Salesforce® has grown to become the largest player in the CRM market. One major reason for this has been its large ecosystems of specific clouds, from retail to healthcare and manufacturing. Salesforce pitches unique solutions to each of those sectors, catering to the different challenges each faces. But how would you know which Salesforce cloud best suits your business?

In this Ad Victoriam Salesforce Blog, we’ll explore some of Salesforce’s most popular clouds—Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Manufacturing Cloud, Health Cloud, and others—to help you decide which solution best solves your business needs.

Sales Cloud: Supercharging Your Sales Process

Sales Cloud is Salesforce’s flagship solution to accelerate sales, increase lead conversion, and develop stronger customer relationships. Be it a small business or a large enterprise, Sales Cloud provides tools to manage contacts, accounts, opportunities, and sales pipelines effectively.

Key Benefits:

• Lead Management: Automate capturing and scoring leads with AI-powered tools like Einstein Lead Scoring.
• Forecasting: Use real-time data to generate highly accurate sales forecasts.
• Customization: Make Sales Cloud your own with workflows and integrations customized to your needs.

Industry Fit:

Sales Cloud is an extremely flexible solution that will adapt to nearly any industry. However, industries such as manufacturing or tech in B2B companies usually have very long sales cycles and thus see the greatest benefit from robust pipeline management and forecasting tools.

Stat Spotlight:

With Sales Cloud, Salesforce reports that customers see a 32% increase in lead conversion and a 28% increase in sales revenue. Click here to learn more about these statistics.

Service Cloud: Raising the Bar on Customer Service Across Channels

Service Cloud was built to empower companies to provide the best customer service through the unification of all service touchpoints on one platform. Whether your business offers support via phone, email, chat, or social media, Service Cloud provides the tools to manage all these channels seamlessly.

Key Benefits:

• Omnichannel Routing: Route customers automatically to the right agent, selected based on expertise, availability, or customer priority.
• Self-Service Portals: Customers can sort out many common problems on their own through knowledge bases or communities. 
• AI-Powered Insights: Einstein AI provides agents with relevant solution suggestions and automates repetitive tasks.

Industry Fit:

Service Cloud would apply most to industries whose business relies a lot on customers and customer support, like retail, telecommunications, and financial services.

Stat Spotlight:

Companies using Service Cloud see a rise of 45% in customer retention and 34% in agents’ productivity. This and more are courtesy of Salesforce.

Manufacturing Cloud: Powering Production and Demand Forecasting

Manufacturing Cloud is purpose-built for manufacturers, offering tools to manage sales agreements, track production goals, and align supply chains with market demand. It bridges the gap between sales and operations with a holistic view of customer relationships, coupled with efficient production.

Key Benefits:

• Sales Agreement Management: Keep track of key metrics, including revenue targets, product mix, and shipment dates that ensure alignment between sales and production.
• Forecasting: Leverage AI-powered insights to project demand and make real-time adjustments to production schedules.
• Collaboration: Share real-time data across sales and operations for complete visibility and agility.

Industry Fit:

Manufacturing Cloud is the right fit for those discrete manufacturing, automotive, and high-tech companies where long-term contracts and complex supply chains call for increased coordination between sales and production teams.

Stat Spotlight:

According to Salesforce, with Manufacturing Cloud, manufacturers see a 40% improvement in forecast accuracy. Click here to learn more about these statistics.

Health Cloud: Innovative Patient-Centric Care

Salesforce Health Cloud empowers innovation at healthcare organizations with a set of capabilities powered by patient-centered care. This cloud helps manage patient information for better communication and delivers personalized care experiences at every touchpoint.

Key Benefits:

• Unified Patient Profiles: Integrate clinical and non-clinical data into one view to offer personalized care.
• Care Coordination: Allow the care team to collaborate in real-time and monitor patient progress by managing appropriate treatment plans.
• Compliance: Keep your organization aligned with HIPAA and other regulatory standards concerning data privacy and security.
• Compliance: Keep your organization aligned with HIPAA and other regulatory standards regarding data privacy and security.

Industry Fit:

Health Cloud would be imperative for any hospital, private practice, or pharmaceutical company in running a modernized delivery model with much-improved patient outcomes.

Stat Spotlight:

Salesforce reports that organizations with Health Cloud see a 22% reduction in patient readmission rates and a 31% increase in patient satisfaction. For more information, click here.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud & Consumer Goods Cloud: Making Retail Personal

Salesforce Commerce Cloud and Consumer Goods Cloud are necessary components in helping retailers provide personalized customer experiences and seamless continuity. These clouds empower companies in the retail industry to seamlessly connect digital and in-store touchpoints, drive efficient operations, and provide consistent omnichannel experiences.

