---
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title: Plan Your Energy & Utilities Cloud Implementation
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version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/ind/264-0-0/energy_plan_your_implementation.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=ind.energy_plan_your_implementation.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
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description: Before you implement Energy & Utilities Cloud, familiarize yourself with its features, fill any knowledge gaps, build your team, and plan your implementation timeline.
products:
  - Energy and Utilities
release: "264"
---
# Plan Your Energy & Utilities Cloud Implementation

Before you implement Energy & Utilities Cloud, familiarize yourself with its features, fill any knowledge gaps, build your team, and plan your implementation timeline.

## Get Started with Salesforce

If your company is new to Salesforce, start by developing the fundamental skills necessary to administer Salesforce products like Energy & Utilities Cloud.

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

## Explore Energy & Utilities 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 Energy & Utilities Cloud.

Energy & Utilities 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 Energy & Utilities 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 Energy & Utilities Cloud](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=ind.energy_t_energyutilities_cloud_solution_map_282512.htm&type=5&language=en_US).

## 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 learn. 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 Energy & Utilities Cloud, your implementation team consists of staff or consultants who have experience with:

- Salesforce Administration
- Industries (Configure, Price, Quote) and EPC (Enterprise Product Catalog) administration
- Experience Cloud
- Omnistudio
- Business Rules Engine
- Data Processing Engine
- IDX Workbench

## Plan Your Implementation Timeline

After you assemble your implementation team and develop some in-house Salesforce expertise, you can plan your Energy & Utilities Cloud implementation timeline.

![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-ind-energy_utilities-264-0-0-production-enus/520849e5-9b41-4bae-b97b-d269cc2fce83/images/icon_note.png)

Note The implementation timeline for standard apps is shorter than managed package apps. To learn more about the considerations of using standard apps or managed package apps, see [Energy and Utilities Cloud Application Suite, and](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=ind.energy_energy_and_utilities_cloud_application_suite.htm&type=5&language=en_US) [Energy & Utilities Cloud Managed Package Application Suite](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=ind.energy_t_vlocity_energyutilities_cloud_applicationsuite_283279.htm&type=5&language=en_US).

We recommend approaching implementation in phases to break tasks down into smaller stages instead of taking on everything at once. You can also overlap phases to a certain extent.

Many companies also include data migration from legacy systems, custom development work, staff training, and ongoing data quality management.

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

## Implement Managed Package Apps

A typical implementation utilizing managed package apps includes these milestones:

- Install and configure the CME managed package
- Create your product catalog and pricing model using Industries CPQ and EPC
- Configure Energy & Utilities Cloud features including:
    
    - Contact Center Console
    - Customer Acquisition Management
    - Large Account Sales Management
    - Utility Self Service Portal

## Implement Standard Apps

Standard applications allow faster and easier installation, improved scalability, and access to all standard features in the Salesforce platform.

- Request an org for a standard app
- Set up Energy and Utilities apps:
    
    - Agent Console
    - Self-Service Portal
    - Clean Energy Programs
    - Contractor Portal
    - Program Management Console