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Digital BSS for Telecom Profits

Digital Business Support Systems (BSS) play a critical role in managing essential functions such as billing, rating and charging, customer experience, CRM, fulfillment, and revenue management within communications service providers (CSPs). However, the scope of a comprehensive digital BSS stack extends beyond these core functionalities to enable, monetize, and manage new digital services and partnerships. This transformation is particularly crucial for CSPs transitioning into digital service providers (DSPs), especially in anticipation of the 5G era. Let’s delve into how a robust digital BSS transformation solution can drive profitability. Anticipating Customer Churn Telecom companies can leverage advanced analytics across BSS, OSS, CRM, and other systems to extract actionable insights from customer usage, transactions, complaints, billing, and social media data. Predictive modeling identifies potential churners, enabling targeted offers, promotions, and services aimed at retaining and nurturing loyal customers. Personalizing Customer Experiences Today’s digital consumers expect personalized interactions. Implementing a digital BSS stack empowers telecom companies to capture and utilize interaction data for tailored customer engagements. Whether resolving network issues, rewarding loyalty, or suggesting relevant offers, AI and deep learning algorithms ensure real-time responses that enhance customer satisfaction and increase ARPU (Average Revenue Per User). Innovating Service Offerings Cloud-based services are increasingly popular among consumers and businesses. A robust BSS solution allows operators to seamlessly integrate these services with traditional offerings, fostering innovation and boosting ARPU. Driving Agility and Efficiency A cloud-based BSS solution enhances business agility to support emerging technologies such as IoT and M2M systems. It streamlines partnership management and product launches in complex market landscapes, enabling providers to swiftly seize new opportunities. Retaining Profitable Customers Customer acquisition costs highlight the importance of retaining profitable customers. Integrated BSS and OSS applications provide telecom companies with comprehensive insights into customer behavior, facilitating convergent billing, tiered pricing models, and targeted incentives that enhance customer loyalty and lifetime value. Boosting Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) Telecom companies strive to increase ARPU by introducing compelling new services. Integration of customer-facing BSS systems with service delivery mechanisms accelerates provisioning and enables the launch of innovative offerings that drive revenue growth. In conclusion, a modernized and robust BSS infrastructure is indispensable for telecom companies looking to differentiate their services, elevate customer experiences, and capitalize on evolving market dynamics. By harnessing advanced analytics, embracing cloud-based solutions, and integrating diverse systems, telcos can unlock growth opportunities and enhance profitability in a competitive marketplace. 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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Secure and Compliant Data Sharing With Grantmaking PSS

Secure and Compliant Data Sharing With Grantmaking PSS

Control and Monitor Data Sharing with Compliant Data Sharing in Salesforce Compliant Data Sharing in Salesforce allows administrators and grant managers to control and monitor data sharing within Experience Cloud and CRM without needing to write complex code. By enabling and configuring this feature for specific objects, CRM and Experience Cloud users can seamlessly share Grantmaking records. Secure and Compliant Data Sharing With Grantmaking PSS. Key Features and Benefits of Secure and Compliant Data Sharing With Grantmaking PSS How to Implement Compliant Data Sharing Compliant Data Sharing Overview Objects and Roles Configuring and Managing Compliant Data Sharing Implementation in Public Sector Solutions Objects Supported by Compliant Data Sharing in Public Sector Solutions Considerations and Limitations Conclusion Compliant Data Sharing in Salesforce provides a robust framework for managing data sharing within Experience Cloud and CRM. By enabling detailed control and monitoring without complex coding, it helps organizations enhance compliance, improve operational efficiency, and streamline collaborative efforts across various departments and processes. 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 Asset Managment

