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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.