Key Benefits:

• Personalized Journeys: Retailers can extend their abilities to present personalized promotions, recommended products, and marketing messages across online, mobile, and in-store touchpoints with the power of AI-driven insights.
• Unified Commerce: Both enable integration of all sales channels in-store, online, or via mobile apps on a single cohesive platform that assures consistency and friction-free customer shopping.
• Inventory Management: It enables real-time inventory tracking across all channels and allows retailers to ensure that the right products are available for customers wherever and whenever they need them, minimizing out-of-stocks and optimizing their replenishment strategies.
• Revenue Lifecycle Management Strategy (RLM): By implementing an RLM strategy, a business can quickly grow and succeed. By understanding your customers and their needs, you can improve your sales, marketing, and customer service efforts, leading to increased revenue, stronger customer relationships, and a more profitable business. 

Industry Fit:

Salesforce Commerce Cloud and Consumer Goods Cloud perfectly fit the needs to help retail and eCommerce businesses shape better customer interactions, build loyalty, and make supply chains much more efficient.

Stat Spotlight:

On average, retailers using Salesforce increase customer retention by 20% and sales revenue by 29%.  Learn more here.

Which Salesforce Cloud Is Right for You?

The correct Salesforce cloud is defined by the needs and challenges of your business. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide: 

• Sales Cloud: Ideal for those companies seeking to power up their sales processes using automation, especially for industries like manufacturing and technology that have B2B and long sales cycles.
• Service Cloud: Suitable for businesses, like retail or telecommunications, that are truly customer-service-based and require omnichannel support.
• Manufacturing Cloud: Built for manufacturing companies interested in a deep dive into sales agreements and production forecasts. 
• Health Cloud: For health organizations focusing on patient-centered care, among other areas of privacy and regulatory compliance.
• Commerce Cloud and Consumer Goods Cloud: Ideal for retailers who want to serve up frictionless, personalized shopping experiences from digital to physical touchpoints.

Whatever cloud you choose, Salesforce’s ecosystem has powerful tools to address specific business challenges. To dive deeper into how these clouds will improve your business outcomes, explore Salesforce’s full suite of solutions here.

How AdVic Can Help

At AdVic®, our team of certified Salesforce consultants is dedicated to guiding your business through the intricate landscape of Salesforce’s diverse cloud offerings. Whether you aim to enhance your sales processes with Sales Cloud, elevate customer support with Service Cloud, streamline manufacturing operations with Manufacturing Cloud, deliver patient-centric care with Health Cloud, or personalize retail experiences using Commerce Cloud and Consumer Goods Cloud, we provide tailored strategies and expert implementation to ensure you select and optimize the right tools for your industry. As a trusted Salesforce Consulting Partner, AdVic empowers your organization to harness the full potential of Salesforce’s ecosystem, driving efficiency, fostering stronger customer relationships, and fueling sustainable growth. Let us help you navigate your Salesforce journey and achieve your business goals with confidence.

For more information on how AdVic can support your Salesforce initiatives, visit our website or contact us today.

Related Resources:

Salesforce Solutions: The Catalyst for Industry Transformation

How Salesforce Can Help Startups Grow and Scale: Beyond the Cost Perception

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Salesforce’s leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform offers tailored solutions that address the specific needs of industries like Manufacturing, Retail, Healthcare, and High Tech. This Ad Victoriam Salesforce Blog explores how Salesforce® can benefit each of these sectors, with a focus on proving the return on investment (ROI) through detailed analysis and supporting data.

Manufacturing: Streamlining Operations and Enhancing Customer Satisfaction

In the manufacturing industry, Salesforce can streamline operations, improve customer satisfaction, and enhance supply chain management. By centralizing customer information, manufacturers can gain a comprehensive view of their customer base, enabling personalized interactions and targeted marketing campaigns.

Key benefits of Salesforce in manufacturing:

• Improved customer service: Streamline customer inquiries, track order status, and provide timely support.
• Enhanced supply chain management: Optimize inventory levels, manage supplier relationships, and track production processes.
• Increased operational efficiency: Automate tasks, reduce manual errors, and improve overall productivity.

ROI: A study by Forrester Research found that organizations using Salesforce experienced a 30% increase in sales productivity and a 25% reduction in customer service costs.

Retail: Driving Sales, Improving Customer Loyalty, and Optimizing Inventory Management

For retail businesses, Salesforce offers a powerful tool for driving sales, improving customer loyalty, and optimizing inventory management. By providing a unified view of customer interactions, retailers can personalize marketing campaigns, offer targeted promotions, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

Key benefits of Salesforce in retail:

• Enhanced customer experience: Provide personalized recommendations, offer seamless omnichannel experiences, and improve customer satisfaction.
• Increased sales: Drive revenue growth through targeted marketing campaigns, effective promotions, and optimized inventory management.
• Improved inventory management: Optimize stock levels, reduce excess inventory, and avoid stockouts.

ROI: A study by McKinsey & Company found that retailers using CRM solutions like Salesforce saw a 10% increase in sales revenue and a 15% improvement in customer loyalty.

