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Devaiss Mohanty - PeerSpot reviewer
Premium Services Sales- CX Professional Services at Cisco
Real User
User-friendly, easy to set up and has a good GUI
Pros and Cons
  • "Checking out or extracting a report is just a click away."
  • "Instead of creating our own template, if we had some nice templates that we could pick up - if there were some Microsoft Word templates or Microsoft Excel templates in a repository in Salesforce, that would be great."

What is our primary use case?

From lead management to reporting, everything happens in Salesforce.

It's used for lead management. We work on various accounts. Each of these accounts has various deals. Typically we concentrate on the upside deals. Converting these is a big task for us. That's where we leverage all these cloud platforms. Typically, it's for keeping track of the customer contacts, making an email campaign, or converting these leads.

What is most valuable?

Nowadays, we have the CPQ, right, the configured price and quoting feature, which actually gives us a lot of leverage when we want to submit a quote to the customer directly. It helps us a lot when the customers actually are on the CRM, so that's a platform-to-platform integration. It makes it a little easier for sales to actually have that conversation with the customer.

The best part is the cloud. Most of the updates do not take time with the cloud. We get a version of it on the fly.

Checking out or extracting a report is just a click away.

I really like the GUI.

The initial setup is easy.

It's user-friendly.

The solution is stable.

The scalability is great.

Salesforce as a platform gives a lot of freedom to have a customized view. Once we have more templates in place, that will be good. 

What needs improvement?

Instead of creating our own template, if we had some nice templates that we could pick up - if there were some Microsoft Word templates or Microsoft Excel templates in a repository in Salesforce, that would be great.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've used the solution for almost eight-plus years.

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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is absolutely stable for us. We have never faced a problem. Drawing out reports or having that dashboard visibility or creating your custom dashboard views is simple for us. We have not faced any problems there.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is absolutely scalable. 

I take care of a POC which has almost 20,000-plus service sellers. It can handle definitely more than 50,000-odd people even in a POC.

We don't have any big plans to increase usage. 

How are customer service and support?

I've never contacted technical support. I cannot speak to how helpful or responsive they are. 

How was the initial setup?

The solution is straightforward. It's easy and not overly difficult. 

Deployment is something that is taken care of by the backend team. However, we have never faced such an issue migrating from a different CRM platform, a home-grown CRM platform to Salesforce.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The backend team handles licensing. I can't speak to the exact costs. 

What other advice do I have?

Many teams can use this solution, including marketing, sales, CRM, business development, and HR. Typically I would recommend users to start using it right from the prospect stage, talking about sales language. That said, you can pick it up at any time. The prospect stage is a great place to start leveraging Salesforce, however. It gives an immense capability to have an end-to-end view when you are in sales. 

I'd rate the solution ten out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Salesforce Developer at Shrum Tech
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Efficient app building using frameworks and pre-built components with rapid development
Pros and Cons
  • "Salesforce Platform is effective as it provides frameworks and pre-built components."

    What is our primary use case?

    We build many client applications on top of the CRM and the client portals and community experiences. Generally, we create custom solutions on Salesforce Platform.

    How has it helped my organization?

    Salesforce Platform has allowed us to build applications without starting from scratch. We utilize templates and pre-built features, customizing them as necessary. This approach saves time and reduces the complexity of gathering requirements.

    What is most valuable?

    Salesforce Platform is effective as it provides frameworks and pre-built components. We can choose existing templates and customize them with code or declarative features, making it easier to get started quickly without requiring extensive planning. 

    The automation capabilities, especially low-code features, are good for rapid development, maintenance, and deployment.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using the Salesforce Platform for about a year since I joined as a junior developer. It’s a very robust platform suitable for many implementations.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The stability of Salesforce Platform is very good. It is a well-maintained software, and updates are released quickly to address any issues.

    How are customer service and support?

    We have contacted their support team many times due to specific issues. Their response time is great, and their support is punctual and functional. They provide excellent service and support.

    How would you rate customer service and support?

    Positive

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    I started using the Salesforce Platform when I joined last year.

    What other advice do I have?

    Being a Salesforce developer, I would definitely recommend Salesforce Platform. It is very effective if you do not want to start from scratch and useful for those strong in marketing.

