For any business, the year’s first quarter is busy. The sales team wants to get off to a strong start, the finance team is working to close the books on the previous year, and the executive team is prioritizing company goals for the coming year. But it’s also a time to reflect on the year that was. 

For us, that means looking at not only the traditional key performance indicators (KPIs) like revenue, profit margins, and employee retention, but also looking at how we lived up to our company mission and values. 

Our Annual Impact Report summarizes that review, of the KPIs for our community impact initiatives, commitment to workplace culture, and the results of our workforce development program. We’re proud to report these numbers, and we’re even more proud that AdVic’s 10th year was another stellar year of living up to our founding values. 

Read on to find out more, or click here to view the full report. 

Pledge 1%

AdVic® joined Pledge 1% in 2017, and we just completed our 8th consecutive successful year of hitting our target, donating 1.2% of revenue in the form of time and money to local charities. Whether sponsoring events or volunteering in the community, we look forward to celebrating this accomplishment again in 2025. 

Volunteerism

While 2025 was a milestone for our organization, which celebrated 10 years of being open for business, it was also a milestone year for our volunteer efforts as it marked five years of our adopted highway through Keep Forsyth Beautiful. In addition to the quarterly cleanups, our team took advantage of their 40 hours of paid volunteer time off, racking up a whopping total of 1,110 hours at 60 different organizations. 

Charitable Giving

Speaking of milestones, 2024 saw our all-time donation total surpass $250,000. We continued our long-term support of Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer, the Georgia English Bulldog Rescue, and UGA’s Terry College of Business General Scholarship Fund. 

In addition to other company-sponsored causes, our team members also stepped up with their fundraisers for HYPE and Tech Forward, annual efforts that have now raised over $2,500 for each organization since they began back in 2019. Our team also organized a school supply drive and several pet-themed fundraisers for local animal shelters. 

Workforce Development

Back in 2018, the Salesforce ecosystem had more open jobs than it did qualified candidates. So we crafted our solution, launching Elevate, our internal training program that hires new college graduates with zero technology experience and puts them through an intensive hands-on three-month course to prepare them for project work. 

We’ve now hired over 100 graduates, with many of them still with us at AdVic. In fact, over a third of our team has been with us for over five years, and we have a combined 761 active Salesforce certifications! 

Women in Technology

Since our early days, we’ve taken pride in hiring and developing some of the most talented individuals in the Salesforce space. We’re proud to report that we continue to outperform our industry, with women making up 43% of our workforce. And better yet, almost half of our female employees are in manager, director, or executive roles! 

Planning for 2025

We hope you enjoyed some of our impact highlights for 2024, and the things we continue to value as we strive for profit and purpose. Our team is already hard at work for 2025, with planned cleanups, community events, and employee outings already on the calendar. We look forward to reporting back with our final numbers again in early 2026. 

If you have any questions about the report, please let us know. We’d love to hear from you. And until then, make it a great, and impactful, 2025. 

AdVic thanks Profitable Purpose Consulting‘s Nathan Stuck for his contributions to this blog.

Subscribe to the AdVic Salesforce Blog on Feedly:

The post 2024 in Review: The AdVic Annual Impact Report appeared first on Ad Victoriam Solutions.

Are we really putting 2022 in our rearview mirror? Where did it go?

Well, there’s no looking back now, so let’s push forward with eyes wide open into what we hope will be an amazing 2023 for all! But before we do that, we wanted to take this opportunity to share the Top 22 Salesforce Blogs AdVic® published in 2022, ones that we got the most feedback from, and ones you may have missed.

Enjoy, and Happy New Year from all of us at Ad Victoriam Solutions!