Healthcare: Improving Patient Care, Enhancing Efficiency, and Reducing Costs

In the healthcare industry, Salesforce can help improve patient care, enhance efficiency, and reduce costs. By centralizing patient information and streamlining workflows, healthcare providers can deliver more personalized care, improve patient outcomes, and optimize operations.

Key benefits of Salesforce in healthcare:

• Improved patient care: Deliver personalized care plans, track patient outcomes, and improve overall patient satisfaction.
• Enhanced efficiency: Streamline administrative tasks, reduce manual errors, and improve operational efficiency.
• Reduced costs: Optimize resource allocation, reduce waste, and improve cost-effectiveness.

ROI: Learn a few of the key findings of a recent Gartner Research Market Guide for Healthcare Customer Relationship Management (CRM), including that the rising consumer demands and continued business pressures are propelling payer and provider CIOs to invest in CRM technologies like Salesforce.

High-Tech: Accelerating Sales, Improving Customer Success, and Enhancing Product Development

For high-tech companies, Salesforce offers a powerful platform for accelerating sales, improving customer success, and enhancing product development. By providing a comprehensive view of customer interactions, high-tech businesses can personalize sales pitches, offer targeted support, and drive customer loyalty.

Key benefits of Salesforce in high tech:

• Accelerated sales: Close deals faster, improve sales productivity, and drive revenue growth.
• Enhanced customer success: Provide proactive support, improve customer satisfaction, and increase customer lifetime value.
• Improved product development: Gather customer feedback, identify market trends, and inform product roadmaps.

ROI: A Salesforce solution for the high-tech industry can reduce costs and deliver more predictable revenue streams in real time. Learn more.

Summary

Salesforce offers a versatile and powerful platform that can benefit businesses across various industries. By providing a unified view of customer interactions, streamlining operations, and enhancing efficiency, Salesforce can help organizations drive revenue growth, improve customer satisfaction, and achieve a significant return on investment.

How AdVic Can Help

These days, High-Tech companies are in a constant state of change and need to advance quickly to stay ahead of their competition, all while anticipating their customers’ needs. The AdVic High-Tech Consulting Team can show you how to use the power of Salesforce® to maximize high-value data analysis, insights, and visibility that are essential for business growth. Let’s start the conversation today!

Related Resources: 

Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud vs. Sales Cloud: A Manufacturer’s Guide

Salesforce Tools for Retailers: Power Up Your Business with AI and Personalization

Fortifying Healthcare Cybersecurity with Data Diversification

Salesforce for High-Tech Startups

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Are you planning your Salesforce® Dreamforce 2024 experience? Ad Victoriam Solutions (AdVic®) has a full lineup of parties and roundtables designed to enhance your journey. All events listed take place at The Grove, 690 Mission Street, just a 2-minute walk from The Moscone Center. Take a closer look at what’s happening and how you can register for our free events before they fill up…

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Manufacturing Momentum: Start Your Dreamforce Journey Here
Time: 7:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
Details: Kick off your Dreamforce experience with us! Whether you’re just starting with Salesforce® or you’re already seeing some solid results, come hang out and let’s chat about how you can gain even more value from your investment. We’ll talk about ways to better align Salesforce with your specific business. And after you sit in on your Dreamforce sessions, circle back with any lingering questions—we’re here to help!
Register Here

Dreamforce Keynote Watch Party
Time: 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Details: Don’t have a ticket to the main keynote address? Join AdVic for food and beverages, in a relaxed setting, to listen to Salesforce’s CEO Marc Benioff along with special guests share their newest innovations. Lunch will be served.
Register Here

Cheers & Chat: Customer Appreciation Celebration
Time: 4 p.m.-5 p.m.
Details: Join AdVic for a laid-back gathering at Dreamforce! We’re celebrating our amazing clients with a casual evening of great company, delicious refreshments, and opportunities to mingle. Come unwind and connect with fellow attendees. (AdVic Customers Only)
Register Here

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Rise & Shine Community Breakfast
Time: 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m.
Details: Start your day on a high note with our Rise and Shine Community Breakfast! Join us for a morning filled with energizing coffee, and a delicious breakfast spread while mingling with industry innovators. Join us to engage in insightful conversations, gather fresh ideas, and build valuable connections in a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere.
Register Here

Breakfast Bytes: Cybersecurity with Hackbusters
Time: 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.
Details: Join us for a byte and stay for an engaging and critical discussion on cybersecurity. Over breakfast, we’ll delve into effective strategies for protecting your data, including system diversification, to prevent a single exploit from disrupting all of your operations. Enjoy a morning of practical, solution-oriented conversations and networking opportunities, all while savoring a delicious breakfast! While this session will apply to all industries, we will look at data protection in the healthcare world.
Register Here

