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Citizen Development

Citizen Development

As we progress through the era of digital transformation, citizen development has emerged as a key trend in the business landscape. This approach empowers end-users to create their applications, streamlining workflows and reshaping corporate operations. However, like any innovation, citizen development presents both advantages and challenges. In this article, we will explore the benefits, pros and cons of citizen development, and strategies to effectively leverage it within your organization. 1. The Rise of Citizen Development The popularity of citizen development is on the rise, as reflected by Statista, which reports a remarkable 24.6% growth in this sector since 2020. The increasing demand for software solutions in the corporate environment has made the traditional model of IT departments solely managing application development unsustainable. By enabling non-technical personnel to develop their applications, businesses can relieve pressure on IT teams, speed up solution delivery, and cultivate a more agile business model. Furthermore, investing in citizen development platforms fosters an inclusive and innovative workplace, allowing diverse perspectives to generate unique applications that meet specific workflow needs. 2. Benefits of Citizen Development for Companies 2.1 Accelerated Pace and Flexibility Citizen development tools facilitate rapid prototyping and quicker application rollouts. Non-technical personnel can design, modify, and launch applications according to immediate needs, enhancing agility and responsiveness. 2.2 Boosted Creativity Empowering your staff to create applications unlocks a wealth of untapped potential. Citizen development nurtures a culture of innovation, leading to tailored solutions that address specific business challenges. 2.3 Tailored App Design Citizen developers, as end-users, possess an in-depth understanding of their workflow requirements. This perspective enables them to develop applications that align closely with user needs, improving adoption and utility. 2.4 Heightened Productivity By reducing the back-and-forth between IT departments and end-users, citizen development streamlines operations, leading to enhanced efficiency. 2.5 Cost-Effectiveness Citizen development significantly cuts costs associated with traditional application development, such as hiring professional developers or outsourcing tasks. Rapid application rollouts also help seize business opportunities quickly, optimizing ROI. 2.6 Reduced Workload for IT Staff Enabling non-technical personnel to handle minor application development tasks lightens the load on IT teams, allowing them to focus on high-priority projects. 2.7 Enhanced Visibility and Accountability Many citizen development platforms include built-in analytics and reporting features, offering insights into application usage and performance. This transparency helps businesses track initiatives, make data-driven decisions, and continuously improve processes. 3. Implementing Citizen Development with Salesforce Solutions Given its extensive benefits, citizen development is a strategy many businesses are eager to adopt. Salesforce provides a powerful platform to effectively harness citizen development. Salesforce’s platform caters to both professional and citizen developers, offering a comprehensive suite of user-friendly tools for building applications and managing workflows. With built-in safeguards for data security and regulatory compliance, Salesforce for Public Sector and Tribal Governments ensures a smooth and secure citizen development process. Their clear deployment roadmap and thorough training programs equip businesses for success in their citizen development journey. 4. Partnering with Tectonic for Public Sector and Tribal Government Solutions Consider Tectonic as your trusted partner for PSS solutions. Tectonic is a distinguished provider of technology solutions with extensive expertise in Salesforce and process management. With a proven track record of successful projects, Tectonic has earned the trust of clients globally. Tectonic maintains a close partnership with Salesforce, ensuring a deep understanding of its advanced features, including process automation. As a Salesforce partner, Tectonic keeps clients updated on the latest advancements, delivering cutting-edge solutions tailored to their specific needs. By selecting Tectonic as your implementation partner for public sector Salesforce, you benefit from their vast experience and specialized knowledge. Tectonic provides a dedicated public sector team that excels in implementing secure and efficient solutions, working closely with our clients to address their unique challenges. Tectonic offers a comprehensive range of services, from initial implementation to ongoing support and maintenance. Their offerings include process modeling, application design, automation implementation, and roles management. With Tectonic’s expertise, you can ensure seamless integration of automation into your pss projects. To learn more about Tectonic’s public sector services, visit our services page, where you can explore their offerings, including Salesforce Managed Services. Tectonic’s Managed Services provide full support to ensure your public sector environment runs smoothly, covering automation management, data governance, and performance optimization. 5. Final Thoughts While citizen development presents both advantages and challenges, the benefits largely outweigh the potential drawbacks. Although there are concerns about data security and the need for proper governance, the positive impact of citizen development makes it a vital component of the digital transformation narrative. Successful implementation hinges on selecting the right platform and tools that align with your business model and workflow needs. Salesforce Public Sector Solution excels in this regard, offering a user-friendly suite of tools with a clear roadmap for deployment and top-notch support. Brining your public sector tech into the 21st century is an imperative. To fully realize the benefits of citizen development, businesses must strike a balance between empowerment and control. Establishing an environment that fosters innovation and efficiency, while also implementing a governance structure to mitigate risks, is essential. With careful planning, the right tools, and a culture of collaboration, the rewards of citizen development can be substantial. Whether you’re looking to enhance speed and agility, optimize costs, or cultivate a culture of innovation, citizen development offers a promising pathway forward. Embrace citizen development in Salesforce PSS, and set your business on the road to success. If you have any questions about implementing Salesforce Public Sector Solutions and its benefits, feel free to contact us to discuss your project. 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 Health Cloud

