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5 Myths about Salesforce

Posted on January 12, 2017 by John McKenzie

As Salesforce partners, Prolocity is always looking for ways to enhance customer experience. This week, Prolocity is debunking 5 myths about Salesforce.

Myth 1: Salesforce is only for tracking Sales

It’s no secret that Salesforce started as a Customer Relationship Manager for Sales staff. However, since its inception in 1999, Salesforce has evolved to a comprehensive platform that can manage any aspect of a business.

Myth 2: Salesforce can’t support the needs of my industry

A common misconception is that Salesforce is only good for Sales or Service Industries. However, this simply isn’t the case. Salesforce has expanded offerings to include focused industries such as: Financial Services, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Retail, Manufacturing, Communications, Media, Government, Automotive, Higher Education, and Nonprofit.

Myth 3: My business process is too unique for Salesforce

Its an understatement to say that no two businesses are ran the exact same way. Salesforce recognized the need for an adaptability early on and created a completely customizable platform. Taking it a step further, Salesforce created the AppExchange which lets you search for apps to further customize the platform to your needs.

Myth 4: You have to know a lot about technology to use Salesforce

When Salesforce started, one of the main goals was to let customers/users be able to edit their system. They recognized the skill needed to run most business software and decided to create something new. What used to take years to learn can now be learned in months.

Myth 5: It will require a lot of money to get started using Salesforce

Unlike other products, Salesforce targets all business sizes and is made to be scalable. They have several editions of the platform that start at only $25.00/per user/per month.

Prolocity’s cloud consultants deliver strategy, design, implementation, training, and optimization services to ensure that businesses are getting the most out of the technology. Their solutions leverage the world’s #1 cloud platform, Salesforce, to deliver best-in-class solutions and accelerate success! Prolocity Cloud Solutions serves the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati area locally and also provides Salesforce implementation and Salesforce training services nationally through the use of cloud technology.

Salesforce Consultants Cincinnati

Ohio

Prolocity Technology Solutions, LLC
407 Vine Street, Suite 219
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Salesforce Consultants Kentucky

Kentucky

Prolocity Technology Solutions, LLC
50 E. RiverCenter Blvd., Suite 414
Covington, Kentucky 41011

If you had to summarize Salesforce in just one word, what would it be?

Posted on October 21, 2016 by John McKenzie

As Salesforce partners, Prolocity is always looking for ways to enhance customer experience. This week, Prolocity asked their staff what word they would use to summarize Salesforce. The responses were overwhelmingly positive and highlight the benefits of Salesforce.

If you had to summarize Salesforce in just one word, what would it be? I asked several colleagues this question. While they had trouble narrowing it down to just one word, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Here are a few highlights of the descriptions used.

Game-Changing

Game-changing – the word that came up most when I asked colleagues to summarize Salesforce. Even Salesforce competitors can’t argue with this one. Thinking back to 1998, the year before Salesforce was founded, it was the era of floppy disks and memory sticks. Businesses had to rely on local networks and needed dedicated IT staff for troubleshooting. While this was an ok to run a business, it could have been better. Salesforce recognized this and decided to change the game. They removed the need for local networks by creating a platform that can be run wherever internet is available. Salesforce also changed the game for IT staff. Instead of spending time getting a network up-and-running again or managing downtimes, IT staff can focus on improving their business’ technology. Businesses can reduce interruption thanks to Salesforce.

Scalable

Another word that came up a lot when I asked colleagues to summarize Salesforce was scalable. This one comes as no shock. Before Salesforce, entrepreneurs had to estimate their growth capacity as an upfront cost. Servers and software had to be purchased to meet the current and future business needs. If for some reason a business grew faster than anticipated, they would have to upgrade their system for an additional cost. Salesforce recognized this as a problem and wanted to create something more scalable. The current platform allows business’ to run everything in one place whether they have 1 or 1,000 employees. This allows companies the ability to startup with minimal costs and allow them to focus funds elsewhere. The Salesforce company is built for growth itself; they have a sophisticated monitoring system that allows them to anticipate growth and add expansions as needed

Innovative

The last word that my colleagues used to summarize Salesforce was innovative. This is another word that would be hard to argue. Salesforce is constantly changing and making improvements to better themselves and the business world. They innovate internally by filling gaps such as the women’s equal pay movement. Externally, they innovate by improving the platform and services they offer. Salesforce innovation efforts have caught the attention of others as they have been named one of the Most Innovative Companies by Forbes 6 years in a row.