Demystifying Salesforce AI
Time: 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Details: Join us for an exclusive AI Roundtable, where industry experts will delve into the evolving landscape of Salesforce AI technology. We’ll explore practical strategies for implementing AI solutions today, offering insights on how to drive immediate impact in your organization. Additionally, we’ll discuss the long-term vision for AI in Salesforce, helping you prepare for the future of intelligent business. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with thought leaders and gain actionable takeaways for your AI journey.
Register Here

Choosing Your Path: Roadmap Strategies for Manufacturers at Every Stage
Time: 12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Details: Join our luncheon to talk with our customers who have real-world experiences that align with where you are in your technology journey. They’ll share insights, applicable solutions, and practical advice tailored to your journey. Whether you’re just starting, looking to refine your approach, or aiming for advanced optimization, we’ll help equip you with knowing what the next best step is for your business.
Register Here

Raise Your Glass: The Pink Pre-Concert Happy Hour
Time: 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Details: Get ready to rock and roll with Pink! Join us for a pre-concert happy hour at Dreamforce. Get ready to rock and roll with Pink! Join us for a pre-concert happy hour at Dreamforce. Enjoy complimentary food and beverages (including our Pink Signature Drink), and great company before heading to the show. Before you leave, grab a pair of sparkly Pink eyeglasses for the concert!
Register Here

As Dreamforce 2024 approaches, Ad Victoriam Solutions is thrilled to offer a vibrant array of events tailored to enhance your experience. From insightful roundtables to lively parties, there’s something for everyone at The Grove. Whether you’re eager to dive into deep discussions, network with industry leaders, or simply relax and enjoy the festivities, our events provide the perfect blend of professional growth and fun. Don’t miss out—join us for an unforgettable Dreamforce and make the most of your time in San Francisco! 

Keep checking back to AdVic’s Dreamforce 2024 website for any updates!

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As a manufacturer, navigating the complex world of customer relationship management (CRM) solutions can be tricky. Two prominent options within the Salesforce® ecosystem are Sales Cloud and Manufacturing Cloud. While both offer valuable tools, they cater to distinct aspects of your business. Let’s delve into their differences to help you pick the right fit.

Understanding the Core Functions

• Sales Cloud: This is the foundation of Salesforce, focusing on managing the sales pipeline. It excels at lead generation, opportunity tracking, contact management, and sales forecasting. Sales Cloud streamlines your sales process, improves lead nurturing, and fosters better communication with potential and existing customers.
• Manufacturing Cloud: Built on top of the Sales Cloud platform, Manufacturing Cloud extends its capabilities with industry-specific features. It integrates seamlessly with existing sales functionalities while adding functionalities crucial for manufacturers. These include:
  • Sales Agreement Management: Streamline complex contracts with customers, ensuring clear pricing, volume, and order fulfillment details.
  • Advanced Forecasting: Gain deeper insights into production capabilities and customer demand. This allows for data-driven decisions on resource allocation and inventory management.
  • Operational Visibility: Track production schedules, materials management, and quality control processes. Identify bottlenecks and optimize production efficiency.

Side-By-Side Comparison

Choosing the Right Cloud Solution

The decision depends on your current needs and future goals. Here’s a breakdown to guide your selection:

• Choose Sales Cloud if:
  • You’re a manufacturer with a simple sales process.
  • You primarily focus on managing sales teams and opportunities.
  • You don’t have a complex production environment, and basic forecasting suffices.
• Choose Manufacturing Cloud if:
  • You require advanced features for managing sales agreements, production planning, and operational visibility.
  • You want a CRM that integrates seamlessly with your existing ERP system.
  • You aim to optimize production efficiency and improve data-driven decision-making for sales and manufacturing.

A crucial point to consider: Manufacturing Cloud builds upon Sales Cloud. This means you get all the functionalities of Sales Cloud (lead management, opportunity tracking, etc.) plus the additional manufacturing-specific features.

The Power of Combining Forces

Manufacturers with established sales teams likely have Sales Cloud in place. In such cases, transitioning to Manufacturing Cloud provides a significant advantage. You can leverage your existing sales data while gaining the power to optimize production and improve overall business efficiency.

Here’s how the two clouds work together:

• Sales teams utilize Sales Cloud to nurture leads, close deals, and manage customer relationships.
• Manufacturing Cloud takes over once a sale is confirmed. It integrates with the agreed-upon pricing, volumes, and fulfillment details from Sales Cloud. This ensures production aligns with sales commitments.
• Manufacturing Cloud provides real-time production data that feeds back into Sales Cloud. This allows sales teams to provide accurate lead times and adjust forecasts based on actual production capabilities.

This seamless integration creates a unified information hub, fostering better collaboration between sales and manufacturing teams. Ultimately, this translates to improved customer satisfaction, reduced production bottlenecks, and increased profitability.

Summary

Salesforce offers a powerful CRM ecosystem for manufacturers. When deciding between Sales Cloud and Manufacturing Cloud, consider your specific needs. Sales Cloud excels at managing the sales pipeline, while Manufacturing Cloud adds an industry-specific layer for optimizing production and integrating with existing systems.

