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Salesforce Implementation

WE BELIEVE IN GREAT PARTNERSHIPS

Our focus on business best practices for ERP processes leads to amazing Salesforce implementations. 

VFP Consulting provides Salesforce implementation services, although that’s not why we succeed for our clients. Our engagements are successful because of our never-ending obsession with business processes: best practices, how they work (or don’t work), and how we can make them work better for you and your employees.

Salesforce gives companies an opportunity to leverage a single platform for both front and back office processes and financials. It’s the foundation of the project, but the real focus that determines the best features and products for your business are your people, and how they work.

We’re a Salesforce Registered Consulting Partner, but it’s our process expertise matched with our vision, focus and passion that sets us apart.

Salesforce Solutions

Financial Management

Certinia is the #1 cloud ERP and financial management application.

VFP is a Certinia implementation expert. Get accounting, subscription and usage billing, PSA, and more.

Sales

Automate and track sales processes for increased efficiency and accountability. Give managers and sales teams the tools they need to enhance lead generation and sales.

Customer Service

Engage with customers and track customer touch points on multiple channels. Give customer service reps the tools they need to provide a better customer experience.

Marketing Automation

From data driven email marketing to a unified view of customers, Salesforce marketing automation makes marketing smarter, more efficient, and more effective.

Commerce

Commerce Cloud supercharges B2B and B2C ecommerce delivery creating a better customer experience. Get a 360° view of customer activity, orders and inventory.

Communities

Create portals and help centres to serve customers and partners. Provide online self-help articles and support in an interactive community that improves customer service and brand loyalty.

Collaboration

Salesforce collaboration allows teams to communicate, share documents and discuss projects online from anywhere. Connect all your teams online for increased efficiency.

Industry Solutions

Salesforce works across industries including: financial services, health care, retail, manufacturing, communications and media and government.

Learn about Salesforce in detail.

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Salesforce Implementation process

A successful Salesforce implementation starts with extensive consultation. Our consultation process is iterative. It’s a vital first step in understanding how your front and back office operates, how processes can be improved, and whether Salesforce is a good fit. It’s also a necessary ingredient from planning right through to Salesforce deployment. VFP Consulting may be expert Salesforce Implementation Partners, but first and foremost, we are expert business process consultants. Our team has worked with countless businesses in many different sectors. We follow best practices and draw from a wealth of experience of our clients’ Salesforce implementation journeys.

Salesforce implementation planning is when we really get to know your company, its vision and needs. We identify your goals, have-to-haves, nice-to-haves, current tools, applications and dependencies. We also get to know departments, their unique needs and your people. We’ll discuss an implementation strategy (e.g. phased, sequential deployment known as “waterfall” vs. iterative deployment with successive refinement known as “scrum”). Planning is crucial. It helps prevent process gaps and time-consuming, expensive backtracking. VFP consultants ensure all of the necessary information is gathered before moving onto the next step of your Salesforce implementation journey.

Processes are the life’s blood of your business. They are the actions you, your employees, managers and teams take to produce a product, service, or serve a customer. Business processes, sometimes referred to as “workflows” are usually broken down into front office (customer-facing processes) and back office (administrative processes). During business process mapping, we visualize processes in flowcharts. We identify how processes are connected, what data they produce, and who accesses the data. We identify process strengths and weaknesses, make suggestions for improvement and ultimately seek to map the processes to Salesforce and its related tools, such as Certinia.

We export and/or convert data from current records and ready it for import into Salesforce.

Implementation design is the Salesforce set up phase. By understanding your business processes, we can create the ideal set up for your business. We employ best practices as recommended by Salesforce and also bring years of experiences working with hundreds of clients to the table. Salesforce recommends a “click-not-code” approach, using Salesforce native configuration tools. A native installation of Salesforce coupled with Certinia implementation and a sensible set up will meet the needs of the majority of businesses.

VFP thoroughly tests the Salesforce set up and workflows. We use RADTest, a programmatic method of ensuring process and data integrity. RADTest helps ensure a bug-free, gap-free Salesforce implementation that works as planned.

Deployment occurs on a timeline defined in the planning stages. After thoroughly testing the set up in a sandbox environment, your business’s Salesforce implementation is readied for production (the live instance). The final set of users and data are loaded into the live Salesforce system and re-tested.

the devil
is in the
details

Details matter.
A lot. Especially when it comes to creating the right processes for your team. Every field and every button has a purpose and needs to be considered. We value focusing on the details to make sure we get it right – every time – and work with you to make sure that you system meets your organization’s business and technology needs.

CORE VALUES
Core Values ►

Salesforce Implementation FAQ

I thought Salesforce was CRM? I see mention of Financial Management capabilities.

