As technology evolves, cross-channel marketing will become even more sophisticated, leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning, and predictive analytics to deliver hyper-personalized and proactive customer experiences. Businesses that adopt this approach will stay ahead of the curve, fostering stronger customer relationships and achieving long-term success.
Businesses need robust solutions to enhance their digital experiences and streamline operations. Digital Experience Enhancement Via Commerce and Content can be addressed in multiple ways. When considering different systems, the approach to implementation and integration is crucial, especially with incumbent commerce platforms like Salesforce Commerce Cloud or Shopify Plus. The choice of integration method can significantly impact both customer engagement and operational efficiency. Traditional Monolithic Integration Approaches Traditional commerce systems typically fall into two categories: CMS/DXP-oriented and commerce-oriented platforms. Each has distinct characteristics but faces limitations inherent to a monolithic structure. CMS / DXP-oriented Platforms Platforms like Acquia Drupal, Adobe Experience Manager, and Sitecore, known for their strong digital experience capabilities, have evolved to include integrated and embedded commerce functionalities. Integrated Approach Platforms like Drupal Commerce for Acquia and Sitecore Experience Commerce exemplify an integrated approach where commerce capabilities are built directly into the DXP. This allows for a unified administrative and development experience, enabling business users to manage both content and commerce features seamlessly. While this approach offers benefits, it also presents challenges. The primary issue is adaptability. Commerce capabilities tightly coupled with the CMS can make customizing or scaling specific functionalities complex and restrictive. Additionally, without dedicated investment in the commerce platform as a standalone solution, it may lack many capabilities required for effective enterprise deployments. Performance issues can also arise as the system scales, with content management and commerce functionalities managed through the same monolithic architecture, leading to slower website performance and longer load times under heavy traffic conditions. Commerce Behind Content Some businesses use an embedded approach, integrating standalone or home-grown commerce capabilities, product information, and pricing data through batch or event-based synchronizations. This method allows the CMS’s presentation layer to dynamically display product information and transactions while maintaining core content management functionality. However, this approach also has downsides, impacting system efficiency and customer experience. Batch or event-based synchronizations can lead to data update delays, causing discrepancies between actual inventory and what’s displayed to customers. This can frustrate customers due to order issues like out-of-stock items appearing available. Additionally, the embedded method often requires complex integrations and middleware to sync data between the commerce platform and the CMS, increasing technical issues and complicating troubleshooting. This approach may also limit dynamic handling of commerce data within the CMS, restricting advanced features like real-time personalization and dynamic pricing. Maintaining such a system can require significant developer resources, leading to higher operational costs. Commerce-Oriented Platforms Commerce-centric platforms such as Salesforce Commerce Cloud and Shopify Plus focus on delivering comprehensive commerce solutions. These platforms have adapted to integrate with other technologies like headless CMS and search and product discovery tools to enable brands to deliver improved digital experiences. Content Behind Commerce Even when incorporating a headless CMS for easier content creation and management, commerce-centric platforms often feed this content back into their own presentation layer. This has been a popular approach for Salesforce Commerce Cloud (formerly Demandware) for over a decade. While this setup may improve operational efficiencies, it can limit overall performance and customer experience due to potential bottlenecks at the commerce platform’s presentation layer. Moreover, it does not provide the performance or customer experience benefits of a modern headless commerce frontend. Cartridges, Modules, and Plugins Using cartridges, modules, or plugins for functionalities like search and product discovery can enhance the onsite customer experience. However, these integrations can face limitations in supporting more complex capabilities, such as combining content from a headless CMS, product information from a PIM, and product data from the commerce platform, or managing merchandising that accounts for inventory levels across various distribution centers and store fulfillment locations. These limitations can restrict the ability to fully leverage integrated data to enhance customer interactions and operational insights. Digital Experience Enhancement Via Commerce and Content, as businesses seek to enhance their digital experiences and streamline operations, choosing the right integration approach for their commerce platform is critical. Balancing the benefits and challenges of traditional monolithic and commerce-oriented platforms will be key to optimizing customer engagement and operational efficiency. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more
