#6- Would you pitch Salesforce.com to your organization, and replace the existing software? Why or Why not? Talk about issues like ROI, Security, Maintenance, Enterprise Architecture etc
Pitch it to the bosses?
Yes, yes, yes. Based on the week I have had playing with salesforce.com I would highly recommend it to companies who are commercial or commerce driven. It is easy to use, not too expensive if mid-range packages are chosen, and best of all seemingly has excellent support.
Not so much of a pitch for ol' Uncle Sam....
Unfortunately I work on proprietary Government networks that require complete access and disclosure to all infrastructure on the network; from user terminals, to mid-level CISCO routers, to the very fiber that carries all the networking signals. The very nature of salesforce.com means that it is mobile, accessible from a variety of networks and operating systems, and rides networks that could be untrusted. Not necessarily insecure, just untrusted, where data sets and information might be more easily captured via 802.11 segments in a network or via embedded packet capture applications. When a customers data is extremely sensitive or absolutely proprietary, then salesforce.com might not be the best solution. This only being for institutions require end to end trust relationships or complete security (absolute network control).
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Salesforce packages (CIS512 - Assignment B)
#5- Explain Salesforce's pricing and licensing model?
Salesforce.com has 5 packages. Package #1 is the lightest weight, on up to Package #5 with the most options (and biggest cost). Each package contains new options, and all of options listed for the previous lesser packages.
The first offering is named "Contact Manager" and is geared toward managing business contacts and customers. For $5.00 per user (log-in) per month, with a maximum of up to 5 users who can; track customers, run reports, use email applications such as outlook or gmail, and advertises a 99.9% availability to users.
Package #2 is named the "Group" deal and is geared toward CRM management for small groups, and this package can facilitate up to 5 users. The cost is $25.00 per user per month, where each user can run reports, receive real-time dashboard feeds, contact customer support 5 days a week 12-hour a day.
The "Professional" package is the third offering. With no limit on users, various reports, a dashboard that can be customized, the ability to mass mail contacts, sales forecasting and cost $65.00 per user per month.
Forth in line is the "Enterprise" package, and this is just short of a having a private service, and costs $125.00 per user per month. The Enterprise edition offers off-line access (not on the Internet), advanced security, a searchable library.
Finally, the most expensive and advanced package is the "Unlimited" with unlimited customization, development, and support. This package cost $250.00 per user per month, offers 24X& premier application support, and a dedicated systems administrator.
Salesforce.com has 5 packages. Package #1 is the lightest weight, on up to Package #5 with the most options (and biggest cost). Each package contains new options, and all of options listed for the previous lesser packages.
The first offering is named "Contact Manager" and is geared toward managing business contacts and customers. For $5.00 per user (log-in) per month, with a maximum of up to 5 users who can; track customers, run reports, use email applications such as outlook or gmail, and advertises a 99.9% availability to users.
Package #2 is named the "Group" deal and is geared toward CRM management for small groups, and this package can facilitate up to 5 users. The cost is $25.00 per user per month, where each user can run reports, receive real-time dashboard feeds, contact customer support 5 days a week 12-hour a day.
The "Professional" package is the third offering. With no limit on users, various reports, a dashboard that can be customized, the ability to mass mail contacts, sales forecasting and cost $65.00 per user per month.
Forth in line is the "Enterprise" package, and this is just short of a having a private service, and costs $125.00 per user per month. The Enterprise edition offers off-line access (not on the Internet), advanced security, a searchable library.
Finally, the most expensive and advanced package is the "Unlimited" with unlimited customization, development, and support. This package cost $250.00 per user per month, offers 24X& premier application support, and a dedicated systems administrator.
Salesforce Success (CIS512- Assignment B)
#4- Why is Salesforce so famous and widely adopted?
Some popular kids like it...
The list of clients and success stores on the salesforce.com pedigree page is impressive. Companies of all shape, size, and business vector. Just to name a few; Starbucks, Dell, The Wall Street Journal, and QualComm just to name a few.
Goodness...
Live interactive databases and spreadsheets, with a solid performance background, proven customer support, and attractive pricing is tough to beat for some companies. Applications are user friendly, and have a 'feel' like many other network and social network sites on the Internet.
It is easy and sort of self-learning...
