What can Salesforce SFA do? Introducing 5 Benefits

Salesforce is a very famous SFA tool, but do you know what it can do specifically? Also, what are the disadvantages?

This time, we will introduce the features of Salesforce and what you should pay attention to when introducing it. Whether you have already implemented Salesforce or are considering implementing it, read this article to learn about its features.

Table of Contents 

• What is SFA
• 3 benefits of introducing SFA
  • (1) Telework can be realized
  • 2) Easier to formulate a sales strategy
  • (3) Accumulate data and know-how
• List of Salesforce tools | SFA tools too
  • Customer Management Support: Slack First Customer 360
  • Sales Support: Sales Cloud
  • Marketing Assistance: Marketing Cloud
  • E-Commerce Assistance: Commerce Cloud
• 5 benefits of using Salesforce tools
  • ① Customer satisfaction can be improved
  • (2) Sales activities can be made more efficient
  • ③ You can strengthen your marketing
  • ④ You can expand your online business
  • ⑤ You can share various information
• 4 disadvantages of introducing sales force tools
  • 1) Data entry is time consuming
  • 2) It takes time to master the tool
  • ③ The workload of the person in charge increases
  • ④ You can’t use it without enough knowledge
• How to deal with disadvantages
  • (1) Divide the work and input data reliably
  • (2) Carefully instruct how to use the tools
  • (3) Company-wide focus and cooperation
• Companies that are suitable for introducing Salesforce SFA tools
  • Companies with human resources who can handle tools
  • Companies that want to centrally manage all kinds of data
  • A company that can collaborate on the management side and the field side
• There are SFA tools other than Salesforce
  • kintone
  • Chikyu
  • Next SFA
• Summary

What is SFA

SFA stands for “Sales Force Automation”. In Japanese, this tool is called a “sales support system” in the sense of automating the sales force .

SFA tools can collectively manage customer information and data necessary for sales activities . This makes it easier to analyze the company’s business activities. Profitability will also increase if better sales activities are possible based on analysis.

3 benefits of introducing SFA

Here are three benefits of introducing SFA. Here are the three benefits:

1. Telework is possible
2. Business strategy made easy
3. Accumulate data and know-how

(1) Telework can be realized

First, telework can be realized . Recently, due to the influence of the coronavirus, I think there are opportunities to conduct sales activities online.

At that time, it would be convenient if you could check the data used for sales activities on your own computer. If you introduce SFA, you can view data not only on your own PC, but also on smartphones and tablet devices.

Even when selling face-to-face, you can check the data at any time, so you can build a sales strategy from home.

2) Easier to formulate a sales strategy

SFA is equipped with an excellent data analysis system. Data visualization makes it easier to formulate sales strategies.

In addition, since past sales data can be accumulated, sales strategies suitable for each customer can be established based on that data. By introducing SFA, you will be able to formulate a better strategy, which will make it easier to close deals.

(3) Accumulate data and know-how

The SFA tool can record the progress of sales activities and the results of past sales activities in detail. You can also accumulate know-how in sales activities.

By accumulating data and know-how, you can reduce the cost of training new employees. Since newcomers can learn the tricks of sales activities from the data posted on SFA, the burden on the guidance side is reduced.

Accumulated data on sales activities will be a great asset for the company.

List of Salesforce tools | SFA tools too

There are various tools in “salesforce”. I will introduce “Sales Force”, which is particularly famous among SFA tools.
The four tools we will introduce here are:

1. Customer Management Support: Slack First Customer 360
2. Sales Support: Sales Cloud
3. Marketing Assistance: Marketing Cloud
4. E-Commerce Assistance: Commerce Cloud

Each feature is as follows.

Customer Management Support: Slack First Customer 360

The first to introduce is “Slack First Customer 360”, a customer management support system. This system centrally manages customer information.

Information about each customer can be shared with the entire team, which is useful for decision-making in the company. Since you can analyze customer needs, you will be able to devise services and products from the customer’s perspective . It is a very useful system to enhance customer needs.

