Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

IFS Cloud Platform vs Salesforce Service Cloud comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary
 

Categories and Ranking

IFS Cloud Platform
Ranking in Help Desk Software
7th
Average Rating
7.8
Number of Reviews
30
Ranking in other categories
CRM (11th), Customer Experience Management (7th), Field Service Management (1st), ERP (9th), Activity Based Costing Software (7th), Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) (2nd), Local Government CRM (4th), IT Asset Management (7th), IT Service Management (ITSM) (5th), License Management (2nd)
Salesforce Service Cloud
Ranking in Help Desk Software
5th
Average Rating
8.4
Number of Reviews
51
Ranking in other categories
CRM Customer Engagement Centers (2nd), Knowledge Management Software (3rd), IT Alerting and Incident Management (6th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2024, in the Help Desk Software category, the mindshare of IFS Cloud Platform is 1.4%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Salesforce Service Cloud is 1.8%, up from 1.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Help Desk Software
 

Featured Reviews

Patrick Abi Habib - PeerSpot reviewer
Jan 23, 2023
I like the connectivity and interfaces, but the reporting could be more user-friendly
IFS uses Crystal Report mostly, which isn't too user-friendly. Developing reports isn't easy and requires a lot of dev time. Since SAP bought it, Crystal Report has become more complicated to use on IFS. You have a dashboard for reporting that is good, but it's incomplete. Most of our clients use Power BI or some additional tooling for BI. I worked on a third-party system called Harmony Solution. This French company produces a reporting tool that I feel is better than Crystal Report for IFS. They could also improve the plugin for Excel data migration to clarify its use. Many clients use it for massive amounts of data, which affects their systems. There is no communication about that. Clients use the Excel plugin because they know it works, but it does not always work the way it should. They need to improve the plugin's performance or inform customers to limit their use. Migration jobs are often based on Excel inputs, particularly CSV files. That can cause issues when operating across several countries. For example, say I'm working on a French PC collaborating with someone in India who uses an Indian PC. Excel will transform the file based on the country's language, and the input data will be wrong. I believe they are trying to fix this with the smart data tool in the cloud.
ChanchalSaxena - PeerSpot reviewer
Jan 3, 2024
High scalability with good plugins and excellent customer visibility
The Primary objectives of our solution are to improve the customer experience, improve process efficiency, and eliminate the wasted costs involved in business operations. For example, we're focusing more on the improvement of DIY (Do it Yourself). The call load reduces the need for visits by…

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The most valuable features of IFS Applications in the latest version are the new user Arena interface. It's from Apps 9, but it brings more flexibility in usage, especially around different devices, such as mobile usage, which doesn't restrict you from using a computer. We are it for the HR side, and it's proving quite good. It has a new modern feel to it similar to a standard cloud application which enhances the user experience."
"The solution overall is very versatile and flexible, especially compared to other products."
"Having a young talented programmer, during the six years of use, we were able to save around 75 000 EUR preparing simple modifications using customization rather than ordering them in IFS / Partner."
"IFS Applications' best feature is the user-friendly interface that has a .NET Framework application in the front end and an Oracle database and WebLogic middleware."
"The workflow of the solution is very good."
"The best feature is the maintenance module, which is essentially an industry-specific workflow designed with a manufacturing module as per industry standards. It's very precise and specific without having complex functionalities. It's straightforward. Field Service Management is definitely a wonderful product that IFS has developed because it caters to field services. The energy and utility sectors can answer their business needs using the software."
"A high level of ERP can be handled in IFS."
"The platform is reliable and stable."
"We are very happy with the support team from Salesforce."
"We used Salesforce Service Cloud for CRM (customer relationship management) cases and general sales cases."
"The most valuable feature of the solution is the traceability of actions."
"It is a stable product."
"The complexity of the solution is very less."
"The main benefit of Salesforce Service Cloud is that everything is in the cloud. We can track the entire customer journey from lead to account or opportunity. The CRM is in the cloud, while the financial transactions are in NetSuite. By integrating these applications, we get a complete view of the business. Some integrations are event-driven, while others are batch integrations that run at scheduled times. We also build reports using our in-house analytics tool to help leadership make decisions."
"The instant input of feedback into the CRM systems by case management is one of the impactful features"
"The interface is quite user-friendly."
 