    I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Public Cloud

    If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

    Other
    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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    Manager - Key Accounts at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees
    Real User
    Modular, stable, scalable, and usable on various devices
    Pros and Cons
    • "It is very modular in approach. It is very light, and it can be used on various devices. It could be used on an Android phone or a laptop, which makes it good for the sales team on the road."
    • "It could have a lot more customization options in terms of fonts and reports. There should be an even lighter version with just two or three fields. It could be a bit more light if the field guys want to use it on a mobile phone on the road. For deploying it for CRM, maybe we can have our customer database, project funnels, and projects to help us in managing our supply chain business."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use it to manage the customer base, sales funnel, and sales team. We also intend to use it for CRM.

    What is most valuable?

    It is very modular in approach. It is very light, and it can be used on various devices. It could be used on an Android phone or a laptop, which makes it good for the sales team on the road.

    What needs improvement?

    It could have a lot more customization options in terms of fonts and reports. 

    There should be an even lighter version with just two or three fields. It could be a bit more light if the field guys want to use it on a mobile phone on the road. 

    For deploying it for CRM, maybe we can have our customer database, project funnels, and projects to help us in managing our supply chain business.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using this solution for almost ten or eleven years. In my current organization, we have been using it for the last two years. I have also used it in my previous company.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    It has been quite stable. We didn't have any challenges.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    In terms of scalability, it has been good so far. I have seen it working fine for a team of 10 people as well as for a team of 1,000 people. There are probably more than 1,000 users in our organization globally.

    In this organization, it is primarily for managing the sales team and sales funnel, but we also intend to use it for CRM around three years down the line.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    I am a sales guy, and from my point of view, I never had any problem.

    How was the initial setup?

    It is straightforward.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    I have heard that it is fairly priced. It offers ROI.

    What other advice do I have?

    It is a good platform. To deploy it in your organization, users should identify their problems and needs. They should align it with their needs in terms of customization. 

    I would rate Salesforce Platform an eight out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Private Cloud
    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    reviewer2377278 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Data Manager at a performing arts with 11-50 employees
    Real User
    Top 20
    Efficient data storage and satisfactory support with room for better connectivity integration
    Pros and Cons
    • "The most valuable aspect is that all data is stored in one place, making it easy to find what is needed and to report on it."
    • "There is a considerable effort required to load the data, involving processes like XML connections."

    What is our primary use case?

    We are using Salesforce Platform to store our data and for communication with our international partners. At the moment, we just have a data warehouse, which is Salesforce. So everything we have at the moment is stored within Salesforce. We are trying to create a data warehouse.

    How has it helped my organization?

    Salesforce has brought about improvements by storing all the data in one place, making it easy to find what is needed and to report on what is necessary. It provides seamless communication with international partners.

    What is most valuable?

    The most valuable aspect is that all data is stored in one place, making it easy to find what is needed and to report on it. The team uses it for reporting and for connecting to various parts of the organization.

    What needs improvement?

    As for improvements, connections could be enhanced. There is a considerable effort required to load the data, involving processes like XML connections. This area could see better integration to avoid headaches.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been with the company for nine months, and they had been using Salesforce for about two years prior to my joining.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    Salesforce has been quite stable for our use.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    I find Salesforce to be scalable.

    How are customer service and support?

    Customer service is satisfactory. We have communicated with the team a few times, and they are quick to respond and able to satisfy our queries. If I were to rate them, I would give them an eight. We had to call up in the first place, but they are responsive and assess our needs quickly.

    How would you rate customer service and support?

    Positive

    What other advice do I have?

    I'd rate the solution seven out of ten.

    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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    reviewer1754871 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Sales Director at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees
    Real User
    Fully functional, customizable, and has a good mobile app
    Pros and Cons
    • "When compared to Siebel, the Salesforce Platform is easier to use."
    • "It may be slow, but that is relative. When compared to Siebel CRM, which was large, clunky, and extremely slow, Salesforce seemed fast to me."

    What is our primary use case?

    Salesforce Platform is our CRM used to manage the business and the sales opportunities.

    What is most valuable?

    I like the mobile app.

    When compared to Siebel, the Salesforce Platform is easier to use. I really like Salesforce.

    The user interface is user-friendly.

    The customization is good, you can set it up and do whatever you wanted with it. You can easily customize it, and automate reports.

