Salesforce

The business landscape has become extremely cut-throat in today’s era, and to sustain themselves businesses need to build strategies that would help them maximize their reach among the targeted audience. While there is no dearth of methods and techniques that are being leveraged by organizations to boost their sales and revenue, SMS (Short Message Service) continues to be one of the safest and sure-shot ways to promote products, services and brands in today’s era of internet messaging. In fact, SMS can be used to send promotional messages irrespective of whether internet is being used or not as sending SMS requires network coverage to get the work done. Besides being utilized as an independent business management tool, it can be operated in a new Salesforce CRM (Customer Relationship Management) for sending SMS to the clients. One such component that allows SMS sending services is the Smart SMS App. What is Smart SMS App? Built on the Salesforce platform, the Smart SMS App allows users to send single or bulk SMS, and MMS to the leads, accounts, contacts, etc. from the Salesforce Panel. The app allows admin to create and assign the task to multiple users for sending bulk and individual messages. Those leveraging Salesforce can make the most of the excellent features of this amazing app as it empowers teams to quickly reach out to customers through features like automation, a consolidated repository of SMS, customizable SMS templates, Pardot Integration, etc. Endowed with the most advanced texting features, Smart SMS App is gaining popularity as it is easy to access, simple to use, and is versatile. The robust app is capable of efficiently marketing the products and services of a business while enabling greater penetration. Now it is easy to reach your customers with short and informative messages rather than long and detailed emailers. Benefits of Using Smart SMS App for Your Business: This one-stop text messaging Salesforce SMS app is an integration of outbound, as well as inbound text messaging proficiencies within Salesforce. The smart SMS app works equally well in Salesforce classic, as well as Salesforce Lightning without the need for coding or configuration. The app could be installed into a Sandbox or the production environment from Salesforce AppExchange by following simple instructions. With amazing features and greater efficiency, customers are bound to respond quickly, as compared to lengthy emails. Some of the excellent features offered by this app include the following: Home Page Displays Incoming SMS: Sales reps can now view incoming messages on the home page of the CRM. This allows them to have a glance at customer responses as they would rarely miss out on their messages. SMS scheduler: This feature helps sales reps to schedule the sending of SMS at a desired time and date by entering the date and setting up the time in the Salesforce org and save it. The SMS gets disbursed automatically to the concerned recipients at the scheduled date and time without any manual intervention by the Sales reps. Auto Responders: The smart SMS app allows setting-up of autoresponders that provides prompt response to customer queries whenever SMS related to surveys, promotions, or contest is sent to them. Reply to Email: This feature allows the sales rep to reply directly to the incoming messages without logging into the Salesforce Org.SMS Using Report: This feature helps organizations to strategize and create solutions to the calls and emails that go unanswered. The feature allows Sales reps to select the report, choose the numbers to and from which they wish to send SMS along with the SMS template. Workflow Configuration: Smart SMS App gives an ability to setup workflow configuration based on which SMS will be sent to the customers. Apart from this, new rules need to be created if SMS needs to be sent automatically. SMS History: This feature allows sales reps to view a list of the SMS that is being sent or received, and their status i.e. whether delivered or not. Quick wrap-up: The smart SMS app is one of the best SMS apps for Salesforce and has abundant features apart from the aforementioned ones. This robust text-messaging app is being leveraged by organizations to empower their sales reps to close more sales deals and win the trust of the customers by providing them with superior customer service.

The growing scope and complexity of businesses have forced organizations lookout for a robust solution that can empower sales reps to close more deals quickly and effectively. Salesforce CPQ is one such software that has the potential to streamline processes, speed up quoting, while generate quick return on investment. However, for effective Salesforce implementation of this software, organizations have to leverage innovative technologies like AI and ML.

