Salesforce Managed Services vs In-House Support: Let’s Decide Together

Managing your Salesforce CRM is crucial for your business success. But here’s the real question: Do you build an in-house team to manage it, or should you opt for Salesforce Managed Services? This is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your CRM strategy, and I’m here to guide you through it.

Let’s examine the differences between Salesforce Managed Services vs In-House Support, explore what each option offers, and help you decide what works best for your business.

Salesforce Managed Services vs In-House Support

What Does In-House Support Look Like?

Imagine having a team within your office solely focused on maintaining and improving your Salesforce environment. That’s the in-house approach—your team, your rules, full control.

The Upside of In-House Support

1. Direct Oversight: You can align your team’s priorities directly with your business goals.
   Example: Need a report updated ASAP? Your team is right there to handle it.
2. Tailored Expertise: Your in-house team can become specialists in your specific Salesforce workflows, making them highly attuned to your needs.
3. On-the-Spot Support: They’re on-site (or remote but fully dedicated), so you get faster responses for urgent requests.

But Here’s the Catch

While the idea of having a dedicated team is attractive, it comes with significant challenges:

• High Costs: You’ll need to budget for salaries, benefits, ongoing training, and tools. And Salesforce-certified experts don’t come cheap.
• Skill Gaps: Salesforce is vast, and no single person—or even a small team—can be an expert in everything from Marketing Cloud to CPQ.
• Scalability Issues: What happens when your business grows and you need to scale? Hiring more staff is neither quick nor cheap.
• Burnout Risk: A small team can quickly get overwhelmed with complex requests or ongoing issues, leading to slower responses and declining performance.

If you’ve already faced any of these issues, you’re not alone—it’s a common story for many businesses.

Also, don’t forget about Salesforce Professional Services, check out this blog to get familiar.

What Are Salesforce Managed Services? (And Why Do They Exist?)

Now let’s look at Salesforce Managed Services.

This is where a team of certified Salesforce experts (like Emorphis) steps in to handle everything for you—from updates and maintenance to customizations and proactive monitoring.

Think of it like having an on-demand powerhouse of Salesforce expertise but without the headache of managing a team.

What You’ll Love About Managed Services

1. Cost Efficiency: No more worrying about salaries, training, or turnover. Managed services often work on predictable, subscription-based pricing models that save you money in the long run.
2. Access to Top Experts: Need a Marketing Cloud genius today and a CPQ specialist tomorrow? Managed services give you access to a team with diverse skills, all at your fingertips.
   Example: One of our clients struggled with complex CPQ configurations. We solved it in a fraction of the time it would have taken their in-house team.
3. Proactive Management: Instead of reacting to problems as they arise, we anticipate them. Regular system health checks, updates, and optimizations ensure your Salesforce runs smoothly 24/7.
4. Scalability Made Simple: Expanding your team, adding new integrations, or scaling for seasonal peaks becomes effortless. Managed services adjust to your needs, so you don’t have to worry about hiring more people or juggling resources.
5. Free Up Your Team: Let’s be honest: your team probably has more strategic things to focus on than troubleshooting Salesforce issues. Managed services let them do just that.

Side-by-Side Comparison: What’s Best for Your Business?

When Does In-House Support Work Best?

There’s no denying that in-house support works well for certain situations. It’s a great choice if:

• Your Salesforce environment is simple and doesn’t require complex customizations or frequent updates.
• You already have a skilled IT team with Salesforce expertise.
• You prefer full control over your CRM processes.

If this sounds like your business, an in-house team might be enough—at least for now.

Why Businesses Are Switching to Managed Services

But here’s the reality: As Salesforce becomes more central to your operations, it also becomes more complex. Products like Sales Cloud, Data Cloud, or the Einstein 1 platform require specialized expertise. That’s where managed services shine.

Common Scenarios Where Managed Services Outperform In-House Teams

1. Scaling Rapidly: You’re growing fast, and your Salesforce instance needs to keep up. Managed services can scale without missing a beat.
2. Facing Skill Gaps: Your in-house team doesn’t have the expertise to handle advanced customizations or integrations. Managed services bring in the right talent for every challenge.
3. Budget Constraints: Hiring a full in-house team isn’t feasible, especially for small-to-midsized businesses. Managed services provide enterprise-level expertise without the cost.

A Success Story to Consider

Let me share a real-life example. One of our clients, a mid-sized e-commerce company, relied on an in-house team to manage their Salesforce. But as they expanded, issues piled up:

• Integrations were delayed.
• Reports were inconsistent.
• Their in-house team was stretched thin.

They decided to try Salesforce Managed Services. Within six months:

• Downtime was reduced by 50%.
• Sales reporting accuracy improved by 35%.
• They saved 40% compared to their in-house support costs.

And their in-house team? Freed up to focus on customer-centric initiatives that drove growth.

Why This Decision Matters

Choosing between in-house support and Salesforce Managed Services isn’t just about cost or convenience—it’s about long-term success. The right decision can:

• Boost your Salesforce ROI.
• Ensure smooth day-to-day operations.
• Prepare your business for growth.

Still Unsure? Let’s Break It Down

If you’re wondering, “What’s the best option for my business?”, here’s my advice:

1. Look at your current challenges. Are you struggling with updates, customizations, or downtime?
2. Consider your future needs. Will your Salesforce environment grow more complex?
3. Think about your team’s capacity. Do they have the bandwidth and skills to manage everything?

Let’s Make It Simple

If you want:

• A scalable, cost-efficient solution that grows with your business,
• Access to the best Salesforce expertise whenever you need it, and
• Peace of mind knowing your CRM is always optimized…

Then Salesforce Managed Services is your answer.

Take the Next Step

Ready to see the difference?
Opt for Salesforce Managed Services. Let’s work together to maximize your Salesforce investment and achieve the remarkable ROI you’ve been aiming for.

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