Salesforce is an online, web-based, CRM application that runs in "the cloud" allowing users to manage and perform nearly every detail of their job. Located in San Francisco, CA, Salesforce was founded by Marc Benioff and Parker Harris in 1999. Salesforce started out as a business software company distributing its product on a subscription basis. Now it has evolved into the #1 CRM solution in the world. Salesforce is also known for the force.com platform which allows external developers, like Riptide, to create add-on applications that integrate seamlessly with Salesforce, enabling full customization to fit any business need.

What is CRM?

CRM is short for Customer Relationship Management. CRM started out as a strategy for managing a company's interactions with clients and future sales prospects, but has expanded over the last few years to become a kind of one-stop-shop for all of a company's business processes as well. The most widely recognized CRM solution on the market today is Salesforce.

What is "the cloud"?

If an application runs in "the cloud", it means the user can access it anywhere through an Internet-connected computer or mobile device. All information is stored on groups of online servers located in various parts of the world. The advent of cloud computing has initiated the "no software" movement wherein companies are moving away from traditional software in favor of online applications and websites.

What if the cloud goes down?

Theoretically, the cloud could go down, but it's not likely. The reason the cloud is so secure is because it is located on multiple servers in multiple locations around the world. A majority of the servers would have to go down all at one time in order for the cloud to stop working. The other scenario for the cloud being down is if your company's internet went down, in which case you wouldn't be able to access the cloud, but the cloud itself would still be up and working. But don't be too alarmed of not being able to access the cloud. Studies show the cloud is far more reliable than any traditional server/software solution.

What does "no software" mean?

"No software" means just that, no software. In a typical computing environment, software programs are used to accomplish certain tasks. But in a "no software" environment, web-based applications are used to accomplish those tasks instead. Some examples you may already be familiar with are Gmail, and of course, Salesforce.

Why Salesforce?

There are many CRM solutions out there that claim to offer many of the same features as Salesforce and at a better price. But here's the catch: Few are as easy to use, as accessible, as streamlined as Salesforce is, and none are as profitable for your business. Since Salesforce is the most popular CRM solution at 92,000 businesses and growing, it sets the standard for functionality, usability, performance, and customer satisfaction.

How can Salesforce help my business?

Simply put, Salesforce will help all your business efforts align perfectly with each other. It has the ability to simplify and automate all of your business processes and your sales and marketing efforts, and provides strategic visibility into different areas within the company. Overall, it will help you increase sales and create quality, long-lasting relationships with your clients while increasing the productivity and connectivity of your internal corporate processes.

How many successful Salesforce projects has Riptide installed?

As a Registered Consulting Partner for Salesforce, we have completed more than 100 successful projects for companies of all sizes across many industries from small start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Our current customer satisfaction rating on the Salesforce Appexchange is over 90%, proving our clients and their business goals are our top priority.

How can Riptide help my company use Salesforce more efficiently?

Riptide employs a team of certified Salesforce Consultants and Developers with years of experience both using and implementing Salesforce within other companies. These individuals have a great understanding of general business processes and are able to combine that knowledge and the fundamentals of your business into a skillfully architected Salesforce environment tailored to your business needs. Every customized Salesforce solution we create is designed to help your business run faster, and smarter, resulting in a more profitable bottom line for your organization.

How can I be sure Riptide will keep my Salesforce project within budget?

Before we begin any Salesforce project, our first step is to fully understand your business-and your budgetary concerns-through a Business Process Review (BPR). Then we create a custom Blueprint Solution for you that outlines the details of your Salesforce project, including multiple options for you to choose from that will satisfy both your budget requirements and your business needs.

How can Riptide ensure my company's Salesforce project will be successful?

Every project Riptide does must go through our proven 5 Steps to Success Program. Each of the 5 steps-BPR, Blueprint Solution, Agile Project Development, Customized Training, and Support-were specifically developed to guarantee a successful Salesforce project, no matter the size or the complexity.

What is a BPR?

A Business Process Review (BPR) is a structured approach to identifying and understanding the critical processes in your business workflow and outlining the ways in which to improve them. This is the first step in our 5 Steps to Success Program-and the most important-where we acquire all the background information about your business processes in order to develop a workable strategy for your Salesforce project, known as a Blueprint Solution.

What is a Blueprint Solution, and when will I receive it?

A Blueprint Solution is a customized document based on your BPR outlining every detail of your Salesforce project-much like an architect's blueprint would outline each and every aspect of your home. Your Blueprint Solution will lay out the options for your project and provide you with recommendations on how you can improve your business efficiency and save money. You can generally expect to receive your Blueprint Solution two to three weeks after your BPR is completed.

Will my Users need training, and if so, how much?

At Riptide, we are big believers in training. User acceptance for our clients is one of the important parts of the project. In fact, Training is the 4th step in our 5 Steps to Success Program. We have found that the more training we complete with our clients, the more equipped they are to manage their Salesforce environment once the project is completed. The amount of training is different for each client and it depends heavily on the complexity of the Salesforce environment. One reason why Riptide has so many successful Salesforce projects is due to our Custom Training Program-which we strongly recommend for each and every Salesforce implementation we do.

How many Salesforce Admins at my company will I need per User?

Typically, we've found that it's most effective to allot 1 Admin for every 20 Users. This number may change depending on the complexity of your Salesforce environment, but for the most part, 1 for 20 is a good estimate.

How much time will my Salesforce Admins spend supporting Users?

Our experts have found that for the first 90 days, it is wise to estimate that 100% of their time will be spent helping your company's Users. For the next 90 days, it goes down to about 75%, and thereafter, only about 50% of their time will be allocated to helping your Users.

Can Riptide make training videos for my company?

Absolutely! At Riptide, we have a full video and sound production studio capable of producing any digital and online training materials you may need.

Does Riptide have a post-project support program?

The final step in our 5 Steps to Success Program is Support. At Riptide, we believe in keeping your Salesforce Users happy and working with the greatest efficiency possible. By taking advantage of our Support packages, you can be assured a richer Salesforce experience and a greater return on your investment.