Salesforce Consultants Cincinnati

Ohio

Prolocity Technology Solutions, LLC
407 Vine Street, Suite 219
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Salesforce Consultants Kentucky

Kentucky

Prolocity Technology Solutions, LLC
50 E. RiverCenter Blvd., Suite 414
Covington, Kentucky 41011

Are you lacking these 3 key Salesforce features?

Posted on September 9, 2016 by John McKenzie

As cloud computing consultants, Prolocity is always looking for ways to enhance customer experience. This week, Prolocity is focusing to focus on 3 key Salesforce features your business should be using. The abilities of Salesforce are notably impressive, but if you aren’t using these 3 key Salesforce features, you could be missing out on useful capabilities of the platform.

Key 1: Web-to-Lead

The first key Salesforce feature you should be using is Web-to-Lead. Web-to-lead allows a lead to be created from a form submitted through a company web page. Imagine the following scenario: A visitor submits an inquiry through the Contact Us page that generates an email to your company. Whomever received the email uploads the lead into Salesforce. While this isn’t a bad process, it certainly isn’t scalable. Web-to-lead introduces a better way. By using web-to-lead, extra functionality is added that can automatically create a lead in Salesforce once a form is submitted. Additionally, web-to-lead can also redirect the visitor to another web page with a “Thank you” or “Next Steps” message. This functionality not only improves process flow, but can improve the customer experience.

Key 2: Email Integration

The second key Salesforce feature you should be using is Email Integration. Email integration can be synced to Salesforce from Gmail or Microsoft Outlook. Synchronization between Salesforce and email removes the need to flip-flop between two screens and saves time. Time spent looking up, copying, and pasting the contact is eliminated by sending emails straight from Salesforce. Another bonus with this key Salesforce feature is that branded email templates can be built and used from Salesforce.

Key 3: File Sync and Share

The third key Salesforce feature you should be using is File Sync and Share. File sync and share allows users to share and collaborate on files in real time on any device. Users can be notified when a new version is uploaded, maintain sharing settings, and use drag-and-drop technology with this key Salesforce feature. Not only does this improve efficiency, it can also improve the time it takes to find files. File sync and share puts all files in one location and uses filters to drill down and find the file you are looking for.

Prolocity’s cloud consultants deliver strategy, design, implementation, training, and optimization services to ensure that businesses are getting the most out of the technology. Their solutions leverage the world’s #1 cloud platform, Salesforce, to deliver best-in-class solutions and accelerate success! Prolocity Cloud Solutions serves the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati area locally and also provides Salesforce implementation and Salesforce training services nationally through the use of cloud technology.

Salesforce Consultants Cincinnati

Ohio

Prolocity Technology Solutions, LLC
407 Vine Street, Suite 219
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Salesforce Consultants Kentucky

Kentucky

Prolocity Technology Solutions, LLC
50 E. RiverCenter Blvd., Suite 414
Covington, Kentucky 41011

Increase Your Data Quality & Work Faster With GridBuddy

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John McKenzie

As cloud computing consultants, Prolocity is always looking for ways to enhance customer experience. One of the ways Prolocity accomplishes this is through the use of apps. Over the next several weeks, we will be highlighting apps Prolocity either uses internally or has implemented for actual customers.

The app in the spotlight this week is the Salesforce native app GridBuddy. GridBuddy allows users to get the most from their Salesforce data by bringing all relevant information into one workspace. Available on the Salesforce AppExchange, GridBuddy increases productivity, provides higher user adoption, and improves Salesforce data quality.

Increase Productivity

The first way GridBuddy allows users to get the most from Salesforce is through increased productivity. GridBuddy enables users to create views that display relevant data in one workspace. This allows users to better utilize Salesforce as all the information they use is front and center. GridBuddy provides multi-object filters that can easily narrow data down to the exact records needed. All GridBuddy grids and views are fully customizable so you can edit or create views in no time. With GridBuddy, users no longer have to click around Salesforce to access or update the information they need. They can now spend more time actually doing their job.

Higher User Adoption

The next way GridBuddy allows users to get the most from Salesforce is through higher user adoption. GridBuddy provides a data view similar to spreadsheets. Since users are used to spreadsheets, the familiar look and feel provides users a tool that takes minimal training to learn. With this ease-of-use, users are more likely to switch over, support, and adapt to a Salesforce implementation. The only change they will likely notice is that it is even easier to use the #1 Customer Relationship Manager after adding GridBuddy. If you are looking for a way to get a better ROI through higher user adoption, GridBuddy is the solution.