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AI in scams

AIs Role in Scams

How Generative AI is Supporting the Creation of Lures & Scams A Guide for Value Added Resellers Copyright © 2024 Gen Digital Inc. All rights reserved. Avast is part of Gen™. A long, long time ago, I worked for an antivirus company who has since been acquired by Avast.  Knowing many of the people involved in this area of artificial intelligence, I pay attention when they publish a white paper. AI in scams is something we all should be concerned about. I am excited to share it in our Tectonic Insights. Executive Summary The capabilities and global usage of both large language models (LLMs) and generative AI are rapidly increasing. While these tools offer significant benefits to the general public and businesses, they also pose potential risks for misuse by malicious actors, including the misuse of tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and other GPTs. This document explores how the ChatGPT brand is exploited for lures, scams, and other social engineering threats. Generative AI is expected to play a crucial role in the cyber threat world challenges, particularly in creating highly believable, multilingual texts for phishing and scams. These advancements provide more opportunities for sophisticated social engineering by even less sophisticated scammers than ever before. Conversely, we believe generative AI will not drastically change the landscape of malware generation in the near term. Despite numerous proofs of concept, the complexity of generative AI methods still makes traditional, simpler methods more practical for malware creation. In short, the good may not outweigh the bad – just yet. Recognizing the value of generative AI for legitimate purposes is important. AI-based security and assistant tools with various levels of maturity and specialization are already emerging in the market. As these tools evolve and become more widely available, substantial improvements in their capabilities are anticipated. AI-Generated Lures and Scams AI-generated lures and scams are increasingly prevalent. Cybercriminals use AI to create lures and conduct phishing attempts and scams through various texts—emails, social media content, e-shop reviews, SMS scams, and more. AI improves the credibility of social scams by producing trustworthy, authentic texts, eliminating traditional phishing red flags like broken language and awkward addressing. These advanced threats have exploited societal issues and initiatives, including cryptocurrencies, Covid-19, and the war in Ukraine. The popularity of ChatGPT among hackers stems more from its widespread recognition than its AI capabilities, making it a prime target for investigation by attackers. How is Generative AI Supporting the Creation of Lures and Scams? Generative AI, particularly ChatGPT, enhances the language used in scams, enabling cybercriminals to create more advanced texts than they could otherwise. AI can correct grammatical errors, provide multilingual content, and generate multiple text variations to improve believability. For sophisticated phishing attacks, attackers must integrate the AI-generated text into credible templates. They can purchase functional, well-designed phishing kits or use web archiving tools to replicate legitimate websites, altering URLs to phish victims. Currently, attackers need to manually build some aspects of their attempts. ChatGPT is not yet an “out-of-the-box” solution for advanced malware creation. However, the emergence of multi-type models, combining outputs like images, audio, and video, will enhance the capabilities of generative AI for creating believable phishing and scam campaigns. Malvertising Malvertising, or “malicious advertising,” involves disseminating malware through online ads. Cybercriminals exploit the widespread reach and interactive nature of digital ads to distribute harmful content. Instances have been observed where ChatGPT’s name is used in malicious vectors on platforms like Facebook, leading users to fraudulent investment portals. Users who provide personal information become vulnerable to identity theft, financial fraud, account takeovers, and further scams. The collected data is often sold on the dark web, contributing to the broader cybercrime ecosystem. Recognizing and mitigating these deceptive tactics is crucial. YouTube Scams YouTube, one of the world’s most popular platforms, is not immune to cybercrime. Fake videos featuring prominent figures are used to trick users into harmful actions. This strategy, known as the “Appeal to Authority,” exploits trust and credibility to phish personal details or coerce victims into sending money. For example, videos featuring Elon Musk discussing OpenAI have been modified to scam victims. A QR code displayed in the video redirects users to a scam page, often a cryptocurrency scam or phishing attempt. As AI models like Midjourney and DALL-E mature, the use of fake images, videos, and audio is expected to increase, enhancing the credibility of these scams. Typosquatting Typosquatting involves minor changes in URLs to redirect users to different websites, potentially leading to phishing attacks or the installation of malicious applications. An example is an Android app named “Open Chat GBT: AI Chat Bot,” where a subtle URL alteration can deceive users into downloading harmful software. Browser Extensions The popularity of ChatGPT has led to the emergence of numerous browser extensions. While many are legitimate, others are malicious, designed to lure victims. Attackers create extensions with names resembling ChatGPT to deceive users into downloading harmful software, such as adware or spyware. These extensions can also subscribe users to services that periodically charge fees, known as fleeceware. For instance, a malicious extension mimicking “ChatGPT for Google” was reported by Guardio. This extension stole Facebook sessions and cookies but was removed from the Chrome Web Store after being reported. Installers and Cracks Malicious installers often mimic legitimate tools, tricking users into installing malware. These installers promise to install ChatGPT but instead deploy malware like NodeStealer, which steals passwords and browser cookies. Cracked or unofficial software versions pose similar risks, hiding malware that can steal personal information or take control of computers. This particular method of installing malware has been around for decades. However the usage of ChatGPT and other free to download tools has given it a resurrection. Fake Updates Fake updates are a common tactic where users are prompted to update their browser to access content. Campaigns like SocGholish use ChatGPT-related articles to lure users into downloading remote access trojans (RATs), giving attackers control over infected devices. These pages are often hosted on vulnerable WordPress sites or sites with

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Understanding and Growing Your Monthly Recurring Revenue