Asset Management Salesforce

Can Salesforce do asset management? You can manage assets in Consumer Goods (desktop) and in the Consumer Goods offline mobile app in Salesforce. Let’s understand the process in detail. Create Asset Templates and Asset Types: Before you create assets, ensure that admins have created asset templates and asset types. Assets are items, such as refrigerators or freezers, that you place at a customer location (retail store) to increase your sales. Assets are also items you use in your business such as vehicles or computers. As an asset’s owner, you’re responsible for the maintenance, repair, or any other services required for the asset. Managing assets efficiently can help reduce customer complaints and, in turn, increase your brand value. By actively tracking your assets’ conditions, you can budget better, reduce losses, and ensure employee safety. What is the use of asset object in Salesforce? So, Assets are used quite frequently by sales, customer service in your back office. Assets are a standard object. It comes out-of-the-box with Salesforce. And being a standard object we can add custom fields, validation rules, record types, multiple page layouts. How do I create an asset for a product in Salesforce? Create an Asset What is the asset state period in Salesforce? An asset state period represents a time span when an asset has the same quantity, amount, and monthly recurring revenue (MRR). An asset has as many asset state periods as there are changes to it (asset actions) during its lifecycle. The dashboard and related pages show the current asset state period. What is the difference between subscription and asset in Salesforce? Use subscriptions to keep records of subscription products you’ve quoted or sold. Use assets to keep records of stand-alone products you’ve quoted or sold. You can use these records later to manage amendments and renewals to your opportunities and orders. How do I enable assets in Salesforce? Enable Asset Scheduling in Salesforce Scheduler How do I create an asset in Salesforce CPQ? Salesforce CPQ creates assets when you click Contracted on an opportunity or order. The asset creation process varies based on your account’s renewal model and the value of the asset conversion field on the product you’re contracting. How do you renew assets in Salesforce CPQ? Select the assets you want to renew, and then click Renew. Salesforce CPQ creates a renewal quote, associates it with a renewal opportunity, and opens the quote line editor. Edit the quantities of the assets from your original quote as needed. You can also add new products. What is an asset state? Asset State denotes the different states of assets in the organization such as assets in Use, In Store, Expired and so on. Apart from the default asset states, you can create custom ones. You can also enable or disable ownership and scan for custom asset states you create. Note that Salesforce also has a Digital Asset Management (DAM) capability. Where is asset library in Salesforce? To view asset files in Files home, select Libraries and then select Asset Library . To view and edit asset files in Setup, enter Asset Files in the Quick Find box, then select Asset Files. For more information on Salesforce Asset Management, contact Tectonic 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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Sales Cloud Einstein Forecasting