Salesforce Enhances Commerce Cloud and Einstein Copilot Salesforce has announced a double whammy of upgrades to its Commerce Cloud and Einstein Copilot solutions, aiming to supercharge customer service and experience offerings for merchants. And yes, they’re pulling out all the stops – think of it as giving your online store a superhero cape and a sidekick with a PhD in customer satisfaction. Salesforce Commerce Cloud and Einstein Copilot Capabilities. Enhancements to Commerce Cloud Commerce Cloud is getting three major innovations designed to help businesses create more sophisticated commerce sites, boost personalization, and drive revenue growth. Salesforce promises to tackle rising customer expectations by providing a seamless, integrated experience across all channels. In other words, they’re turning your website into a mind-reading wizard, minus the beard and wand. But probably wearing a cool purple cape with stars. According to Michael Affronti, GM and SVP of Commerce Cloud, these new features will enable Salesforce’s customers to deliver superior shopping experiences: “Commerce companies are looking to architect high-caliber ecommerce sites that can swiftly adapt to changing customer expectations and continue to foster strong customer relationships. With the combined power of data, AI, and CRM, Commerce Cloud gives brands the choice of the right tool so they can build superior shopping experiences their way.” New Commerce Cloud Capabilities Einstein Copilot Advancements Salesforce is pulling out the big AI guns, leveraging generative AI (GenAI) to enhance Einstein Copilot with new marketing and merchandising capabilities alongside its traditional sales and service functions. It’s like your old assistant got a brain transplant and now has the IQ of Einstein, the charm of James Bond, and the work ethic of a coffee-fueled startup founder. Ariel Kelman, President and CMO of Salesforce, emphasized the importance of these advancements: “Marketing and commerce leaders need a trusted advisor to help them tap into the promise of generative AI. With the Einstein 1 Platform we’re giving organizations the power to unify all of their data on one trusted platform. This is the key to getting results from generative AI that are actually useful in driving your business forward.” Key Features of Einstein 1 for Marketing and Commerce Expanding Partnerships and Enhancing AI and Data Offerings In addition to these product enhancements, Salesforce has expanded its partnership with IBM to improve AI and data offerings. The collaboration aims to merge IBM’s watsonx.ai platform with Salesforce’s Einstein 1 software, providing customers with the ability to make data-driven decisions and access actions directly within their workflows. It’s like pairing up Batman and Superman to fight the evil forces of inefficiency and bad data. The partnership includes bidirectional data integration, flexible large language models (LLMs), prebuilt CRM solutions, and a focus on responsible AI development. IBM will also join Salesforce’s Zero Copy Partner Network, ensuring that data moves as smoothly as butter on hot toast. Salesforce Commerce Cloud and Einstein Copilot Capabilities These enhancements and partnerships underline Salesforce’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that enhance customer experiences and drive business growth, all while making sure your digital commerce experience is smoother than a jazz saxophone solo. Like1 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more
Loop, the premier returns and reverse logistics platform, has extended its acclaimed returns management software to merchants using Salesforce Commerce Cloud, marking a significant expansion beyond Shopify’s realm. This integration offers enterprise merchants on Salesforce Commerce Cloud access to Loop’s renowned returns management solution, effectively easing the complexities associated with customer returns. Merchants leveraging Salesforce Commerce Cloud will now have the advantage of Loop’s user-friendly returns management software, facilitating streamlined reverse logistics processes. This integration aims to bolster profit margins by reducing the costs associated with returns and providing customers with a modern, exchange-centric returns experience. Key benefits for merchants include: Jonathan Poma, CEO of Loop, expressed enthusiasm about extending Loop’s acclaimed returns solution to Salesforce Commerce Cloud merchants, citing the increasing demand from brands outside the Shopify ecosystem. He highlighted Loop’s commitment to delivering a seamless experience characterized by ease of use, operational efficiency, and cost savings. Loop’s integration with Salesforce Commerce Cloud enables merchants to effortlessly manage item exchanges, synchronize order data, automate returns processes, leverage analytics for continuous improvement, and more. Merchants operating on Salesforce Commerce Cloud can explore early adoption opportunities by scheduling a demo with Loop’s team. Loop will also be present at Salesforce Connections 2024 in Chicago, inviting interested parties to schedule meetings to discover how Loop can streamline reverse logistics processes and reduce costs associated with returns. About Loop: Loop is a leading post-purchase platform specializing in returns, exchanges, and reverse logistics for over 3,500 renowned brands worldwide. With innovative features like Workflows, Instant Exchanges, Shop Now, and Bonus Credit, Loop empowers brands to unlock cost savings, enhance customer lifetime value, and retain more revenue. Having processed over 40 million returns to date, Loop continues to redefine post-purchase experiences. Learn more at www.loopreturns.com. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more
After doing their initial Sales Cloud implementation and SAP integration over 12 years ago, this company was only leveraging Salesforce in a basic capacity, being a predominantly SAP and Microsoft shop. Fast forward to about a year ago, with a change in leadership, Salesforce became the desired platform to build and expand on. With the need to support multiple lines of business, provide more accurate forecasting and quoting and close the gap between sales and supply chain there was a lot to tackle both immediately and long term.
