Tag Archive for: salesforce

Empowering Sales with Digital Transformation: The Southern Wire Story

In the ever-evolving realm of industrial commerce, standing out requires more than just top-tier products—it demands vision, adaptability, and above all, a deep understanding of modern-day challenges.

Enter Southern Wire, a luminary in agricultural fencing products since 1993.

Since its inception in 1993, Southern Wire has been committed to excellence, providing state-of-the-art fencing products ranging from prefabricated wire fencing to automatic gate openers and much more.

Their journey from being a predominant provider of fencing products for the agricultural industry leveraging cutting-edge digital solutions in sales is nothing short of inspiring.

The Evolution: From Individual Effort to Unified Process


While their products spoke volumes, internally, they faced a challenge. Boasting a skilled sales team, every member drove results, albeit in their unique style.

The underlying issue?

The lack of a harmonized direction.

There was an urgency to capture the essence of these individualistic strategies and streamline them into a cohesive, replicable process; a catalyst for scalable growth.

The solution materialized in the form of Salesforce CRM.

Beyond its reputation, Salesforce resonated with Southern Wire for its profound ability to sculpt around sales opportunities and its inherent flexibility.

As Harrison Sivewright, the astute Manager at Southern Wire, shared, “The crux of our Salesforce decision centered around its customization flexibility. It promised to shape as per our vision.”

Click here to read the full customer success story.

The Challenge: Breaking Down Data Silos


Transitioning to Salesforce was only half the battle. The real challenge lay in synchronizing their extensive data, preserved in SAP Business One, with their new CRM.

Historical data, spanning customer details, accounting records, order histories, and unique pricing structures for particular clients, demanded seamless integration.

Before the advent of Commercient SYNC, these data silos were significant roadblocks.

The sales team’s dependency on in-house accounting for insights disrupted workflow.

Sivewright elucidates, “Our team often had to halt their processes, make calls, seek reports, all just to understand what a customer had previously bought.”

The Game Changer: Commercient SYNC


When two titans meet, transformation is inevitable.

Southern Wire leveraged Commercient SYNC, the undisputed leader in sales data integration, to bridge the gap between SAP Business One ERP and Salesforce CRM.

This pivotal move wasn’t just about data integration; it redefined sales efficiency.

Just consider the wealth of data now available seamlessly:

  • Customer Insights: Detailed profiling and historical interactions.
  • Accounting and Invoicing: Transparent financial exchanges, from orders to finalized invoices.
  • Order Histories: Comprehensive understanding of prior orders, assisting in upselling and cross-selling strategies.
  • Real-time Price Levels: Tailored pricing structures for specific clientele.
  • On-the-Go Accessibility: A crucial facet, especially for the robust on-road sales team at Southern Wire.

Drawing from Sivewright’s words,

“Commercient SYNC’s integration furnishes us with a lucid SAP data view right within Salesforce. It’s been transformative, especially for our on-road sales team. Earlier, they’d rely on printed reports; now, every pertinent detail, from order histories to invoices, is available at their fingertips. The agility it offers is simply unparalleled.”

The Value Addition

SYNC isn’t just a tool; it’s a game-changer for Southern Wire.

Here’s how:

Unlocking New Sales Avenues: The platform’s ability to highlight potential areas for cross-selling is empowering Southern Wire to explore previously untapped revenue streams.

Sales Team Empowerment: Armed with accurate and real-time data, the sales team is in a stronger position to address client queries and concerns, ultimately leading to improved sales outcomes. The days of manual data fetching, such as making phone calls or going through print reports, became obsolete.

Deepening Client Relationships: With immediate access to invoice records and other critical data, transparency with clients has improved. This has fostered greater trust and cemented Southern Wire’s reputation as a client-first organization

Boosted Operational Efficiency: Automatic data sharing between Salesforce and SAP Business One not only improved accuracy but also reduced time-consuming manual entries.

Elevated Client Interactions: Having a 360-degree view of each client’s data allowed Southern Wire to craft more personalized and effective client interactions.

As Sivewright emphasized, “This comprehensive view transforms our client interactions. We don’t just meet needs; we anticipate and exceed them.”

Conclusion: A Partnership Redefining Excellence


Southern Wire’s journey exemplifies the power of digital transformation.

By integrating their operational backbone, SAP Business One, with the dynamic Salesforce Enterprise through Commercient SYNC, they’ve streamlined their lead and customer management processes.

The integration has not only enhanced the efficiency of their sales team but has also ensured that they can offer a more personalized, informed service to their clients.

As we navigate a world where data isn’t just an asset but the very currency of business, Southern Wire, powered by Salesforce, SAP Business One and Commercient SYNC, is not just staying ahead of the curve—they’re redefining it.

Making Data Work for You: The Integration Approach

In the 21st century, we find ourselves navigating the tumultuous seas of data, waves after relentless waves crashing against our technological vessels. There is no island of refuge in sight, only an unending ocean of fragmented, isolated data points. But what if we could calm these chaotic waters?

That’s where data integration comes in.

A savior that turns this data onslaught into a harmonious symphony of insights and an organized, understandable, easy to use pattern.

This data “dance” is becoming a popular trend, with more and more businesses across the world adopting it to get a better view of their operations.

In fact, the trend is picking up such speed that, according to Grand View Inc., a market research firm based in California, the data integration market is projected to reach a whopping USD 29.21 billion by 2030.