For a manufacturer seeking a comprehensive solution to streamline sales, improve production efficiency, and gain real-time data insights, Manufacturing Cloud emerges as the clear winner. However, if your sales process is straightforward and production management is less complex, Sales Cloud might be sufficient for now. Remember, you can always migrate to Manufacturing Cloud later as your business needs evolve.

How AdVic Can Help

Implementing Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud or Sales Cloud is a strategic decision that can significantly transform your manufacturing operations. Partnering with a Salesforce for Manufacturing Consulting Team, like AdVic®, can help you maximize the value of this powerful platform. Our team, with proven expertise and industry-leading certifications, can help you develop a customized plan to achieve your specific goals. Schedule a day and time to talk with us.

Related Resources:

Manufacturing in the Fast Lane: How Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud Puts You in the Driver’s Seat
Salesforce for Manufacturing
Manufacturing Cloud Accelerator

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For manufacturers, keeping up with today’s customer demands and a dynamic market requires a high-octane approach. But many manufacturers are stuck with clunky legacy systems that create data silos, hinder collaboration, and leave them with limited visibility.

That’s where Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud comes in. Imagine a single platform that streamlines operations, secures your valuable data, and gives you a complete picture of your customers – all while boosting collaboration, eliminating roadblocks, and keeping everything transparent. That’s the power of Manufacturing Cloud.

Fueling Your Business with Five Key Features

Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud isn’t just about adding bells and whistles. It’s a comprehensive suite designed to supercharge your manufacturing operations:

1. Rev Your Commercial Engine: Manage your entire sales pipeline, from the initial spark of an opportunity to order fulfillment and future demand forecasting. No more clunky handoffs or information black holes.
2. Strengthen Your Partner Network: Collaboration is key in today’s manufacturing world. Manufacturing Cloud fosters tighter relationships with your partners, boosting visibility, engagement, and overall performance.
3. Deliver a First-Class Service Experience: Transform your service function with a smarter, faster approach. From initial contact center interactions to field service and customer support, Manufacturing Cloud ensures a seamless experience that keeps your customers happy.
4. Power Up Your Workforce: Attract and retain top talent with a modern, mobile-friendly platform that allows your team to work productively from anywhere. Manufacturing Cloud keeps everyone connected and informed, no matter their location.
5. Turnkey Actionable Insights: Ditch the siloed data and fragmented reports. Manufacturing Cloud seamlessly integrates with your existing systems and leverages AI and analytics to deliver powerful insights that fuel better decision-making and execution.

Taking Your Manufacturing Cloud to the Next Level

Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud is a powerful platform, but there’s always room for extra horsepower. Consider these compatible add-ons to take your operations to the next level:

• Experience Cloud for Manufacturing: This pre-built template fosters collaboration between you and your channel partners, allowing for seamless teamwork on leads and opportunities.
• Salesforce Analytics: Unleash the true potential of your data with intelligent insights, predictions, and recommendations that can be customized to your specific needs. Gain valuable intel on sales agreement compliance, account health, pricing, and product performance.
• MuleSoft Anypoint Platform: Break down data silos and connect Manufacturing Cloud with all your other systems, both on-premise and cloud-based. Automate the entire order-to-cash process, create a unified forecast view, and drive automation across all your sales channels.

Summary

Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud offers transformative benefits for manufacturers, including modernizing commercial operations, simplifying partner engagement, transforming service experiences, enabling a future-ready workforce, and converting data into actionable insights. Enhancing the platform with add-ons like Experience Cloud, Analytics, and MuleSoft’s Anypoint Platform can further optimize business operations.

How AdVic Can Help

Implementing Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud is a strategic decision that can significantly transform your manufacturing operations. Partnering with a Salesforce for Manufacturing Consulting Team, like AdVic®, can help you maximize the value of this powerful platform. Our team, with proven expertise and industry-leading certifications, can help you develop a customized plan to achieve your specific goals. Schedule a day and time to talk with us.

Related Resources:

Manufacturing Cloud Accelerator

*Images courtesy of Salesforce & MuleSoft

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As businesses and cultures worldwide eagerly transition into a digital-first marketplace, seamless online customer experiences have become paramount for any company in the world to survive, and subsequently, thrive. With customers becoming the heart and soul of any organization, more companies are accelerating their shift to digital business by simultaneously reducing costs and improving online experiences for both their customers and employees.

What follows are responses Ad Victoriam Solutions President, Brian Mize, recently made to questions and topics about customer experience, posed by Salesforce.

Why is Salesforce the World’s #1 CRM?

Brian Mize: “Salesforce CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is not just any CRM that houses client data. It’s a premier platform that allows businesses to build customer-centric relationships by enabling them to connect and interact with customers in a way that caters to their individual needs, allowing for improved experiences and business growth. Salesforce helps companies stay connected to their customers, streamline processes, and improve profitability. Unlocking customer-centric growth by implementing Salesforce ultimately empowers companies to manage relationships through the customer lifecycle, spanning marketing, sales, and customer service. 

