What is the difference between sales Cloud and Salesforce?

When you think of using cloud-based software to run your business or personal life, what do you usually picture? For many people it's a spreadsheet that shows their budget or schedule. But while spreadsheets can be useful for some things, other applications like accounting packages have more specific purposes.

The same goes for enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and customer relationship management (CRM). When looking at how these tools work together, sometimes it helps to separate them into two categories: ERPs and CRMs. While they're often used interchangeably by companies, this isn't always accurate—some businesses use different products from each category. And even if two organizations do use similar products within those groups, they may not necessarily use the exact same product name.

So before we get too far ahead here, let’s take a look at exactly which programs fall under the umbrella terms "cloud" and "software as a service." We'll then break down where certain services fit in—like sales Cloud, which is part of the broader Salesforce brand.

In short, when you hear someone say they use "the cloud," chances are they mean something along the lines of Google Docs, Dropbox, or Evernote. These apps aren't designed specifically to help manage an entire company. They serve one purpose, and they provide users access to files stored online rather than keeping copies locally. The way they store data changes very little from app to app — it's just a matter of who provides the servers and storage space.

This differs significantly from traditional desktop software. If you've ever installed Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Reader, or any number of other popular programs, you know how much time and effort it takes to set up and customize all the various components needed to make everything run smoothly. With SaaS, you generally only need to worry about logging in once per month via a web browser.

With cloud computing, a lot of the hard stuff happens behind the scenes. This makes these platforms extremely scalable, efficient, and secure. And because most providers offer 24/7 support, customers don't have to wait days to get answers to questions. As long as everyone involved has internet connections, working remotely becomes seamless.

But back to our point earlier...what exactly does cloud computing entail? Let's start off by taking a closer look at Salesforce, the largest provider of cloud solutions today.

What comes with sales Cloud Salesforce?

If you already subscribe to Sales Cloud, you probably already noticed a couple major benefits right away. First of all, anyone with a valid account gets 1TB worth of file upload space. That means no longer having to struggle over email attachments or large documents that won't budge past 15MB. You can send anything you want without worrying about running out of room.

Secondly, if you spend a lot of time searching through emails and contacts, Sales Cloud will automatically categorize new messages based on preselected keywords. It might sound strange, but sorting information actually saves you time later on. In addition to being able to find important team members faster, you can better organize leads, projects, and follow ups.

Finally, there's now a dedicated section for invoices! Since Salesforce partners directly with vendors, they were missing this feature until recently. Now, you can track payments and receive detailed reports regarding late fees and outstanding balances.

Now that you understand the basics of what comes with sales Cloud, let's talk about the next biggest thing associated with Salesforce: its parent company, Salesforce Ventures.

Is Salesforce CRM and sales Cloud the same?

While there are certainly similarities between the two brands, they operate quite differently at times. Here's a breakdown of what sets them apart:

A majority of Sales Cloud processes revolve around creating opportunities, managing lead pipelines, setting appointments, and handling proposals. On top of that, you can add additional functionality like workflow tracking, deal signoffs, and more. Meanwhile, CRM focuses heavily on maintaining existing relationships with clients and prospects.

Because of this, companies tend to use the two names interchangeably depending on the industry and size of the organization. However, there are still plenty of examples where they differ. Some of the main ones include:

Most small businesses only require contact info management services instead of full-featured CRM suites.

For example, if you own a local coffee shop, you probably don't care about stock levels or employee schedules. Instead, focus more on scheduling meetings or accepting reservations.

Some industries rely on fewer resources to conduct daily operations. Maybe your retail location doesn't need sophisticated inventory controls. Or maybe you sell cars, trucks, boats, RV trailers, etc., and you simply need to keep tabs on maintenance records and vehicle history.

As mentioned previously, not every business needs the same level of customization, structure, or complexity. So while we could go deeper into comparing the pros and cons of each platform, ultimately it boils down to choosing the best option for your particular situation.

Before making the decision, however, it's helpful to consider why Salesforce was founded in 2004. After years of research and development, cofounder Marc Benioff came across a startling statistic: Only 3 percent of American adults had heard of Oracle prior to his discovery.

After realizing he'd struck gold in the tech world, Benioff decided to pursue further expansion. He quickly assembled a board made up of influential executives like former eBay CEO Pierre Omidyar and former Compuware exec John Swainson. Then in 2005, he launched Sales Cloud alongside fellow investor Michael Moritz.

Benioff didn't stop there though. His vision wasn't limited to building a successful technology firm. Rather, he saw himself leading a movement that would fundamentally change the face of commerce entirely. By focusing on providing easy-to-use yet powerful solutions, the company aims to create a truly unified experience for consumers.