Salesforce is a customer-relationship management platform that helps businesses manage sales, marketing and customer service processes. Certinia, which is built on the Salesforce platform, is an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning ) and PSA (Professional Services Automation) application. With Certinia added to Salesforce, you get several state-of-the-art financial management products including accounting, billing, revenue, forecasting and more. Because it is a built on Salesforce, you’ll have a customer-centric view of data across departments. By combining Salesforce and Certinia you can take both front and back office online and access them from one application.

Do you provide Salesforce training?

We provide Salesforce training during the user-acceptance phase of implementation. Key staff members will learn workflows and most-used Salesforce features.

How long does it take to complete a Salesforce implementation?

Because each company has different needs and complexity, Salesforce implementation times vary widely. No two Salesforce implementations are alike. Suffice it to say that we take the time that is required to undertake implementation correctly. It can take 20-100s of hours work spread over a few weeks or several months. A consultation will reveal how long implementation will take for your company.

Is Salesforce one application or several products?

The easiest way to think of Salesforce is like a smartphone. The Salesforce platform is like a phone that can run multiple apps. The core applications offered by Salesforce include Sales Cloud, Marketing Cloud and Service Cloud. Like a smartphone, it also allows you to add other applications to support other parts of your organization, such as products from Certinia. 

How much does Salesforce implementation cost?

We can’t answer implementation cost questions without a thorough consultation. There really is no “average” cost for Salesforce implementation because each implementation is different, just as each company is different. The final cost is determined by the complexity of the implementation and the number of hours it takes to complete. Request a consultation with a VFP consultant. After we get to know your business needs and the work scope, we’ll provide an estimate.

Speak with an implementation expert

Do you currently use Salesforce as your platform?

We are registered Salesforce® & Certinia partners
and honored to be 2X Partner of the Year for Certinia and 3X Inc.5000 winner

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Raul Acosta

Sales Director

As an agile, focused and collaborative team player Raul strives to consistently take a holistic approach and make an impact with each networking experience and partnership forged.

 

With 15+ years of experience in sales strategy, application sales, and relationship management, he excels at solving complex business challenges through data-driven insights, superior customer service, and relevant Salesforce expertise.

 

As a former trusted advisor at Certinia and Salesforce, Raul has successfully implemented strategies that drive revenue, align business units, engage target audiences, strengthen brand image, maximize productivity, develop people, transform processes, and improve overall customer experience, showcasing his commitment to clients, partners, and colleagues.

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Michael Kelly

Engagement Director & Head of Project Management

Michael, with a background in project financial management and analysis, has spent over a decade in various project management roles. Leading clients, project teams, and fellow project managers, he ensures successful project deliveries and implementations. Michael’s PMP Certification enables him to stay current with the latest industry standards and project management practices.

 

Passionate about his field and role, Michael finds fulfillment in successful projects, tangible results, and meeting client needs.

 

Throughout his experience in engagement management Michael has successfully led over 25 clients, projects, and go-lives. He has overseen a project budget portfolio of $25 million per year, managing 21 separate project engagement efforts concurrently for his client base. In his career, Michael has hired, trained, and personally managed a team of over 50 project managers.

 

He has also contributed to the development and training of new agile project methodologies in multiple companies.

 

Currently, at VFP, Michael has played a crucial role in implementing the new agile methodology across all active projects for their client base in 2023.

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Greg Plaisance

Managing Consultant

Throughout his career at VFP, Greg has progressed from the role of Consultant to Senior Consultant and currently serves as a Managing Consultant.

 

With 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, Greg possesses a diverse skill set that spans Retail Banking, Post Audit, and Consulting. He holds 3 Salesforce certifications and 2 Certinia certifications, showcasing his expertise in areas such as Accounting, Revenue Recognition, Billing, and leadership strategy. Greg’s extensive background equips him with a deep understanding of financial processes, enabling him to offer valuable insights and guidance to clients within the industry.

 

Passionate about process improvement, efficiency, and leadership he helps companies by managing the systems that support their core objectives, allowing them to focus on their key goals.

 

Greg aims to build VFP into a premier consulting firm that is highly sought-after by both clients and professionals as a desirable place to work.

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Kristin Hubbard

Managing Consultant

Kristin, a seasoned Salesforce and Certinia professional since 2011 specializes in Financial Management, specifically focusing on areas such as Billing, Revenue, and Accounting.

 

With a degree in Accounting, Kristin began her career as a Billing Specialist, where she actively contributed to the implementation of Salesforce and Certinia, showcasing her problem-solving skills and passion for process improvement.

 

Recognizing her abilities, she transitioned to the role of Certinia Administrator, playing a crucial role in the system’s global rollout. Later, as a Business Systems Manager, she assumed responsibility for the entire Salesforce platform. Motivated by her love for the job and a desire to help multiple organizations, Kristin pursued consulting, specializing in Certinia ERP and leading consultant teams for approximately eight years.