“Salesforce has become the world’s #1 CRM, partially due to the power of having a single source of truth for every customer’s data. Salesforce refers to this valuable feature as “Customer 360” because it connects all of your customers across both online and offline data. 

“But why does this matter? Because the collected data can be utilized for specific strategies within each individual cloud. For example, if part of an organization needs customer information for a specific purpose within marketing, sales, or service, the ultimate goal becomes successful because everyone on those teams has access to the most accurate, up-to-date data.”

Enhancing the User Experience

Brian Mize: “The excitement for Salesforce comes from seeing the needle move. When a customer realizes that they have been investing their efforts in the wrong direction, when they see that they can build a stronger client presence and a deeper base through knowing what the customer needs almost before the customer needs it… that’s where I get excited. It’s the “Ah-ha!” moment of the 360-degree view!”

How Transformation Transpires

Brian Mize: “As an organization, we have been in the ecosystem since 2014, and have completed well over a thousand successful projects. Our reach is East to West, North to South. We have consultants in all time zones across our nation that will work according to the schedule our customers need in order to ensure a successful launch.

“In years past, one would need to pull the customer list from System A, the sales revenue from System B, the Leads from System C, and fulfillment from still another system—and would still be missing critical points through the process. With Salesforce, and with a full set of API available, the data can live on platform, and can be reported on to provide insight that simply hasn’t been possible without significant IT lift in years past. This is truly a game changer!

“As all leaders of sustainable businesses will attest, it’s equally as imperative to improve the experiences of employees as those of customers. Employees need new technologies to work from home, capable enough to help them collaborate digitally. Our goal is, as it has always been, to provide exceptional value through exceptional consultants on an amazing platform. We often take a best-of-breed approach and build Victory Packages that can shorten an already fast-time to market for our customer base.  

“When your customers and employees are happy, everyone wins.”

Accelerating the Shift to Digital Business

Brian Mize: “Digital transformation on the platform has made all the difference for our forward-looking customers, especially as we navigate the difficult waters of a pandemic.

“A fully remote workforce, with a fully remote customer base, is something that many wouldn’t even have envisioned in years past. Through the digital transformation made possible on Salesforce, our customers are recognizing increased customer satisfaction, increased demand for products, and increased employee engagement. While we are multi-cloud, we do focus heavily on Retail, Manufacturing, and Healthcare. Across all of these, cloud enablement and digital transformation are critical to meet the growing needs of an increasingly adept workforce and client base.  

“One of the benefits of Salesforce is the always-updated platform. This means a client can move as quickly as business will allow, without worry for the next “big thing” that will be released and potentially break or change their direction.  

“Salesforce is able to upgrade, both in terms of technology and approach, to give their customers a resilient platform that can withstand the winds of global change while remaining in front of customers and changing the bottom line for good.”

Take the First Step in Unlocking Customer-Centric Growth

More than ever, customers are the lifeline of a business, but growing these relationships in this evolving, digital-first world is challenging. That’s why more companies are turning to AdVic® – a Top 25 Global Salesforce Partner – with the proven experience to deliver effective, creative technology solutions.

Interested in connecting your teams on a single platform to strengthen customer relationships? Click below to pick a date to chat with AdVic’s Consulting Team and learn more about driving business speed, scale, relevance, and reliance all with the world’s #1 CRM.

Related Resources:

Top Brands Do This to Create an Effective Customer Experience

B2B Customer Experiences By People, Built For People

​​How Salesforce and MuleSoft Create a Seamless Customer Experience

Manufacturer Transforms Customer and Team Member Experience with Salesforce

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Globally, the industrial machinery industry remains in a crucial space as they are faced with disruptions from all aspects of the business. With supply chain, labor shortages, and an uptick in technology users, leaders in this space must quickly pivot to solutions that will advance business during these trying times.  

Companies that are using innovation to connect with their customers and partners are experiencing growth through the power of technology. Although many of the challenges manufacturers are experiencing stem from the pandemic, they continue to linger. 

What’s Broken? 

Supply Chain Disruption and Labor Shortages: It is getting harder and harder for manufacturers to find help. 

This challenge is compounded by the halt in mass production for almost two years which created a material supply shortage necessitating higher levels of productivity. Without enough labor, manufacturers are seeking additional equipment to help close the gap. Unfortunately, this equipment is not being produced quickly enough, and manufacturers still don’t not have enough people to handle the equipment once produced.   

Data Insights: Automation and smart machines are playing a larger and larger role in industrial manufacturing. From the diagnostics from the machines, increasing efficiencies, or being able to connect with partners, data plays a huge factor in the way manufacturers operate. 

