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Top 5 Mistakes When Implementing Accounting on Salesforce

Many businesses and nonprofits are integrating their accounting systems with Salesforce to streamline workflows, simplify collaboration, and make it easier to access critical information from across the organization.

The benefits of accounting on Salesforce are clear, but organizations sometimes trip over the first hurdle: implementation. These are five common implementation mistakes to avoid when you decide to integrate your accounting systems on Salesforce’s industry-leading platform.

Mistake #1: Lack of accounting skills

Successfully integrating accounting systems on Salesforce requires a deep understanding of accounting and how accounting systems work. The implementor will need to identify the specific accounting process requirements at your organization and then translate those requirements into specifications for your custom implementation.

Mistake #2: Lack of project management skills

The last thing you can afford is a botched implementation resulting in IT headaches, unforeseen costs, and employee frustration. To successfully move your existing accounting systems onto Salesforce, you need an experienced project manager who can ensure that every phase of the project, from launch through testing and follow-up, takes place on time and meets agreed-upon goals.

Mistake #3: Implementing in-house

It may be tempting to handle the implementation in-house, but rarely do organizations have the internal expertise necessary, including IT, Salesforce, accounting, and project management capabilities. Even in those rare cases where such staff exist, organizations need to consider the time required for the implementation and the cost of pulling staff away from their existing responsibilities.

Mistake #4: IT-only expertise

The first requirement for successfully integrating accounting systems on Salesforce is technical knowledge of the platform at an architectural level. However, IT knowledge alone is not sufficient. Among other things, the implementor needs an in-depth understanding of accounting and financial applications in order to customize the integration.

Mistake #5: Lack of internal involvement

Implementing accounting on Salesforce affects the entire organization. As such, it requires a business-wide commitment with buy-in, involvement, and follow-through from leadership, as well as from departments across the organization. Anything less can undermine the pace and overall success of the implementation.

Get the implementation support you need

Clear Cloud One connects Salesforce with Accounting Seed and Sage Intacct, the leading accounting apps, to give businesses one platform that speaks one language. Our CPAs and Salesforce certified professionals help both commercial and nonprofit organizations improve their accounting processes through workflows, automation, and integrations.