Preparing for an Xactly implementation is a team effort. Your internal resources must be marshaled, your data prepared, and your project stakeholders engaged. However, because your external SI partner will handle most of the project, getting familiar with your Xactly implementation team is the first step. 

Canidium's Xactly implementation team has been designing, configuring, and integrating the platform for 13 years. We guide and educate clients on every step of the implementation process, facilitating a smooth transition to advanced incentive compensation processes.

This article breaks down our team structure to jumpstart your understanding of the Xactly implementation process. We cover the following topics:

• Building your Xactly implementation team
• Xactly platform overview
• Unified Xactly implementation team structure
• The Xactly implementation team’s background and experience

Building Your Xactly Implementation Team

Your implementation team's exact makeup depends on your project's scope, the structure reflects your requirements and project goals. However, for the majority of Xactly implementations, a unified approach that consolidates all functionalities of the platform into one cohesive framework is the most effective approach. This way, your SI team can streamline the integration process and enhance the overall efficiency of your new solution.

Because your team’s makeup is directly determined by your project’s needs, you first need to learn the foundation components of the platform to understand each member's role.

Xactly Platform Overview

The Xactly platform incorporates a comprehensive suite designed to optimize sales performance management through a blend of advanced incentive compensation and robust data integration capabilities. While Xactly has an extensive suite of features and functionalities, the foundational components are the Incent and Connect systems:

• Xactly Incent: As a cloud-based incentive compensation solution, Xactly Incent automates the management of sales compensation. It facilitates the design, implementation, management, and optimization of incentive compensation plans. The platform includes tools for calculating commissions, modeling new compensation plans, and analyzing the effectiveness of existing ones, tailored to meet specific organizational needs.
• Xactly Connect: This integration service ensures seamless data exchange between Xactly and other business systems, such as CRM, ERP, and HR software. Xactly Connect is crucial for automating the data flow into Xactly, promoting accurate and timely commission calculations based on the latest data, and maintaining data integrity across platforms.

Unified Implementation Team Structure

Implementing the Xactly platform as a cohesive system necessitates a diverse team that combines technical expertise with strategic oversight. The following team structure leverages diverse skill sets that enables a seamless and holistic integration of comprehensive Xactly functionality.

Roles within the Unified Xactly Implementation Team

• Lead Platform Consultant: The lead consultants ensure that both the incentive and data integration aspects of the platform are effectively synchronized and executed according to the project's requirements. Their expertise in both configuration and integration is essential for the seamless functionality of the platform. There are two primary lead consultants. The lead data integration consultant oversees all aspects of data integration, ensuring that the Xactly system is connected correctly and integrated with other client systems. On the other hand, the lead configuration consultant takes charge of the entire configuration process, ensuring that the Xactly system is tailored to meet the client's specific incentive schemes.
• Platform Consultants: These consultants are tasked with specific implementations within the project, ranging from configuring the system to meet complex compensation structures to ensuring robust data integrations. Their roles are crucial in addressing the detailed technical requirements and strategic needs of the platform throughout the implementation phase. Typically, the team incorporates a configuration consultant and a data integration consultant. Each consultant works under their respective lead, with tasks tailored to integration or configuration, depending on the project phase and needs.
• Project Manager (PM): Serving as the primary liaison for the client, the project manager coordinates between the technical team and the client, managing timelines, and ensuring that all aspects of the project align with the client’s expectations and project specifications. The PM plays a critical role in maintaining communication and project coherence.
• Solution Architect (SA): The SA designs the overall system architecture to ensure compatibility with the client's existing infrastructure and adherence to Xactly best practices. The architect’s role is vital in ensuring that the solution is scalable, robust, and capable of handling the integration of incentive and data components effectively, providing a unified solution that meets all technical and business requirements.

The Xactly Implementation Team's Background and Experience

Our team has been working with Xactly for 13 years. Additionally, some team members' experience with Xactly predates their tenure at Canidium, bringing a wealth of industry knowledge and best practices to the team. With over a decade spent implementing Xactly for a wide range of clients, our Xactly team has the benefit of experience on their side—offering an unparalleled degree of specialization. 

Notably, a portion of the team previously served as compensation administrators. This background is particularly valuable for implementations involving Xactly Incent, as it gives them a nuanced understanding of compensation management challenges. 

Working With Canidium's Xactly Implementation Team

The composition of your Xactly implementation team depends on the specific functionalities required by the project. Xactly offers two core solutions—Incent and Connect—each addressing distinct aspects of sales performance management and necessitating specialized expertise for successful deployment. 

Xactly Incent focuses on automating incentive compensation management, requiring team members who are adept in configuring complex compensation structures. In contrast, Xactly Connect facilitates seamless data integration between Xactly and other business systems, demanding strong technical skills in data integration and system architecture.

Canidium's team, boasting 13 years working with Xactly, is structured to adapt to either Incent, Connect, or combined implementations. Our team's experience implementing Xactly solutions and as former compensation administrators enriches their abilities to address and resolve specific incentive challenges.

For those looking to dive deeper into the specifics of Xactly implementations, including pricing, your next step is to consult the Xactly Buyer's Guide.