#1. Highlights from the Salesforce Winter ‘23 Release

Salesforce® has once again packed their platform with exciting new features inside its Winter ‘23 Release, And as they always do, AdVic’s consultants have poured through every one of the new features in this release and have highlighted the ones they are most excited about.
Read More

#2. 5 Common Questions Asked of Salesforce Partners

Through your research, you have found that Salesforce® products will work best for your organization. So, what’s next? It is time to look for a Salesforce Partner to implement (or modify) your technology. Here are five common questions Salesforce newbies (and vets, too) have asked AdVic.
Read More

#3. Be the 1 of 8 Digital Transformations that Succeeds
Did you know that about one of eight digital transformations succeed? To be one of the successful ones, start by building a digital transformation strategic roadmap that includes obtaining buy-in from your stakeholders and the team.
Read More

#4. AdVic’s Journey to be a Better Version of Ourselves
When we first embarked on our B Corp certification journey back in January of 2016, Ad Victoriam Solutions (AdVic®) was less than two-years-old, employed eight employees and was still operating out of a combination of shared workspaces and our founder’s basement. Fast forward to February of 2022 and we’re now over 150 employees strong located in 18 states across six time zones, and we’ve re-certified as a B Corp and continue to scale both fast and responsibly.
Read More

#5. How a Relationship Turned Into a Partnership
It’s no secret that fostering positive relationships with your customers out-of-the-gate can help to transform those customers into real brand supporters and long-term partners. Such is the case with AdVic and a recent high-tech customer that provides cloud-based business solutions to their customers.
Read More

#6. The Seven Stages of a Sales Pipeline
Not to be confused with a sales funnel – which looks at the whole customer journey and the various stages a consumer will go through in their journey towards purchase – a sales pipeline looks at the different steps in the sales process. These seven are generally considered to be the “standard” stages for a business that follows a typical sales process.
Read More

#7. What is B2B2C?
Is your organization B2B, B2C, or B2B2C? The way you interact with your clients, the way you define success, and the technology you use all tie into the business model that defines your company.
Read More

#8. Storytelling with Data
Data is more than a trending topic. Today, data drives business solutions and tells a story about what is happening in your business. Whether manufacturers are using data to pinpoint defects or downtime in their machines, retailers are analyzing their new loyalty programs, or a healthcare provider is monitoring patient engagement, data tells a story.
Read More

#9. AdVic Empowered Minority Football Coaches
As a small nonprofit, NCMFC relies heavily on advisors in the technology, marketing, legal, and finance worlds to enhance their business practices. When it was time to implement Salesforce for their organization, an advisor recommended AdVic as a partner. With excitement, we jumped onboard this pro bono project to integrate Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack into their organization.
Read More

#10. Four Easy Ways to Get Involved and Make a Difference
At AdVic, we give every employee 40 hours of paid time-off to volunteer every year. We encourage them to get involved in their communities to give back, regardless of cause or organization. Here are four simple ways anyone — or a company – can get involved and give back.
Read More

#11. Managed Services: How Does It Save Time & Money? When Do You Need It?
Simply put, Managed Services, and specifically a Managed Services Provider (MSP), handles the daily operations of your specialized technology applications so you and your teams can focus on driving revenue. But how do you know when it’s really time to enlist the services of an MSP before your day-to-day business is impacted?
Read More

#12. Do You Need Sales Automation or An Upgrade?
From the top of the sales funnel to closing, the sales process has a lot of steps. In many cases sales begins with marketing initiating the first touching point. It could be socials, ads campaigns, or email marketing, and from there, prospects flow through the funnel hopefully landing in a closed deal. Here’s how sales automation increases productivity, accelerates the sales cycle, and increases revenue.
Read More

#13. Equipment Manufacturer Replaces Legacy Systems and Thrives
Here’s how 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.
Read More

#14. A Manufacturer’s Road to Success
The most successful digital transformations drive change from leadership to employees to provide customers with unforgettable experiences. They also require planning stages. Get our step-by-step “Guide to Success” for manufacturers.
Read More

#15. Electrical Equipment Manufacturing Challenges and Growth
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.
Read More

#16. Talking Tech Trends with Salesforce Ben & AdVic
During a 2022 AdVic “Salesforce Simplified” podcast – titled “Talking Tech Trends with Salesforce Ben” and featuring Salesforce Ben’s Ben McCarthy and AdVic President Brian Mize – we discussed top tech trends that may impact the industry and business practices in the near future.
Read More