Sales Support: Sales Cloud

Sales Cloud is a sales support tool that can integrate all data related to sales.

SalesCloud can not only manage the information of contacts and deals of business partners, but also predict sales from data. In addition, the workflow function can automate the sales process and task allocation.

With our mobile app, you can check the progress of your sales activities anytime, anywhere. You can share information in real time and it will help you increase sales.

Marketing Assistance: Marketing Cloud

Marketing Cloud is a digital marketing tool that makes the most of data.

Collectively manage all customer-related data and analyze the data acquired by AI. Based on the analysis results, you can quickly develop better marketing strategies .

Marketing Cloud is also suitable for digital advertising utilization. After narrowing down the target, you can display ads that suit each person. Optimized digital advertising can increase click-through rates and potentially attract new customers.

E-Commerce Assistance: Commerce Cloud

Commerce Cloud is a tool dedicated to helping e-commerce.

Commerce Cloud enables collaboration between online shopping and marketing/sales. Customer preferences and needs can be shared as data across the company and used to provide better services.

In addition, the post-order process can be automated for accurate and fast delivery. You can also aim to improve customer satisfaction because you can realize customer-first e-commerce .

5 benefits of using Salesforce tools

Here are five benefits of using Salesforce tools.

1. Improve customer satisfaction
2. You can streamline your sales activities
3. can enhance marketing
4. Grow your online business
5. can share various information

① Customer satisfaction can be improved

If you introduce Salesforce, you can carry out sales activities and formulate marketing strategies from the customer’s point of view.

Because we can accumulate and analyze a large amount of data, we can visualize customer needs. If you can formulate a strategy that is more suitable for customers from the analysis results, customer satisfaction will increase.

(2) Sales activities can be made more efficient

If you introduce sales force and manage data collectively, you can streamline your sales activities. If you have past sales history and know-how, you can expect to improve the results of sales activities.

Another major feature is that the latest information can be obtained from smartphones and tablet devices. It will be very convenient for sales representatives because they can check the information on the go.

③ You can strengthen your marketing

A combination of Salesforce tools can help you analyze customer needs.

Whether you sell in person or sell online, you can enhance your marketing. Selling products and services that meet the needs of your customers will increase your profits .

Highly targeted digital advertising capabilities are also very effective, helping to attract new customers .

④ You can expand your online business

Salesforce also has tools to help with e-commerce, which you can use to grow your online business.

With Salesforce, you can store vast amounts of customer data. And you can offer a personalized shopping experience based on each customer’s buying habits and preferences .

Order management can also be automated, reducing delivery time and costs. Careful and prompt delivery will lead to improved customer satisfaction.

⑤ You can share various information

Multiple Salesforce tools let you share information in different areas. It is possible to realize cooperation between multiple departments such as sales, customer management, and marketing .

Information sharing throughout the company is essential for expanding sales and acquiring new customers . Let’s actively share and accumulate data and strive for corporate growth.

4 disadvantages of introducing sales force tools

Here are four disadvantages of introducing Salesforce.

1. Data entry is time consuming
2. It takes time to master the tools
3. Increased workload for staff
4. Can’t be used without sufficient knowledge

1) Data entry is time consuming

Accurate data accumulation requires inputting data into many items, which is time-consuming. As a result, data entry can become neglected over time.

Even if you introduce a tool, it is meaningless if you can not collect data, so let’s thoroughly input data. For that reason, please share the significance of introducing the tool and how to use it throughout the company .

2) It takes time to master the tool

When you introduce a new tool, it takes time to get used to it. Even if you know how to use it, it will take time until you understand how to use it for your company.

Know that it will take some time before you can see the results, and continue to enter data steadily.

③ The workload of the person in charge increases

In addition to entering data, the person in charge must teach other employees how to use the tool and explain the significance of the introduction.

