Introduction
To many companies, the adoption of Salesforce is a step towards better and effective management of processes and increased customer contact. However, a challenge that is often experienced is that organizations do not fully utilize the capabilities that Salesforce offers. Most teams use only basic tools without realizing that there are more powerful features that can help increase productivity and provide better insights.
This of course leads to inefficiencies, which in turn results in reduced ROI and missed opportunities for growth. Such crucial tools as automation, big data analysis, and industry tailored services are still not exploited, and companies are already facing the challenges of dynamic markets.
Fortunately, it is possible to find these solutions in Salesforce since it offers several features to address these problems.
In this article, members of the Salesforce team will share their insights on the features of Salesforce that are often overlooked, including AI, collaboration tools that will help your business to reach its potential and dominate the market.
2. Challenges in Implementation of Key Salesforce Features
This is mainly since many businesses do not have the knowledge or the experience on what else Salesforce can do for them. Most teams use only the features they are comfortable with, without exploring features that can boost productivity.
Also, the wrong way of implementation is a common concern. The features are not fine-tuned to suit the organization and thus underachieves and disappoints users.
Getting appropriate onboarding and involving Salesforce consulting companies can assist organizations to overcome these challenges and leverage on the platform’s potential.
3. Core Salesforce Features Businesses Overlook
3.1 Automation Capabilities
The Flow Builder of Salesforce enables the users to develop complex workflows within the application without writing any code at all. It reduces the time taken to perform routine activities thus enabling the team to focus on other important tasks.
Einstein Bots, the artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbots from Salesforce enhance the customer service by providing real-time responses and personalization as well as reducing the response time.
3.2 Collaborative Tools
Chatter enables real time messaging among the team members, and thus enhances cooperation among the team members. It is a single platform for sharing project information and files etc.
Quip Integration is a platform which combines documents, spreadsheets, and communication in one platform thus making work easier and minimizing on misunderstandings.
3.3 Enhanced Data Management
This helps to ensure that the data in the database is accurate by eliminating or merging records that are similar, thus giving the business accurate data. Encryption, organizations can with secure Shield high-risk Platform customer data, and meet the compliance and security requirements.
3.4 Mobile Accessibility
The Salesforce Mobile App makes it possible for users to access dashboards, reports and customer data through their mobile phones and work remotely.
3.5 Advanced Analytics
Einstein Analytics takes the dull data and turns it into insights that can be used to take proper decisions based on predictions.
Tableau Integration offers excellent data visualization tools to help teams analyze graphs and create presentations that will impress their managers.
3.6 Customization and App Development
The Lightning App Builder provides an easy-to-use interface for app development where all the components are dragged and dropped, thus enabling businesses to develop solutions that are required quickly.
For advanced customization, developers can use Apex and Visualforce to create high-level applications which are in line with the business requirements of an organization.
4. Industry-Specific Solutions in Salesforce
Salesforce has been proven to provide solutions that cater for various industries and this has made it unique. Since the field is quite broad, Salesforce has successfully implemented its platform to address various issues in the field and thus enable organizations to be more effective in their activities as well as deliver excellent experiences to their stakeholders. Here are some of the most common industry-specific solutions that you can get from Salesforce:
4.1 Healthcare: Health Cloud
Health Cloud revolutionizes the healthcare industry by consolidating patient’s information, improving the coordination of the patient’s care, and, consequently, patient outcomes. It gives the care givers an overall view of the patient’s data, both the clinical and non-clinical, with the help of a secure interface.
Some of the features it includes are appointment scheduling, task management and real time patient information that makes work easier for the healthcare providers. Also, it has integration features that enhance the ability to work with other healthcare information systems thus enhancing the patient experience.
4.2 Retail: Commerce Cloud
To this end, Commerce Cloud provides the necessary tools for enhancing the level of personalization in the shopping experience, rationalizing inventory and optimizing multichannel management for retail companies.
It is regrettable that by applying the AI recommendations retailers can understand customers’ wants and needs, thus boost sales and satisfaction. Furthermore, Commerce Cloud helps with efficient order processing thus enabling businesses to monitor and control stock levels and delivery times.
4.3 Financial Services: Financial Services Cloud
The Financial Services Cloud provides a comprehensive set of products for the banking, insurance, and wealth management industries. It simplifies client life cycle management, help to meet the right regulations and offer better customer experience.
Key features include relationship mapping, account tracking and personal financial insights. These tools assist advisors in giving data-driven advice to clients and thus build trust and loyalty.
4.4 Nonprofits: Nonprofit Cloud
Nonprofit Cloud helps charities and non-government organizations to have the right tools to help in managing the donors and gifts, and volunteers’ activities.
It includes the analytical tools for measuring the results of the campaigns and ensuring that the resources are used effectively. It also integrates with Marketing Cloud and thus allows nonprofits to engage supporters and increase the effect of their activities.
4.5 Manufacturing: Manufacturing Cloud
Manufacturing Cloud connects the sales and operations by helping the manufacturers to forecast, plan and manage production.
It offers insight into the account-based forecasting so that demand can be coordinated with the supply. This solution assists manufacturers in improving their performance and meeting customers’ expectations.
