Bluewolf's The State of Salesforce Report Reveals 77 Percent Think Their Companies Could Do More with Salesforce

Bluewolf defines the "best" as companies that are leveraging intelligent applications, investing in multi-cloud integrations, and improving experience design to drive exceptional customer experiences.

Intelligent applications are key to driving better outcomes

63 percent of company respondents will increase their Salesforce budgets next year–13 percent by more than 50 percent. Salesforce has the ability to integrate experiences and processes, and deliver intelligent recommendations for employee and customers; but the reality is that bad data, lack of integration, and antiquated processes are preventing businesses from actualizing business outcomes.

However, the more intelligent a company's applications are, the more likely they are to succeed. 65 percent of companies are investing to make their analytics more actionable. And 75 percent of companies increasing investment in analytics have cited revenue gains as a measurable business outcome attributable to their use of Salesforce.

Customer experience starts with the employee experience

More than quarter (27 percent) of salespeople see inputting data as simply a means to satisfy reporting requirements. But when employees say Salesforce is easier to use–like running an entire sales cycle from their phones–companies are almost three times more likely to see cost reductions and twice as likely to see revenue gains as attributable to Salesforce.

Companies that prioritize the customer experience must first start with continually improving the employee experience. While 52 percent of companies are releasing changes to their Salesforce orgs at least monthly, they need to remember that user experience (UX) is more than just mobile–the best companies think about the daily routines of each user and fully integrate Salesforce into their day-to-day.

Perfect data is a farce–don't let it stall innovation

54 percent of marketers believe that when their company moves a process into Salesforce, the process improves; yet 34 percent of marketers use Salesforce for reporting or lead routing only. Additionally, only 26 percent believe their data quality is a competitive advantage or strategic asset.

Data is a universal struggle, but it doesn't have to limit innovation. Of those who see great innovation potential in the Salesforce platform, 46 percent rated their own data quality practices as emerging or in need of improvement. The best companies don't wait for perfect data to start innovating; they are realizing the benefits of Salesforce with the data they have now.

"To thrive in today's digital economy, where disruptors come quickly and unexpectedly, businesses must make customer and employee engagement their top priority," said Eric Berridge, CEO, Bluewolf. "This year's The State of Salesforce Report shows that technology matters less than how you're using it. Elevating processes with intelligence, intuitive UX, and actionable insights will help companies get closer to their customers and get to their future now."

Bluewolf's annual report surveyed more than 1,700 Salesforce customers. The respondents were employees of very large enterprises (more than 1,000 employees), large enterprises (up to 1,000 employees), and medium to small enterprises (fewer than 500 employees). The study was conducted via online survey in the second and third quarters of 2016.

• Download the full report: bluewolf.com/sosf

About Bluewolf
Bluewolf, an IBM Company, is a global consulting agency that builds digital solutions designed to create results. Now. We're the proven Salesforce strategic partner for a reason–our technology-driven method combines our team's years of experience with cloud solutions that continually connect our clients with their customers. We specialize in leading cloud technologies like Salesforce, but our clients come to Bluewolf for so much more than our technical expertise. We serve a community of future-focused industry leaders dedicated to building the next generation of digital experiences. The way we see it, when business is done in real time on the cutting edge, it's always now. For more information, visit www.bluewolf.com.

Salesforce, Customer Success Platform and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, inc.

Media Contact:
Tammy Chan
Bluewolf
+1 415-692-4400
[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160925/411530
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160725/392792LOGO

SOURCE Bluewolf, an IBM Company

Related Links

http://www.bluewolf.com