With this projection in mind, let’s introduce an exciting collaboration ready to surf this swelling wave. Commercient, a global leader in data integration solutions, and Rede Corporativa, a top-notch provider of Zoho CRM services in Brazil, have teamed up.

This partnership combines global know-how and local insights.

Together, Commercient and Rede Corporativa are preparing to tackle the data challenges in Brazil and beyond. This collaboration is not only about navigating the world of data but reshaping it, making the chaotic data landscape a simpler and more manageable place.

Let’s Understand In Detail How Data Integration Helps In Making Things Easier For You –

Embracing Data Integration: Your Route to Simplicity

Unleashing the Potential of Integration

Integration, at its core, is the act of bringing together separate components into a single system. It sounds straightforward, right? But its impact is profound. The magic lies in the simplicity it brings into your daily digital interactions.

Data integration brings together disparate data, whether it’s from different departments within an organization or different digital environments.

Imagine you use several software applications for various tasks: an email client, a project management tool, a customer relationship management platform, a productivity suite, and perhaps even more. Each of these tools has its own database and processes data in its unique way.

Without integration, you’d need to navigate each application separately, which can be inefficient and time-consuming. Data integration resolves this by merging data from these various sources into a single, unified system, giving you a comprehensive view and control over your entire data universe.

Saving Time: The Gift of Integration

How many times have you toggle between different apps or software, searching for a crucial piece of information?

Whether you were hunting for an old email, trying to recall a client conversation, or analyzing product performance, the lack of an integrated data system can cost you significant time.

Data integration can streamline these processes by bringing all information under one roof. Instead of spending precious minutes or even hours sifting through various systems, you can simply tap into your integrated data system to get the information you need almost instantaneously.

The old adage “time is money” is particularly poignant when it comes to managing data.

And Commercient and Rede Corporativa understand this, offering solutions that streamline data processes, reducing the time spent trawling through isolated data pockets.

The Big Picture: Seeing Clearly with Integrated Data

Integration doesn’t just save time; it also gives you a clear, comprehensive view of your data landscape.

Data integration allows you to see the whole picture instead of just fragments of it.

Imagine trying to understand a storyline by reading random chapters from a book – you’d likely end up confused.

Similarly, trying to understand your data landscape from isolated chunks can result in incomplete insights.

But when your data is integrated, you see everything in its entirety.

This makes it easier to identify trends, patterns, and relationships, allowing you to understand your data landscape in a more meaningful way.

Ease of Decision-Making: From Chaos to Clarity

Integration doesn’t just make things easier; it makes you smarter, more informed.

Data-driven decision-making is becoming the norm in both personal and professional contexts.

However, the accuracy of such decisions depends on the quality and comprehensiveness of the data at hand. Data integration supports this by amalgamating all the relevant data, which allows you to have a more accurate and complete understanding of the subject.

Instead of making assumptions based on fragmented data, you can rely on a single, integrated source of information to guide your decisions.

Embracing the Integration Journey

Data integration isn’t a one-and-done process.

It’s a journey that adapts and evolves with your needs and circumstances.

As you incorporate new tools into your workflow or as your data requirements change, your data integration process must adjust accordingly. In this context, data integration becomes an ongoing commitment to efficiency and adaptability.

Integration and Automation: A Power Duo

Remember those repetitive tasks that you carry out on a daily basis?

Integration can automate these tasks, not only saving you time but also reducing the chance of errors.

Integration lays the groundwork for automation by linking systems and data flows together.

Once integrated, repetitive data handling tasks such as data entry, migration, and extraction can be automated, reducing the risk of human error and freeing up your time for more complex, creative tasks. This can lead to improved productivity and more reliable data handling.

And in the heart of São Paulo or on the golden sands of Rio, Brazilian businesses, like others globally, can benefit immensely from automation.

Integration and automation are like samba and bossa nova—distinct, but harmonious when combined.

Unity in Diversity: How Integration Facilitates Collaboration

Working on a team often means everyone uses their preferred tools and platforms, but this can lead to data silos where valuable information is stored separately, creating hurdles for effective collaboration.

Data integration can solve this by creating a unified platform where everyone has access to the same data, fostering more efficient and transparent teamwork.

Unbounded Accessibility: Your Data Anywhere, Anytime

In today’s increasingly digital and mobile world, having access to your data wherever and whenever you need it is crucial.

 Data integration allows for this kind of flexibility.

When data from various sources is combined into a single, cloud-based platform, you can access it from any device with an internet connection, making remote work or mobile operations a seamless experience.

This opens up new opportunities for productivity, ensuring that no matter where you are or what device you’re using, you can engage with your data effectively and make well-informed decisions.

The Scalability Quotient: Growing Along with Your Data

As your business or project expands, the volume of data you handle will likely grow.  

You might incorporate more data sources, handle larger datasets, or need to process data more frequently.

The beauty of an integrated data system is that it can scale with your needs. Integration solutions are built to handle varying data loads, meaning they can accommodate growth without compromising on performance.

So whether you’re dealing with a small data set today or massive data influxes tomorrow, data integration ensures that you’re always ready.

So as your data grows, integration grows with it.

The Fort Knox of Data: Integration and Security

In the era of cyber threats and data breaches, securing your data is more important than ever.

Having all your data in one place doesn’t just make it more accessible to you—it also makes it easier to secure.

An integrated data system can be easier to secure because it creates fewer points of vulnerability.