To learn more about this philosophy, check out this article published by Forbes Insights.

Who uses Salesforce sales Cloud?

Since 2017, more than 200 million nonenterprise employees worldwide use Sales Cloud. A good chunk of this population works in marketing, finance, IT, human resources, procurement, supply chain, manufacturing, and healthcare. Other common industries include automotive, hospitality, construction, energy, wholesale trade, insurance, real estate, education, government agencies, and nonprofits.

According to a recent study conducted by Gartner Incorporated, 80% of global enterprises plan to increase investments in digital technologies in 2021. Of these plans, 57% aim to move towards the cloud.

And since Sales Cloud offers a variety of subscription options ranging from basic entry-level accounts to premium versions, it's hardly surprising that almost half of Fortune 500 companies use it. Most notably, Salesforce powers several well-known institutions including Airbnb, Accenture, Deloitte, General Motors, Hilton Worldwide, LinkedIn, Nike, PayPal, PwC, Target, Uber Technologies, Walt Disney World Resort, Visa, Walmart, and Wells Fargo.

One of the reasons Salesforce has continued to grow despite stiff competition is due to its commitment to innovation. Over the last decade alone, it's released dozens of improvements to its core products, such as Lightning Labs, Chatter Bots, Einstein AI, Canvas, IoT integration, AppExchange Marketplace, Workday Connector, Metalogix Integration Suite, and more.

Another reason lies in Salesforce's ability to adapt to changing trends. When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in August 2016, hundreds of thousands lost power. Because Sales Cloud utilizes smart home devices like Philips Hue lights, Nest thermostats, and Lutron Caseta switches, it took mere hours for the company to develop a solution that allowed it to seamlessly reconnect customers' homes after disaster strikes.

Of course, there are many others. To see some of the ways big corporations benefit from Sales Cloud, read this piece penned by CIO Magazine.

What is sales Cloud Process in Salesforce?

Understandably, it can be difficult to discern whether you should stick with standard Sales Cloud or switch to Salesforce sales Cloud. There are lots of factors to weigh in order to decide on the best choice for your business.

Here are three of the most notable characteristics that distinguish the two offerings:

Standard vs. Professional editions: Standard subscriptions come with a few extra perks, namely advanced security settings. But compared to professional editions, they lack customizable branding elements, multi-tenant capabilities, and more robust analytics.

Customer self-service portals: Whether you opt for standard or professional edition, you'll end up getting access to similar self-service portals. Both allow users to easily view upcoming events, book appointments, request quotes, submit paperwork, update profiles, search for colleagues, and more.

Single version: Unlike standard editions, Salesforce sales Cloud subscribers never have to upgrade to newer releases. Also, unlike professional editions, they don't have to pay yearly licensing fees.

Both versions typically cost $15-$25 per user per month, although prices vary slightly according to region.

It's safe to assume that if you're considering switching to either offering, you're doing so primarily for convenience reasons. Either way, Sales Cloud provides reliable collaboration and communication tools that enable teams to improve productivity overall.

Looking for more tips on improving efficiency? Check out this list of essential remote work habits for improved productivity.

If you're new to using cloud-based software for your company or need help choosing an app that will work best with your needs, it's important to know what sets each of these solutions apart.

While many companies use similar apps like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace/Docs, etc., some have their own custom solution. As such, knowing which one works best with your specific requirements can be difficult.

To make things easier, we'll explain how different types of enterprise applications work, as well as highlight the similarities and differences between them so you can choose the right tool for your team.

What is sales service in Salesforce?

In order to understand this feature better, let’s take a closer look at what exactly "service" means within the context of Salesforce.

According to Salesforce, “Service Cloud provides all the functionality needed by organizations today to run their businesses." The core capabilities include CRM (customer relationship management), marketing automation, human capital management, collaboration tools, project management, ecommerce, data analytics, supply chain management, financial reporting, inventory control, time tracking, mobile productivity, and more.

For example, if you want to offer a customer free shipping when they buy something from you online, then this would fall under service. If you were wondering where email support was, this is where it comes into play. Emails sent through Salesforce’s platform are managed through its Email Services product line. This allows customers to send emails directly to certain accounts attached to other users who may not necessarily be part of the same organization. It also offers spam detection and filtering options.

With Sales Cloud, you get access to a variety of services including Customer Relationship Management (CRM) products, Marketing Automation products, Workflow Automation products, Community Cloud, AppExchange, Data Analytics products, etc. These are used across industries to manage everything from lead generation and conversion rates to billing and forecasting.

As mentioned earlier, if you’re looking to find out about email support, this falls under service because it enables employees to connect with clients via text message, phone call, video chat, etc.