Sales Cloud Einstein Forecasting

Salesforce, the global leader in CRM, recently unveiled the next generation of Sales Cloud Einstein, Sales Cloud Einstein Forecasting, incorporating AI into every phase of the sales cycle, from pipeline building and deal closing to business growth. The new Einstein Forecasting tool enhances visibility and intelligence, enabling sales leaders to more accurately predict sales revenue at each stage. Additionally, Einstein Opportunity Scoring prioritizes high-value opportunities, and Einstein Email Insights identifies critical emails, allowing sales reps to sell faster and smarter. Introducing Einstein Forecasting Einstein Forecasting revolutionizes business predictability, benefiting everyone from the head of sales to the CFO. Traditional forecasting methods, often reliant on incomplete spreadsheets and outdated systems, result in inaccurate projections, underperformance, and business disconnection. In fact, less than half of deals close as forecasted, leading to missed quotas and revenue shortfalls. Sales Cloud Einstein Forecasting Einstein Forecasting is a fully automated, out-of-the-box solution utilizing a company’s historical CRM data to eliminate guesswork. By combining data mining and machine learning, it analyzes factors like seasonality and historical performance to deliver highly accurate, individualized sales forecasts. Its self-learning algorithms assess individual and team forecasting behaviors, adjusting for optimism or pessimism to provide unbiased analysis. Moreover, Einstein translates forecast data into human language, helping sales leaders understand pipeline expectations and reasons. For example, a regional manager for a trucking company can use a dashboard to see if the team is on track or if any deals are in jeopardy of not closing or being lost. This foresight allows for timely intervention. Similarly, a CFO considering expansion can use Einstein Forecasting to predict funding availability for new regions. Enhancing Sales Reps’ Efficiency with AI In addition to Einstein Forecasting, Salesforce introduced Einstein Opportunity Scoring and Einstein Email Insights to keep sales reps focused on vital deals. Einstein Opportunity Scoring Einstein Opportunity Scoring identifies, surfaces, and prioritizes the most valuable deals within Sales Cloud, such as those with large deal sizes and significant executive engagement. It monitors deals in progress, flagging high-value deals at risk, allowing reps to concentrate on building the pipeline and closing deals efficiently. For instance, sales reps can focus on the most promising deals instead of spending hours sifting through opportunities. Einstein Email Insights Einstein Email Insights acts as a personal email assistant for sales reps, powered by natural language processing (NLP). It identifies crucial emails and recommends actions or responses, helping reps prioritize their inbox and quickly address customer needs. This proactive approach ensures that deals continue moving forward, from scheduling meetings to sending quotes. For example, a sales rep returning from a day of meetings can quickly find and address important emails without sifting through their inbox. Benefits of Einstein Forecasting Einstein Forecasting leverages AI technology to bring certainty and visibility to forecasts, enhancing accuracy, predicting outcomes, and tracking team performance. Salesforce Einstein Celebrates One Year of Innovation Since its launch in September 2016, Salesforce Einstein has brought AI capabilities to every business user, transforming customer experiences across the Customer Success Platform. Today, Einstein delivers over 475 million daily predictions, enabling companies like U.S. Bank, Room&Board, FareCompare, Silverline, and Black Diamond to operate smarter and more productively. Additionally, Einstein Platform Services empower developers to build AI-powered CRM apps using computer vision and NLP, with over 7,000 developers already creating Einstein-powered apps. Under Chief Scientist Dr. Richard Socher, Salesforce Research has published 10 academic papers, advancing deep learning technology for Salesforce customers. Einstein Predictions Enabling Einstein Forecasting displays the Einstein prediction column on the forecasts page, showing median predicted amounts for each manager’s team based on opportunities within the Best Case and Commit forecast categories. Predictions may not appear if there is insufficient historical data or a large prediction range. Predictions are typically in US dollars unless multiple currencies are used, in which case amounts are converted based on the static conversion rate set by the Salesforce admin. Selecting a prediction value reveals detailed information in the side panel, including the prediction range, a breakdown of wins from existing and new deals, and top factors contributing to the prediction. The Forecast Changes Chart offers a visualization of predicted closings within a forecast period, highlighting key performance indicators. New Salesforce AI Innovation Fund To foster next-generation AI solutions, Salesforce Ventures announced a $50 million Salesforce AI Innovation Fund. Fast-growing AI startups Highspot, Squirro, and TalkIQ are the first recipients, accelerating their development of transformative AI solutions on Salesforce. Additionally, Salesforce Ventures has invested in All Turtles, an AI startup studio partnering with founding teams to create AI-centric products. Salesforce will collaborate with All Turtles to co-create advanced AI solutions on the Salesforce platform. 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 Data Studio