Instead of implementing security measures for each separate data source, you can focus on securing a single, integrated system. This unified approach to data security can lead to robust protection that shields your valuable data from potential threats.

The Financial Edge: Economic Benefits of Integration

While integrating your data might require an upfront investment, the long-term benefits often outweigh these initial costs.

Think about the time saved when all your data is easily accessible from a single point.

Consider how the reduction in errors, thanks to automated data handling, translates into cost savings.

Reflect on the impact of improved, data-driven decision-making on your business’s bottom line. All these benefits contribute to a strong return on investment for data integration.

What’s Next?

Now that you’re aware of the vast landscape of possibilities data integration presents; it’s time to take a closer look at your business operations and identify areas where data integration could streamline processes, boost productivity, enhance decision-making, and ultimately contribute to your bottom line.

Consider where your data is currently siloed and how bringing it together might reveal insights and opportunities you hadn’t recognized before.

Because: remember, the power of data integration lies in its ability to provide a unified view of diverse information, which can significantly enhance your strategic capabilities.

In the end, Data Integration is a journey.

It’s a journey from data chaos to data clarity, from fragmentation to unity, and from insight to foresight.

But it’s a journey you don’t have to take alone.

With Commercient’s global expertise in Data Integration and Rede Corporativa’s deep understanding of the Brazilian market and a strong hold on Zoho CRM, this journey becomes a collaborative venture.

A venture in which data integration is not just a destination, but a path to an exciting world of new possibilities.

Let’s stride forward on this path together, eager to conquer the uncharted territories of our data-driven futures.


The Future is Here: Exploring AI in HubSpot, Salesforce, and Zoho CRM Systems

Welcome to the future, where AI doesn’t just organize your data – it knows your customer better than you do!

In the dynamic landscape of modern business operations, the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has proven to be transformative. Its integration into numerous domains has reshaped the conventional methods of operation, particularly within the realm of Customer Relationship Management (CRM).

AI within CRM does not merely serve as an automated system for data organization.

Instead, it acts as an intelligent agent capable of predicting customer needs, providing real-time insights, and conducting tedious tasks automatically, all while operating tirelessly round-the-clock.

Notably, not all AI integrations are identical – the implementation, capabilities, and impact differ based on various factors such as the underlying technology, application context, and the specific CRM platform.

The AI Realm

Understanding AI and CRM

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, refers to computer systems or machines that mimic human intelligence. This includes learning (the acquisition of information and rules for using the information), reasoning (using the rules to reach approximate or definite conclusions), and self-correction.

When AI intersects with Customer Relationship Management (CRM), we’re dealing with systems that don’t just passively store and manage customer data but actively analyze, learn from, and utilize this information to improve business operations.

In essence, AI-enabled CRM systems can comprehend complex data, learn patterns, predict trends, and make decisions, much like a human brain would, albeit at a much faster rate and with potentially higher accuracy.

The AI Revolution in CRM

The impact of AI on CRM has been nothing short of revolutionary. Let’s consider its influence across two key areas: customer service and marketing strategies.

In the sphere of customer service, AI allows for a more personalized approach. By analyzing a customer’s interaction history, AI can predict their needs, preferences, and potential problems before they even surface. This can translate to customized recommendations, proactive service, and a smoother customer experience. Think of it as having a personal assistant for each of your customers, one that knows what they want before they even do.

Meanwhile, in the realm of marketing strategies, AI opens the door to advanced data analysis and prediction models. It can process vast amounts of data to uncover trends and patterns that would be impossible for humans to discern manually.

This empowers businesses to fine-tune their marketing efforts, optimize their sales process, and make more informed decisions. In other words, AI can turn a mountain of seemingly random data into a roadmap towards successful marketing campaigns and sales strategies.

Unveiling the AI Troika – HubSpot, Salesforce, and Zoho

A. Journey to the Hub of Success – HubSpot

Content Assistant: HubSpot’s AI-powered Content Assistant offers an advanced way to generate impactful content.

This intelligent tool integrates with HubSpot’s product suite, enabling users to switch between manual and AI-led content creation.

With the capability to produce copy for various content types – from blogs and social media posts to marketing emails – the Content Assistant enhances both content quality and creation efficiency.

ChatSpot: The ChatSpot bot represents another significant AI integration within HubSpot’s CRM system.

This conversational bot is designed to maximize productivity for sales, marketing, and service professionals. With chat-based commands, users can rapidly execute tasks in HubSpot.

From creating new contacts to bypassing the need for manual data entry, ChatSpot transforms the CRM experience, delivering speed, convenience, and increased operational efficiency.

B. Sailing with the Force – Salesforce

Einstein GPT: Salesforce enhances its CRM capabilities with the innovative Einstein GPT.

As an embedded intelligence layer within the Lightning Platform, Einstein GPT brings AI technologies to every workspace, empowering users with smart tools right where they work. It provides a robust set of platform services, allowing admins and developers to build smarter apps and customize AI to meet unique business needs.

By enabling customization, Salesforce ensures that its AI tool is adaptable, personalized, and responsive to individual business requirements.

C. Zooming Past with Zoho

Zia: Zoho’s Zia is an AI companion that redefines CRM management.

Equipped with advanced AI capabilities, Zia performs a multitude of tasks intelligently. These include retrieving necessary information, taking dictated notes, predicting the outcome of sales activities, identifying anomalies, and automating mundane tasks.