Enhancements for Commerce and Marketing from Salesforce in Spring ’24. Content Creation for Engagement Marketing Cloud Save time using generative AI to create email content for subject lines and body copy, all while keeping the marketer in the loop. Data Cloud Advertising with LinkedIn Marketing Cloud Activate unified, first-party data profiles directly from within Data Cloud in minutes to inform highly targeted advertising across LinkedIn properties. Cut wasted ad spend and speed up ROI. Content Creation for Account Engagement Marketing Cloud Use generative AI to create content for landing pages, emails, and subject lines. Keep marketers in the loop every step of the way to train models and oversee outputs. Global Promotions Management Marketing Cloud Build an end-to-end set of workflows to activate and analyze promotion programs. Define pricing and loyalty promotions in a single seamless experience for both loyalty members and non-loyalty members. Unified Messaging for WhatsApp Marketing Cloud Turn one-way marketing promotional messages into two-way service conversations all within the same WhatsApp thread. The result: Better engagement, higher conversions, and faster resolutions. Salesforce Commerce Enhancements Commerce Cloud Launch digital stores 77% faster with automated flows for commerce setup. Increase productivity with AI-powered semantic search, and drive growth with commerce subscriptions. Help merchants sell digital subscription products to B2B and D2C shoppers. Order Management Enhancements Commerce Cloud Understand why products are returned with AI-powered insights from reviews and return codes. Create uneven exchange workflows for your service agents, and give customers an easy way to check order status. Enterprise B2B Scale Commerce Cloud Meet complex needs with support for huge carts. Deliver duplicate-cart-item and split-shipment capabilities. Plus get APIs for custom promotions rules, quantity rules, and tiered pricing on cart totals. B2C Commerce and Composable Storefront Enhancements Commerce Cloud Further boost merchant efficiency and scale with Storefront Preview for Composable Storefront. Get improved search performance and new admin tools in log center, control center, and eCDN. Commerce Concierge Commerce Cloud Simplify B2B purchases with AI-powered conversational selling experiences. Buyers can now use plain language prompts, photos, and unstructured data to easily search for products and get personalized responses on any digital channel. Stay tuned to Tectonic’s Insights for more details and Salesforce news. Enhancements for Commerce and Marketing from Salesforce in Spring ’24 release. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more
Salesforce eCommerce & Commerce Cloud: Everything You Need to Know What is Salesforce eCommerce? Salesforce eCommerce, powered by Salesforce Commerce Cloud, is a comprehensive, cloud-based solution that helps businesses scale, create intelligent shopping experiences, and drive revenue growth. A Unified Digital Commerce Platform Salesforce Commerce Cloud encompasses: With Commerce Cloud, businesses can build and manage their entire eCommerce operation—from responsive storefronts to complex logistics like shipping and inventory tracking. Key Features of Salesforce Commerce Cloud Commerce Cloud Digital Create fully responsive, omnichannel eCommerce websites with advanced search capabilities, secure mobile payments, and personalized customer journeys. Storefront Reference Architecture (SFRA) Launch professional eCommerce sites quickly using best-in-class tools, pre-built wireframes, and integrated digital technologies for easy customization and maintenance. Endless Aisle Enhance the shopping experience with pre-ordering, wishlists, back-in-stock alerts, and exclusive online promotions—reducing lost sales and improving inventory management. Commerce Portals Build account portals, loyalty programs, and customer communities to foster long-term engagement and brand loyalty. Order Management Optimize order processing with automated payments, easy returns, real-time order tracking, and a seamless purchasing experience. Intuitive Platform Leverage no-code tools, commerce APIs, and built-in templates to design eCommerce experiences without deep technical expertise. Unified Commerce Deliver a seamless shopping experience across digital and physical channels, ensuring consistency and convenience for customers. How Salesforce eCommerce Benefits Your Business AI-Powered Predictive Intelligence Commerce Cloud integrates Einstein AI, offering:✅ Personalized product recommendations✅ Automated marketing insights✅ Cart abandonment reduction✅ Smart search enhancements Personalized Customer Journeys Tailor every interaction with AI-driven recommendations, customized content, and omnichannel engagement strategies. Seamless Multi-Storefront Management Easily manage multiple brands, international storefronts, and localized experiences with multi-currency, multi-language, and cross-border commerce capabilities. Scalability Without Limits Handle high transaction volumes, traffic spikes, and expansive product catalogs with ease as your business grows. 24/7 Support & Strategic Guidance Benefit from Salesforce’s extensive support ecosystem, including advisory services, webinars, and AI-driven best practices to accelerate success. Salesforce Commerce Cloud + Marketing Cloud: The Perfect Pairing Salesforce eCommerce seamlessly integrates with Salesforce Marketing Cloud, enabling businesses to:🔹 Automate retargeting and abandoned cart recovery campaigns🔹 Personalize customer engagement at scale🔹 Track and analyze customer behaviors in real-time🔹 Enhance product recommendations with AI-powered insights By combining Commerce Cloud and Marketing Cloud, businesses can craft end-to-end, data-driven shopping experiences that drive higher conversion rates and customer satisfaction. Ready to Transform Your eCommerce Strategy? Whether launching a new online store or optimizing an established brand, Salesforce eCommerce offers limitless possibilities. Let’s explore how Commerce Cloud, AI, and automation can elevate your business. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more