FAQ's and narrated help demonstrations are available with just a few click's of a mouse, and can easily and efficiently move even the most technologically deficient users into the present century. User adoption is quoted as being a big selling point for various company success stories, and nothing is more apt to fail then a systems/application that users dislike, don't trust, or feel is too difficult to choose. Businesses can capitalize on lessons learned from other organizations, they can visit common use application sites to see if solutions are present for new or known problems, essentially they don't have to recreate something that already exists.
Some popular kids like it...
The list of clients and success stores on the salesforce.com pedigree page is impressive. Companies of all shape, size, and business vector. Just to name a few; Starbucks, Dell, The Wall Street Journal, and QualComm just to name a few.
Goodness...
Live interactive databases and spreadsheets, with a solid performance background, proven customer support, and attractive pricing is tough to beat for some companies. Applications are user friendly, and have a 'feel' like many other network and social network sites on the Internet.
It is easy and sort of self-learning...
FAQ's and narrated help demonstrations are available with just a few click's of a mouse, and can easily and efficiently move even the most technologically deficient users into the present century. User adoption is quoted as being a big selling point for various company success stories, and nothing is more apt to fail then a systems/application that users dislike, don't trust, or feel is too difficult to choose. Businesses can capitalize on lessons learned from other organizations, they can visit common use application sites to see if solutions are present for new or known problems, essentially they don't have to recreate something that already exists.
Cloud Computing vs. Enterprise Applications (CIS512- Assignment B)
#3- Do you think Cloud Computing will replace Enterprise Applications?
Go, go, gooooo.....
Cloud Computing is an excellent idea for small to mid-range businesses on the move. Businesses that require mobility of sales force, that want to reach out to customers both new and old, that possibly don't have huge budgets for software/hardware, or are looking to revamp old and antiquated enterprise architecture.
Maybe not for big, solid, and not so go, go, go...
After playing with the application, and realizing the limitations of the Internet (can you say outage), it seems that businesses with a large number of users, that require constant upgrades, code writing, and complete security might not consider Cloud Computing the most optimal solution to their individual needs.
Go, go, gooooo.....
Cloud Computing is an excellent idea for small to mid-range businesses on the move. Businesses that require mobility of sales force, that want to reach out to customers both new and old, that possibly don't have huge budgets for software/hardware, or are looking to revamp old and antiquated enterprise architecture.
Maybe not for big, solid, and not so go, go, go...
After playing with the application, and realizing the limitations of the Internet (can you say outage), it seems that businesses with a large number of users, that require constant upgrades, code writing, and complete security might not consider Cloud Computing the most optimal solution to their individual needs.
Salesforce CON's (CIS512- Assignment B)
#2- What are some of the disadvantages of Salesforce.com?
Its a bit spendy....
If you are a larger business, with a multitude of users, requiring constant administrator support, but don't have a large budget this might not be the product for you.
Users without decent Web access or connections...
One of the biggest disadvantages is a requirement for fairly robust access to the World Wide Web, unless an Enterprise package is purchased, which might be costly for a smaller enterprise. Enterprise edition touts off-line access where developers and technicians might require special access relationships with a company in order to work with a specific data set. As an example, many Government entities operate on stand-alone or protected networks. Another possible disadvantage is user overload or application server outage, realizing of course that almost any network in any office experiences outages and upgrade related degradation of service issues.
Might not play well with others...
Another disadvantage is migration from a legacy 'in-house' applications, where both services are required to communicate or work together but the WEB based server isn't compatible with the in-house solution.
Its a bit spendy....
If you are a larger business, with a multitude of users, requiring constant administrator support, but don't have a large budget this might not be the product for you.
Users without decent Web access or connections...
One of the biggest disadvantages is a requirement for fairly robust access to the World Wide Web, unless an Enterprise package is purchased, which might be costly for a smaller enterprise. Enterprise edition touts off-line access where developers and technicians might require special access relationships with a company in order to work with a specific data set. As an example, many Government entities operate on stand-alone or protected networks. Another possible disadvantage is user overload or application server outage, realizing of course that almost any network in any office experiences outages and upgrade related degradation of service issues.
Might not play well with others...
Another disadvantage is migration from a legacy 'in-house' applications, where both services are required to communicate or work together but the WEB based server isn't compatible with the in-house solution.
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