By managing these tasks, Zia frees up time for users to concentrate on strategic decision-making and customer engagement.

This multifaceted functionality transforms Zoho’s CRM from a simple management tool into a powerful operational asset.

The Ultimate Showdown – HubSpot, Salesforce, or Zoho?

CriteriaHubSpotSalesforceZoho
Ease of UseHubSpot’s AI tools are seamlessly integrated and intuitive, requiring a minimal learning curve.Einstein GPT is accessible within the usual workspace, but may require technical knowledge for advanced use.Zia is designed as a user-friendly companion that helps manage CRM tasks with minimal technical expertise.
CustomizationHubSpot offers some flexibility (i.e., toggling between manual and AI content creation) but lacks extensive customization.Salesforce’s Einstein GPT allows high-level customization aligning AI functionalities with unique business needs.Zia provides a wide array of functionalities but lacks the extensive customization options seen in Salesforce.
Predictive AnalysisHubSpot’s AI contribution to predictive analysis is not as significant as Zoho or Salesforce.Einstein GPT leverages vast data sets for predictive analysis, providing valuable business insights.Zia stands out with its ability to predict sales activities’ outcomes and detect anomalies, aiding in trend anticipation and pre-emptive issue resolution.

The Takeaway

The incorporation of AI into CRM is not just an upgrade – it is a fundamental shift in how businesses interact with and understand their customers.

  • Making the Choice

Selecting the right AI-enhanced CRM is a task that should be rooted in your company’s unique needs. Understanding the requirements, technical capabilities, and strategic objectives of your organization is critical to making an informed decision.

  • Future Gazing

    As we delve deeper into the digital era, the question no longer revolves around whether AI will revolutionize CRM. That revolution is already underway. The real question is whether your business is prepared to embrace this change.

As AI continues to permeate CRM, its ability to predict trends, personalize customer interactions, and automate tasks will only become more sophisticated and integral to business operations.

As this digital revolution accelerates, we find ourselves not at the end, but at the very beginning of an exciting journey. So, fasten your seat belts, because the race into the AI-driven future of CRM is on!

We encourage you to add your insights to this conversation.

Feel free to share this post within your network. Your perspective is a crucial part of this ongoing discourse and we’re excited to hear from you!


Ultimate CRM Guide 2023: Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Pipedrive, Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Having data stored in different systems is not enough; the real power lies on the efficient use of data to streamline processes, better serve customers, and make smarter business decisions based on what’s going on now. 

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems are an essential tool for businesses of all sizes, as they help companies to streamline their customer interactions and improve their relationships with prospects and clients. It also provides key data for decision makers so crucial decisions are made, and plans adjusted, with real-time information. 

How to choose the right CRM for your business? Here’s a blog post about it you may want to read.

In this blog, we’ll take a look at five of the top CRM systems on the market: Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Pipedrive, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM. We’ll delve into their key strengths and discuss which industries and company sizes they’re most suitable for, as well as their suitability for different processes, complexity levels, and reporting needs.

Salesforce

Salesforce is a robust, comprehensive CRM platform that offers a wide range of features, including sales force automation, customer service and support, marketing automation, and analytics. 

With a 360 view approach, it’s particularly well-suited for enterprise-level businesses, as it can support large amounts of data and users, allowing a full view of sales, marketing, service, etc. Salesforce is also highly customizable, so it can be tailored to fit the needs of businesses in a wide variety of industries, such as manufacturing, automotive, retail, distribution, and businesses with branches across the US and worldwide.

Salesforce offers a wide range of trainings and certifications that help companies’ staff and partners/consultants to know more about how to use Salesforce, how to customize it according to the business needs, so they can get the most out of their investment.

Salesforce product suite includes: Sales Cloud, Marketing Cloud (formerly known as Pardot), Commerce Cloud, Manufacturing Cloud, CPQ, Field Service Management, Tableau, and more.

With Commercient SYNC data integration, you can connect Salesforce with your ERP or Accounting system. Click here to see our Salesforce case studies.

HubSpot

HubSpot is a CRM platform particularly geared toward small and medium-sized businesses. It offers a wide range of tools for marketing, sales, and customer service, as well as integrations with other popular business apps. 

HubSpot’s strengths include its user-friendly interface, which makes it easy for non-technical users to set it up and start running quickly. Strongly focused on inbound marketing, HubSpot strives to offer segmentation options so companies can ensure their contacts, regardless of their buying stage, receive information that is relevant for them.

Their educational platform offers certifications and trainings on marketing, inbound marketing, content marketing, copywriting, social media, digital marketing, and how to use their products for better results. They also offer training courses to use their Marketing, Sales, and Service software, providing certifications for each.

HubSpot product suite includes: Sales Hub, Marketing Hub, Service Hub, CMS Hub, Operations Hub.

With Commercient SYNC data integration, you can connect HubSpot with your ERP or Accounting system. Click here to see our HubSpot case studies.

Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is a feature-rich CRM platform that offers a wide range of tools for sales, marketing, and customer support. It’s particularly well-suited for small and medium-sized businesses, as it’s affordable and scalable. 

Zoho is also highly customizable, so it can be tailored to fit the needs of businesses in various industries. The interface is simple, which makes it easy to set up and start using. 

Zoho product suite includes: Zoho CRM, Zoho Analytics, Zoho Marketing, and more.  
With Commercient SYNC data integration, you can connect Zoho CRM with your ERP or Accounting system.