Understanding and Growing Your Monthly Recurring Revenue

Understanding and Growing Your Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) is a vital metric for subscription-based and managed services businesses. It indicates whether your business is growing or shrinking and is crucial for making strategic decisions. Understanding and Growing Your Monthly Recurring Revenue is a key to building, monitoring, and exploding your pipeline. What is Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR)? While revenue represents your company’s total income, MRR is the predicted monthly revenue from active subscriptions. It includes all recurring charges such as subscriptions, service retainers, promos, discounts, and add-ons, but excludes one-time fees. Why is MRR Important? MRR provides insights into financial performance, growth potential, churn, and customer value. It is essential for strategic planning and investor relations. Benefits of Calculating MRR: Types of MRR: How to Calculate MRR: The basic formula for MRR is: MRR=Number of active accounts×Average monthly revenue per accounttext{MRR} = text{Number of active accounts} times text{Average monthly revenue per account}MRR=Number of active accounts×Average monthly revenue per account Steps to Calculate MRR: Example Calculation: MRR=(100×$50)+(50×$100)=$5,000+$5,000=$10,000text{MRR} = (100 times $50) + (50 times $100) = $5,000 + $5,000 = $10,000MRR=(100×$50)+(50×$100)=$5,000+$5,000=$10,000 So, the MRR for that month would be $10,000. Advanced MRR Calculations: Growing Your MRR: MRR is a crucial metric for understanding your customers, finances, and growth potential. By tracking and managing MRR, you can make informed decisions and drive sustainable business growth. As the subscription-based and managed services landscape evolves, prioritizing MRR is essential for improving and innovating revenue streams. 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 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more Top Ten Reasons Why Tectonic Loves the Cloud The Cloud is Good for Everyone – Why Tectonic loves the cloud You don’t need to worry about tracking licenses. Read more

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Blockers to IT Success and Salesforce Implementation Solutions

Blockers to IT Success and Salesforce Implementation Solutions

The CIO’s website recently delved into the primary obstacles to achieving success in IT. Tectonic echoes these concerns and offers insights and remedies based on our Salesforce Implementation Solutions. Issues such as data challenges, technical debt, and talent shortages can significantly hinder the progress of IT organizations and departments in executing high-value projects. Several CIOs have shared their approaches to tackling these challenges. Tectonic poses solutions based upon the Salesforce ecosystem. Carm Taglienti, Chief Data Officer and Distinguished Engineer at Insight, reflects on the dual nature of the recent surge in artificial intelligence (AI). While AI advancements have undoubtedly enhanced efficiency and productivity across technology departments, lines of business, and business units, the rapid proliferation of AI technologies, particularly generative AI, has disrupted numerous IT plans. Taglienti emphasizes the need for organizations to adapt swiftly to these technological shifts to avoid derailing critical projects. Tectonic recently looked at challenges the public sector face in regards to AI. Read more here. The rapid evolution of technology poses a continuous challenge for IT leaders. The relentless pace of technological advancements, exemplified by the rise of AI, demands proactive resource allocation to stay competitive. Ryan Downing, CIO of Principal Financial Group, underscores the necessity of adopting a strategic approach to navigate the complexities of multicloud environments effectively. Tectonic echoes the multicloud challenge. We address this for our clients with Salesforce implementation, optimization, consulting, and ongoing managed services. Salesforce remains the world’s number one CRM solution for a reason. Cloud solutions for marketing, personalization, patient data privacy, manufacturing, feedback management, and more are just a small sampling of the IT solutions Salesforce and Tectonic present. Unaddressed data issues pose a significant impediment to realizing the full potential of analytics, automation, and AI. Many organizations are grappling with legacy systems and inadequate data management practices, hindering their progress in succesfully deploying advanced technologies. Working with a Salesforce partner can address this challenge. The scarcity of skilled talent remains a pressing concern for CIOs, as highlighted in the State of the CIO Study by Foundry. Despite efforts to train internal staff and leverage contractors, filling critical tech positions remains challenging, impeding transformation initiatives. Managed services providers help address this skill gap. Technical debt and legacy systems present additional hurdles for IT departments. The maintenance of outdated infrastructure drains resources and limits innovation, forcing CIOs to strike a delicate balance between modernization efforts and operational demands. Addressing cybersecurity threats and compliance with evolving regulations further strains IT resources, necessitating proactive measures to safeguard organizational assets and maintain regulatory compliance. Striking the right balance between sustaining existing operations, fostering growth, and driving transformative initiatives is another challenge facing CIOs. Scott Saccal of Cambrex emphasizes the importance of aligning resource allocation with strategic objectives to avoid market displacement. The allure of new technologies, coupled with executive pressure to explore shiny objects, can divert focus from core priorities, hampering strategic execution. Shadow IT and the lack of organizational agility pose additional barriers to IT success, highlighting the need for CIOs to foster collaboration, align IT initiatives with business goals, and cultivate a culture of adaptability within their departments. ‘Shadow IT’ refers to the unsanctioned use of software, hardware, or other systems and services within an organization, often without the knowledge of that organization’s information technology (IT) department. CIOs must navigate a myriad of challenges, from technological disruptions to talent shortages, while maintaining a laser focus on strategic objectives to drive organizational success in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Tectonic is here to consult and achieve your IT challenges. Contact us today. 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Salesforce for Small Business