Capitalizing on the public’s eagerness to travel post pandemic, the travel and hospitality industry finds its most lucrative opportunity may be in 2024. Salesforce and the Impact on Transportation and Hospitality industries is here to help. A significant 44% of Americans are anticipated to embark on leisure holiday trips this year, emphasizing the need for the travel and hospitality sector to enhance customer services and, consequently, boost revenue. This is where Salesforce’s capacity to centralize customer data, interactions, and feedback becomes most valuable. In this blog post, Tectonic will delve deeper into understanding the pivotal role of Salesforce CRM in the travel and hospitality industry. Creating a real-time view of your guests helps to surprise and delight them across every interaction. Salesforce and the Impact on Transportation and Hospitality The suite of Salesforce for hospitality has digital abilities that help hotels, casinos, and resorts continually adapt to the changing expectations of their guests. Salesforce Sales Cloud helps scale revenue. Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Account Engagement customize engagements with guests. With Salesforce Flow and Case Management simplify and automate many of the time-consuming tasks that slow the hotel business down. The Influence of Salesforce on Customer Experiences Personalized touchpoints facilitated by Salesforce 360 degree customer view contribute to a seamless and cohesive customer journey, from the initial inquiry phase to post-trip engagement. Leveraging the platform’s capabilities, travel and hospitality businesses can devise targeted marketing campaigns that directly address the interests and preferences of their customers, leading to increased engagement and conversion rates. Salesforce’s impact extends to post-booking interactions, where businesses can sustain customer relationships by providing relevant updates, recommendations, and support throughout the travel experience. Salesforce enables businesses to transcend standard service levels, delivering moments of delight and genuine connection. With Salesforce and the Impact on Transportation and Hospitality is boosting business and customer satisfaction. Powering Salesforce for Tailored Customer Interactions The ability to deliver personalized customer interactions is pivotal in the travel and hospitality industry’s success. Through the robust capabilities of the Salesforce platform in customer data management and segmentation, businesses can create detailed customer profiles capturing preferences, past interactions, and feedback. This information forms the basis for crafting tailored experiences, from personalized recommendations and promotions to targeted promotional offers and invitations. Whether adding SMS texting, web personalization for returning visitors, or social media retargeted advertising, Salesforce has the right tools for your hospitality company and Tectonic has the experience to implement those tools for you. Salesforce’s marketing automation and personalization features enable businesses to deploy customized communication strategies, delivering the right message to the right customer over the right channel at the right time. Leveraging data-driven insights, businesses can orchestrate customer journeys that are highly relevant and engaging, fostering a sense of individuality and exclusivity. Integrating Salesforce with Your Booking and Reservation Systems Salesforce has significantly impacted the travel and hospitality industry by integrating with many booking and reservation systems. Seamless connectivity between Salesforce and these vital systems streamlines the entire customer journey, from initial inquiry to post-trip follow-up. This integration centralizes customer data and booking information, providing a comprehensive view of each customer’s interactions and preferences. This integration ability also decreases your time to market with a Salesforce solution and increases your return on investment. Reduced technical debt brings greater impact to the entire organization. Sales, Salesforce and the Impact on Transportation and Hospitality Enhanced collaboration between sales, marketing, and customer service teams is facilitated, ensuring a cohesive approach to customer interactions. With a unified view of all your customer data, teams can deliver personalized recommendations, offer timely assistance, and coordinate pre- and post-trip communication. Automation of processes such as booking confirmations and post-trip surveys enhances operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Streamlining Marketing and Sales Efforts with Salesforce Marketing and sales efforts are integral components of a successful travel and hospitality business, and Salesforce offers tools and features designed to streamline these critical functions. The platform’s marketing automation capabilities enable businesses to create targeted campaigns, personalized communications, and automated workflows. By leveraging customer data and insights, businesses can craft highly relevant and engaging marketing initiatives, driving higher levels of engagement and conversion. Salesforce’s sales management tools empower businesses to track customer interactions, manage leads, and optimize the sales pipeline for improved conversion rates. With features such as lead scoring, opportunity tracking, and predictive analytics, Salesforce equips businesses with resources to drive sales efficiency and effectiveness. A centralized source of truth for guests allows marketing to hand warmed leads off to sales with complete information. Salesforce collaboration tools enable everyone on your property to see all relevant information to best serve guests and their unique needs. Travelers have a natural yen for exploration and excellent, personalized interactions powered by the Salesforce ecosystem allow you to know your customers where they are when they interact with you and provide them with the next best experience powered by CRM Analytics and Einstein. Salesforce, Tectonic, and You Salesforce serves as a catalyst for transformation within the travel and hospitality industry, enabling businesses to redefine customer experiences and elevate their offerings. As the industry embraces digital innovation and customer-centric strategies, Salesforce stands poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of travel and hospitality, driving sustained growth