Click here to see our Zoho CRM case studies.

Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a CRM platform specifically designed for sales teams. Created by salespeople for salespeople, it offers a range of sales-focused features, including lead and opportunity management, email integration, and a visual sales pipeline. 

This CRM offers features such as customizable sales funnels, segmentation, contacts history, teamwork, reminders, web forms, financial forecasting, and reporting.

Pipedrive is well-suited for small and medium-sized businesses, particularly those in the B2B space.

With Commercient SYNC data integration, you can connect Pipedrive with your ERP or Accounting system. 

Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Changing work scenarios and modernizing the workforce requires CRM software to adapt to these and go beyond traditional capabilities.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM is a comprehensive CRM platform that offers a wide range of features, including sales force automation, customer service and support, marketing automation, and analytics. 

It’s particularly well-suited for enterprise-level businesses, as it can support large amounts of data and users. Microsoft Dynamics CRM is also highly customizable, so it can be tailored to fit the needs of businesses in a wide variety of industries. Using other products of Microsoft product suite (Outlook, Teams, etc.) can make user adoption easier.

Click here to see our Microsoft Dynamics CRM case studies.

Choosing the right CRM

In conclusion, all five of these CRM systems are strong contenders in the market, each with their own unique strengths and capabilities. When choosing the right CRM for your business, it’s important to consider your specific needs, including your industry, company size, processes, complexity levels, and reporting requirements.

Click here to ask how SYNC can connect your CRM with your ERP or accounting system.

Dreamforce 2022: Important New Features Unveiled, Including Salesforce Genie

Continuing our series on Dreamforce, let’s rewind into what made this year’s Dreamforce Keynote, superstar to take note of. Marching on to make the world a better place – Dreamforce 2022 was about Salesforce sticking to its core values – Trust, Customer Success, Innovation, Equality, and Sustainability.

Conceptualized around these and titled as “The Great Reunion,” the keynote marked “a new day” for business, environment, Trailblazers, work, and Customer 360.

Crafted into perfect melody – the Dreamforce Keynote ushered in Innovation and Inspiration while delivering on each of the above.

Here are the highlights from approximate 2-hour session –

You can watch the full session on Salesforce+.

Dreamforce 2022 Highlights

Creating Magic with Salesforce Genie

On average, a company uses 976 apps to deal with its customers, meaning one individual would have hundreds of identities across these apps. (A huge number, right!)

To reconcile these into one clean record of your customer’s data, Salesforce announced the ground-breaking announcement since its inception, the Salesforce Genie – the single source of truth for your customer’s data.

Positioning the Salesforce CRM as the world’s first real-time CRM, focusing on hyper-personalization, and creating a unified customer profile – with its dynamic workflows (Salesforce CDP extended) and Einstein’s predictions and recommendations – all happening in real-time. 

Moreover, it integrates with the entire Customer 360 and the Salesforce industry cloud offerings.

Connecting data streams at an infinite scale. 

As Brett Tyler, Salesforce Co-CEO, states, “Salesforce Genie is the real-time platform for customer magic. We’ve completely re-imagined our CRM, from the ground up – to enable the real time capabilities that will enable all of you to build applications that simply weren’t possible before.”

To make it more impactful, Salesforce used two powerful customer stories of how Ford and Loreal, the giants in their respective fields are revolutionizing the way they operate with the power of the all-new Salesforce Genie.

Truly, “a new day for customer magic.”

Note – It’s generally available now.

True to the Core

To address the concerns of the enthusiastic Trailblazers, who at one of the previous Dreamforce Conferences, asked Parker Harris, Co-founder and CTO, Salesforce, “Shiny new things are nice, but what has been done to solve the community’s challenges?”

“True to the Core” was formed. An unfiltered view into Salesforce through “ask me anything” sessions with the company’s executives and product managers.

To this date, this has resulted in over 300 innovations, and this year was no less! Significant efforts have been made to integrate acquisitions onto the core platform. Learn about others in the image below.

HyperForce

Hyperforce is a secure, scalable, privacy and compliance built-in platform architecture to deliver the Salesforce Cloud products on major cloud systems like AWS, Azure, and Google.

The new goal is to enable you to deploy your Salesforce Apps with data residency in 17 countries by the end of 2023 (currently in 10 countries).

Net Zero Marketplace (+Cloud)

“A new day for the Environment.”

And the Salesforce are putting it in action –

Great Reforestation – through 1t.org, the goal is to conserve and grow 1 trillion trees by 2030 and to sequester 200 gigatons of carbon.

Net Zero Cloud Marketplace – It will connect buyers and Ecopreneurs and will launch 90 projects in 11 countries.

Net Zero Cloud – A way to help organizations meet their sustainability goals – by managing the sustainability data, automating supplier emissions tracking and forecast, and reducing risk, with the power of Tableau’s What-if Analysis and Einstein’s Recommendations.

Note: It’s generally available.

In addition to the above, Salesforce is scaling its Ocean Research Program.

Digital HQ a.k.a. the Slack Imperative

“[At Salesforce, it was] how can we help you navigate the new future of work.” Tamara Yehoshua, Chief Product Officer, Slack.

With a myriad of new capabilities, that’s what Slack will deliver.

Slack Canvases

They are “surface to capture and share knowledge [with] the ability to access and take action on Salesforce data directly in Slack.”

