Key Takeaways from My Salesforce Journey in 2025

2025 was a turning point for me. I finally made the leap from corporate life to independent consulting, and this website is the result.

In my first year of working solo, I had the chance to partner with some incredible organisations: from building marketing demos for Inspire AI, to auditing systems at Esse Skincare, to delivering projects with Soar for South African nonprofits. I also secured two fantastic contracts with Vloeiend and Blue Force, Dutch consultancies doing impressive work in the nonprofit space.

With that kind of variety, it’s no surprise the year came packed with lessons. But I’m not here to talk about personal growth, this post is about professional insights that might help you navigate your own journey in the Salesforce ecosystem.

Nonprofits and SMBs Are Ready for the Next Step

After countless conversations with nonprofits and small businesses, one thing is clear: there’s massive potential waiting to be unlocked.

These organisations are committed. They’re investing. They know they need to get more out of their systems, especially when it comes to CRM and automation, but often don’t know where to start.

Take Esse Skincare. They’ve got a fantastic platform in place, but hadn’t figured out how to maximise it. As they said:

“We’ve got a Rolls Royce in the garage — but we haven’t even got our learner’s license.”

I completed an audit for them in the last quarter of 2025 and am busy working with the Salesforce AE to ensure they get the support they need. With the right partner and a bit of guidance, they’re now moving in a direction where that car won’t just leave the garage, it’ll fly.

The same goes for the work I’ll be doing with Epilepsy Ireland in 2026. These organisations don’t just need a vendor, they need a trusted advisor who understands the platform and the people. That’s the space I love working in, and the reason I left corporate in the first place.

Salesforce is starting to see this too. Their recent focus on a gentler Starter path and the free edition launched in late 2025 shows a shift back toward smaller organisations. And that’s exciting.

The South African NPO Space Is Full of Potential

2025 was also the first year I got to work closely with South African nonprofits, and I’m so glad I did.

Sure, the learning curve was steep. But the energy, creativity, and commitment in this sector are unmatched.

Tech challenges? Yes.

Right now, there’s no local equivalent to tools like FinDock, which means donation management is often more manual or complex than it needs to be.

Budget constraints? Absolutely.

Licensing for amazing tools like Grantmaking or Account Engagement (formerly Pardot) can be tough for smaller NPOs. That sometimes means relying on custom builds or creative workarounds.

But even with these hurdles, I’ve been consistently impressed by how local NPOs find a way forward. The desire to innovate is there. The drive is there. With better access to the right tools and partners, I genuinely believe 2026 could be a breakout year for many of them.

Setting Clearer Expectations = Smoother Projects

One of the biggest opportunities I see is around educating clients on what Salesforce really involves.

The 10 free licenses for nonprofits? An incredible offer. But those licenses don’t come pre-configured. Most setups, even basic ones, start around R50,000 to R100,000, depending on complexity. That surprises a lot of people.

That’s where clarity and upfront conversations help. When people understand the real cost and what they’re getting, expectations are better managed, and projects go more smoothly.

Implementation takes time, even just configuring core features, branding, and security best practices takes 15–20+ hours. Add in training, testing, and enhancements, and the effort becomes clear.

Why the investment? Because real expertise matters.

Between certifications, ongoing training, and years of hands-on experience, myself and others in the ecosystem, like my friend Murendeni, who’s spent 15 years helping NPOs and SMEs, have built a deep bench of knowledge. And that’s what helps these systems work the way they’re meant to.

The Talent Landscape Is Evolving — and That’s a Good Thing

When I transitioned to Salesforce in 2018, a single Admin cert was enough to get started. Today? It’s a different world, and that’s not a bad thing.

Salesforce has become more powerful. That naturally means it’s more complex. But it also means more opportunity to grow, for both professionals and organisations.

This year, I sharpened my Flow skills more than ever. I even scoped more Apex in 2025 than in the five years prior combined. Platforms like Agentforce and Data Cloud, and evolving industry clouds, mean consultants need to think more like developers, even if they aren’t one.

And implementation partners? They’re shifting, too.

With tighter budgets, teams are becoming leaner but stronger. That means fewer junior staff learning on the job and more focus on experienced consultants who can guide clients and get results quickly.

But there’s room for optimism here too. Programmes like Life Choices are stepping up to fill the skills gap. They’re training high-potential individuals, not just in Salesforce, but in industries like solar, and helping them land in real, meaningful roles. With the right support and government incentives, this can absolutely be a win-win for the sector.

Final Thoughts

2025 was a big year. A challenging year. A rewarding year.

I saw firsthand the hunger for better systems. The creativity of local nonprofits. The shifting expectations around cost and value. And most importantly, I saw just how much opportunity still exists in the Salesforce ecosystem, especially for those who want to do things better.

2026 is already looking exciting. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:

With the right guidance and the right people, even the most complex systems can start delivering real, measurable value.

If you’re looking for a trusted advisor to help you get more out of Salesforce, I’d love to have that conversation.

Let’s build something meaningful.