Cons

"Customization needs to be improved."
"Sometimes from the sales perspective, clients don't always fully understand how large a task or a project they're getting involved in when they decide, "We're going to switch across to IFS." They could probably do a little bit more, maybe around preparing people for these projects."
"The CRM was shaky and although this improves in Apps 10, there is room for improvement."
"It would be ideal if, in the future, the product could incorporate IoT and blockchain elements. We'd like to explore more of these types of features going forward."
"Aspects of HR and payroll could be better."
"The solution needs to improve its documentation and user-friendliness."
"There are certain digital features that need to be incorporated, such as IOP."
"The support provided by IFS Applications has room for improvement. I'm based in Poland, and when my company had an issue, finding people from IFS to give my company the support it needed was difficult."
"The solution's integration with the main ERP is a little cumbersome."
"There are some issues with backend connectivity in Salesforce Service Cloud."
"I would like to add some bot features."
"The solution could continue improving its artificial intelligence capabilities."
"The solution’s user interface could be improved."
"Since customization can increase the cost from an implementation standpoint, we focus on showcasing Service Cloud's built-in features and possibilities."
"Reporting could be improved."
"The integrations with other solutions can be improved."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I consider it to be a well-priced solution compared to other mid-range or high-end ERP solutions."
"There are varying license levels that you can purchase."
"We pay for a license to use the solution, which is not very expensive."
"The pricing of the solution may appear to be expensive for smaller companies with only tens of users; however, for larger and mid-size industrial companies, IFS is able to win deals and the pricing is competitive in the market."
"Pricing is an area that could be improved. They could be more competitive."
"There's an additional yearly cost for support."
"Ask for all-inclusive pricing, as they are pretty flexible if you ask for custom models."
"IFS Applications is expensive software, but it's on par with SAP and Oracle. It's for large enterprises and government entities and not for small and medium-sized enterprises. They have one licensing model, but if you want to have a module-specific license, they provide component-based licenses. Unlike SAP and Oracle, it doesn't have different levels of licensing. It's one level of licensing."
"Salesforce is not a cheap product. It can be expensive."
"Salesforce Service Cloud is expensive. I worked with ExactTarget over five years ago, and it was quite pricey then. Not everyone could afford it. Salesforce has different tiers for different kinds of users. It's expensive considering their features and services, but they offer best-in-class solutions."
"Only enterprise businesses can afford the solution, and small companies cannot afford it."
"The product is expensive. There is a need to make yearly payments towards the licensing costs attached to the product."
"The licensing is flexible. Companies pay for what they use. However, a company with very small needs might find it difficult to justify the cost. Overall, it's in the medium price range."
"The price of the solution depends on how many users need access to it"
"The price is too expensive."
"I believe that in our country, Colombia, we utilize this platform for the Latin American region. In terms of expenses, it's somewhat higher compared to other products. I would rate it as expensive and nine out of ten."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Help Desk Software solutions are best for your needs.
815,854 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
19%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Government
7%
Construction Company
7%
Educational Organization
16%
Financial Services Firm
16%
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
11%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IFS Applications?
Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a nine or ten out of ten since it is an extremely scalable solution that can be used for various use cases with thousands of users.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IFS Applications?
The product is reasonably priced. The costs are justified by the value provided, considering the comprehensive features and minimal need for customization. I rate the pricing a seven out of ten.
What needs improvement with IFS Applications?
The solution's reporting tools still require improvement. The current functionality could be more user-friendly and flexible, which can lead to increased reliance on service partners for custom cha...
What is your primary use case for Salesforce Service Cloud?
I use Salesforce as a CRM to pull data, update business opportunities, and support the sales team. I query the data through Snowflake or HANA using Tableau for analysis and market expectations.
 

Also Known As

IFS Applications, Assyst, IFS Cloud
Service Cloud
 

Learn More

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

China Airlines, Electrolux Group, Babcock, Cimcorp, Sky, Multiplex, Veolia. 
Stanley Black & Decker, Coca-Cola, Activision, Wells Fargo, Spotify, Aldo, Philips, The Red Cross, Blue Shield of California, Sprouts Farmers Market, Direct Energy Solar, Inspirato, Kiva
Find out what your peers are saying about IFS Cloud Platform vs. Salesforce Service Cloud and other solutions. Updated: October 2024.
815,854 professionals have used our research since 2012.