In today’s competitive business era, data is the pivot on which the business world balances. With the human race generating humongous data of around 2.5 exabytes every day, forward-looking businesses are investing in processing, cleaning, and analyzing these vast stores of data to draw meaningful insights, which they can leverage to make informed decisions and better understand their customers. In fact, companies that adopt data-driven strategies enjoy higher productivity and profits than their counterparts. According to a report shared by IDC, revenue generated from big data and business analytics is expected to increase from $130.1 billion in 2016 to $203 billion through 2020. Since, sales continue to be one of the most important functions of any business entity, sales reps should be empowered to connect with their customers in a better way. Salesforce Einstein Analytics – an AI-powered tool can be leveraged by organizations to automate their time-consuming admin activities to make time for other important activities. With AI-informed insights and automation, the Sales team can streamline every aspect of their sales cycle. Here’s how Salesforce Einstein can be leveraged by organizations to improve sales performance: Prioritize Leads: By introducing AI-powered Einstein analytics to your sales team, organizations can empower their sales team to sort and prioritize incoming leads. The AI-powered sales tool helps in analyzing historical data to disclose the best kind of leads for their business, which further helps sales reps to focus on leads that are most likely to convert. The patterns identified by this sophisticated tool are more focused than the traditional criteria that are based on intuition. Consequently, sales productivity increases as more leads are converted in less time. Recognize Opportunity Health: Sales reps are bogged down with the pressure to handle multiple opportunities concurrently. With a robust AI-powered tool i.e Salesforce Einstein in place, sales reps can distinguish between opportunities that require attention and those that are doing well and moving towards a successful conclusion. This leads to high sales productivity within a short time frame. Search for Strategic Contacts: Sales reps understand the significance of a sincere and heartfelt introduction to key contacts and its significance in building a rewarding and long-term relationship. The robust Einstein tool can help find contacts that have a prior relationship with key contacts and provides sales reps the benefit of knowing the contact before the formal introduction is made.   Accurate Forecasting: The forecasting ability of this AI-powered data analysis tool help decodes the trends existing in the sales cycle right down to every sales rep. The predictive capabilities of the tool help organizations to plan accordingly for the approaching sales quarter and prioritize sales deals to maximize winning chances.  In a Nutshell: These are some of the many ways how Salesforce Einstein analytics can help organizations build a high-performing sales team and empowering sales reps to excel at their work. Adopting Salesforce Einstein analytics can help organizations to boost customer loyalty while building a long-term relationship with them. Organizations should consider partnering with one of the most reputed Salesforce consultants to avail outstanding consultation and implementation services.   

The current Covid-19 pandemic has taken the world by storm. The pandemic has severely impacted the global economy with small businesses being the worst hit. To sustain themselves during such volatile times, businesses should consider adopting SaaS-based products and services that don’t require buyers to make any additional payment or indulge in installation as these are hosted inside the cloud and can be accessed from anywhere and from any device. One such software that helps organizations to accept payments, manage income and expenses, pay bills, manage payroll, and track inventory is the QuickBooks accounting software. Developed by Intuit, the functions of the accounting software can be enhanced by integrating with other third-party tools. When integrated with Salesforce CRM, the solution can be leveraged to manage day-to-day business activities. The accounting software and the cloud-based CRM work hand in hand with each other to share information related to accounting and sales, client data, costs, invoicing, etc. which does away with the duplication of data, augments productivity, unified info on ROI, and accurate forecasting about marketing expenses. In fact, the integration of this two software will help users to access information about both accounting and customer details in a single place. Let’s explore some of the benefits of Salesforce and Quickbook integration: Automate sales order, invoices, payments, inventory management, and more processes Better execution of a wide array of accounting metrics for the reason for quick and simple data sharing between sales and accounting.   No more errors caused as a result of manual and duplicate data entry Readily available data that will help the sales team to improve sales processes by tracking expenses, creating reports, and drawing actionable insights.  How to Integrate Salesforce and QuickBooks? Integration can turn out to be extremely complex if you try to do it on your own. To ensure seamless integration of Salesforce and Quickbooks, it’s important to use an API or a third-party application that could be availed from Salesforce AppExchange. However, it’s important to do ample research regarding the features and capabilities before selecting the right application that could aid in integrating data between both the software. Quick Wrap-up: Salesforce and Quickbooks are the undisputed leaders in their respective domains. Integrating these two robust tools will not just enhance the efficiency of both the platforms but will also augment business productivity and growth. However, to receive a positive outcome out of the integration, it’s prudent to get in touch with a reliable Salesforce consulting partner who has experience providing integrations for Salesforce and Quickbook online.