Or simply put, a new persistent layer of information, alongside your Slack Channel. You can also create a Canvas and share it in a DM or a channel, itself.

The Canvas lets you connect systems of record like Customer 360 and productivity systems within Slack.

Now without leaving Slack – you and your team can generate automation, build low or no-code apps, find information about a customer like an incident or issue through service cloud integrations, and so much more. 

Yes, much like Quip, which is now natively integrated into Slack.

In the future, Salesforce has plans to make the 2500+ apps work with Slack Canvas (how cool!)

(You can read more about Slack Canvas in this blog.)

And then there is more.

Slack Huddles

Huddles brings in what we loved about being in the office – to be able to jump in any conversations – into the Digital [Office] HQ.

The audio-first coworking has been enhanced to include videos, multiple screen shares, visual effects and reactions, post-huddle threads to never miss a conversation, and has Canvas attached so no one misses the conversation because it’s there.

To make Slack, the powerful Digital HQ, 15 new integrations are being introduced into it.

Summing up this year’s ‘Magical’ Dreamforce Keynote

From the outset, Salesforce has delivered what they’ve promised. That’s what has made them the successful organization they are today! And it’s exciting for Commercient, the number one data integration company to be partners with the gigantic organization that Salesforce is. 

And that’s how the Impressive Dreamforce Keynote catapulted into the week full of immersive experiences – an incredible Reunion indeed!

Creating Reports & Dashboards in Salesforce to Take Better Care of Customers – Aqua-Metric Success Story

Water is the source of everything — it is what makes our communities thrive and our lives richer. Which is why finding the proper way to measure it and distribute it is quite the important feat. Well that’s where Aqua-Metric comes in. When it comes to measuring utilities, they’re the best.  And in order to improve their management of opportunities, they worked with both Commercient SYNC and Salesforce. This helped modernize their sales processes. 

Aqua-Metric is a proud affiliate of the Thirkettle Corporation, and has been serving the utility sector since 1993. The company provides smart metering technologies and conservation solutions for automatic meter reading, advanced metering, infrastructure, smart grid applications, distribution automation, and communication. Aqua-Metric enables electric, gas, and water utilities to measure, manage, and control distributed resources. They believe in quality and in always giving their customers the utmost of care. Trust is the most important value in their eyes. 

In order to keep their customers’ trust they have to be up to speed on the processes. The first thing that needed a CRM that could keep up with the growing demands of the job. This is why they got Salesforce Enterprise, the leading cloud-based CRM in the world. Which was quite the boon — but the sales team needed a full picture of their customers and sales.

Commercient SYNC Shows the Full Picture

There was something keeping them from being able to use Salesforce to its fullest potential. Something to make the water flow as it should. That could bring them from point A to point B. And that something was Commercient SYNC, the #1 data integration platform for sales. It allows Aqua-Metric’s sales team to access important Sage X3 data right in Salesforce.


“Commercient SYNC helps us build detailed sales reports and living dashboards in Salesforce,” said Chris Newville, Manager at Aqua-Metric. “Our sales team can keep track of order entry, purchase orders to our suppliers, invoices, payments, and commissions on a day-to-day basis.”

It made them realize how much they could truly do with Salesforce. “Before Commercient, we were probably somewhere about 5, 10 percent worth of Salesforce capability that we were actually using it for,” said Newville. “We’re SYNCing Sage X3 projects and building out custom project management and budget tracking tools in Salesforce by leveraging the near real-time data captured from Sage X3.”

Now Aqua-Metric can create a dashboard in Salesforce’s Service Cloud for their customers, and Commercient will SYNC certain Sage X3 data to give the customers the ability to monitor their sales orders, invoices, and more. Which means they can keep their clients’ trust.

“I’m confident with everything I’ve seen that the SYNC’d Sage X3 data is really going to change the perspective of how we leverage and use Salesforce,” said Newville.

Sometimes all you need is the missing piece to be able to step back and see the whole picture.

Commercient Goes to Dreamforce 2022

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Dreamforce 2022 is now behind us, but the lessons learned will stay with us for a long time. What is Dreamforce? It is “an annual event that brings together the global Salesforce community for learning, fun, community building, and philanthropy. Trailblazers from all over the world gather to share their insights, successes, and learn the latest in industry innovations.” Meaning it’s about connection. 

At Commercient, we know all about connection. That is what we do, by integrating Salesforce and ERP systems with SYNC, the #1 data integration platform for sales. Commercient Co-Founders Corrine Allgaier and Richard Jenkins had the pleasure of attending Dreamforce this year. The first live event since 2019.

Our team at Dreamforce

Amazing Trailblazers in the Spotlight

One of the focus points of this year’s Dreamforce is the spotlight on Trailblazers, who are pioneers in their field or endeavor. Someone that opens the door for all those that come behind them. Sima Samara was one such Trailblazer and a part of the keynote speech of Dreamforce 2022. A software engineer who after leaving her country focused on helping refugees. 

“The story of Sima Samara, a refugee who moved to the Netherlands in the face of threatening oppression, who became a Trailblazer, and was now standing on stage during the keynote, will always be a striking memory from Dreamforce 2022,” remarked Allgaier.

“She reminded me of myself in some ways, although I never faced such hardship in the face of moving countries,” Allgaier continued, “but I understood her motivation and how she took the opportunity of Trailhead with both hands and held on.