and differentiation for businesses that harness its potential. Tectonic has serious travel and hospitality industry experience positioning us to deliver a Salesforce solution customized for your business model and to deliver it quickly. As Salesforce Partners, Tectonic’s experienced team of Salesforce consultants can help strengthen your overall CRM strategy, enhance business workflows, and create a very powerful custom solution to delight your customers and empower your employees. Strategic Salesforce Consulting Partners provide solutions across Salesforce products and platforms customized to your business needs. Ready for a Hospitality or Travel Salesforce Implementation? Explore the possibilities of Salesforce for travel and hospitality or other Salesforce solutions based on your company’s goals. Tectonic is ready to partner with you, offering support at every stage of your Salesforce journey. Reach out online to request more information or
Ecommerce Implementation Tasks and Roles By Tectonic Salesforce Marketing Consultant, Shannan Hearne To effectively establish, improve, or expand your ecommerce presence, it is crucial to conduct a thorough assessment of the tasks and teams involved in achieving your business objectives. Whether you are embarking on a direct-to-consumer journey or managing an established organization with plans for new initiatives, the fundamental roles and functions of ecommerce remain consistent. In some cases, putting the perfect ecommerce implementation team together requires including a Salesforce partner like Tectonic to fill all the roles. Omnichannel (a term used in ecommerce and retail to describe a strategy aimed at providing seamless shopping experiences across all channels) strategies continue to be among the most compelling for brands, yet turning them into a reality poses challenges. With an estimated 90% of all purchases projected to happen online by 2040, the readiness of your business becomes a crucial question. Tectonic, as your Salesforce implementation partner, can help ensure your ecommerce readiness. As customers increasingly utilize multiple channels for purchases, expecting seamless experiences regardless of engagement location, omnichannel commerce holds more promise than ever. If you hope to promote an online store, the key lies in how you implement your ecommerce platform from the outset. From design to architecture to deployment, each step involves critical decisions impacting long-term success. Tectonic has the ability to help you make those critical decisions as well as a powerful pre-implementation discovery process to keep your ecommerce project moving forward in the right direction. Whether launching a new ecommerce business or migrating to a new ecommerce platform, the actions you take now will shape your future success. This step in digital transformation, a journey where there is no single case study for success among the estimated 26 million ecommerce sites in the world, is critical. Your roadmap will determine your potential for success or failure. Failure often stems from poor upfront planning, lacking a full understanding of the market, customers, and your own organization. Thoughtfulness in ecommerce implementation sets the stage for success. I once worked for a boss who’s mantra was “prior planning prevents poor performance”. In e-commerce implementations this rings true. There is not a guaranteed cookie cutter recipe for success. However, planning and putting into place the proper team is key. Key players in a smooth ecommerce implementation include: Scaling an ecommerce store requires thorough preparation, execution, and optimization. Brands gearing up to boost omnichannel experiences and derive value should establish goals, create a comprehensive plan, and align technology, product initiatives, and marketing strategies. Development teams implement features outlined in the roadmap, while UX and design teams ensure a seamless buyer experience. Marketing and merchandising strategies attract customers and foster loyalty, while development operations optimize backend processes for efficiency. Ecommerce implementation tasks and roles need to be fully staffed for success. Ecommerce Implementation Tasks and Roles Understanding how your ecommerce roadmap influences key activities and roles is crucial to grasp its impact on your commerce operations. Identifying ecommerce features aligned with your business goals and prioritizing them for development is critical. At Tectonic we put a huge effort into identifying your goals and creating a road map for your success. Depending on your development team’s skills and capacity, you may choose a minimum viable product (MVP) approach or a more aggressive strategy that emphasizes innovation and working with a Salesforce partner. Building teams supporting ecommerce success involves essential roles such as marketers, merchandisers, and UX designers. Mapping out necessary tasks and responsibilities within your ecommerce operations helps identify gaps in your team structure. This analysis enables informed decisions on hiring, reskilling, or engaging external experts from Tectonic to fill these gaps effectively. A successful ecommerce strategy requires expertise in user interface design, web development, search engine optimization, marketing, and a modern design understanding. Tectonic can supply manpower and training to upskill your team and organization for success with your ecommerce implementation. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more
An industry leader in lifesciences research and ecommerce, is tasked with integrating recent acquisitions, standardizing processes, and improving marketing return-on-investment. Ecommerce company moves to the cloud and adopts Google Cloud and Tableau to improve sales and operational efficiency. Google Cloud and Tableau Ecommerce Success to the rescue. Industry: Lifesciences and Biotechnology Research Problem: Leadership requested help driving an improved culture of proactive decision-making, rather than reactive. Implemented : Our solution? Results: Salesforce offers customized solutions for the ecommerce industry, assisting companies in this field to provide outstanding customer experiences, optimize workflows, and spur growth and brand loyalty. Salesforce offers digital transformation technology for life sciences, ecommerce, and biotechnology research industries. If you are considering a Salesforce health and life sciences implementation, contact Tectonic today. Like2 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more