Salesforce Data Studio

Data Studio Overview Salesforce Data Studio is Salesforce’s premier solution for audience discovery, data acquisition, and data provisioning, offering access to the world’s largest premium data ecosystem. It provides: Data Studio is a self-service platform that connects data owners and buyers directly, fostering new opportunities for audience discovery, sharing, and activation. Leading brands like Anheuser-Busch, Conagra, Essence, and Heineken leverage Salesforce Data Studio to enhance the value of their data and drive revenue. Announcing Salesforce Data Studio Salesforce Data Studio addresses the shortcomings of traditional data exchanges and marketplaces. Unlike legacy platforms that rely on intermediaries, Data Studio allows data owners to maintain control and transparency. The platform ensures secure transactions with comprehensive data governance tools, enabling precise control over data access, usage, and duration. Key Features of Salesforce Data Studio: Industry Reactions Salesforce Marketing Cloud: The Leader in Digital Marketing Salesforce Marketing Cloud enables marketers to deliver connected, personalized, and real-time consumer engagement across all channels globally. With Marketing Cloud Einstein, marketers can harness artificial intelligence to optimize timing, channel, content, and audience for their marketing messages. Brands like Dunkin’ Donuts and Nestle Waters rely on Marketing Cloud to enhance engagement and advance their business goals. On average, companies using Marketing Cloud see a 27% increase in campaign effectiveness and a 26% boost in marketing ROI. Pricing and Availability Salesforce Data Studio is available now in several editions: The new Audience Discovery and Search feature will be available starting November 2017. 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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Roles in AI

Salesforce’s Quest for AI for the Masses

The software engine, Optimus Prime (not to be confused with the Autobot leader), originated in a basement beneath a West Elm furniture store on University Avenue in Palo Alto. A group of artificial intelligence enthusiasts within Salesforce, seeking to enhance the impact of machine learning models, embarked on this mission two years ago. While shoppers checked out furniture above, they developed a system to automate the creation of machine learning models. Thus Salesforce’s Quest for AI for the Masses started. Despite being initially named after the Transformers leader, the tie-in was abandoned, and Salesforce named its AI program Einstein. This move reflects the ambitious yet practical approach Salesforce takes in the AI domain. In March, a significant portion of Einstein became available to all Salesforce users, aligning with the company’s tradition of making advanced software accessible via the cloud. Salesforce, although now an industry giant, retains its scrappy upstart identity. When the AI trend gained momentum, the company aimed to create “AI for everyone,” focusing on making machine learning affordable and accessible to businesses. This populist mission emphasizes practical applications over revolutionary or apocalyptic visions. Einstein’s first widely available tool is the Einstein Intelligence module, designed to assist salespeople in managing leads effectively. It ranks opportunities based on factors like the likelihood to close, offering a practical application of artificial intelligence. While other tech giants boast significant research muscle, Salesforce focuses on providing immediate market advantages to its customers. Einstein Intelligence The Einstein Intelligence module employs machine learning to study historical data, identifying factors that predict future outcomes and adjusting its model over time. This dynamic approach allows for subtler and more powerful answers, making use of various data sources beyond basic Salesforce columns. Salesforce’s AI team strives to democratize AI by offering ready-made tools, ensuring businesses can benefit from machine learning without the need for extensive customization by data scientists. The company’s multi-tenant approach, serving 150,000 customers, keeps each company’s data separate and secure. Salesforce’s Quest for AI for the Masses To scale AI implementation across its vast customer base, Salesforce developed Optimus Prime. This system automates the creation of machine learning models for each customer, eliminating the need for extensive manual involvement. Optimus Prime, the AI that builds AIs, streamlines the process and accelerates model creation from weeks to just a couple of hours. Salesforce plans to expand Einstein’s capabilities, allowing users to apply it to more customized data and enabling non-programmers to build custom apps. The company’s long-term vision includes exposing more of its machine learning system to external developers, competing directly with AI heavyweights like Google and Microsoft in the business market. Originally published in WIRED magazine on August 2, 2017 and rewritten for this insight. 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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Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation

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 of industry clouds: Salesforce Health Cloud. This new cloud CRM offering aims to become a catalyst for positive change in the healthcare industry, shifting focus from traditional critical care to a more holistic patient-centric approach. Salesforce identifies a gap in existing systems, which are heavily centered around electronic medical record (EMR) systems designed primarily for billing rather than comprehensive patient care. Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation by bringing a patient-focused tool kit to medical care. Industry Transformation The healthcare sector is reorienting itself around health outcomes rather than billing outcomes. Joshua Newman, a former primary care doctor and current Chief Medical Officer and General Manager of Salesforce Health Care and Life Sciences, elaborated on this transformation in a recent blog post: “Because of the Affordable Care Act and new outcome-based reimbursements, healthcare providers are treating patients like customers for the first time. This shift is beneficial for patients as it places patient relationships — not records or revenue-cycle management systems — at the center of care delivery.” This shift is echoed by industry leaders like Jeroen Tas, CEO of Philips Healthcare Informatics Solutions and Services, who described the transformation in healthcare as connecting previously unlinked data to make it actionable and improve patient outcomes. Key Components of Salesforce Health Cloud Set to be available from February 2016, Salesforce Health Cloud is built on the Salesforce Service Cloud platform and includes: How Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Building on Experience Health Cloud benefits from having a qualified physician at the helm, enhancing its industry relevance. Salesforce has leveraged the experience of long-term health customers such as Centura Health, DJO Global, Radboud University Medical Center, and the University of California, San Francisco, in designing the solution. Exploiting Scale Salesforce is targeting its industry cloud solutions at volume market opportunities, aiming for solutions that both clinicians and patients can interact with. This aligns with the broader strategy outlined in the Financial Services Cloud launch. Working with Partners Pre-built integrations into EMR and other data sources are key components of the Healthcare Cloud, facilitated by ecosystem integration partners Mulesoft and Persistent Systems. Philips provides connectivity to medical devices and applications leveraging its HealthSuite digital platform. Integration partners are delivering services for implementation, connectivity, and content management. Showcasing the Platform Salesforce is emphasizing the proactive approach to healthcare demanded by a new generation of ‘digital native’ consumers. Research indicates that 71% of millennials want doctors to provide a mobile app for health management, and 63% are interested in sharing data from wearables with their doctors. However, getting healthcare professionals to adopt new technologies like Chatter is a significant step forward, as noted by Newman. Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation The rapid succession of industry cloud announcements from Salesforce suggests that the public sector and life sciences clouds might also debut before Dreamforce, which starts in two weeks. Both the Health Cloud and Financial Services Cloud signify Salesforce’s commitment to driving substantial transformations in their respective industries. These initiatives represent big bets on radical change rather than incremental improvements, positioning Salesforce as a key player in the ongoing evolution of industry-specific cloud solutions. Learning that your industry is targeted by a Salesforce industry cloud can be likened to the traditional Chinese curse of living in interesting times, signaling impending significant changes. 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 Alphabet Soup of Cloud Terminology As with any technology, the cloud brings its own alphabet soup of terms. This insight will hopefully help you navigate Read more

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Salesforce Jigsaw

Salesforce Jigsaw

Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for $142 million. This agreement also includes an incentive component, allowing for a 10% increase in the purchase price contingent upon meeting specific performance milestones. Cloud computing stands out as the leading trend in the business software realm, attracting attention from established players such as Microsoft (MSFT), SAP (SAP), and Oracle (ORCL). By leveraging internet technologies, cloud computing enhances application usability while reducing costs associated with server and hardware investments. With annual revenues surpassing $1 billion, Salesforce.com (CRM) continues its remarkable growth trajectory. However, to further augment its capabilities and revenue streams, the company is likely to concentrate on strategic acquisitions like Jigsaw. Originating in 2003, Jigsaw embarked on a journey common to high-tech startups, continually refining its business model and securing substantial venture capital funding. The company’s mission was ambitious: leveraging cloud computing and crowd-sourcing to develop a cutting-edge business database to rival established players like D&B (DNB). Overcoming challenges related to data accuracy, duplicate information, and user participation, Jigsaw devised innovative tools and incentive models, resulting in a thriving community of over 1.2 million members and a database comprising 21 million professionals from 4 million companies. By integrating with Salesforce.com, Jigsaw anticipates further enhancements to its database, given the latter’s access to extensive customer data. With approximately 800 existing customers, including notable names like New Horizons Computer Learning Centers, Hackett Group, and Sales Performance International, Jigsaw stands to benefit from Salesforce.com’s expansive customer base and cross-selling opportunities. While the transaction is expected to temporarily impact Salesforce.com’s GAAP earnings by approximately 20 to 22 cents per share for fiscal year 2011, this is a common occurrence in rapidly growing markets. Salesforce.com estimates the market opportunity to be $3 billion, signaling significant growth potential. As Salesforce.com’s stock price has doubled over the past year and the company has secured $575 million in debt financing, it is well-positioned for an assertive merger and acquisition strategy. The acquisition of Jigsaw likely marks the beginning of a series of strategic moves for Salesforce.com in the near future. 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 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 Alphabet Soup of Cloud Terminology As with any technology, the cloud brings its own alphabet soup of terms. This insight will hopefully help you navigate Read more

