Salesforce and its little known quirky facts

Before starting off with Salesforce and what it does to businesses, it is necessary for you, as a reader, to understand what is CRM and why corporations need a reliable CRM system.

CRM is Customer Relationship Management which stands for a set of practices, procedures, processes, etc. which helps a business to manage and analyse its customer interactions, right from lead generation to sales conversion. In a way it is a system that helps a business to analyse customer buying and behaviour pattern through analytics.

The Mobile behaviour report of 2014 stated that “Two-thirds of consumers say it is somewhat or very important that companies they interact with are seen as a technology leader.” Two years later, now in 2016 it is no longer enough for companies to have CRM as a luxurious facility but a necessity that supersedes other marketing spend. Bearing that in mind let us see how CRM helps organizations in conducting their business:

Salesforce as a revolutionary CRM tool

Salesforce is a cloud based CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Software that helps businesses streamline their operations and marketing in an efficient manner. Salesforce is largely used by giant corporations like Coca Cola, GE and rapidly scaling SMB enterprises like Chapar, Sureflap, etc. Salesforce is made up of 6 different modules namely, sales cloud, service cloud, marketing cloud, community cloud, analytics cloud and app cloud. (More on the modules later!)

What makes Salesforce unique?

Well, it is perhaps the first and arguably the best in the industry. It brought about a revolution in the CRM sector when most corporations grappling under the inadequacies that the then existing CRMs provided. Salesforce was introduced in 1999 and it brought about a revolution in the CRM industry. Using cloud as its major technological leverage, Salesforce went on to script new chapters in CRM software development.

The cloud-based systems help reduce costs which otherwise will be required for setting up bulky and expensive hardware, software, office infrastructure, employees, etc. Salesforce’s cloud systems enable businesses to carry on their operations with the power of Internet. With a smartphone, laptop or any hybrid device with a reliable Internet connection it is possible to carry out CRM functions from anywhere, anytime. Also, Salesforce comes with 3 annual free upgrades which makes it a terrific option for small, medium and large scale businesses alike.

Quick facts about Salesforce

 It is the fastest growing cloud company ever. 

In 2015, Salesforce achieved revenues as high as $5 billion, thereby becoming the 1^st software company to achieve the feat so fast.

In February ’15 the company’s earnings soared by 10%. During the rest of the year, its revenues grew at a staggering 32% - faster than any other cloud-based company or for that matter - any software company in the world!

The Apple App store was invented by Salesforce!

You thought it was Steve’s brain behind everything that comes out from the Cupertino company. Well, Salesforce is an exception and one that will leave some of us gaping with wonder. App Store is a succession or a refined version of AppExchange – Salesforce’s ingenious creation. It was launched in 2005, exactly 3 years before the Apple App store was bundled out with iOS 2.0. Marc Benioff, the founder of Salesforce even stated in an interview that the term ‘App Store’ was gifted to Apple as a symbol of gratitude for Steve’s support during the early days of Salesforce. 

Salesforce won the Forbes “World’s Most Innovative Company’ title 4 consecutive times

Besides the fact that Salesforce commands a lion’s share of the CRM market, it is also known for seamless innovation outside the industry where its immediate interests lie. Salesforce must be, perhaps, the only CRM company in the world to have integrated several intuitive features like customer and partner portals, marketing automation, analytics, etc. all under one system. Salesforce follows what they call the V2MOM process which upholds the vision of “You figure it out way” than the conventional “This is how it should be done” that most corporations follow.

The future of Salesforce professionals

‘The State of the Salesforce Report’ by Bluewolf ranks cloud-based marketing as the hottest employment zone in 2016. That puts professionals with Salesforce certification at the front in securing lucrative careers. Candidates undergoing Salesforce CRM training can aspire for aspirational positions like Marketing Automation Consultants who can make a difference to organizations with their Salesforce capabilities.