 

Since 2018, she has played a vital role in planning and executing the Florida Dreamin event. Recognized as a Salesforce MVP in 2023, she holds 7 Salesforce and 1 Certinia certification, demonstrating her expertise and dedication to growth.

 

Kristin understands the value of embracing technology and streamlining processes to reduce costs and enhance profitability. With expertise in Salesforce and Certinia, she guides organizations to implement efficient systems, optimize operations, and achieve financial success.

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Ty alibhai

Managing Consultant

Ty is a seasoned consulting leader who has focused his experience over the last 15 years on the Salesforce platform and solutions in its ecosystem. He brings 20+ years of business knowledge, consulting experience, and a knack for successful Salesforce and Certinia implementations in the quote-to-cash space. Ty has successfully implemented technology solutions such as Salesforce and Certinia to over 100+ customers over his career and has led/managed consultant teams of 5-10 people.

 

Graduating from UC Berkeley’s Haas Business School and with a strong background in Computer Science, he launched his career in technology consulting. He focused his career on the Salesforce platform after experiencing success at Salesforce in the early 2000s and growing that knowledge with consulting partners the latter half of his career. His knowledge spans multiple industries, solutions, and market segments from SMB to Enterprise level experience.

 

As part of his role at VFP, he effectively manages a team of consultants, empowering them to achieve their career objectives. He also leads project teams and ensures the seamless adoption of technology, thereby driving client success at VFP.

 

Driven by a strong desire to make a positive impact on customers’ lives by simplifying their experience with new systems he excels as a leader, mentoring consultants and guiding project teams to successful outcomes.

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Nick Anderson

Managing Consultant

A global Salesforce and Certinia consulting and implementation leader, Nick is an expert in his field with more than 8 years of experience on the platform, specializing in Quote to Cash and Professional Services Automation best practices.

 

With a focus on mid-market and enterprise accounts, Nick brings a deep knowledge of best practices to all aspects of client projects including change management, business process documentation & improvement, system configuration, revenue recognition and managed services.

 

With an extensive background in International Business and PSA solutions, Nick is the driving force behind the VFP consultants, helping the team tap into their full potential in order to deliver excellent results.

 

Never one to back down from a challenge, Nick embraces his ever-changing environment and encourages customers to do the same as a way to drive further success down the road. He stresses the importance of clear communication and building strong working relationships in order to effectively articulate a vision for the future of a business.

 

Using his own years of consulting experience as a touchstone, Nick’s focus is on developing talent and ushering in customer success for the VFP team across the board.

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Doug Johnston

Chief Operating Officer

Building scalable large-capacity services teams in enterprise environments for more than 25 years, Doug is focused on operational excellence and builds high-quality and high-growth companies and teams.  


As COO, Doug’s responsibilities encompass overseeing all facets of customer services including a Project Management team, internal operations, and a team of expert consultants. His primary focus lies in fostering a high-performing team and culture, guiding its development, providing support, and offering coaching to optimize efficiency.

Doug’s diverse experiences in industries including software services, government, private sector, medical, and beyond have led to the development of a global team, overseeing projects ranging from small initiatives to multi-million dollar implementations and long-term relationships with clients.


With unwavering determination, Doug strives to establish a top-tier consulting firm in collaboration with VFP’s CEO, Stephanie Taylor. Together they shared a vision that transcends software implementation, aiming to provide value, challenge conventions, and leverage expertise for optimal outcomes. Though strategies shift with growth, the core objective of building an exceptional company remains a constant in Doug’s journey. 


Doug joined VFP in its infancy, with a goal to grow the team and scale the operation – which is now doubling year over year, based on a passion for people matched with a deep sense of purpose. With 2x INC5000 placements under 1000, team growth of more than 10,000%, high customer success ratings and stability within the team, his leadership has proved vital to positive growth and long term stability for VFP. 

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Stephanie Taylor

Chief Executive Officer

A sought-after leader with a 20+ year history working with global Fortune 500 companies, Stephanie is a business process expert with a deep and well-recognized expertise in the Salesforce and Certinia ecosystems, with a focus on Quote-to-Cash, ERP, CRM, and Financial Management.

 

Stephanie founded VFP Consulting to offer companies with access to a 360 approach to not just implementing but managing their technology investments over time, from aligning people, process and product needs to long term management that maximizes the investment and fuels growth and business needs over time. 

 

Front-line experience overseeing 100+ projects and relationships with diverse clients, from mid-market enterprises to billion-dollar enterprises, Stephanie’s expertise spans high-growth businesses, private equity, mergers and acquisitions across various industries. Her leadership at VFP places a premium on the core values behind the name – Vision, Focus, and Passion.

  • Industry:
    Call Center Technology
  • Company Size:
    • 2,000+ employees around the world
    • 2,500+ enterprise, mid-market, and SMB customers in 104 countries
  • Solutions:
    Certinia Professional Services Cloud