#17. ‘May the Fourth Volunteer With You’ Week a Huge Success at AdVic
After an inaugural volunteer week in 2019, and a two-year delay because of pandemic-related postponements, “May the Fourth Volunteer With You” week was back this year at AdVic. With three events at our headquarters just outside of Atlanta, and our remote employees participating in events across the country, our team came together to give back.
Read More

#18. HexArmor’s Sales Director Talks About Sales Cloud
HexArmor‘s Director of Sales, Geno Lechuga, recently spoke on the AdVic “Salesforce Simplified” podcast about how his team benefits from being able to see every interaction prospects and customers have with his business—regardless of department—using the CRM platform that connects his whole company. Here’s some highlights from that conversation.
Read More

#19. The Best Features of Salesforce Sales Cloud
For those who don’t know, Salesforce Sales Cloud – often referred to as the World’s #1 CRM – provides a platform to manage end-to-end functioning of the sales department for companies. In this Salesforce Blog, we focus on some of the best features of Sales Cloud.
Read More

#20. The Project That Became a Partnership
AdVic’s initial project with FLUX Pumps was to implement a necessary Salesforce Sales Cloud solution. From this, their sales cycle was cut in half. They were awarded efficiency, visibility, and automation with their introductory digital transformation. FLUX achieved great milestones that included doubled conversions, a 20% increase in revenue, and a way to nurture leads that turned into customers.
Read More

#21. What You Need to Know About Slack
Slack and Salesforce® have spearheaded a newfound innovation in the way that employees communicate, connect and collaborate. From internal marketing teams to recruiters connecting with new talent, Slack offers unmatched flexibility that allows all parties to communicate swiftly with their instant messaging capabilities, or their built-in video and voice capabilities. Inside the blog, download AdVic’s informative no-form Slack infographic.
Read More

#22. Top Brands Do This to Create an Effective Customer Experience
These days, customer experience has become more than a buzz phrase. No matter the industry or the brand, companies have come to the realization that they need to focus on being more proactive, as opposed to reactive, when it comes to engaging with their customers.
Read More

Read More AdVic Salesforce Blogs 

Subscribe to the AdVic Salesforce Blog on Feedly:

The post The Top 22 Salesforce Blogs of 2022 appeared first on Ad Victoriam Solutions.

MuleSoft® provides many connectors to help businesses develop API-led connectivity solutions. Out of all of those connectors, the “For Each” loop is a commonly used connector. This connector iterates through each element of a collection, or in other words, each element of an array. 

There are two different For Each connectors that MuleSoft provides. There is the “For Each” and the “Parallel For Each.” They have key different functionalities and serve different purposes. Knowing when to use each one is crucial for the success of the API’s you are building. 

When to use ‘For Each’

The For Each connector gets an array of elements and processes, each one at a time, so if there are 60 elements and each one takes one-second to process, making the total run for this connector one-minute. That’s something to keep in mind when using this connector since it could slow down your entire flow.

This is why the For Each connector should be used with a small amount of elements, or when performance isn’t critical.

The other thing to keep in mind when using this For Each connector is that if one element fails to process, the connector stops processing the rest of the records and moves on to the next connector. For example, let’s say that out of 60 records the connector fails at record 29, the remaining 31 records won’t process since the connector failed on record 29.

Another important piece to keep in mind is that this connector doesn’t return a processed payload. Whichever payload is given to this connector gets passed through to the next connector.

In the above example, the Collection field in For Each is set to iterate over an array stored in payload.topics:.

Key ‘For Each’ Takeaways:

• The For Each connector should be used when there are a few items to loop for per call.
• Use when performance isn’t crucial.
• Use when one payload fails the rest should stop processing.
• Use when a processed payload isn’t returned.