Salesforce for Small Business – The Salesforce Starter Edition

Salesforce may be used by large enterprises, but it allows great automation tools for smaller businesses as well. With Salesforce Starter Edition. The pricing that Salesforce offers here is manageable by almost everyone and can be used to kickstart a small business. What is the Salesforce Starter Edition? Salesforce Starter brings powerful tools into one marketing experience, where you can leverage customer data and engage the people who follow your brand. A streamlined campaign experience brings contacts and content together, while flows enhance and automate your daily tasks. Is Salesforce too expensive for small businesses? Salesforce is a famous CRM software, but it is expensive for small businesses. Key CRM features like Automation and Sales Reports come with a costly Salesforce enterprise plan. Explore and compare price vs value proportion to get the most affordable small business CRM. Introducing Salesforce’s all-in-one, easy-to-use solution that brings marketing, sales, and service together. Starter Suite is the fastest, easiest way to get started with a complete CRM. Pro Suite adds customization capabilities and automated business processes to fit your needs. What can you do with Salesforce Starter Edition and Pro Suites? Find more leads, win more deals, and keep customers happy with out-of-the-box tools built into the world’s #1 CRM suite. Starter Suite helps you start fast and grow faster with marketing, sales, and service. Pro Suite takes Starter to the next level, unlocking customization, automation, and enhanced sales and service functionality. If your small business is considering a Salesforce implementation, contact Tectonic today. 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Salesforce Communications Cloud

Salesforce Communications Cloud

Salesforce’s Communications Cloud enables the delivery of digital-first journeys and seamless order processes, offering time and cost savings while enhancing operational efficiencies. In collaboration with Tectonic, this Salesforce tool empowers the creation of straightforward yet powerful digital experiences. It aids in streamlining product and service launches, adhering to industry standards, architectures, and leveraging predictive analytics to reduce churn. Communications Cloud Formerly Vlocity Built on the world’s leading CRM platform, Communications Cloud, formerly known as Vlocity for communications, empowers B2C, B2B, and wholesale communications service providers (CSPs) to transition to a catalog-driven digital BSS (digital business support system). With purpose-built industry functionality and the comprehensive capabilities of Sales Cloud and Service Cloud, service providers can swiftly adapt to changing customer expectations, achieve faster time-to-value, and integrate every aspect of their organization, from marketing and retail channels to customer care and operations. B2B, B2C, and Multi-Channel Salesforce Communications Cloud ensures businesses exceed customer expectations across B2B, B2C, and multiple channels. It seamlessly integrates with Salesforce Marketing, Sales, and Service Clouds, offering industry-specific functionality. Utilizing analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), it delivers personalized services, enabling omnichannel marketing across various channels. Get Help Today Collaborating with Tectonic ensures the seamless integration of Communications Cloud functionality with other Salesforce systems, promoting smooth data flow and cohesive organizational processes. For specific business operations, like number reservation systems or credit check applications, that are not directly supported by Salesforce Customer 360, OmniStudio and APIs can be employed to integrate third-party applications. This solution provides industry-standard APIs, including TMF620 and TMF645 APIs. Thereby automating processes for faster and more accurate service. Tailored Customer Interactions Communications Cloud allows tailoring customer interactions based on individual preferences, providing notifications about promotions, service activations, outages, billing information, product changes, and feedback opportunities. Each communication is tracked on the customer account. Thus enabling Einstein Analytics to monitor interactions for efficient and personalized service. Commercial and technical teams collaborate using a shared catalog to design and develop customer-specific offers. With reusable components in the shared catalog, teams can efficiently build, test, and connect offer elements, reducing time-to-market. Customers can order products and services through various channels, and Communications Cloud, being omnichannel, processes and stores information using a master data source. It ensures that products and services offered are relevant, correctly configured, priced, available, and deliverable before the order is placed. Integration with Marketing and Service Clouds facilitates order fulfillment, service scheduling, and customer communication. Call center interactions become opportunities to build relationships and make informed suggestions. What used to be complaints now enhancing the customer experience. In the communications industry, changes to plans and services, known as move, add, change, delete (MACD), are managed through Communications Cloud integration with Salesforce Service and Marketing clouds. Sales reps create MACD orders with industries CPQ, keeping customers informed of progress and scheduling relevant service appointments. Tectonic, as a Salesforce Consulting Partner, assists companies in utilizing Communications Cloud effectively. Through the discovery process, roles and responsibilities are mapped to determine how key employees can best leverage Salesforce Communications Cloud. Tectonic comprises a skilled team of Salesforce-certified Consultants, Developers, Analysts, and Project Managers. Specializing in innovative Salesforce solutions, the team brings custom Salesforce technology to various business aspects. Always ensuring strategic services align with specific needs. Like Related Posts Top Ten Reasons Why Tectonic Loves the Cloud The Cloud is Good for Everyone – Why Tectonic loves the cloud You don’t need to worry about tracking licenses. Read more CRM Cloud Salesforce What is a CRM Cloud Salesforce? Salesforce Service Cloud is a customer relationship management (CRM) platform for Salesforce clients to Read more Advantages of a Cloud Managed Service Provider Considering outsourcing your IT management to a cloud managed service provider? Here are several benefits of opting for a cloud Read more Best CPQ for Salesforce Many businesses, once they select the best Salesforce CPQ tool for their business, turn to an implementation partner like Tectonic Read more