Transform Your Nonprofit with Salesforce Experience Cloud: A Digital Storefront for Engagement Think of Salesforce Experience Cloud as your Nonprofit’s digital storefront—always open, always inviting. This powerful Digital Experience Platform (DXP) enables you to create custom portals, communities, and hubs where donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries can seamlessly connect with your organization. Instead of juggling endless emails and spreadsheets, Experience Cloud centralizes interactions, making them self-service, intuitive, and engaging. With nonprofit-specific features, you can build customized, branded experiences without heavy development work. Here’s what makes Experience Cloud a game-changer: ✅ Drag-and-drop site builder for effortless customization✅ Prebuilt templates & Lightning components for quick deployment✅ Mobile Publisher for consistent branding across mobile apps✅ Built-in content management system (CMS)✅ Personalization tools like audience targeting & role-based access✅ Einstein AI-powered chatbots for instant responses✅ Gamification with badges & leaderboards✅ Google Analytics 4 integration for engagement insights✅ Advanced security with Lightning Locker & Clickjack protection …and much more. 🔍 Nonprofit Solutions You Can Build with Salesforce Experience Cloud 1️⃣ Program Applications & Intake Portals Managing program applications can be overwhelming without a structured system. Experience Cloud allows Nonprofits to create a self-service portal where applicants can submit forms, track status updates, and receive automated notifications—eliminating paper-based processes and endless email chains. With Dynamic Forms and Flow Builder, applications stay structured while automation accelerates approvals. Plus, since everything syncs to the Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP), you’ll always have a real-time view of applicants and program impact. 2️⃣ Volunteer Portals Managing volunteers shouldn’t feel like a full-time job. With a Volunteer Portal, people can sign up, pick shifts, and track their hours—all without back-and-forth emails. Features like automated background checks and approval workflows ensure smooth operations. Meanwhile, Experience Cloud’s Chatter integration fosters engagement, helping you track who’s active, who’s disengaged, and who might need a little encouragement. 3️⃣ Community Partner Portals Nonprofits thrive on partnerships, and a Community Partner Portal keeps corporate sponsors, local businesses, and community groups connected. With this portal, partners can log in, access shared resources, submit funding applications, and track joint projects—all from one secure platform. Role-based access ensures that sensitive data stays protected while collaboration remains seamless. 4️⃣ Membership Portals If your nonprofit has a membership program, Experience Cloud helps you build a Member Portal where users can renew memberships, update information, and access exclusive content. Want to boost engagement? Introduce gamification with badges, leaderboards, and personalized event recommendations. Since everything is integrated with Salesforce CRM, you’ll gain real-time insights into member activity to keep engagement levels high. 5️⃣ Grant Management Portals Grant applications shouldn’t feel like a never-ending email thread. With Experience Cloud, you can create a Grant Management Portal where organizations apply for funding, track application progress, and submit reports—all in one place. Einstein AI can even prioritize applications based on predefined criteria, accelerating the review process. Grantors, in turn, can access real-time funding reports—enhancing transparency and trust. 6️⃣ E-Commerce & Donation Portals Looking to sell nonprofit merchandise or accept donations online? Experience Cloud seamlessly integrates with Salesforce Commerce Cloud, allowing you to build an e-commerce storefront for hassle-free transactions. Supporters can:💳 Make one-time or recurring donations🛍️ Purchase branded merchandise📜 Track donation history & receive personalized thank-you messages For secure transactions and easy donor tracking, you can integrate Stripe, PayPal, or other payment processors directly into your portal. 7️⃣ Voter Registration Portals If your nonprofit promotes civic engagement, Experience Cloud can power a Voter Registration Portal where users can check registration status, sign up to vote, and receive election reminders. With geolocation tools, voters can find polling places instantly, while Marketing Cloud integration allows you to send timely voter updates—ensuring higher participation in the democratic process. Implementing Salesforce Experience Cloud for Nonprofits Which Approach is Right for Your Nonprofit? Your ideal Experience Cloud implementation depends on your current CRM, budget, and long-term strategy. 1️⃣ Standalone Experience Cloud Implementation If your nonprofit already uses Salesforce CRM (but not NPSP), you can still implement Experience Cloud independently to create portals, volunteer hubs, and dashboards while maintaining your existing CRM as the system of record. Considerations:🔹 Custom Configuration – You’ll need to set up nonprofit-specific objects & automation.🔹 Permissions & Access – Well-structured security settings are crucial.🔹 CRM Integration – If using a non-Salesforce CRM, API integrations (e.g., MuleSoft, Zapier) will be required. This option is best for nonprofits that want external-facing engagement tools without fully shifting to the Salesforce Nonprofit ecosystem. 2️⃣ Experience Cloud + Nonprofit Cloud / NPSP For nonprofits already using Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud or NPSP, Experience Cloud becomes an extension of your engagement strategy. 🔹 Real-time donor, volunteer, and grant data sharing🔹 Prebuilt nonprofit features (fundraising, donor management, program tracking)🔹 Automation & AI-powered engagement 3️⃣ Experience Cloud + Third-Party Nonprofit CRMs Already using a third-party nonprofit CRM (like Raiser’s Edge NXT, Neon One, or DonorPerfect)? You can still leverage Experience Cloud, but strong integration is key. 🔹 Experience Cloud powers your donor, volunteer, or program portal🔹 API-based sync required for real-time data exchange🔹 Tools like MuleSoft or Zapier help bridge data gaps This approach is ideal for nonprofits wanting the flexibility of Experience Cloud without migrating their backend to Salesforce. Final Thought: Making Experience Cloud Work for Your Nonprofit No matter your approach, Salesforce Experience Cloud is a powerful tool to drive engagement and efficiency for nonprofits. However, successful implementation requires a well-thought-out strategy. Need expert guidance? A Salesforce implementation partner can help tailor Experience Cloud to fit your unique nonprofit needs, ensuring your digital storefront delivers maximum impact. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence
What is Salesforce commerce cloud? Salesforce Commerce Cloud is a cloud-based suite of products that enable e-commerce businesses to set up e-commerce sites, drive more automation and provide customers with seamless shopping experiences. Commerce enables retailers to swiftly establish an online presence, leveraging the capabilities of Salesforce CMS. Equipped with numerous out-of-the-box features, it caters to both B2C and B2B retailers, facilitating the creation of exceptional online experiences. Commerce Cloud encompasses standard Salesforce features, exhibiting mobile readiness, seamless integration with Service Cloud, and compatibility with other Salesforce products. Additionally, it incorporates Einstein AI-enabled functionalities. Noteworthy examples of SFDC Commerce Cloud implementation can be observed through prominent Salesforce customers like Puma and Adidas. The platform offers two variants, each catering to distinct customer focuses: Scale commerce with confidence on the most complete platform. Simplify everything from setting up your digital storefront to driving sales on any customer touchpoint with AI and automation powered by the Einstein 1 Platform. Salesforce Commerce capabilities enable you to cover more touchpoints with your customers, deliver personalized services to them, launch in new markets faster, and boost conversions. It helps you make analytics-based decisions to provide truly unforgettable services to your shoppers. Like1 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more
Salesforce FAQ – Salesforce CRM: Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more
Sales and Service Personalization: drive sales with real time data Enhance customer and prospect interactions by integrating real-time engagement data directly into your sales and service consoles. Provide service teams with the ability to proactively address queries and deliver effective case resolutions by swiftly accessing a customer’s recent interactions across diverse business touchpoints. Empower your sales teams with deeper insights into an account or prospect’s purchase journey, enabling more relevant conversations and offers based on real-time knowledge of consumed content, viewed products, or time spent on your site. Know your buyers. Attain a comprehensive view of your buyers by combining 1st and 3rd party data with the robust capabilities of Salesforce’s industry-leading Customer Data Platform (CDP). Imagine closing prospects instantly. With real-time data, it’s possible! Real-time sales data enables you to identify recent changes, such as mergers, acquisitions, new job openings, or promotions. Equip your sales team with a competitive advantage, allowing them to promptly contact potential customers and initiate sales activities. So, what is real-time data, how does it work, and how can you implement it without a complex data infrastructure? This article explores all these aspects and highlights the benefits of utilizing accurate B2B data for real-time sales. What is real-time data? Real-time data refers to immediate and continuous access to information about sales activities, customer interactions, and market trends. For your sales and marketing teams, this means capturing, analyzing, and utilizing up-to-date data to make informed decisions, enhance sales processes, create personalized experiences, and strengthen customer relationships. Real-time data is crucial because it offers numerous benefits for B2B businesses. This insight will explore some tangible benefits that real-time data can provide for your company: Access up-to-the-minute information on customer behaviors, preferences, and buying patterns, allowing your B2B sales team to engage with prospects immediately. Real-time insights into events like funding, promotions, or team expansions can trigger timely sales activities, such as emails, LinkedIn messages, or call invitations. Immediate updates from real-time sales insights enable businesses to adjust pricing based on market fluctuations or competitive moves. Real-time data collection helps track competitor pricing, customer demand, and inventory levels, allowing for optimized pricing strategies and instant adjustments with minimal effort from your sales team. Incorporate robust key management for data security to safeguard sensitive information and avoid additional risks. When a prospect expresses interest or takes specific actions, such as visiting a website or filling out a form, you can immediately engage with them. Define sales triggers and actions, such as emailing to schedule a demo after a prospect visits your pricing page. Real-time data processing allows for automated nurturing of prospects, eliminating the need for manual tracking and outreach. Gain real-time actionable insights into sales performance, leading to accurate sales forecasting. Sales managers can monitor sales data in real time, track progress against targets, adjust strategies, and manage pipeline visibility for more precise financial projections aligned with future financial planning. Instant data offers the opportunity to personalize customer interactions more effectively. Access real-time data analytics on customer preferences, purchase history, and previous interactions to tailor relevant recommendations and provide a personalized customer experience. Real-time data analysis provides instant visibility into sales performance metrics. Sales representatives can monitor their performance, including call