When to use ‘Parallel For Each’

Since the For Each connector doesn’t return a processed payload, one of the common patterns with the connector is to use Object Store to store the processed data for each element. This can be used successfully, but is not recommended since the Object Store has limitations on how many records it can process on a timeframe. It also can fail if you try to get elements from it at a pace faster than its limits. 

One of the ways to avoid this pattern is to use the Parallel For Each connector. With this connector each element is processed individually and the end result is all the payloads for each processed element are merged into one payload. You can then iterate through each one and run the logic that’s needed to run on each element. This case can’t be used for all scenarios, but it’s a way to avoid the Object Store pattern.

Parallel For Each works by processing each element in its own thread. There is a limit on how many threads it can run at one time (see the links below for more info). You can also set the limit yourself, which gives you flexibility and control on the amount of threads it can run at one time.

Parallel For Each processes all records and the result is their payload – regardless of failure or success – will return the same amount of payloads that match the elements given. This is useful when you want all records to process, regardless of the status. You can then use your own logic afterwards on what to do with success and failure payloads. 

Another key component to the Parallel For Each connector is that the end results are returned as a combined payload. So it actually returns the payload and you can do with it what you want. The For Each connector doesn’t return a payload and you have to use a variable or Object Store in order to store and retrieve the payload processed on the connector.

Key ‘Parallel For One’ Takeaways:

• Avoid using Object Store in a loop, since Object Store drops messages sometimes.
• Use when performance is necessary.
• Use when all should be processed, regardless if one of them fails.
• Use when you want to see the end result of all elements passed.

For Each vs. Parallel For Each

Summary

Both For Each loop connectors are great tools for building a MuleSoft API. Each project will have different requirements. Based on your project requirements, you will now be able to figure out which connector to use.

Ad Victoriam’s certified, experienced and passionate MuleSoft consultants team up with businesses to turn legacy point-to-point integrations into a scalable architecture that your business can grow with. Let’s talk about a solution for your company today.

Related Resources:

The For Each Scope

The Parallel For Each Scope

Set Up Your Salesforce Org for Integration with MuleSoft

Subscribe to the AdVic Salesforce Blog on Feedly:

The post MuleSoft’s ‘For Each’ Connectors Explained appeared first on Ad Victoriam Solutions.

Flow Designer is used to design and develop fully-functional MuleSoft® applications in a hosted development environment. 

Designed to be used by Senior Architects as well as Junior Admins, Flow Designer is a simple alternative to creating full-blown APIs by hand within Anypoint Studio. With Flow Designer being packed with numerous features, it’s an obvious choice to consider when planning projects.

Design Center

To start creating a Flow Designer project, you simply opt to build a MuleSoft application rather than write a RAML within Design Center. Design Center differs from traditional RAML creation by showing what you make, as well as the processes graphically with easy to follow indicators displaying order,  hierarchy of elements, and triggers. Another benefit to using Flow Designer is that all work is automatically saved to the cloud for later continuation, collaborative editing, and safe-keeping.

Triggers and Connectors

The vast selection of triggers and connectors created by MuleSoft, as well as other users, allow for an ever-expanding number of uses and implementations. These triggers and connectors reduce the work required to duplicate processes you have already made, or processes others have already made. Saving both time and energy, by reducing redundancy and possible errors when working with a new system or CRM. Additionally, these triggers and connectors are all free to use and available to everyone through MuleSoft’s Anypoint Exchange.

Mapping and Transforming Data

Gone are the days of fumbling around with data mapping documentation. Flow Designer has a built in automatic data mapping feature that takes the hard work out of transforming and mapping data.  And with an easy drag and drop-style editor, editing the automated mappings is a breeze. Adding custom fields or functions to your transformations or mappings is simple using MuleSoft’s native DataWeave language. In as little as a few clicks and a little reading, you can create lightweight and versatile code to meet every task’s unique needs.

Error Handling and Debugging

Unfortunately, errors are almost impossible to avoid entirely. Luckily, debugging and fixing errors are easy to do within Flow Designer. With a dedicated “Problems” button that displays any errors in layman’s terms, understanding and resolving the issue can be accomplished without an extensive knowledge of MuleSoft.