Some additional examples of service functions enabled by Salesforce include:

Customer Support - Allows customers to receive 24x7 live assistance while using various platforms on the web or mobile devices. You can create FAQs, provide tutorials, answer questions, troubleshoot issues, etc. Also, you can set up reminders regarding upcoming events, changes to policies, etc.

Email Communications & Internal Messaging - Send internal emails, messages, announcements, newsletters, reports, invoices, purchase orders, updates, etc. In addition, you can schedule mass mailing campaigns, auto responders, and follow ups. You could even integrate third party messaging systems.

Document Creation & Storage - Create documents, spreadsheets, forms, checklists, calendars, presentations, PDFs, images, videos, attachments, etc. Upload files from cloud storage providers too. With Document Sets, you can organize multiple document versions and track revisions.

Payments & Invoicing - Integrate payment gateways, manage subscriptions, accept credit cards, issue refunds, collect fees, invoice clients, etc. You can even enable automatic payments based on client due dates.

Billing & Accounts Receivable - Set up automated bill collection procedures, generate professional-looking statements of account, view open balances, pay bills, submit claims, charge interest, report overdue balances, reconcile accounts, etc.

Work Instructions & Training - Enable self-service portals, allow users to upload documents, give instructions for tasks, train technicians, assign jobs, etc.

Accounting & Reporting - Track expenses, costs, revenues, profit margins, analyze trends, prepare budgets, forecast future growth, etc.

What is sales Cloud Process?

The name itself implies that it helps salespeople operate efficiently and effectively. To achieve this goal, it must streamline every aspect of the selling cycle including lead capture, proposal writing, proposals acceptance, negotiations, contract signing, post-contractual maintenance, etc.

However, before discussing the details, here's a quick overview of the most significant advantages offered by Sales Cloud over competitors.

It has been designed specifically for sales teams that require real-time visibility during interactions with prospects and existing customers.

You can leverage powerful features like activity history, customizable workflow design, integration with hundreds of 3rd parties apps, personalized dashboards, dynamic surveys, 360° views, etc.

Its intuitive interface makes creating customized flows easy without needing any technical expertise.

Thanks to Lightning Components Library, you can build complex interactive experiences quickly.

Unlike traditional SaaS models, there's no limit to the number of users per license. Hence, you don't need to worry about paying extra for high user counts.

On top of being highly scalable, it's flexible enough to adapt to changing market demands. Therefore, you don't have to compromise quality just to save money.

What are automation processes in Salesforce?

Automations are programmed rules triggered automatically according to specified criteria. They're typically executed by bots and artificial intelligence algorithms. For instance, you might want to have your bot ask for information whenever someone signs up for premium plans.

When automations fail to deliver expected results, they cause major disruptions within your system. That's why it's very essential to ensure that your developers test their code thoroughly prior to deploying them. Otherwise, mistakes could occur causing downtime and unnecessary loss of revenue.

There are three main categories of automation processes available in Sales Cloud:

1. Lead Conversion

2. Order Entry

3. Campaign Management

Lead Conversion refers to activities performed after someone subscribes to your newsletter, downloads a whitepaper, fills out contact form, clicks on a link, etc. All of these actions trigger an automated response and thus represent opportunities for leads.

Order entry involves entering orders manually or filling out templates. However, thanks to AI, Sales Cloud now lets you add rows, columns, and formulas to tables. Plus, you can drag and drop objects around page layouts. Additionally, you can import Excel sheets, Word documents, PowerPoint slides, etc.

Campaign Management includes sending bulk emails, managing social media posts, analyzing campaign performance, building landing pages, scheduling promotional efforts, etc.

How do you automate a business process in Salesforce?

Most people wouldn't think twice about automating repetitive manual tasks. But did you know that you can actually automate entire business processes as well? By doing so, you significantly reduce operational costs while improving employee efficiency. Here are two ways you can go about it:

Use Workflows. Similar to macros in Excel, Sales Cloud's Workflows are reusable blocks of logic that execute commands when conditions meet a particular threshold. When configured properly, they can automate routine tasks.

Build Custom Visual Forms Using Form Editor. Instead of having yourself fill out boring fields repeatedly, you can simply click a button to populate those sections instead. Afterward, press another button to confirm. Then, you can customize your template further by adding headers, footers, buttons, links, charts, graphs, grids, etc.

Next Steps

Now that you've learned about the primary functionalities shared by different enterprise apps, you should try implementing several of these basic principles throughout your day-to-day life. Doing so will boost your overall effectiveness and efficiency levels accordingly.

