What is Salesforce

FDM offers a Salesforce Business Analysis stream in our London Academy, but what is Salesforce and how is it used by organisations?

In the simplest of language, Salesforce is a tool that allows organisations to manage their databases. Salesforce is the global leading customer relationship management (CRM) system. Salesforce reinvented CRM systems with pioneering use of cloud computing in 1999 and now all Salesforce products run entirely on the cloud. However, it should be noted that Salesforce is not only a CRM system, but also has software and infrastructure platforms.

What is a CRM system?

Customer relationship management (CRM) systems are a software platform that stores contact information and tracks customer activity such as website visits, phone calls and emails. These functions can be particularly useful to sales and recruitment teams to help track client or applicant processes. By employing a CRM system repetitive tasks can be automated or simplified to allow staff to concentrate on more value added activities.

What is Cloud Computing?

Rather than having a local server or personal computer, cloud computing allows a network of remote servers to be hosted on the internet to store, manage and process data. In the case of Salesforce, the server is online based allowing organisation to utilise the services without having to house large local servers.

Salesforce is an integrated solution to help organisations manage interactions with customers and prospects. Salesforce automates all phases of the sales process from lead management to closing the deal but can also be utilised by recruitment, marketing and internal departments. You can create custom business processes; automate email campaigns; manage contracts and extract reports.

The Salesforce platform allows significant customisation and extension to fit the business needs of the organisations that employ it. Salesforce is now the world’s number one Customer Relationship Management system with large number of organisations employing it, FDM has begun training Consultants as certified Salesforce Analysts to help our clients with the application and business change projects. Consultants are given Business Analysis training so they understand the business requirements and provide informed recommendations for implementation, given the functionality of Salesforce.

Updated 17 May 2019