Summary

All of these features, as well as Automatic Data Mapping and more, were designed to facilitate the complex and time consuming process of creating integrations. Though a traditional creation strategy may be more efficient for complex projects possibly not supported by Flow Designer, Flow Designer should still be an option seriously considered by project planners and businesses looking to get their desired results more efficiently.

Ad Victoriam’s certified, experienced and passionate MuleSoft consultants team up with businesses to turn legacy point-to-point integrations into a scalable architecture that your business can grow with. Let’s talk about a solution for your company today.

Related Resources:

• Product Spotlight: Anypoint Flow Designer
• Anypoint Platform: Flow Design FREE Course
• What Can MuleSoft Do for Your Salesforce Org?

Follow in a Reader

The post Create Better Integrations with MuleSoft Flow Designer appeared first on Ad Victoriam Solutions.

“As a Salesforce Platinum Partner and MuleSoft Partner who provides mission-critical consulting services, from strategy to implementation, Ad Victoriam is delighted to be recognized by Inc. for our growth,” said founder, Jeff Jones. “We’re honored to see our results validated by Inc. magazine’s annual award.”

This is the second recognition of Ad Victoriam’s business acumen in the span of three months, as we were recently named a Top Business Services Company by Clutch.

How AdVic Made the Inc. 5000

Not only have the companies on the 2019 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows compelling growth when compared with prior lists. The 2019 Inc. 5000 achieved a three-year average growth of 454 percent, and a median rate of 157 percent. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue was $237.7 billion in 2018, accounting for 1,216,308 jobs over the past three years.

“The companies on this year’s Inc. 5000 have followed so many different paths to success,” says Inc. editor in chief James Ledbetter. “There’s no single course you can follow or investment you can take that will guarantee this kind of spectacular growth. But what they have in common is persistence and seizing opportunities.”

The Inc. 5000 Methodology

The 2019 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2015 and 2018. To qualify, companies such as Ad Victoriam must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2015. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2018. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2015 is $100,000; the minimum for 2018 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.’s September issue.

Ad Victoriam is a Salesforce Platinum Partner and MuleSoft Partner who provides mission-critical consulting services, from strategy to implementation. Our nimble team of certified professionals across the country accelerates businesses by simplifying complex problems through cloud, integration, and data expertise. As a certified B Corp, we balance purpose with profits and have made a strong commitment to the community.

So, are you ready to discover how AdVic can accelerate your business through technology? We’ll respond quickly to your questions here.

Subscribe in a reader

The post Ad Victoriam Named One of America’s Fastest-Growing Companies appeared first on Ad Victoriam Solutions.

The Clutch Criteria

Clutch awarded AdVic a 4.8/5.0 Top Business Services Company in Georgia rating after conducting numerous in-depth phone interviews with our clients to learn about the Salesforce® Consulting services we provide, the results we were able to achieve, and their overall experience in working with us.

And while Clutch’s rating process is centered around client reviews, AdVic was also evaluated on a holistic set of criteria, including types of clientele, our work portfolio, and our work experience.

Here’s an example of the reviews AdVic received from Clutch’s interviews:

“We’re very excited to be featured so highly across Clutch,” remarks Ad Victoriam Solutions founder, Jeff Jones. “This designation is a testament to our innovative work, continuous expansion, and dedication to our Client’s success. We look forward to connecting with new businesses in Georgia and beyond.”

Ad Victoriam is a Salesforce Platinum Partner and MuleSoft Partner who provides mission-critical consulting services, from strategy to implementation. Our nimble team of certified professionals across the country accelerates businesses by simplifying complex problems through cloud, integration, and data expertise. As a certified B Corp, we balance purpose with profits and have made a strong commitment to the community.

So, are you ready to discover how AdVic can accelerate your business through technology? We’ll respond quickly to your questions here.

Subscribe in a reader

The post AdVic Named a Top Business Services Company appeared first on Ad Victoriam Solutions.