The global insurance sector is undergoing a dynamic change due to digital transformation. This digital disruption has forced insurance providers to either make significant changes to their business models or face the risk of being ruined. However, insurers, especially traditional insurers may find themselves at a competitive disadvantage owing to their age-old business models, as well as hefty investments made in infrastructure. In fact any change to their business model might be extremely difficult for some insurers as it may cannibalize their existing business. To create efficiencies leading to higher profitability or a competitive position, insurers are leveraging innovative technology solutions that too without making significant changes to their business models. Insurance regulators are indeed viewing technology as an enabling solution that can help them better realize their mission of warranting a competitive and sustainable insurance market. Today, insurance providers are doing away with traditional customer servicing methods and are opting for robust insurance CRM software that has helped them manage everything from a single place. Let’s take a quick look as to how a robust CRM like Salesforce drives positive growth for businesses that are a part of the insurance sector: Personalized Services: CRM software provides users a great way of increasing the understanding of existing and potential customers. This enables them to provide personalized services according to the unique requirement of every client. Financial service cloud by Salesforce paves way for marketing automation, which enables brokers to nurture leads and then turning them into customers while connecting with customers at the right time, and with the right product advice. Salesforce CRM software for insurance also helps in delivering personalized services to the policyholders. To implement Salesforce insurance CRM software within their business ecosystem, insurance organizations should consider partnering with an experienced Salesforce Implementation Partner. Improve Customer Loyalty: Offering superior customer service is a key way of improving customer loyalty. Insurance companies that have implemented robust cloud-based CRM get access to meaningful insights that are required for providing personalized sales, claims, and service-related interactions for a huge client base. Moreover, a cloud-powered solution can be integrated with different departments such as sales, marketing, etc., which allows staff and clients to connect irrespective of their location thereby paving way for a more integrated environment. Secure Repeat Business: A robust CRM can be leveraged to utilize multiple aspects of a business. This presents a cost-effective way of bringing people together, breaking data silos, providing a single view of customers. This allows insurance teams or brokers to sell (up-sell and cross-sell) more while making repeat sales to existing customers by keeping the need of each customer at the center of communication regarding sales, marketing, and support. Wrap Up: Salesforce CRM software for insurance provides insurance companies an opportunity to support their customers in a way that extends their journey with the organization rather than providing momentary service and support. With competition within the industry becoming fiercer, Salesforce CRM for the insurance sector can make organizations stand out of the crowd. Organizations looking forward to enhancing business efficiency and ROI by implementing Salesforce insurance CRM should should seek assistance from a reliable and certified Salesforce consultant.

Technology has made its way into every aspect of our lives and the higher education sector isn’t any different. Today higher education institutes irrespective of their sizes and affiliations are striving to provide superior student experience by empowering them to become forerunners of the future. While higher education institutes are utilizing innovative technology solutions to fulfill the long-lasting commitment made to every single student, yet most of these solutions leveraged by the institutes manage to partially fulfill the commitments made.  This is because the solutions utilized by these establishments are greatly siloed and thus fail to create a single perspective of the entire student journey right from admissions to student accomplishment and progression. Apart from this, increased student expectation for a more personalized and connected experience has put immense pressure on higher education institutes to provide students with a positive experience. This is where the Salesforce education cloud comes to picture.  As a cloud-based solution, the Salesforce education cloud empowers institutions to deal with most pressing challenges across their campus while drive student success across the entire life cycle i.e. from prospect to alumni. With a wide array of features, the education cloud by Salesforce has become the number one CRM for providers of higher education. Here’s what makes this platform a go-to choice CRM for higher education institutes:   Hassle-free Admission Process: This cloud solution helps institutions connect with prospective students who are seriously looking for a well-suited university and course. Institutions build brand awareness and campaigns to attract students besides leveraging the data of various applicants by maintaining a database at a single location. This not just provides a holistic view of the prospective students but also acts as a platform to provide personalized services to the students.  Convenient Student Experience: The CRM enables institutions to address specific challenges faced by students’ w.r.t to educational decisions while providing seamless service to enhance standard success. Apart from this, institutions have the option to communicate with the students via their preferred mode of communication. Finally, institutions can provide their students with access to lucrative career opportunities through the regular job posting, handling career fairs while staying connected with the alumni network.  Data Architecture: The education data architecture (EDA), which lays at the very foundation of the Salesforce education cloud enables the usage of standard objects that can be used to manage student relationships, co-curricular and more. The EDA can be customized as per the specific requirement of the institution, which further is made simpler by eliminating the need for coding. In fact, modules, custom fields, and objects, etc. can be created using a drag and drop functionality. Apart from this, EDA also updates itself on a weekly and biweekly basis and can be tailored as per the specific needs of the users through the App Exchange. It is also supported by a diverse community known as the Trailblazer community, where users collaborate and share their ideas.  Advisory Services: One of the significant benefits of using the Salesforce Education cloud is the provision of SAL (Salesforce Advisor Link) solution, which allows students to seek advice on career-related queries. Students can set up appointments with the advisors via mobile application as these appointments integrate easily with the advisors’ calendar. The CRM also integrates office management software that manages appointments and walk-ins. Quick Wrap-up:  As an innovative platform, the Salesforce Education Cloud is equally beneficial to the institutions, students, and alumni alike. Together with a robust and useful education data architecture (EDA) and advisory link, this powerful platform stands tall among all other available education CRM system. If you are keen on implementing this cloud solution, it’s in your best interest to engage the services of a reliable Salesforce implementation partner .

