General Resources
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Salesforce AppExchange Developers
Hiring Salesforce Developers to customize a single instance of Salesforce is hard. But finding an AppExchange Developer is harder, unfortunately.
The reason for this is because building a product to be listed on the AppExchange requires knowledge of Managed Packages - a collection of application components that can be deployed into any Salesforce environment. The process for building a managed package is very different than opening the Developer sandbox in your internal Salesforce org and adding some Apex code.
It requires adhering to very specific coding standards, best practices, and security requirements. Finding a Salesforce Development Partner with an AppExchange specialization is key.
What is the Salesforce AppExchange?
Let's start with the basics. The AppExchange is one of the largest B2B App Marketplaces and offers 3,000+ pre-built applications that can be integrated with an existing Salesforce org to add functionality and features with ease.
The AppExchange has an install base in the millions and has specific Apps for Sales Intelligence, Marketing Apps, Analytics tools, Collaboration platforms, and dozens of other categories related to your Salesforce user base.
It can be a lot to navigate, particularly since there are Free Apps vs. Paid Apps as well as Native Salesforce Apps and Non-Native Salesforce Apps.
This is a big distinction. Native Salesforce Apps are those that have been built on top of Salesforce - using a managed package - this can make integrating them to your existing Salesforce instance much easier so be sure to keep this in mind when building or deploying AppExchange apps.
What is a Salesforce OEM Partner?
OEM Partners are a big part of the Salesforce ecosystem but aren't as commonly known.
These are a specific type of SaaS vendor building application solutions for the market and doing so on top of Salesforce. These are essentially AppExchange Expert Developers with the best knowledge of how to structure, build, and deploy managed packages.
They understand how to construct a versatile application as a library of components that can literally be downloaded from the AppExchange and plugged into any org - they sell these products directly do their customers (either via listings on the AppExchange or in a direct Sales model).
Typically, a solution offered by an OEM Partner will be 80% out-of-the-box and 20% customized, meaning 80% of the features are pre-built and ready to go but 20% of the tool will be configured specifically to the customer needs and use case.
OEM Partners pay Salesforce a per-user licensing fee for every user of their product.
This means their costs are higher (so the cost to use the product might be higher) but they have the advantage of using Salesforce's platform infrastructure instead of having to build from scratch.
What is an AppExchange Developer?
An in-house Salesforce Developer works on a single instance of Salesforce with a user base concentrated within a single organization. The type of Salesforce instance they are working on is being customized for that organization and that organization alone.
In contrast, AppExchange Developers take a more holistic approach, building a variety of applications, component libraries, and features in a manage package that can be deployed across a wide range of different use cases. This managed package combines application components into a single unit, which the AppExchange Developer or ISV Partner can upgrade or update on an ongoing basis with those changes being deployed directly into the customer's instance. (Think about how Salesforce releases new versions throughout the year - AppExchange Partners do the exact same thing with their managed packages.)
Companies are often surprised to hear how many multi-billion dollar SaaS vendors are built entirely on top of the Salesforce platform - these are the leading Salesforce ISV Partners globally.
Check out the full list of Top Salesforce ISV Partners!
How to hire an AppExchange Developer
The first step is to make sure a Salesforce AppExchange Developer is really what you need.
After determining that you do need to deploy a managed package, here is how to identify the right ISV Partner or AppExchange Developer to take on the project.
Create a Project Listing on FoundHQ
You can certainly search on the AppExchange or through general Freelance Marketplaces like Upwork; however, you want to be sure that you partner with a Developer that has built solutions in your specific industry and understands the common integration points to be accounted for in the managed package.
Save the excessive labor hours identifying and vetting prospective partners. A listing on FoundHQ will immediately get your project in front of 1,500+ Salesforce Developer Contractors that are open to new projects.
All Contractors on our platform have been pre-vetted and we will go through all interested applications to hand-select the best fit for your project.
Interview 2-3 recommended Salesforce Developers
We sort through our entire network and recommend the best 2-3 Salesforce Developers available for your specific need.
As tempting as it can be to get started as soon as you find someone 'good enough', patience leads to the best partnerships. In some cases, your first choice might end up being the best but comparison the experience, collaborative ability, and overall budget of few options before getting started.
Look through other managed packages they have deployed on the AppExchange. How are the reviews? How big is the install base? What additional product releases have they handled on an ongoing basis?
Check some references using their prior network - FoundHQ will facilitate it all.
Hire a Developer and Start Building
As soon as you find the right Developer, there's nothing holding you back.
FoundHQ handles all Contractor on-boarding and you don't pay anything upfront! You receive an invoice at the end of each month for all hours billed in the prior month.
Define the project goals, ideal timeline, and discuss the potential challenges or roadblocks that could be encountered upfront! We help facilitate an open dialogue so everyone is aligned on what to expect from the project.
Get Matched to the Right Salesforce Consultant
FoundHQ is the easiest way to get work done in Salesforce.