When manufacturers cannot visualize data, they are missing out on key metrics that can benefit their business. Data provides manufacturers with real-time awareness of machinery operations, forecasts, cost, and customer experience, which keeps them competitive. One empowering aspect of data visibility is Predictive analytics which provides insights to improve productivity and profitability. By using data effectively, manufacturers can make actionable decisions to drive growth.

Tech Fixes

We outlined above the challenges this industry is facing. The good news is, we also have solutions! Solutions that are based on actionable insight can help alleviate the pain points many manufacturers may think are out of their control. 

• By diversifying suppliers, building relationships with partners, and improving demand forecasting manufacturers can improve their supply outcome. In addition, with data visualization and efficient account management, manufacturers can develop and maintain solid relationships with suppliers.
• Once the data is aggregated in one platform, successful analysis and application of the data is vital to success.  If data is optimized to its fullest potential, it can help leaders make smart, actionable decisions that affect operational efficiencies, profitability, customer experience, and factory floor maintenance. 

Of course Salesforce has functionality and solutions that can address these and other challenges. Clouds such as Sales Cloud, Manufacturing Cloud, and CRM Analytics are popular tools that are helping manufacturers. But we realize that one size does not fit all, that is why we conduct a deep discovery of your current state, challenges in addition to opportunities and your goals. 

If you are ready for the next steps, set up a call with our team. Count on us to get you where you need to be!

Related Resources:

Resources for Industrial Machinery Manufacturers

Manufacturing Salesforce Resources

The Five Most Important Things Manufacturing Cloud Does for Manufacturers

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The world of manufacturing is still undergoing robust changes, even two-years after the pandemic hit. From supply chain shortages, lack of technology, and worker shortages, the recovery is on its way, but it still has some time to go. Consumers are at the forefront of the negative trend. Customers are seeing an influx in prices and delays in shipping, causing a rift in relationships. This alone has forced manufacturers to modernize and revolutionize the way they conduct business. 

While all of these factors impact the manufacturing industry, the electrical equipment sector of manufacturing is experiencing robust growth. According to Yahoo Finance, “The global electrical equipment market is expected to grow from $1,384.97 billion in 2021 to $1,540.25 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.2%.” Because the manufacturing industry, specifically electrical, was hit so hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, they are working tirelessly to get back on track. 

Electrical equipment is a sub-sector of manufacturing, it includes electric lighting equipment, household appliances, power generation, transmission, switchers, transformers, and membranes. Their business models function in both B2B and B2C and can be sold on or offline.

Growing Sector Trends

As mentioned earlier, the need for creative electronic products is at the forefront of demand, given that products were halted due to the pandemic. However, digital technologies, such as the internet of things (IoT), are pushing the development and need for electrical components, driving a huge increase in demand.

Not only does digital technology rely on the innovation of electrical components, but physical technology, too. Smartphones, tablets, and gaming systems all rely on electrical products for power, not only in a home, but in cars and on the go. 

Manufacturing companies that are at the forefront of creating portable electrical components, generators, switchers, and other electrical products have a lot to look forward to in the near future. However, it is pivotal that this manufacturing sector maintains healthy relationships with their customers, partners and employees, while delivering the best possible solutions. A clear, solution-oriented framework is needed to light up the world for electrical equipment businesses. 

AdVic’s Salesforce Solution for Electrical Equipment Manufacturers 

Because of their exponential growth, it is important to maintain a healthy visualization of partners and customers for all departments. Salesforce’s customizable cloud solutions provide just that to extend their sales, service, and marketing efforts. 

Assembling the perfect cloud solutions for manufacturers in today’s time is our priority and expertise. With training and necessary tools for manufacturers, AdVic® tackles complex problems and dissolves data silos your company may be facing. Our nimble team of certified professionals across the United States will accelerate businesses by supporting your team from strategy to implementation. Schedule a time – below – to speak to our knowledgeable Salesforce professionals today. 

Related Resources:

Resources for Electrical Components and Equipment Manufacturers

Salesforce for Manufacturing

The Five Most Important Things Manufacturing Cloud Does for Businesses

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Residential Elevators is the premier electrical equipment manufacturer focused on home elevators. Their product is custom-built in the USA for the home in which it will be installed. Manufacturer Representatives manage projects from conception through installation. Their factory-trained elevator mechanics are the best in the business, and their world-class Service Department handles all services for the life of the elevator. This is why they need the best technology and Salesforce partners to provide employees and customers with exceptional service.

Why Did They Choose AdVic? 

Already equipped with a legacy system that catered to their business needs, Residential Elevators needed a system that offered even more. Their legacy system had functionality around scheduling and mapping on mobile, however, AdVic® and Salesforce® offered an even better solution. 

Luckily, Residential Elevators had a digital system that stored and maintained their data, however when they decided to pivot to a better system, Salesforce, they ran into the challenge of mapping the processes and the mapping of all the historical data that we had into a new system.

It is very common for organizations to undergo data migrations at some point in their development, and of course, poor planning and lack of resources contribute to slow user adoption, but AdVic prevents that.