activity, conversion rates, and revenue generated, in real time. Immediate feedback enables reps to course-correct, improve sales techniques, and achieve better results. By monitoring real-time market trends, competitor activities, and customer feedback, sales managers can make data-driven decisions, adjust sales strategies, and seize emerging opportunities. Business intelligence tools offering real-time data services help sales teams promptly address customer issues or concerns. By tracking customer behavior, feedback, complaints, and inquiries in real time, sales reps can proactively contact customers and help resolve issues. How does real-time data work? Real-time data involves capturing specific actions on the go, such as customers’ activities on your website or offsite, like visiting sales pages, checking your company’s LinkedIn profile, or exploring similar sites. Events are collected before storing any information, allowing for instant management of sales data and predictive analytics. Marketing and Sales Use of Real-Time Data: Updating lead records in real time results in better sales performance and cost savings across the entire business. Real-time big data can be used in various ways for better business decisions, such as: Examples of Real-Time Data: Real-time intent data helps identify potential customers actively researching or showing interest in products like you are selling. This data can be gathered from various sources, including website tracking, social media monitoring, and content consumption patterns. Ultima used a real-time data solution to access intent data and direct dials, resulting in ROI in just 8 weeks. Real-time data is a valuable asset for B2B businesses, offering timely opportunities, dynamic pricing, immediate lead engagement, accurate forecasting, personalized customer interactions, instant sales performance insights, agile sales strategies, and prompt issue resolution. Understanding how real-time data works and leveraging it effectively can significantly enhance the performance and efficiency of your sales and marketing teams. How do you use data to drive sales? What is an example of a data-driven sales? A B2B company that manufactures and sells industrial equipment can use a data-driven approach that involves analyzing purchasing data from their CRM, tracking industry trends, and using customer feedback surveys to understand what customers truly value. To drive sales with real time data, you need a tool like Salesforce and Salesforce Data Cloud. A real-time data sales strategy is a strategy that focuses on delivering immediate responses from customers. The methodology of real time selling is a way for brands to interact with their customers using stuff that’s actually happening at that time. The real time sales are based on insights into a customer’s online actions. The insights are analyzed and utilized quickly with AI. Drive sales real time data. Like1 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow
Here is a helpful glossary of sales terminology you may hear when discussing Salesforce sales. Salesforce Sales Acronyms Acronym Meaning Defintion BANT Budget, Authority, Need, Time A framework that helps sales reps judge how qualified a lead is/their propensity to purchase (how likely they are to purchase). From there, sales reps can focus their attention on the most promising prospects. This is more closely related to sales qualified leads than marketing qualified leads. CQ Calendar Quarter A period of three months that is used by organizations in order to calculate their budgets, profits, losses, and sales quotas. The calendar quarters start in January/April/July/October, whereas the fiscal quarters can start at any month (according to the organization), for example, Salesforce themselves start their fiscal year in February, which means their second fiscal quarter starts in May. Salesforce Admins and users will come across this when filtering date fields in the Salesforce report builder. CY Calendar Year A period of twelve months that is used by organizations in order to calculate their budgets, profits, losses, and sales quotas. The calendar year starts in January, whereas the fiscal year can start at any month (according to the organization). ECC Einstein Call Coaching Einstein Call Coaching gives users insights and trends from sales calls – taking the rich fabric of a conversation and splicing it into key moments. ECC is ‘product within a product’ of High Velocity Sales (HVS). ECI Einstein Conversation Insights Gives users insights and trends from sales calls – taking the rich fabric of a conversation and splicing it into key moments. Never before have sales managers and reps been able to analyze their conversations like this – at scale and at speed – which would be impossible without the help of AI. (Formerly known as Einstein Call Coaching). EEI Einstein Email Insights Einstein will surface contextual sales information while writing emails, so you ultimately send the best response, at the best time.Available with Sales Cloud Einstein, Inbox, High Velocity Sales, or Revenue Intelligence, which come at an additional cost. It’s available (at an extra cost) for Salesforce Enterprise, Performance, and Unlimited editions. FQ Fiscal Quarter A period of three months that is used by organizations in order to calculate their budgets, profits, losses, and sales quotas. Salesforce Admins and users will come across this when filtering date fields in the Salesforce report builder. FY Fiscal Year “A period of twelve months, used by organizations in order to calculate their budgets, profits, and losses.” (and sales quotas)(source).Salesforce Admins and users will come across this when filtering date fields in the Salesforce report builder. HVS High-velocity Sales High-velocity Sales was developed for inside sales/sales development teams that process a high-volume of activities, especially calls. Now called Sales Engagement, the product includes: Sales Cadences, Work Queue, Einstein Lead Score, Salesforce Inbox, Call Scripts and Einstein Call Coaching. YOY Year-on-year Comparing the performance in one period of time with the same time period the previous year. For example, comparing January 2022 to January 2021 to see if trends have increased or decreased. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more