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Salesforce

Salesforce User Management

The user object holds significant importance as a fundamental standard Salesforce component regularly utilized in day-to-day operations. Proficiency in Salesforce user management, combined with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the user object, is crucial. This article explores the responsibilities of a Salesforce Administrator, offering insights into maintaining controlled access to Salesforce and its associated data. It also outlines strategies for optimizing functionality for Salesforce users. Types of Users in Salesforce: Salesforce encompasses both internal and external users based on integrated products, leading to two primary license types: Salesforce User License and Experience Cloud License, each with specific functionalities. A thorough understanding of these licenses and their capabilities is essential for effective user management. Additionally, consider feature or permission set licenses for specific functionalities, such as CPQ or Tableau CRM, which may incur additional costs. Explore Salesforce User Management Settings: Regularly visiting the User Management Settings page during Salesforce releases is crucial. The Field-Level Security for Permission Sets during Field Creation, available in beta, proves to be a valuable tool, streamlining the process for admins. The upcoming mandatory implementation of multi-factor authentication (MFA) starting Summer ’24 can be explored early on to ensure a smooth transition for users. Automate Permission and Group Assignment: User access policies, currently in beta, introduce criteria-based automation for granting or revoking permission sets, licenses, groups, and queue memberships. Admins can set up policies based on user creation, update, or both. Before enabling this feature, carefully review considerations and determine situations where it makes sense to revoke permission sets using policies. Muting Permissions?: Permission set groups are instrumental in defining combinations for different personas or functions. Admins can reuse the same permission sets in multiple groups without maintaining identical access. The introduction of a “muting permission set” within the group allows for impacting only that group without altering the actual permission sets. Know your Org-Wide Defaults: The sharing settings page, following object and field access, is a priority in Salesforce user management. Org-wide defaults set the baseline access level for users to view others’ records. Record access can also be controlled using account or opportunity teams, enabling users to define and add others as needed. Freeze!: The Freeze/Unfreeze button on the user record provides a useful feature for administrators. It allows the temporary “freezing” of a user who has left the organization but cannot be deactivated immediately. During the freeze period, the user cannot access Salesforce, while the license remains unavailable for further use. Empower Your Users: User enablement is crucial for a successful Salesforce user experience. Training users on out-of-the-box and custom functionalities ensures faster adoption. Sharing productivity tips, such as customizing the navigation bar, empowers users to tailor their experience. A user-friendly interface allowing customization enhances overall usability. Effective Salesforce user management is integral to the overall experience (UX). From creating permission sets to extending object and field access, Salesforce Administrators play a crucial role in ensuring a seamless and secure interaction with key business information. 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Tectonic Salesforce Customization

Tectonic Salesforce Customization

Mastering Salesforce Customization with Tectonic As an official Salesforce Consulting Partner, Tectonic brings nearly two decades of experience in delivering Salesforce configuration and customization services. Our team includes over 80 Salesforce Certified Consultants dedicated to providing tailored solutions for nonprofits and membership associations. We specialize in customizing, configuring, and implementing Salesforce solutions to meet specific client needs. Our services range from configuring core functionality to expanding scope with AMS implementations like Fonteva, across various Salesforce clouds. The Benefits of Salesforce Customization Salesforce customization offers a more engaging, personalized user experience for your member community, customers, or partners and a more streamlined, profitable platform for your team. Salesforce Customization Services Leverage the full potential of Salesforce with Tectonic’s customization and configuration services. Our Salesforce Customizations and Configurations As an official Salesforce Consulting Partner, Tectonic has extensive experience delivering Salesforce configuration and customization services, supported by a team of Salesforce Certified Consultants. We work with nonprofits and membership associations to customize, configure, and implement Salesforce solutions tailored to their specific requirements. Our services include configuring core functionality, expanding scope with AMS implementations like Fonteva, and working with various Salesforce clouds: Our Workspace Salesforce is continually evolving, and so are we. Tectonic’s workspace is our R&D arena where we experiment with next-gen technologies and solutions to ensure our clients receive cutting-edge configurations. Tech Stack Integration Salesforce is the central hub of an entire ecosystem. We deploy proven AppExchange products to extend your Salesforce platform and integrate existing components of your tech stack into one holistic system. Device Optimization Experience design drives our Salesforce configurations. With the trend towards smart devices, we ensure your Salesforce platform delivers a seamless experience on any device. Code Review We maintain a strict code review process to ensure your Salesforce platform is robust and reliable, preventing breakdowns during critical processes like membership renewals or webinar bookings. Documentation With a highly configured Salesforce platform, documentation is essential. We maintain and deliver comprehensive documentation throughout the process, from gathering requirements to implementing your Salesforce solution. The Benefits of Salesforce Customization Drive Member Engagement Tailoring your Salesforce platform to your members makes it more intuitive and engaging. We configure custom elements like personalized Experience Cloud pages and registration flows that align new users with the right organization. Increase Revenue Salesforce customization enhances user experience, leading to improved sales and a stronger revenue pipeline. Features like visibility of cart abandonment, Stripe integration, and streamlined payment processing bolster revenue. Enable Greater Efficiency A customized platform doesn’t have to be complex. We help replace your legacy CRM and AMS, streamline essential processes, and simplify managing and updating the system. Tectonic’s Customization Projects For over a decade, we’ve helped nonprofits and membership organizations support their missions and engage their communities with Salesforce. Working with Tectonic Customizing Salesforce requires the right support. Tectonic is a trusted tech partner with deep platform expertise. We know when to use Salesforce flows or configure with code and can navigate common pitfalls. We follow best practices for developing Salesforce functionality and support IT teams through complex transitions or deliver proofs of concept to architecture review boards. Delivery and Integration Our standardized delivery model ensures efficient, consistent integration of new solutions based on our extensive experience. We guide you through building and transitioning to your new Salesforce platform while supporting ongoing growth and data management on your current 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Tectonic Salesforce Services

