---
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title: Plan Your Communications Cloud Implementation
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/ind/264-0-0/comms_plan_your_communications_cloud_implementation.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=ind.comms_plan_your_communications_cloud_implementation.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 6902f22b8e95523de9c0aad115a0347a33709d071d08a6567c5d433a3d8e7024
description: Before you implement Communications Cloud, learn about its features, fill in knowledge gaps, build your team, and map out your implementation timeline.
products:
  - Communications
release: "264"
---
# Plan Your Communications Cloud Implementation

Before you implement Communications Cloud, learn about its features, fill in knowledge gaps, build your team, and map out your implementation timeline.

## New to Salesforce?

If your company is new to Salesforce, start by developing the fundamental skills necessary to administer Salesforce products like Communications Cloud. To begin, read this great post from the Salesforce 360 Blog: [Six Questions To Accelerate Your Path Towards Getting Salesforce Admin Certified](https://www.salesforce.com/blog/become-salesforce-admin-certified/).

Using the learning resources available on Trailhead, we recommend that at least one staff member achieves the Salesforce Certified Administrator certification. A great place to start is the [Salesforce Admin Beginner](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/trails/force_com_admin_beginner) trail.

## Learn About Communications Cloud and Salesforce Platform Features

As your company invests in building in-house expertise on the Salesforce Platform, you can also explore the features and Salesforce products that make up Communications Cloud.

Communications Cloud is built with the features and functionality found in Salesforce Platform, Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Experience Cloud, Omnistudio, and features shared across Industries products.

It's important to know what Salesforce features and products are part of Communications Cloud so that you can plan to build internal knowledge or plan to hire a consultant for help. Discover more about these features in [Learn About Communications Cloud](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=ind.comms_learn_about_communications_cloud.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Explore the major features of Communications Cloud, learn how to implement it for your telecom business. Communications Cloud extends the omnichannel capabilities of Salesforce by providing applications, features, and components to help your company to improve sales and provide excellent customer service.").

## Build Your Team

Success means having the right people at the table when you prepare, plan, and implement Salesforce for your organization. Growing talent within your company is critical to success with Salesforce.

However, many Salesforce products require a wide range of skills to master. So, if you're missing some Salesforce expertise within your company, we highly recommend working with a certified Salesforce implementation partner. To learn more, visit [Find Your Salesforce Partner](https://findpartners.salesforce.com/).

For Communications Cloud, your implementation team should consist of staff or consultants who have experience with:

- Salesforce Administration
- Industries CPQ and EPC administration
- Experience Cloud
- Omnistudio
- IDX Workbench
- Mulesoft
- Apex
- JSON

## Plan Your Implementation Timeline

After you have your implementation team assembled and have developed some in-house Salesforce expertise, you're ready to plan your Communications Cloud implementation timeline.

We recommend approaching implementation in phases. That way the implementation tasks can be broken down into small stages instead of taking on everything at once. These phases can overlap to a certain extent, but in general the major milestones are achieved in this order:

- Install and configure the CME managed package
- Create your product catalog and pricing model using Industries CPQ and EPC
- Configure Communications Cloud features including:
    
    - Enterprise Sales Management
    - Order Management
    - Contract lifecycle management
    - Communications Service Console
    - Multiplay Subscription Management
    - TM Forum integration

Along with these stages, many companies also include data migration from legacy systems, custom development work, staff training, and ongoing data quality management.

For additional help throughout your Communications Cloud implementation and beyond, explore the options for a [Salesforce Success Plan](https://www.salesforce.com/services/success-plans/overview/).