Salesforce

Cloud

FinancialForce drives ‘everything as a service’ model deeper with Spring 2018 release

April 27, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on FinancialForce drives ‘everything as a service’ model deeper with Spring 2018 release
The latest release of the FinancialForce suite also strengthens predictable services capabilities in their PSA offering, and further improves forecasting with additional Salesforce Einstein integration.

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Backup

Rubrik introduces complementary Polaris SaaS platform that creates unified system of record

April 4, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Rubrik introduces complementary Polaris SaaS platform that creates unified system of record
Rubrik Polaris is a separate SaaS platform that provides a new turnkey offering that partners can offer to their existing install base, and which should itself generate new sales of entire Rubrik systems among compliance-minded customers.

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Cloud

Salesforce unveils Service Cloud Essentials for small business, enhances Sales Cloud Essentials

March 14, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Salesforce unveils Service Cloud Essentials for small business, enhances Sales Cloud Essentials
Salesforce adds a second Essentials cloud, and improves the original introduced last fall, although at this point in time, Essentials is still a marginal channel play, since the focus has been on improving the offering rather than broadening the go-to-market.

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Cloud

Vena adds Revenue Performance Management to portfolio

December 20, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Vena adds Revenue Performance Management to portfolio
Vena expands beyond its corporate performance management software base with a new offering that addresses a key customer pain point, and which the company believes will significantly increase their bottom line.

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Cloud

AWS unveils potentially disruptive Alexa for Business

November 30, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on AWS unveils potentially disruptive Alexa for Business
AWS brings its Alexa technology to the office. The one negative for Canadian users is that out of the gate, it’s only available in the U.S East region.

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Backup

Salesforce-focused OwnBackup includes advanced key backup in new SaaS release

November 9, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Salesforce-focused OwnBackup includes advanced key backup in new SaaS release
OwnBackup is not exclusively focused on the Salesforce platform, but they are the leader on the platform, and it provides a big chunk of their revenues.

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Cloud

myTrailhead platform delights Salesforce partners at Dreamforce

November 9, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on myTrailhead platform delights Salesforce partners at Dreamforce
While Trailhead was created in 2014 specifically to teach Salesforce skills in a gamified manner, myTrailhead, scheduled to be available in 2018, is envisioned as becoming a tool to impart all corporate learning.

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Channel Programs

Salesforce new partner initiatives include sharing more tools, methodologies

November 8, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Salesforce new partner initiatives include sharing more tools, methodologies
As the role of partners in the Salesforce ecosystem continues to grow, the company has announced multiple new enablement initiatives for them.

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Cloud

Avaya, Salesforce expand relationship with enhanced Service Cloud-Oceana integration

November 8, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avaya, Salesforce expand relationship with enhanced Service Cloud-Oceana integration
This extension of the Avaya-Salesforce relationship provides a complete omni-channel integration between the customer engagement and CRM platforms. The companies plan to develop the relationship further, into areas like the Internet of Things.

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Cloud

Salesforce offers CRM for very small businesses with Salesforce Essentials

November 7, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Salesforce offers CRM for very small businesses with Salesforce Essentials
Priced at $25 per user per month, Salesforce Essentials contains core CRM components like Einstein Artificial AI to help customers work smarter, and includes the Salesforce Trailhead online learning environment to make their experience easier.

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Cloud

Salesforce, Google extend partnership with multi-faceted collaboration

November 6, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Salesforce, Google extend partnership with multi-faceted collaboration
Salesforce and Google have announced a major extension to their existing partnership, which will see much deeper integrations. It will not, however, place Google in a preferred position above AWS as a public cloud provider. […]
Cloud

What’s new at Dreamforce 2017? Upgrading existing services

November 6, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on What’s new at Dreamforce 2017? Upgrading existing services
Salesforce’s general managers discuss the innovations in their areas being announced at this year’s Dreamforce, and emphasize how they follow a common theme of allowing greater accessibility and customization capability.

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Cloud

Salesforce launches completely redesigned AppExchange

October 24, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Salesforce launches completely redesigned AppExchange
Salesforce unveils its new marketplace in tandem with IDC’s updated data on the growing impact of AppExchange apps and their contribution to the growing revenues generated by the ecosystem.

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Channel Programs

WhiteHat Security remakes channel program to remove barriers to partner profitability

October 12, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on WhiteHat Security remakes channel program to remove barriers to partner profitability
Changes include a new discounting and margin system, more flexible contracts, and a much improved deal registration process that is now within the WhiteHat partner portal.

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Backup

New eFolder CEO Matt Nachtrab lays out strategy to take company to the next level

July 23, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on New eFolder CEO Matt Nachtrab lays out strategy to take company to the next level
LabTech’s founder has an ambitious agenda, which involves improving the synergy of eFolder’s products, having a more systematic strategy around RMM and PSA integrations, and making eFolder the acknowledged technology leader in their space.

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Cloud

Five9 announces major new version of cloud contact centre platform

July 13, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Five9 announces major new version of cloud contact centre platform
The Summer Release expands Five9’s global capabilities and expands the number of apps available on their microservices architecture.

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Channel Programs

Salesforce to target 20-30 cloud partners with new $50 million Salesforce Ventures fund

June 1, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Salesforce to target 20-30 cloud partners with new $50 million Salesforce Ventures fund
A pair of announcements creates both a new fund to stimulate Salesforce cloud consultant partners, and a new programmatic initiative to work with this group and provide further assistance like MDF funding.

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Cloud

New FinancialForce CMO sees channel as one of keys to rapid growth

March 16, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on New FinancialForce CMO sees channel as one of keys to rapid growth
Fred Studer joins FinancialForce, which has close ties with Salesforce, but is a separate company. Studer thinks the company is now poised for its explosive growth stage.

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Cloud

Intacct driving channel growth with select, focused partners

March 10, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Intacct driving channel growth with select, focused partners
Cloud ERP vendor Intacct’s Xtreme Business Building Conference this week had a record number of partners, as the company continues to expand its channel business.

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Big Data

Salesforce kicks off the Year of Einstein

March 7, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Salesforce kicks off the Year of Einstein
Salesforce highlighted that Einstein, featured at last fall’s Dreamforce, is part of the new spring release, and is in the hands of customers. They also announced a new partnership with IBM that unites IBM’s Watson with Einstein.

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