Kanban View in Salesforce

What is a Kanban view in Salesforce? Kanban views show records in a graphical way that helps you monitor your work and keep deals moving ahead. Kanban views are available for most objects, with exceptions such as tasks. What are the limitations of Kanban view in Salesforce? You can’t activate a contract in a Kanban view. Kanban views don’t show columns for the standard contract status of Activated. You can’t group contracts by the Owner Expiration Notice field in a Kanban view. What are the disadvantages of Kanban? One of the key advantages of Kanban is its flexibility and adaptability, which allows teams to quickly respond to changing requirements and priorities. However, this lack of formal structure can also be a double-edged sword, leading to ambiguity, miscommunication, and a lack of clarity on roles and responsibilities. What is the purpose of a Kanban? A kanban board is an agile project management tool designed to help visualize work, limit work-in-progress, and maximize efficiency (or flow). Arrange a kanban view to show a graphical view of records in a list view. Each kanban view is based on a list view, and kanban view settings are applied separately for each list view. If you use kanban views, review considerations for using them with certain objects and other features. Editing (All Objects) Currency (All Objects) Contracts Knowledge Leads Opportunities 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Cloud Based Managed Services

Cloud Based Managed Services

At Tectonic, our aim is to enable you to concentrate on your business operations while we handle the intricacies of technology. Our team oversees all technology assets and evaluates your IT systems to ensure your employees have the necessary equipment to support their work. We work diligently in the background to maintain the seamless functioning of your business, encompassing tasks such as consistent backups, 24/7 server monitoring, event logging, and more. Cloud Based Managed Services. Managed Cloud Cloud managed services, or managed cloud, refer to applications, services, or ecosystems in the cloud managed by a third-party organization. These services include IT tasks like engineering on demand, operations management, 24/7 help desk support, hosting, and implementation. Cloud-based service involves the organized administration of cloud computing products and services. It encompasses processes, strategies, policies, and technology used to control and maintain public and private clouds, hybrid clouds, or multicloud environments. Cloud infrastructure managed services involve companies like Microsoft, AWS, HubSpot, IBM, and Google Cloud. This allows businesses to receive personalized tech support from specialists in specific software providers. Examples of cloud-based services include file storage and backup, web-based email, and project management tools. SaaS cloud service providers include Dropbox, G Suite, Microsoft Office 365, and Slack. While cloud service providers are cost-effective, they lack the robustness of fully managed IT services. With Tectonic, managed cloud services provide scalable solutions, offering benefits like consistent backups, disaster recovery, and flexibility to adapt to changing business requirements without downtime. Managed services differ from SaaS as they go beyond software provision, often handling networking and hardware requirements. Managed cloud services offer hybrid IT and cloud administration, with providers offering unique values in areas like migration, optimization, security, and configuration. Advantages of Managed Cloud Service Providers (MCSPs) include resource optimization, cloud service integration, and predictable spending. However, potential drawbacks include high costs, optimization impacting performance, and security risks due to multi-tenancy. Amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, cloud adoption has surged, with companies embracing remote work models. Businesses increasingly partner with cloud managed service providers to optimize IT infrastructure, address regulatory compliance, and ensure security in the cloud environment. Local servers, physically located on-premises or in private data centers, are not considered cloud services. They host applications, websites, or services within a specific organization’s infrastructure. 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Lightning App Builder

Lightning App Builder

What is a lightning app builder? Lightning App Builder is new software that allows you to build a website in minutes. With LAB, you can design your website with minimal technical knowledge or coding. What are the key benefits of lightning apps? In Lightning Experience, Lightning apps give your users access to sets of objects, tabs, and other items all in one convenient bundle in the navigation bar. Lightning apps let you brand your apps with a custom color and logo. You can even include a utility bar and Lightning page tabs in your Lightning app. Your users are busy. They’re closing deals, providing top-notch service, and marketing to your prospects and customers. By creating customized pages, you can put key information at your users’ fingertips and provide them with an easy interface to update and add records. The LAB is a point-and-click tool that makes it easy to create custom pages for the Salesforce mobile app and Lightning Experience, giving your users what they need all in one place. But that’s not all. When you edit a Lightning app from the App Manager in Setup, you’re brought into the Lightning App Builder to manage the app’s settings. You can update the app’s branding, navigation, options, and manage the Lightning pages assigned to that app all in the Lightning App Builder. Building an app in minutes without experience may sound optimistic, but that dream is a reality with Salesforce’s Lightning App Builder. With the Lightning App Builder, you can build: Which three standard component types are available in the LAB? 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Tectonic-Ensuring Salesforce Customer Satisfaction