“Sima’s story represents how I feel about Salesforce and this wonderful community of people who embrace diversity, who value innovation and creativity, and who believe in the infinite human potential,” concluded Allgaier.

Dreamforce and Connection

Adversity can help us grow but so can community. It is standing side by side that we can overcome our problems. Because no man is an island. We have to work together if we want to create a better world. And as Allgaier says, reach our infinite potential. Dreamforce gave Commercient the chance to connect with people who speak the same language and have the same goals. 

“For me, Dreamforce was about connecting with people. We met with partners and customers, and we talked about everything from technology, to music and art and even vinyl records,” said Corinne Allgaier. “They were real conversations. I learned so much from others about the challenges they are facing, and about opportunities for our company of which I had not been aware. Dreamforce 2022 was epic.”

Among the highlights for Dreamforce 2022 was the big announcement of the Salesforce Genie. Genie spans across the entire Salesforce platform and offers real-time data to enhance the Customer 360.

Dreamforce 2022 gives back

Other new features include those for Slack, making it more business-friendly and helping companies boost their productivity. These include Slack Canvas, Slack Huddles and Slack for Developers.

There was also an announcement of the integration between Amazon SageMaker and Salesforce. And of course it’s not just about business. Dreamforce is dedicated to giving back. Which is why they hosted Dreamfest, the official celebration of Dreamforce with a concert by Red Hot Chili Peppers. All the proceeds of the event were donated to USCF Benioff Children’s Hospitals.

It was an experience like no other. One that allowed for learning, connection and most of all — a week of memories that will never be forgotten.  

Salesforce & Commercient Help Allied Industrial Connect to Customers

Your customers are the most important part of any business. After all, if you don’t have customers, you don’t have a business, do you? What is the correct way to go about a business? Thankfully that’s not a problem for Allied Industrial Sales Inc. They were founded on the principle that service is key to success. With the help of Commercient and Salesforce they managed to find their footing and improve on an already successful venture. 

Allied Industrial Sales Inc. was founded back in 1999, and 75 years of combined experience. Their sales team has the expertise to make your project successful from start to finish. They are a leading industrial supplier of pipes, valves, fittings, tubing, tube fittings, and other instrumentation products. Their bottom line is simple, your success is their success. 

They have a commitment to service and their customers. Sometimes that means things have to change, and most of the time, that means an upgrade. In this case, it’s an upgrade of their sales systems. After a research period, they decided to implement Salesforce to modernize their sales processes. They will also get a more comprehensive look at their outside and inside sales, customers, and other important details. 

The Salesforce of it all

James Helms, the Operations and IT Manager for Allied Industrial Sales, called Salesforce “one of the best tools we’ve ever implemented.” After all, they no longer have to fear human error when they are updating their systems. As good as anyone can be, there’s still the possibility of error — after all, we are human, and we make mistakes. We might write a number wrong or forget to include something. There was a lack of accountability that was holding them back from reaching their potential. 

Thanks to Salesforce’s reporting features, Helms explained that “it gave us a very good understanding of what our company was doing. How we need to focus our efforts, and with which customers we need to do that.”

But with their improvement in one area, they noticed another falling behind. The team at Allied Industrial Sales knew they needed Sage 50 data integrated with Salesforce to automate their sales process and make the connection between inside sales, outside sales, and their customers nearly seamless. They chose Commercient to accomplish that goal.

Commercient is the #1 data integration platform for sales, and Helms referred to it as “the most rounded product as far as I could tell from my evaluation time.”

Commercient Helps to Free Allied Industrial Sales’ Data

So Commercient it was. 

Thanks to Commercient’s one-way SYNC Allied Industrial Sales has a 360-degree view of sales. They can access any Sage 50 information directly from Salesforce, from customer information, sales history, invoices, serial numbers, salesperson’s name, multiple bill to and ship to addresses, and much more. And that’s not the only benefit that they found. 

With SYNC’d quotes and invoices, the team could see if there is a deficit between the quote and the actual purchase. “We can analyze the data, and see if we’re missing out on these products consistently,” said James Helms. “Why did we sell this group of items, but not this one? That’s been a huge benefit.”

And their salespeople are more incentivized to close more deals because they have the tools necessary without having to resort to asking another team member for it. Helms clarifies they’re more apt to make it better commission because they have data available for them in real-time. Which is not only a time-saver but also a sales-saver. They can close the sale without losing valuable time or the client’s interest. 

Helms even pointed out how Commercient goes the extra mile to help out. “If I said, ‘This is how I want it to work.’ There were no questions about how to achieve that, Commercient’s developers did it. And it was amazing to see that happen.”

The story has a happy ending as Allied Industrial Inc. was delighted with Salesforce and Commmercient and now had the tools at their disposal to truly make your success into their success. 

Free Microsoft Dynamics & Salesforce Data with Commercient SYNC

Laundry. It’s something we all do but don’t give much thought to beyond the different techniques we all use. We either have a washer and dryer at home, or we go to the laundromat. But we can ask, who makes it all happen? Girbau North America, that’s who. Girbau delivers the total laundry solution to vended, on-premise, multi-housing and industrial laundries throughout North America. Thanks to Commercient and Salesforce Enterprise, they could modernize their overall business processes. 

Girbau North America, originally Continental Girbau, was established in 1995 as the North American subsidiary of the 56-year-old, commercial laundry equipment manufacturer, Girbau Group, headquartered in Vic, Spain. It’s a family-owned business that prides itself on customer care as their slogan says “Our Mission is Your Success.” Their trademark reflects what matters most to them — their customers whether it be distributors or end-users.