    It's fully functional in my opinion.

    What needs improvement?

    It may be slow, but that is relative. When compared to Siebel CRM, which was large, clunky, and extremely slow, Salesforce seemed fast to me.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I used Salesforce Platform every day for six years and stopped using it one month ago.

    I am working with the latest version.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    I have no issues with the stability of the Salesforce Platform.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The scalability of the Salesforce Platform is very good, you can easily add people and grow the product.

    With the Sprint acquisition, we have approximately 40,000 or 50,000 users.

    How are customer service and support?

    I personally have not contacted technical support.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    I have cursory knowledge in Microsoft Intune or VMware Workspace ONE. We used to resell. I worked for Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T, and we were a major reseller of Microsoft Office and Intune at the time of their launch.

    How was the initial setup?

    I was not involved in the installation. It has been in place for years.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    I don't have any information regarding the price of the Salesforce Platform.

    In general, the price is an area where there is always room for improvement.

    What other advice do I have?

    I am primarily in sales and work with a technical team and engineers.

    I would highly recommend this solution to those who are considering using it.

    I would rate Salesforce Platform a nine out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Public Cloud
    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    COO - KSA at Spectrum Groupe
    Real User
    Top 10
    Enhanced lead management through advanced analytics and automation
    Pros and Cons
    • "The most valuable features of Salesforce Platform are its analytics capabilities."
    • "One area that could use improvement is the approval mechanism in the authenticator, which is unstable."

    What is our primary use case?

    We are using Salesforce Platform to manage our leads, proposals, and POs.

    How has it helped my organization?

    Salesforce helps manage our leads and the conversion of leads, perform analytics, generate sales reports, track what is converted, what is in the proposal phase, etc. It is also being used to manage discussions with clients by connecting with emails.

    What is most valuable?

    The most valuable features of Salesforce Platform are its analytics capabilities. The automation and connection with emails allow us to track discussions with clients. Its dashboards are also very useful and provide detailed insights.

    What needs improvement?

    One area that could use improvement is the approval mechanism in the authenticator, which is unstable. It often stops working after two or three times and requires the use of codes.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We have been using Salesforce Platform for five years now.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    Salesforce Platform is stable. Apart from the issue with the authenticator, everything else works fine.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    We are using it for a couple of users, so I cannot comment on the scalability aspect.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    We were using Odoo as an ERP before switching to Salesforce Platform. Odoo has a CRM module, but it is not as professional as Salesforce. Odoo requires more customization and coding.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup involves some customization and working on parameters. It normally takes one week to ten days to configure.

    What about the implementation team?

    We are integrating Salesforce with Jira, and we have experts to handle this, so there were no issues on our end.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    We evaluated Odoo. However, it is not as professional as the Salesforce Platform.

    What other advice do I have?

    I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Public Cloud

    If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

    Other
    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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    Marketing Communications Manager at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
    Real User
    Top 10
    Good configuratin capabilities and provides 360-degree view of a client but needs better support
    Pros and Cons
    • "The solution can scale."
    • "The back end really isn't user-friendly at all."

    What is our primary use case?

    We mainly use the solution for Salesforce and for the sales team. They would use it to advise their clients as to other portfolio balances. Also, at any given point in time, we would also use it for referencing any outstanding documents that would ensure that we are KYC compliant.

    How has it helped my organization?

    We like that it can become a single source of truth that can be shared by providers who would need to interact with their clients on a daily basis. Therefore, rather than having to consult multiple systems to determine a client's portfolio balance, we can just look at one place.

    What is most valuable?

    We like that we have the ability to configure the solution to meet our needs.

    It provides a 360-degree view of the client in one place. 

    The solution can scale.

    It is stable. 

    What needs improvement?

    The back end really isn't user-friendly at all. In terms of data import, migrating data from, for example, a core banking system into Salesforce, we find it very difficult to do the mapping.

    They need a proprietary tool that would allow for ease of integration into the environment. That's not just for migration. It's mostly for one-time loads when we need to get the deltas in. We need some sort of tool to make this easier.

    The initial setup is complex. 

    technical support is not very responsive. 

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I've been using the solution for seven to eight years. 

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The solution is stable and reliable. I'd rate the stability and reliability nine out of ten. There are no bugs or glitches. 