When it comes to collaboration in your business or department, many people can agree that one of the best tools out there for this purpose has got to be Salesforce. With its ability to automate processes, integrate with other apps, and track data from anywhere across the globe, it’s no wonder why so many organizations have made a decision to partner up with them. However, as you may know, Salesforce actually offers more than just software—they provide services such as professional support, training courses, etc.

If you want to learn about what exactly these additional services entail, let's take a look at how they differ from each other.

How do you use sales Cloud?

As mentioned above, Salescloud provides two main types of services: Software (the platform) and Services (professional support). When looking into using either type of product, it’s important to figure out which areas will benefit most from their different benefits. Let’s go over some examples of when each might come in handy.

The first example would be if you're trying to streamline an internal process within your company. In this case, you'd probably need something like the Platform since this involves automating tasks via the system itself. On the other hand, if you were trying to improve customer relationships through your organization, then getting help from the Service Cloud side would prove beneficial because it allows you to get answers faster by talking directly to someone who understands what you're going through rather than having to send emails back and forth.

Another way in which each area could work together is if you wanted to launch multiple campaigns simultaneously while keeping track of everything. This would involve utilizing the Marketing Cloud since tracking leads and converting them into customers requires knowing where to direct them. Once again, however, if you only had access to the Software part of the platform, this wouldn't really work. You would need to set things up manually, which isn't very efficient.

What is sales Cloud & service Cloud?

Now we've gone over some situations in which each kind of service might be useful, let's talk about what makes them different from one another. First off, we'll start with "service" since it deals mostly with providing assistance with whatever problems arise regarding the platform itself. If you run into any issues with the software, whether it relates to coding errors, bugs, or anything else, you should contact technical support right away. They can assist you with troubleshooting those problems without even needing to log onto your account.

On the other hand, "Cloud" refers to the fact that these platforms operate online. If you want to collaborate with others outside of your own office (e.g., managers), you don't necessarily need to meet face-to-face to discuss certain matters anymore. Instead, all you need to do is reach out to whoever you wish via email and make sure they have internet access. As long as everyone involved has a computer and/or smartphone, it won't matter where they live.

What is sales Cloud service Cloud?

Let's now move on to "Service Cloud", which consists mainly of helping users navigate around the platform. For instance, if you're new to the application and aren't familiar with how to perform certain functions, you shouldn't feel alone. There are plenty of resources available to guide you along the way, especially considering how easy it is to find tutorials and articles written by actual experts. Additionally, there are numerous helpful tips spread throughout the platform ranging from beginner guides to advanced ones so you never struggle once again.

In addition, you can always ask questions whenever you encounter confusion. All you have to do is visit the Help Center section located in every section of the app. From here, you can submit inquiries related to specific topics such as creating reports, setting filters, etc. Lastly, if you ever experience difficulties with logging into your personal or team accounts, you can consult customer success specialists who can walk you through the steps needed to reset your password or sign in securely.

What is sales service and marketing cloud?

Next, we'll touch on "Marketing Cloud". The reason behind this name is due to the fact that it helps companies advertise products and increase brand awareness among consumers. To achieve this goal, you must create content that speaks to potential buyers' needs, interests, and wants. It's also used to inform people of upcoming events involving your company.

However, unlike "Service Cloud," not everyone is able to utilize this feature effectively. Since marketing professionals tend to focus on writing copy and coming up with creative ideas, they often lack practical knowledge regarding technology. Therefore, if you happen to fall under this category, you can turn to "marketing cloud" to provide help with running promotions, sending newsletters, managing social media pages, and similar activities.

Lastly, keep in mind that the names listed above are merely suggestions based on common terminology. While it does relate to the respective sectors, you may see references referring to them differently depending on the industry you belong to.

To recap, if you're curious about which type of Salesforce services you currently use, take note of the following details:

Software: This pertains to the core functionality provided by the actual applications themselves. If you need to install extra plug-ins or addons, you should check out the Extensions tab. Alternatively, you can download prebuilt packages from the App Exchange marketplace. Also, if you want to customize your interface, you can change themes, backgrounds, colors, fonts, etc.

Services: These include various consulting options such as onboarding, implementation, integration, training classes, webinars, etc. Moreover, you can connect with certified consultants specializing in fields such as Customer Success, Product Management, Engineering, Security, Support, etc. Lastly, if you're interested in learning about how to better manage existing clients, you can inquire about becoming a consultant yourself.

Marketing Cloud: Here, you'll find information pertaining to advertising concepts such as branding, lead generation, landing pages, website development, public relations, digital ads, etc. Furthermore, if you're concerned about promoting your company's latest offerings, you can try exploring ways to promote your products via social media channels.