If you want to offer the best, you have to have the best. And as it stood, their software systems were sadly not up to the task. First off, they had to modernize their sales processes and their lead management. To do that, Girbau North America implemented Salesforce Enterprise, the #1 cloud CRM in the world. And it worked like a charm!

But then they ran into a new problem. 

How to Free the Data with Commercient SYNC

Only a few members of the sales team at Girbau North America could access the data within Microsoft Dynamics GP. So how could they fix that? That’s where Commercient SYNC comes in, which is the #1 data integration platform for sales, and in that way they could finally free their data. 

Thanks to Commercient, Girbau freed their ERP / accounting data, and the sales team was able to access important Microsoft Dynamics GP data directly in Salesforce Enterprise. Things like customer information, sales order history, accounting records, invoicing, and much more. Data that could take their customer service to another level. 

“SYNC integration has been great,” said Pam Kuffel, Director of Strategic Business Efficiencies and Solutions, Girbau North America. “Previously, our sales team would tell a customer, ‘Hey, I’ll call you back, I gotta talk with our accounting, our customer care department.’ Now they have immediate access to the right information.” This helped improve how they take care of their customers.

Thanks to the SYNC, Microsoft Dynamics GP data can also help to keep all departments in the loop, from sales, accounting, customer care, to finance. Everyone can access the necessary information when they need it. This avoids unnecessary delays and makes the process much more expedient. 

Which in the end, it’s exactly what you want. 

If you want to integrate your Microsoft Dynamics 365 click here, or inquire about other CRM and ERP integrations, click here

Turtle & Hughes: Women Building a Sustainable Future

Electricity powers our way of life. But with global warming an increasing threat to our world, everyone needs an energy partner that cares deeply about the environment, and leaders who are making an impact on progressing green energy solutions.  Turtle & Hughes, which has been woman-led for 80 years, is committed to working with customers to create a more sustainable climate future.

Founded in 1923, Turtle & Hughes are a fourth-generation, family-owned business – and one of the nation’s largest independent electrical and industrial distributors. Its Electrical division is a significant force in the engineering/procurement of power distribution, automation, lighting, and industrial infrastructure. Turtle & Hughes Integrated Supply (THIS) division provides on-site MRO procurement, cost-saving, and spend analytics operating across the U.S., and in Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.

Sustainability Is Their Game

Turtle & Hughes is committed to creating a better climate future by building safer, smarter, cleaner communities. In their own words, “We deliver industry-leading products, services, and solutions to help customers reach their goals and create measurable impact for a greener world.”

There’s a push to embrace renewable energy and uncover breakthrough technologies that can lead to low and/or no carbon emissions. Turtle & Hughes believes that’s possible with the use of greener technologies including LED lighting, Energy Storage, EV Chargers, Solar & Wind, and other industrial Automation Tools,. A large undertaking for any organization but an attainable goal at the core of their business. Their 2021 ESG Report outlines Turtle’s bold commitment to drive sustainability throughout their business verticals and demonstrates their dedication to excellence and putting their people and partners at the center of all they do.

Starts From the Top

As a diverse company, inclusion is a fundamental part of Turtle’s success and it continues to help them grow. It has been a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) member for over 25 years – and is one of a few electrical distribution companies in the US with female ownership and leadership.

Jayne Millard, Executive Chairman of the Board of Turtle & Hughes, is the third generation of women to lead the family business – she has made her mark on the industry. In 2020, she received the Women in Industry Trailblazer award from the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED). She was inducted into the Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) Hall of Fame in 2021. These industry awards and accolades acknowledge her transformational leadership and dedication to growth. She cultivates a workplace environment based on the fundamental powers of respect and listening. Millard believes in mentoring other women to become strong leaders in the industry.

But Millard is not alone. In 2020, Kathleen Shanahan became the first non-family CEO in the company’s almost one-hundred-year history. As CEO, she has overseen the expansion of online sales to the global marketplace, CRM implementation, and enhanced business analytics. In 2020, she was named “CEO To Watch” by Family Business Magazine.

Where Commercient and Salesforce Fit In

With everything in their favor, Turtle has undergone a digital transformation to upgrade the customer experience and modernize its internal systems and sales processes to drive revenues and achieve efficiencies that maximize profits.

Two years ago, Turtle & Hughes implemented a state-of-the-art CRM to improve managing leads, opportunities, customers, marketing, and more. It leverages Salesforce Enterprise and chose Pardot for its marketing needs and Salesforce Inbox to modernize and improve sales.

“We’re going to add an automated process to Salesforce that follows up with any opportunities that we lose,” said Josh Green, Salesforce Administrator at Turtle & Hughes. “We’ll be able to turn those losses into future leads.”

The company utilizes Infor Distribution SX.e. for their operations and finance and needed a data integration between their ERP and Salesforce. Enter Commercient SYNC. They now can view more of their critical Infor Distribution SX.e data in one place, Salesforce. That includes supplier and customer information, sales orders, vendor invoices, etc.. SYNC also helps with the adoption of Salesforce by making the process automated and efficient.

“It’s quicker to access the ERP data in Salesforce so that it becomes more of a one-stop-shop for our team,” explained Green. “Additionally, we can create reports with the data, do automations, and put validations in place, so we can actually work with the data instead of just looking at it.”