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The scalability is okay. I'd rate the ease of expansion a six out of ten. 

    How are customer service and support?

    Technical support is not very responsive. 

    How would you rate customer service and support?

    Negative

    How was the initial setup?

    In the past, I performed the migration to Salesforce in another organization.

    The initial setup is very complex. 

    What was our ROI?

    We have witnessed an ROI while using this solution. 

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    Even though the solution is expensive, it does give companies a good value for the money they pay.

    What other advice do I have?

    I'm not sure which version of the solution I'm using. 

    I'd advise new users to first do a lot of training beforehand. You need a good base of knowledge before diving into any kind of project that will require development. 

    I'd rate the solution six out of ten.

    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    Senior Technical Consultant at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
    Consultant
    Intuitive, quite easy to learn, and stores all kinds of relevant sales information
    Pros and Cons
    • "It's an easy platform for salespeople to quickly and efficiently be able to track an opportunity."
    • "Simplification is something it needs. Every time you get the engineers involved, they make things a little too complicated. It might be more beneficial to simplify everything for quick and easy reference."

    What is our primary use case?

    CRM tool 

    How has it helped my organization?

    I find that the SalesForce solution can be used to capture everything you're doing during the course of the workday. I'm not a senior executive. I'm the guy in the trenches. I find management is trying to develop a portal to log all the information possible, so that, if I ever left, that they would be able to recreate my funnel and have all the contact information and the customer information and try to better understand the dynamics of the decision making within any of the corporations that I've identified as potential customers.

    What is most valuable?

    What I really like about Salesforce is that it's very intuitive. It's an easy platform for salespeople to quickly and efficiently be able to track an opportunity and develop custom reports for management. 

    At times, companies that have embraced the Salesforce engineering model, have been able to gather resources necessary to facilitate quotes. It'll be able to store all my information, as far as notes from calls, meetings, and tracking the progress of a particular project.

    What needs improvement?

    There's always room for improvement. Simplification is something it needs for sales. Every time you get the engineers involved, they make things a little too complicated. It might be more beneficial to simplify everything for quick and easy reference.  

    The solution should offer a Salesforce version for individuals. You have a number of people that have independent agencies and other independent workers that are out there that want to be able to track what they're doing and be able to put that into some sort of a schedule that coordinates with their calendar and everything else. When I look at Salesforce and I open Salesforce, it's unique to me as an individual. I've used Salesforce with many different companies. Sometimes you can see the visibility of other accounts, and things of that nature. These platforms can be problematic as you have people that are always looking at your stuff and then trying to work their way around you. 

    With Salesforce, I do feel that I'm doing a lot of repetitive tasks. We're constantly, re-putting in the same thing over and over and over. And that's something that Salesforce should figure out. They need to remove redundancies, as salespeople want to move on to the next deal. Salespeople want to talk and track the initial and primary points of contact. They want to put in a quick note and move on to the next opportunity. 

    For a salesperson, sometimes, you should be able to categorize your opportunities in the vertical markets that can be beneficial as well. I know it makes it a little more complex, however, that way you could see everything at a glance. You could look up which vertical, for example, you are more successful in. You should be able to split those out and dissect everything a bit better.

    That way, when you're running your campaigns, you could actually have some consistency. For example, as a salesperson, you could say "today I'm going to call logistics companies" or "today I'm going to call finance companies". 

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I've been in technical sales for about 30 years now and have used Salesforce for almost 20 years now.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The company I work for right now has 400 people.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    I actually worked with GoldMine CRM, one of the first CRM tools that were out there. They worked on my internet services and voice services for many years before selling GoldMine to Vendata.

    What I liked about their tool, which is something that Salesforce doesn't do, is they actually had a version for individuals as opposed to companies. That way, I would be able to track everything I was doing, too, and coordinate, and be able to save that information without setting up all the alarms that come with downloading something.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    I haven't had to buy Salesforce, however, I have heard it's $1500 a user. 

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    I've used Goldmine Software, SEIBEL, Oracle, and Symantec Compass. 

    What other advice do I have?

    The company I work for has a partnership with Salesforce. 

    The product version is the latest and up-to-date. It's all handled through the company I work for.

    I'd rate the solution at a nine out of ten. Nothing is perfect, however, Salesforce is a good CRM tool. 

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Public Cloud
    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
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