4.6 Education: Education Cloud
Education Cloud is a cloud-based application that helps the educational institutions to administer the student’s cycle which includes admission, learning, and graduation as well as alumni services.
Some of the benefits of Education Cloud include: Personalized student engagement tools, case management, and performance tracking to enable institutions of learning to improve on the learning experience and overall administration.
4.7 Government: Government Cloud
Thus, for the public sector, Government Cloud provides secure and efficient data management and service delivery.
It enables case management, citizen engagement and compliance with the set regulations and laws, thus enabling governments to be more effective and accountable.
5. Tap Into Salesforce Full Potential
Salesforce is full of features which are quite powerful and are usually not given much attention but can be very helpful in changing business outcomes. It is advisable to utilize these tools to ensure that businesses achieve new levels of efficiency as well as improve their workflow and interactions with customers. Here’s a closer look at the benefits of these overlooked Salesforce features: Here’s a closer look at the benefits of these overlooked Salesforce features:
5.1 Improved Team Collaboration
Hidden gems like Chatter and Quip facilitate collaboration within the team since they enhance communication and document sharing within the Salesforce environment. Chatter makes it possible for the team to discuss projects, provide information and solve problems in real time but all while being linked to Salesforce.
Quip on the other hand offers document collaboration as a service where teammates and users can collaborate on documents and spreadsheets inbuilt in the application. This means that one does not need to navigate through several applications to meet ones needs, this also decreases the chances of miscommunication as well as ensuring that everyone agrees.
5.2 Automation for Operational Efficiency
The Flow Builder is very useful for those who want to automate certain processes that they must go through regularly. It enables the teams to create flows which would otherwise be very complicated, for example for lead nurturing, opportunity tracking or case solving.
This is because Flow Builder reduces the workload of the team thus enabling the teams to perform other strategic tasks that may be important to the business in the long run. Companies that implement automation reduce costs, increase productivity, and have more consistent and predictable processes and task performance.
5.3 Enhanced Customer Insights with Advanced Analytics
Advanced Reporting and Einstein Analytics in Salesforce offer the necessary tools for exploration of customer behavior and trends in the market. These tools are not just limited to giving out the reports but go a step further to offer predictive insights and recommendations based on the analysis of data using Artificial Intelligence.
Having such insights puts businesses in a vantage position to make right decisions based on the data presented to them. Whether it is to detect sales leads or to optimize the marketing strategy, such analytics solutions help organizations to guess customer’s wants and needs before they even voice them.
5.4 Cost and Resource Optimization
Most of the time, people fail to acknowledge features like Salesforce Scheduler and Resource Management Tools yet they are very vital in the management of resources. For instance, Scheduler assists in organizing appointments and thus reducing on conflicts that may arise while scheduling appointments as well as optimizing the time taken.
These tools when used help in avoiding the situations where resources are wasted and thus increase the efficiency of the organization’s operations, hence reducing the costs in the long run.
5.5 Boosted Sales Productivity
The Opportunity Workspace and the Forecasting Tools are tools that are specifically developed to support the sales team so that they can have a better view of the pipeline and the expected results.
These features help the sales people to arrange their leads, monitor activities and work together to achieve their goals and seal the deal quicker.
With these tools, businesses improve the sales productivity and have a better and more effective sales process.
5.6 Enhanced Security and Compliance
It is very crucial for businesses that deal with customers’ information that is sensitive in nature to utilize features like Shield Encryption and Event Monitoring. These tools help in protecting data and assist organizations meet certain legal requirements such as the GDPR and the HIPAA.
Thus, using these security measures, companies can gain the trust of their clients and do not become liable for fines for non-compliance.
6. Steps to Identify and Use Overlooked Features
First, assess the current usage of Salesforce in the organization to determine where there is room for improvement. This is because many businesses may find out that there are tools that can help with certain issues in the operation.
The employees should be equipped with training from time to time by using Salesforce Trailhead so that they are well conversant with the use of advanced features.
It is also important to consult with a Salesforce consulting company to find out how best to use the features in a manner that will help achieve business objectives.
8. Conclusion
Salesforce is not just a CRM but a powerful tool that can change the world and help businesses reach their best version. By using the features that are not used often like advanced automation, seamless integrations, and industry-specific solutions, businesses can increase their efficiency in their operations, enhance the experience of their customers and foster growth. Engaging a professional Salesforce consultant or an efficient Salesforce development company for the implementation of these features ensures that they are optimized to achieve the intended business objectives.
Working with the trusted Salesforce consulting partners offers the tailored services no matter the marketing automation, sales pipeline management or analytics. These professionals assist businesses to find and utilize the features that they could have never even noticed, to design better workflows.
Finally, it is possible to state that there is a treasure of features in the Salesforce, which may change the approach to business. With the right knowledge and application, it is possible to leverage on these features and get positive results, thus making Salesforce to be a key strategic partner in the current market. As a new user of Salesforce or if you want to improve on the current implementation of the platform, engaging the experts to show you these hidden gems will change your experience for the better.