Tectonic’s Successful Salesforce Track Record

Salesforce Technology Services Integrator – Tectonic has successfully delivered Salesforce in a variety of industries including Public Sector, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and Health Life Sciences.  Read on about Tectonic’s successful Salesforce track record. Our primary focus is assisting clients with their Salesforce needs to solve business challenges. We work at the intersection of CRM, Marketing, Big Data, and Analytics. Public Sector Experience/Focus Proven Delivery – Tectonic delivers Salesforce Implementation, Integration and Managed Services, utilizing a modified Waterfall / Agile Delivery Method, leveraging US and International Delivery Center (IDC) resources, and delivering with strong, experienced Project Management Health and Life Sciences Focus We’ve helped healthcare providers navigate the challenges of moving data, including PHI and PII, into the cloud, providing physician facing services and improving operations. Salesforce provides comprehensive solutions tailored for the healthcare industry, addressing the specific needs of both payers (insurance providers) and providers (healthcare organizations). These solutions are designed to enhance patient engagement, improve operational efficiency, and drive better health outcomes. Financial Services Focus Transforming financial service delivery, optimizing operations, and cultivating community well-being and trust are at the core of Salesforce Financial Services Solutions. By automating every banking customer experience and uniting teams through Salesforce’s intelligence and a shared view of real-time customer data, a comprehensive banking solution is created, fostering customer satisfaction and loyalty. Travel and Hospitality Focus Salesforce provides tailored solutions for the hospitality and travel industry, helping businesses in this sector deliver exceptional customer experiences, streamline operations, and drive growth. These solutions leverage the power of the Salesforce Customer 360 platform to centralize data, enhance communication, and provide a personalized experience for guests. Manufacturing, Distribution, and Energy Focus We’ve helped small and large manufacturers optimize their sales operations and drive efficiencies in their contact center. Salesforce offers a suite of solutions tailored for manufacturing and distribution industries to enhance processes, improve collaboration, and drive overall efficiency. These solutions are designed to streamline operations. Designed improve customer relationships and provide valuable insights. Nonprofit Focus We’ve helped nonprofits and NGO’s optimize their operations and drive efficiencies in their fundraising and mission efforts. Salesforce offers a suite of solutions to nurture relationships and scale impact. Solutions with AI-driven, personalized services. Salesforce allows you to take control of your data on a single integrated platform. Nonprofit Cloud brings a nonprofit CRM, fundraising, programs, marketing engagement, and outcomes together in a single product. Strategic Relationship with Salesforce – Salesforce Ventures invested in Tectonic in Q3 2015.  We maintain strong working relationships with Salesforce License Sales, Professional Services and Alliances. Tectonic’s successful Salesforce track record stems from our great relationship with Salesforce and grows through each customer interaction. 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Tectonic Salesforce Managed Services

Why Managed Salesforce Services

Utilizing a managed services program for Salesforce can offer numerous benefits to your company: By hiring experts on a fixed hourly basis instead of full-time, you can pay for actual work hours, eliminating delays and downtime. This flexible agreement model is a preferred choice for businesses and contributes to reducing operational costs. Depending upon your needs you can purchase cost-effective hours for a reasonable turn around on work or premium hours for high priority projects. Managed Services provide ongoing support and maintenance to ensure the effective functioning of the Salesforce CRM in sync with the evolving needs of the organization. What is a Salesforce MSP? The MSP Track is designed by Salesforce for partners that engage with their customers in new ways by offering managed services. Unlike consulting partners involved during sales and implementation, MSP Partners provide services post-implementation or on an ongoing basis. Based in the United States, Tectonic offers managed services for your Salesforce ecosystem. Contact us today for more information. Salesforce MSP FAQs What program fees will I need to pay to join the MSP Partner Program?There are no annual program fees to join the MSP Partner Program. Can I join both Consulting and Managed Services Provider (MSP) Partner Programs?Yes. For FY24, the Managed Services Provider (MSP) Partner Program is exclusive to existing Consulting Partners. It’s an opportunity for us to grow the program and bring more value to customers together. How should I enroll in the MSP Partner Program?Please submit a case via Partner Community and mention “MSP Enrollment” in the title of the case. Once the case has been received, we will reach out and help you through the enrollment process. Who is qualified to join the MSP Partner Program?For FY24, the MSP Partner Program is exclusive to existing Consulting Partners. Partners who offer managed services, agency services, or Business Process as a Service (BPaaS) are qualified to enroll in the MSP Partner Program. These engagements include but are not limited to 6 categories: Administration Services, Support Services, Release & Change Services, Developer & Integration Services, Analytical Services, and AppExchange App Management. What happens if I don’t accept the Salesforce Partner Program Agreement (SPPA)?No one from your company will be able to log into the Partner Community until the SPPA is accepted by an authorized agent of your company. Review the SPPA help article for more information about the Salesforce Partner Program Agreement. How long do I keep my tier?If you are promoted to a higher tier during the Salesforce Fiscal Year (SFDC FY), you will maintain the highest tier you achieve for the rest of that SFDC FY and the entire next SFDC FY, after which you will be re-evaluated. 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Cloud Managed Services

Advantages of a Cloud Managed Service Provider

Considering outsourcing your IT management to a cloud managed service provider? Here are several benefits of opting for a cloud expert like Tectonic: Cost Savings: Predictable, Recurring Monthly Costs: Future-Proof Technology: Custom and Integrated Service: Robust Infrastructure: Centralized Network Services and Applications: Coverage on All Service Levels: Disaster Recovery: Fast Response Times: Vendor Interfacing: Tectonic offers Managed Services for all your Salesforce platform IT needs.  Contact us today to get started. 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Salesforce roles and responsibilities