Service Cloud refers to a ‘Customer Service’ platform i.e. unique, powerful, and robust customer support application that can be used to track, manage, and resolve customer queries. The platform is built on SaaS (Software as a service) model and can be accessed from anywhere. Why do we need a Service cloud? Customer satisfaction is the most important thing for every company and if your company deeply cares about the customer, then Service Cloud should be your go-to platform for all customer service needs. Whenever a customer raises a concern or issue regarding any service of the product to the company, these tickets are received by a service agent following, in which they deal with all the issues efficiently.  Below are some quick points that will clear all your doubts about the service cloud: 24*7 Support: Service cloud provides 24*7 supports to its customers. Customers can raise a query at any point of time that too without any hassle. Personalized support: The service cloud provides one to one communication between the customer support team member and the customer. Because of this direct conversation, the customer can easily convey their problem and get resolutions while ensuring that the service agent has all the necessary details required to resolve the query raised by the customer.+ Maximize agent productivity: Service cloud can be accessed from anywhere and due to this feature, agents can provide their support from any part of the world through any medium. They are not restricted to work in any particular environment. This helps in increasing the productivity of the agents. Social Customer Services: The tools for a customer support team to handle cases and support their customers from social channels like Twitter, Facebook, and website. Customers can post their queries over these social platforms and will get the resolution for the same. Security: Data is a very essential part of the organizations and thus data security and confidentiality hold a lot of significance for organizations. With Service Cloud, organizations can ensure the safety and security of their data. Features of Service Cloud: Listed below are some key features of Service Cloud: Multi-Channel Support: The service cloud provides so much flexibility over a communication medium to its customers. They can email their problem; they can do live chat, make a call, or even can post their problem over social media platforms. Similarly, for resolution, they can choose any medium according to their convenience to discuss with the agent. Service Console: A service console is a salesforce application for users to work in a fast-paced environment. The console is a dashboard-like interface, where all the information such as customer profile, case histories, etc are complied at a single place. It saves response time for agents as they can quickly find, update, or create records. Knowledgebase: It is like an online library of service and support information. This feature allows agents to quickly find the solution, and provide them to customers. Community: Community is a platform made by a group of people to share information and help customers. It is a self-service portal for customers where they can find everything they need, from knowledge articles to user forms and even customer support. Case Management: Whenever a customer raises a query it can be treated as a case in Salesforce. Case management is necessary for agents to track, manage, and resolve those cases efficiently. How to access Service Cloud? Here is how you can access Service Cloud: Login to login.salesforce.com Create a Salesforce Console App Choose its display Customize push notifications Grant users Console access- Sc Users Services provided by Service Cloud: In-Service Cloud, case tracking or management and knowledge bases is one of the essential features or services. Case Management in Salesforce: Taking care of the customers is the most important task and the case management functionality helps in properly managing this aspect. Whenever a customer raises a query in Salesforce it is treated as Case. Case management deals with customer service, providing support and resolutions to their queries. Case management helps users to record, track, and solve issues of customers. Cases can be created and resolved through multi-channel and it can be further classified into three types: Email to Case: Email to Case helps you to create a case when an email sent by your company’s email address such as abc@learning.com. These generated cases will be displayed in ‘Email related lists’. Web to Case: Web to Case allows users to submit Cases directly to the Customer support group by filling a simple web form. Users need to fill some required information in the form i.e. name and Email address. Escalation and Auto response: Case escalation rules are used to reassign and notify the individuals if a case isn’t closed within a specific time. Also, you can configure auto-respond to the cases. Use case on Case creation:  Tim is having an issue with his laptop and he needs to get it fixed as soon as possible as he has a meeting in the next 1 hr. Let’s see how he raises a case regarding the problem. Step 1: Login into Salesforce and select ‘Service’ app Step 2: Click on the ‘Cases’ tab. Step 3: Click on the ‘New’ button Step 4: Fill all the required information on the ‘Case’ window Conclusion: In every industry customer satisfaction is very important. Every customer looks for a quick resolution of their issues, and if companies can satisfy the customer with their effective and prompt services, then it can tread a path of success and growth for organizations. Service Cloud allows organizations to collaborate with their customers on a single platform while providing effective solutions to their problems. Service Cloud helps organizations to provide better customer support by providing numerous types of features and services. With the help of these features, service agents can help customers in a better way and can provide them a superior customer service experience. About Girikon: As a reputed name in the Salesforce consulting and implementation space, Girikon offers high-quality services to clients across the globe. Over the years, the company has expanded its presence across the globe by establishing offices across UK, Australia, USA and India.