Moving data from one place to another is challenging. It can be a costly, time-consuming, and complex venture. We do our best to ensure that this process is as seamless as possible by providing teams with the right tools to succeed.

Another challenge that many organizations face when undergoing digital transformation is stakeholder buy-in. For Residential Elevators, it is the same thing. With the help of AdVic, WebEx, and Zoom calls, we were able to continually sail through the process of the benefit that we’re going to get at the end. Initially, the adoption rate was tough, but making it easy by having everybody trained and part of the process was impactful.

A View From Customer Service 

With the help of AdVic, the customer experience has also advanced. Initially, the Customer Service team at Residential Elevators had a difficult time viewing customer data as a whole. Their new system allows a much better visual representation of the overall customer process and what the customer has done with them from start to finish. In addition, tying in some other ancillary components outside of Salesforce and integrating those into Salesforce has helped their team.

Efficiency in Business

Residential Elevators’ biggest increase in efficiency comes from the mobile side, which gives their field service technicians the ability to do all their work on a mobile platform they call an “E tool,” which is a mini laptop and can process the payments and everything right there from the phone, and has helped that process grow and evolve. 

Before they used to have to pull out a small “E tool” kit, a small laptop, and do all of their work on that using a thick client that would integrate back into their home systems or would data sync at certain periods back into their home system, where this is more real-time, no real synchronization other than the app, of course, but this is a more real-time information strand that they get to see as they’re going out to that customer’s job site.

Efficiency for technicians also means efficiency and satisfaction for customers. Techs are equipped with customers’ history with the company before even stepping on-site allowing them to be knowledgeable about the customer and their needs. 

Where Are They Now?

As previously mentioned, migrating from one system to another is a challenge within itself, but when done right it can transform the way employees work for the better. The initial project of implementing Salesforce Service Cloud eliminated top pain points for Residential Elevators’ employees, who once needed to key in 60+ job-related data points to close out the day, which increased productivity and accuracy. Their digital transformation also replaced manual keying and tracking once we implemented the Salesforce Service Cloud mobile app. 

Residential Elevators is now seeing profound improvements with their new and improved CRM system. In the ever-evolving world of Salesforce, their technology is continuously seeing updates, new features, and more functionality that enables their business to progress. 

Are you an electrical equipment manufacturer considering a Salesforce implementation? You will want to seriously consider a consultant who is not just interested in building your next project but wants to build your business for future success. The AdVic team is ready to start your project today. Reach us here.

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What is Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud? 

Manufacturing Cloud was created specifically for manufacturers to streamline operations, secure data, and gain a 360-degree view of customer profiles, while also driving collaboration, eliminating inefficiencies, and maximizing transparency.

Why Consider a Salesforce for Manufacturing Solution?

Here are the five most important things Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud does for businesses:

1. Modernize Commercial Operations: Manage your complete book of business from opportunity through order management and demand forecasting.
2. Simplify Partner Engagement: Drive greater partner visibility, engagement, and performance.
3. Transform the Service Experience: Enable faster and smarter service experience optimized from the contact center through field service to the customer.

4. Enable the Workforce of the Future: Enhance employee productivity, and agility with modern experiences for the work-from-anywhere world.
5. Translate Data into Insights and Actions: Integrate legacy systems and enable better decision making and execution by AI, analytics, and the Salesforce platform.

Compatible Add-On Suggestions

So, now that you know the most important solutions Salesforce for Manufacturing offers your business, here are a couple of compatible add-ons to consider that will take your Manufacturing Cloud platform to the next level:

– Incorporating Experience Cloud for Manufacturing delivers a new pre-built template specific for manufacturers that extends sales agreements to channel partners, allowing them to easily collaborate together on leads and opportunities.

– Analytics extends the power of Manufacturing Cloud by infusing intelligent insights, predictions, and recommendations into your day-to-day operations. With a fully customizable platform, executives and account teams can discover insights into sales agreement compliance, account health, pricing, and product performance.

– Additionally, adding MuleSoft’s Anypoint Platform unlocks data from any application, data source or device—whether that data is on-premise or in the cloud. By enabling organizations to connect Manufacturing Cloud with other systems, sales and operations leaders can automate the complete order-to-cash process, create a comprehensive forecast view and drive business process automation across all sales channels.

When you’re ready to align sales and operations, unify account planning and forecasts, and deliver greater transparency with a tailor-made CRM for manufacturers, the AdVic Salesforce for Manufacturing Consulting Team is ready. Our team has earned Salesforce’s Manufacturing Industry Expert Level, which verifies that AdVic is one of the most experienced and capable Manufacturing-focused Salesforce partners, one that meets the highest standards of customer satisfaction. Let’s develop your plan starting today.

Related Resources:

Manufacturing Cloud Aligns Sales and Ops

Innovative Technology that Drives Manufacturing Sales

Manufacturing Cloud Accelerator

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