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Salesforce OEM AppExchange

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. This move allows on-demand service providers in various industries to leverage Salesforce’s powerful platform. The OEM edition extends the Salesforce.com platform to third-party SaaS providers, enabling them to tap into its core features, such as the operating system, customization tools, Web Service APIs, workflow, and business logic, according to Kendall Collins, Salesforce’s Vice President of Product Marketing. For example, a real estate management software vendor could utilize Salesforce’s dashboard, customizing it to track real estate data like foreclosures instead of sales opportunities. AppExchange OEM Edition will be available for per user per month, with users managing the pricing and availability of their specific solutions. This expansion highlights the growing adoption of the on-demand model in industries beyond CRM. ISV (Independent Software Vendor) companies commonly sell licenses for their apps via the Salesforce AppExchange, which is one of the most popular methods. For example, they might sell five licenses for a managed package app. With the new AppExchange checkout features powered by Stripe (previously Recurly), processing payments for these licenses is straightforward. Some companies choose to make revenue by selling CRM licenses in addition to their apps, often offering customers discounted CRM licenses. These ISV licenses are custom-built and contractually limited to specific objects and permissions. A significant level of trust is involved, as Salesforce can audit the end-customer at any time to ensure they are only using the objects specified in the agreement. When it comes to pricing, ISVs often charge in two parts: one fee for the app license and another for the CRM license. However, this is typically bundled as a single charge to the customer for simplicity. Customers can adopt these ISV apps as part of a broader Salesforce org, using several onboarding methods, including Trialforce, an AppExchange free trial, or an install with a trial period expiration date. These apps are often integrated into larger business processes, providing value beyond their standalone features. OEM Licensing: OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and Embedded licensing are essentially the same. OEM licenses are designed for internal apps. For portals, ISV Portal licenses are used, though these do not include Chatter and must interact via a Force.com site. These licenses function similarly to Authenticated Website or Customer Portal licenses. OEM licensing allows companies to use Salesforce as a controlled environment to present their app. For instance, a developer might opt for the OEM model to prevent end-users from making any customizations. The app would have one admin user who sees that it is running on Salesforce, while other users interact with it through a custom interface built on a Force.com site. A common concern for OEM app developers is pricing. While Chatter Plus licenses cost $15 per month (for CRM only), developers often seek clarification on the cost of OEM licenses from Salesforce, hoping for a rate lower than $15 per user per month. They must also factor in their own fees on top of the Salesforce OEM license price. Key Differences Between ISV and OEM Licensing: In an OEM setup, at least one full Salesforce System Administrator is required in the customer’s org. However, this admin does not have the ability to add more licenses to the org or alter the customizations visible to end-users, so their influence over the app’s functionality is limited. ISV app licenses offer more flexibility and are commonly available on the AppExchange, OEM apps represent a complete solution that uses Salesforce as a platform but often hides the underlying Salesforce infrastructure from end-users. Like Related Posts 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 Alphabet Soup of Cloud Terminology As with any technology, the cloud brings its own alphabet soup of terms. This insight will hopefully help you navigate Read more

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