Since the amount of work increases considerably, efforts to reduce the burden are essential. Effective efforts include the cooperation of surrounding employees and an increase in the number of staff in charge .

④ You can’t use it without enough knowledge

The Salesforce system uses special development languages ​​such as “Apex” and “SOQL”, so it is much more complicated than other SFA tools.

These languages ​​are built on ” Java ” and “SOL” respectively. Therefore, it will be easier to deal with if there is a person with knowledge about these things.

If there is no technical person in the company who can handle the development language, it may be difficult to master it. In that case , it is necessary to train technical staff and hire new employees .

How to deal with disadvantages

Here are three ways to overcome the above drawbacks.

1. Dividing up and ensuring data entry
2. Careful guidance on how to use the tools
3. Company-wide focus and collaboration

(1) Divide the work and input data reliably

Data entry takes time and effort, but it can be done smoothly if you divide the work. Since the burden on each person is reduced, it will be possible to prevent data entry from being neglected.

When requesting data entry, it is a good idea to explain why the data entry is necessary and the effect of data utilization. If you clarify the reasons and effects, it may be easier to get cooperation.

(2) Carefully instruct how to use the tools

It is difficult to master the tools from the beginning, so be sure to have the technical staff guide you properly. Since it is expensive to introduce, active use and utilization are required.

Slowly explain any points that are difficult to understand, and deepen the employee’s understanding.

(3) Company-wide focus and cooperation

Engagement and data sharing across the company are essential to maximizing the effectiveness of Salesforce .

When introducing tools, share the significance and effects of the introduction and gain the understanding of employees. By accumulating and sharing data in each department, a database useful for corporate decision-making will be completed.

Companies that are suitable for introducing Salesforce SFA tools

The following companies are suitable for introducing Salesforce.

Companies with human resources who can handle tools

As mentioned above, Salesforce’s development language is very complex. Therefore, companies with a large number of IT personnel are more suitable.

A company that can learn the development language and make good use of the analyzed data is very suitable.

Companies that want to centrally manage all kinds of data

By using several Salesforce tools, you can centrally manage the data accumulated by various departments within your company. Companies that want to collectively manage data within the company and use it for decision-making should introduce Salesforce.

A company that can collaborate on the management side and the field side

If the management side decides to introduce sales force, it is necessary to coordinate with the field side such as the sales department. Since it is the field side that inputs the data obtained from the activities, the intention of the management side should be communicated to the field side.

If the management side and the field side cannot cooperate, the tool cannot be used. Let’s do data entry thoroughly to collect and analyze more data.

There are SFA tools other than Salesforce

There are many other SFA tools out there besides Salesforce. This time, I will introduce three tools.

1. kintone
2. Chikyu
3. Next SFA

kintone

Kintone is a famous service used by about 20,000 companies. The main features are as follows.

You can create an original application based on a sample without special IT knowledge. It is an easy-to-implement tool that can be easily customized.

Prices are as follows.

Initial cost is free. If you’re interested, take advantage of the 30-day free trial.

Chikyu

“Chikyu” is an SFA tool made in Japan and already used by many companies such as OMRON and Sumitomo Realty & Development. The main features are as follows.

Anyway, it is easy to use with a simple and easy-to-see screen, and the initial setting is also easy. It is a tool that is easy to operate even if there are few technical staff in the company.

Prices are as follows.

Detailed functions differ depending on the plan. If you are curious about the difference in features, try the free trial.

Next SFA

“Next SFA” is an SFA that thoroughly pursues usability and visibility. The main features are as follows.

With a full support system, even companies that have never introduced SFA can use it with confidence. If you have any questions, you can ask and consult with the person in charge, and seminars on SFA operation are held regularly.

Prices are as follows.

Summary

This time, I introduced the features of SFA tools and Salesforce. Did you get a better understanding of SFA?

Thoroughly compare and consider when introducing Salesforce or other SFA tools. Please use the free trial if you are interested in the tool.