AND FIELDS

STEP 4 REVIEW PAGE LAYOUTS

STEP 5 IMPORT OR MIGRATE DATA

STEP 6 IDENTIFY ANY NEEDED INTEGRATIONS

STEP 7 SET UP REPORTS AND DASHBOARDS

ebq.com | [email protected] | 512-637-9696 02

 SALESFORCE CRM IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST

STEP 1: SET UP USERS AND USER PROFILES

The first step for a successful implementation is to set up your users and user profiles. User profiles
give permissions to users that allows them to access certain data and applications.

Before setting up users and permissions, be sure to review these tips:

▪ Make sure each department is given access to data and apps that apply to them

▪ Only give view/edit permission for certain fields to users who need access

▪ Consider whether or not different business units need access to see each other

▪ Configure your organization-wide sharing settings to establish a baseline for user permissions

Which groups do you want to set up user profiles for (e.g. marketing department)?

Considerations for permissions:

Considerations for permissions:

Considerations for permissions:

Considerations for permissions:

Considerations for permissions:

ebq.com | [email protected] | 512-637-9696 03

 SALESFORCE CRM IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST

STEP 2: CUSTOMIZE THE SALESFORCE INTERFACE

The next step is to customize Salesforce to your liking. How your business uses Salesforce is entirely
up to you. Customize it in a way that will help you get the most out of it.

Here are a few things you can customize in Salesforce:

Domain, logo, and color scheme

How will you customize your branding?

Duplicate and matching rules

How should Salesforce identify and handle duplicates?

Lightning apps
What Lightning apps will users need, and do any custom apps need to be created?

Filtered list views

How should filtered list views be configured for different types of users?

ebq.com | [email protected] | 512-637-9696 04

 SALESFORCE CRM IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST

STEP 3: CONFIGURE OBJECTS AND FIELDS

Salesforce provides a default data model that includes standard objects and fields to help users get
started.

However, some organizations will need to create custom objects and fields in order to meet their
requirements. Your admin can create these for specific purposes that the standard data model won't
accommodate.

Standard objects and fields often have more functionality and are kept up-to-date by Salesforce's
regular updates. So it's best to only create custom ones when absolutely necessary. Otherwise,
consider how you can tailor standard objects and fields to meet your needs.

List any custom objects that need to be created:

List any custom fields that need to be created:

Read more about Salesforce objects and fields in our Beginner’s Guide to CRM.

ebq.com | [email protected] | 512-637-9696 05

 SALESFORCE CRM IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST

STEP 4: REVIEW PAGE LAYOUTS

You can create customized page layouts — where you choose what to display on an object record.
Page layouts control the layout and organization of fields, buttons, custom links, related
lists, and more on object record pages.

With custom page layouts, you can choose which fields are visible, read-only, or required. By using
page layouts, you can customize record pages for your users. But make sure you’re not overcrowding
your page layouts with irrelevant information.

Page layout considerations for leads:

Page layout considerations for contacts:

Page layout considerations for opportunities:

Page layout considerations for accounts:

ebq.com | [email protected] | 512-637-9696 06

 SALESFORCE CRM IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST

STEP 5: IMPORT OR MIGRATE DATA

Whether you are migrating from another CRM or from a CSV file, it is important to only import clean
data into your new Salesforce.

Before you migrate all of your data you should do the following:

▪ Make sure all of your data ties together: Ensure there's a clear connection and hierarchy between
your different objects and records.

▪ Comb through all of your data: Review data beforehand to plan how data will be organized in
the CRM.

▪ Only use good, clean data: Take this time to scrub your data and remove any inaccurate,
incomplete, or unnecessary information.

Notes about your migration process and files to be imported:

If you aren’t sure how to properly clean out your data, review our post about Salesforce
data cleansing.

ebq.com | [email protected] | 512-637-9696 07

 SALESFORCE CRM IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST

STEP 6: IDENTIFY ANY NEEDED INTEGRATIONS

Now that you have all your data migrated to Salesforce, check to see if there are any third-party
tools you need to integrate with Salesforce. For example, you can integrate your email service, such
as Outlook or Gmail, with the CRM. You can also migrate integrations from previous CRM platforms.

Do you have other applications you would like to integrate with Salesforce? You’ll want to make sure
it is compatible with Salesforce CRM and that it’ll give you the functionality you need.

These are some applications that can be integrated with Salesforce:

▪ Sales, prospecting, and phone tools

▪ Payment processing or invoicing software

▪ Document management and signature apps

Integrating these apps with Salesforce will help manage your data in them, add extra features, and
keep the experience running smoothly.

List of tools that need to be integrated:

ebq.com | [email protected] | 512-637-9696 08

 SALESFORCE CRM IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST

STEP 7: SET UP REPORTS AND DASHBOARDS

When creating a report, be mindful of who the report is for and why it’s important to them. This will
help you filter and sort data for each report.

Since dashboards are multiple reports grouped together, keep the same principles in mind for them
as well. This will help bring purpose to your dashboards. Dashboards are a great feature that makes
your data easier to read and understand.

List of your dashboards:

Reports in this dashboard:

Reports in this dashboard:

Reports in this dashboard:

Reports in this dashboard:

Reports in this dashboard:

ebq.com | [email protected] | 512-637-9696 09

 SALESFORCE CRM IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST

The Importance of
Properly Implementing Salesforce
Implementing Salesforce is more than just moving your data model from one platform to another.
It’s about migrating clean data and customizing elements to ensure you are getting the most out
of your CRM.

We want to see your business fully utilize this robust CRM. If you still aren’t confident in building
out your own CRM, our certified Salesforce experts can help.

Ready to start your

Salesforce implementation journey?
EBQ’s Salesforce implementation services help you set up a CRM that’s tailored to your
needs, at a fraction of the cost of doing it in-house.

Our certified Salesforce experts have the knowledge and experience you need to
maximize your CRM ROI.

CONTACT EBQ

ebq.com | [email protected] | 512-637-9696 10