Improve Salesforce Data Quality

The last way GridBuddy allows users to get the most from Salesforce is through improved Salesforce data quality. GridBuddy allows users to act on multiple records at once. Similar to editing a spreadsheet, GridBuddy lets you create and edit records on a singular or batch basis. By allowing for mass data updates across many fields and objects, your data can be cleaner faster. Users no longer have to update information in several places or open records one-at-a-time. GridBuddy provides the ability to update once and be done. Think of everything you can do with better quality data.

Salesforce Consultants Cincinnati

Ohio

Prolocity Technology Solutions, LLC
407 Vine Street, Suite 219
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Salesforce Consultants Kentucky

Kentucky

Prolocity Technology Solutions, LLC
50 E. RiverCenter Blvd., Suite 414
Covington, Kentucky 41011

3 New Features Available When You Switch to Salesforce Lightning

Posted on January 15, 2016 by John McKenzie

The new user interface, Salesforce Lightning delivers a modern approach and increases outlook capabilities. There are three new features that provide a quick overview on the Salesforce homescreen: quarterly performance, account insights, and assistant. These new features put the most important information front and center without you having to do anything except login.

Quarterly Performance

The first feature generating excitement for the customer success platform is quarterly performance. Quarterly performance provides a snapshot of the company’s activity for users right on their homescreen. The enhancement integrates data straight from Salesforce and is customizable to display sales goals by teams or individuals. Quarterly performance removes the need to pull a report or even click on a dashboard to see how everyone is performing, the information is now at your fingertips as soon as you login.

Account Insights

Another feature that is catching quite a bit of attention is account insights. Account insights links relevant articles about your top accounts on the homescreen. The insight feature tracks information about your top accounts in Salesforce by identifying the biggest open opportunities. Account insights then searches the internet for articles pertaining the the account. Not only does this allow for increased knowledge about the companies you are working with, but it also fosters a deeper customer relationship. With up-to-date news articles displaying right after login, you will never be the last to know about important changes in your customers businesses.

Assistant

The other feature rolled out in the modern user interface is Assistant. Assistant explores new possibilities with managing Salesforce tasks. Assistant improves tasks by bringing the most important open actions right on the home screen. Any item needing attention or nurturing is brought to the assistant section such as: open tasks, new leads, or opportunities with no action. The assistant is readily organized with tasks displayed in order of importance: tasks that are overdue, tasks due today, leads assigned to you today, opportunities with overdue tasks, opportunities with no activity in 30 days, opportunities with no open activity. Now you never have to miss a deadline again.

Salesforce Consultants Cincinnati

Ohio

Prolocity Technology Solutions, LLC
407 Vine Street, Suite 219
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Salesforce Consultants Kentucky

Kentucky

Prolocity Technology Solutions, LLC
50 E. RiverCenter Blvd., Suite 414
Covington, Kentucky 41011

Pardot for Salesforce: B2B Marketing Solution

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Matt Farano

Pardot for Salesforce is a B2B Marketing Solution that bridges the gap between marketing and sales to drive better quality leads, to help qualify those leads through lead nurturing, and then score all those activities so sales teams can prioritize the leads they are working with. Pardot’s features include CRM integration, email marketing, lead nurturing, lead scoring and grading, social posting, and ROI reporting/analytics.

With Pardot, your sales team is empowered with their own marketing machine to accelerate sales. The marketing team can push out campaigns and increase brand awareness, and the handoff to a sales rep to pick up hot leads is seamless. This is a huge differentiator for a sales team, because it drastically improves your response time. A sales rep can engage with a prospect the moment they become active! You can manage your qualified leads from anywhere, anytime with the Salesforce1 mobile app.

Pardot categorizes your leads based on the prospect’s activity score, so sales reps can focus their time where it matters most. It also allows you to send and track all one-to-one communications using pre-created templates & content, and then report on which of those templates proved to be the most effective. Say goodbye to writing emails from scratch every time you communicate with a prospect!

By combining the #1 CRM in the world, Salesforce, with the incredible marketing power of Pardot, your sales and marketing teams will be able to work together like never before.

Salesforce Consultants Cincinnati

Ohio

Prolocity Technology Solutions, LLC
407 Vine Street, Suite 219
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Salesforce Consultants Kentucky

Kentucky

Prolocity Technology Solutions, LLC
50 E. RiverCenter Blvd., Suite 414
Covington, Kentucky 41011