Migrating From Salesforce: The Realistic Guide
Leaving Salesforce is a big decision. Here's exactly what the process looks like — no surprises, no minimizing the complexity.
We won't pretend migrating from Salesforce is simple. It's not. Your team has invested years in the platform, built custom configurations, and learned workflows around Salesforce's patterns. The migration is a significant project.
But the companies that do it — the ones who plan properly and execute methodically — consistently report the same thing: "We wish we'd done it sooner." Here's how to do it right.
Phase 1: Document Your Actual Process
The first step isn't technical — it's organizational. We document how your team actually sells, not how Salesforce says they sell. This distinction matters because years of Salesforce configuration often create workflows that serve the CRM, not the sales team.
Sales Process Mapping
How deals actually move through your pipeline. Every stage, every handoff, every approval.
Report Inventory
Which reports does leadership actually look at? (Often a fraction of what exists in Salesforce.)
Integration Map
Every system connected to Salesforce: email, marketing, accounting, ERP, support.
Custom Object Review
Custom objects, fields, and automations. What's used? What's legacy cruft?
Phase 2: Design the New CRM
Armed with the process map, we design the custom CRM. This is collaborative — your sales leadership helps define the interface, workflows, and reports. The goal is a CRM that your team would choose to use, not one they're forced to use.
We use design prototypes (clickable mockups) so your team can experience the new CRM before we build it. This catches design issues early when they're cheap to fix.
Phase 3: Build in Parallel
Your team keeps using Salesforce during the entire build phase. No disruption, no half-measures. We build the custom CRM in a separate environment with weekly demos to stakeholders.
The build phase typically takes 10-16 weeks for a full-featured CRM. We work in two-week sprints, each ending with a demo and feedback session.
Phase 4: Data Migration
Salesforce data exports via their Data Loader tool. We migrate: contacts, accounts, opportunities (with full history), activities, notes, attachments, and custom object data.
The migration runs in stages: initial bulk migration first, then a delta sync at switchover to capture any data created during the build phase. We validate record counts and data integrity at every step.
Phase 5: User Transition
Training is minimal because the CRM is built around existing workflows. We typically do a half-day training session for each team, focused on "where things are" rather than "how things work" — because the how should be intuitive.
We run both systems in parallel for 2-4 weeks. Users can reference Salesforce if they need to find something. Once the team is comfortable, Salesforce access moves to read-only, then gets decommissioned at contract end.
Dealing With the Contract
Salesforce contracts are annual with auto-renewal clauses. Plan your migration timeline to align with your contract end date. Give Salesforce written notice of non-renewal 30-60 days before the renewal date (check your specific contract for the exact notice period).
If your contract doesn't end for 6+ months, that's actually ideal — it gives you time to build, migrate, and validate without time pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Salesforce migration take end-to-end?
Will we lose any Salesforce data?
What about our Salesforce integrations?
Can we reduce Salesforce licenses during migration?
What if the team doesn't like the new CRM?
Planning Your Salesforce Exit?
Book a free consultation. We'll review your Salesforce setup and give you a realistic migration plan with timelines and costs.