CRM Cloud Salesforce

What is a CRM Cloud Salesforce? Salesforce Service Cloud is a customer relationship management (CRM) platform for Salesforce clients to provide service and support to their business customers. Salesforce based Service Cloud on its Sales Cloud product, a popular CRM software for sales professionals. Salesforce Sales and Service Clouds are considered core products. Numerous other Salesforce cloud-based products exist. Cloud-based CRM is customer relationship management software that is hosted on the CRM provider’s servers and accessed by its customers through the internet. This kind of software is also called software as a service (SaaS). What is Salesforce Service Cloud, a cloud-based CRM? Salesforce Service Cloud stands as a robust customer relationship management (CRM) platform tailored for Salesforce clients, facilitating seamless service and support for their business clientele. Rooted in Salesforce’s renowned Sales Cloud product, Service Cloud caters to the needs of sales professionals. In essence, a cloud-based CRM, like Salesforce Service Cloud, operates as CRM software hosted on the provider’s servers, accessible to clients via the internet. This software-as-a-service (SaaS) model simplifies access and usage, offering flexibility and scalability to businesses. The SaaS model also makes for ease of implementation and managed services by a third party as everything is accessible in the cloud. Understanding CRM Cloud Salesforce: CRM, or customer relationship management, represents a technology aimed at efficiently managing all interactions and relationships between a company and its customers. The overarching objective is to enhance business relationships, achieved through streamlined processes and improved profitability. When referring to CRM, it typically encompasses a CRM system or platform—a multifaceted tool facilitating contact management, sales management, productivity enhancements, and more. This software zeroes in on nurturing organizational relationships with individual entities, be it customers, service users, colleagues, partners, or suppliers, throughout their lifecycle, spanning from acquisition to support and beyond. The Role of CRM Software: CRM software empowers sales and marketing teams to track and optimize customer interaction journeys, thereby enriching the overall customer experience. By meticulously mapping each touchpoint in the customer journey, CRM solutions bolster customer engagement and satisfaction, fostering long-term relationships. Who Benefits from CRM Software? A CRM system extends its benefits across various business functions, including sales, customer service, business development, marketing, and more. It serves as a centralized repository for customer and prospect information, enabling comprehensive contact management, opportunity identification, service issue resolution, and campaign management. With heightened visibility and data accessibility, teams can collaborate effectively, boosting productivity and driving business growth. The Significance of CRM for Businesses: As the largest and fastest-growing enterprise application software category, CRM software holds increasing importance in modern business operations. Forecasts suggest a substantial surge in worldwide spending on CRM, underlining its pivotal role in organizational strategies centered around customer-centricity and technological enablement. Key Functions of CRM Systems: CRM solutions play a pivotal role in acquiring, retaining, and nurturing customer relationships by organizing and synthesizing customer and prospect data from diverse sources and channels. These platforms facilitate a comprehensive understanding of customer behavior and preferences, driving informed decision-making and personalized engagement strategies. Moreover, modern CRM platforms offer seamless integration with complementary business tools, such as document management, accounting, and surveys, providing businesses with a holistic view of their customers and empowering them to forge stronger relationships and accelerate growth. When people talk about CRM, they usually refer to a CRM system or platform, a tool that helps with contact management, sales management, productivity, and more. Who is CRM software for? A CRM system gives everyone — from sales, customer service, business development, recruiting, marketing, or any other line of business — a better way to manage the external interactions and relationships that drive success. With visibility and easy access to data, it’s easier to collaborate and increase productivity. Everyone in your company can see how customers have been communicated with, what they’ve bought, when they last purchased, what they paid, and so much more. CRM software is increasing in importance as it is the largest and fastest-growing enterprise application software category. Worldwide spending on CRM is expected to reach USD $114.4 billion by 2027. If your business is going to last, you need a strategy for the future that’s centered around your customers and enabled by the right technology. You have targets for sales, business objectives, and profitability. But getting up-to-date, reliable information on your progress can be tricky. How do you translate the many streams of data coming in from sales, customer service, marketing, and social media monitoring into useful business information? More administration means less time for everything else. An active sales team can generate a flood of data. Reps are out on the road talking to customers, meeting prospects, and finding out valuable information – but all too often this information gets stored in handwritten notes, laptops, sticky notes on laptops, or inside the heads of your salespeople. Details can get lost, meetings are not followed up on promptly, and prioritizing customers can be a matter of guesswork rather than a rigorous exercise based on fact. And it can all be compounded if a key salesperson moves on. But it’s not just sales that suffers without CRM. Your customers may be contacting you on a range of different platforms including phone, email, or social media — asking questions, following up on orders, or contacting you about an issue. Without a common platform for customer interactions, communications can be missed or lost in the flood of information — leading to a slow or unsatisfactory response. Salesforce Data Cloud unifies all the data and provides a 360 degree customer view. Even if you do successfully collect all this data, you’re faced with the challenge of making sense of it. It can be difficult to extract intelligence. Reports can be hard to create and they can waste valuable selling time. Managers can lose sight of what their teams are up to, which means that they can’t offer the right support at the right time – while a lack of oversight can also result in a lack of accountability from the

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