Hybrid vs Remote Salesforce consulting teams

Choosing the correct delivery team structure is essential for any organization looking to build or enhance your existing Salesforce^® instance. There are considerations to both hybrid and remote teams because it isn’t one-size-fits-all or interchangeable; there must be some fundamental consideration approach to selecting how to structure your consulting partner team. 

This blog post will discuss the differences between hybrid vs remote Salesforce consulting teams and considerations for both. In your next consulting engagement, you’ll be fully prepared to make an informed decision based on what is best for your team, your circumstances and your project.

We’ll explore both options in depth, but first of all, let’s focus on working with hybrid teams: 

Working with a Hybrid team? 

What is a hybrid team? A hybrid team consists of both on-site team members and those working remotely. The hybrid model is all about balance, and many organizations find that it’s the right way to control their costs while gaining their required level of control over the project.

Flexibility and collaboration
By adopting a hybrid approach, consulting teams can offer a mixture of on-site (as needed) and remote services, providing clients with flexibility and the ability to choose the most suitable option for their needs.

Localization
Having on-site or within-timezone consultants can provide better insights and knowledge for projects requiring a deep understanding of local markets or regulations, and the team can jump on calls with less planning.  

Cost-effectiveness
By leveraging remote for development and local resources from project management, the burden of production is shifted from the hiring organization to the hired consulting firm. This makes the Salesforce consultants accountable for deliverables/results, while controlling costs across resources staffed within various job markets allows for cost savings.

Working with a fully remote team? 

As the name states, a fully remote team is one where all members are working completely remotely. Cost savings (e.g., from offshoring) is one major reason organizations choose this route, but it isn’t the only one or perhaps even the most important. The ability for today’s professionals to “work from anywhere” has enabled organizations to make the most of a whole new set of very valuable benefits and opportunities.

Access to a broader talent pool
Remote work enables consulting firms to recruit top talent from anywhere in the world, not limited by geographic location. This allows for assembling a highly specialized team with diverse skills and experiences.

Increased efficiency
Remote work eliminates the need for travel, reducing time spent on commuting and allowing consultants to work remotely. However, this is less of an issue because most consulting companies have worked more remotely since COVID-19. 

Cost-effectiveness
Eliminating on-site presence can result in cost savings, as it reduces travel, accommodation, and per diem expenses, leveraging economies of scale and capitalizing lower-cost labor markets. 

What is best for your team? Hybrid or Remote?

So, now we’ve taken a good look at both options, it’s time to focus on how to decide which will be more suitable for your organization and a particular project. This can be tricky, as each has its own very valuable merits and neither one is “better” or “worse” than the other — it all depends on a range of situation-specific factors.

Costs
Hybrid teams may incur higher costs compared to fully remote teams due to expenses associated with travel (for on-site presence as needed), as well as resources being located in higher-cost labor markets. This additional cost can impact project budgets when planning for your company’s Salesforce project. 

Limited resource availability
Depending on the location and availability of consultants, assembling a hybrid team with the right mix of skills and expertise can be challenging. In some cases, finding local talent with the right experience for the project within the market/time-zone can be challenging. If the “pool” of resources extends throughout the globe, then finding the correct mix within the project timeline is more feasible. 

Time and logistics
Coordinating schedules can make managing a hybrid team more complex and time-consuming. This can lead to potential delays in project timelines and increased project management efforts. Establishing the norms or communication pathways with a fully remote team can cause ramping delay, and the time to value can be longer from the outset. 

Communication 
Hybrid teams may face communication challenges, especially when working across different locations and time-zones. Misunderstandings and communication delays can impact project progress and collaboration efforts. However, the opposite is also a consideration with setting up a fully remote team to augment your company’s staffing needs and aligning your internal staff to meet on traditional “off” time to ensure the project’s success, which could strain internal resources. 

Got a better understanding of hybrid vs remote Salesforce consulting teams? 

So, there you have it. Hopefully now you’ll be better prepared to decide between hybrid vs remote Salesforce consulting teams for your next project.

One more thing: it’s important to note that any potential drawbacks of fully remote delivery teams can be mitigated with effective communication strategies, clear project management processes, and collaboration tools and technologies.  As I’ve mentioned previously, it ultimately depends on the specific needs and circumstances of the project and the preferences of the client and consulting team. It’s also worth mentioning that your needs may change over the course of an engagement. You may wish to switch from hybrid to fully remote, or vice versa, or rebalance the number of people on and off-site.

If you need help choosing between a hybrid or fully remote model for your project, then VRP Consulting’s experts would be more than happy to assist. And if you’re looking for a Salesforce Partner with the resources and expertise to accommodate either option, look no further. With client-facing teams and Salesforce-certified delivery resources across the world, we can provide the professionals you require in the most appropriate, results-oriented and cost-effective way.  

If you’d like to discuss anything we’ve explored here, or talk about how VRP Consulting can help you with your project, please get in touch. 

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About the Author

Lila Logue

Principal Delivery Manager, VRP Consulting USA

Lila has been in the Salesforce ecosystem for 14 years, rapidly scaling tech startups (System Admin & Operations), and came to consulting five years ago. She thrives in fast-paced, high-ambiguity environments, with clients needing guidance for implementation and best leveraging the platform.