Ask Wendy - On-Demand Vision

• Selling the On-Demand Model to IT

  Sep 25, 2006

  In September, the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) published a new white paper that takes a comprehensive look at total cost of ownership (TCO) of software applications. The white paper provides a true "apples-to-apples" TCO comparison between the traditional on-premise model and the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model.  The research reveals that common TCO analyses underestimate or omit the people resources and other costs necessary to run and manage traditional on- premise software applications. Since SaaS service fees typically include most, if not all, people and infrastructure costs, many TCO comparisons between the two models are incomplete.  The white paper identifies the common cost factors most likely to be underestimated or omitted when comparing the TCO of traditional software versus SaaS. These common costs (which are included in the SaaS service fees) are:

  1. Hiring and training certified personnel to install, manage and maintain the on-premise software applications
  2. Staffing a help desk to provide training and support to the end-users of the on-premise software applications
  3. Building and maintaining the redundant network and hardware infrastructure necessary to operate the on-premise software application

  For on-premise software, the white paper concludes that when factoring people cost, it is estimated that companies spend up to four times the cost of buying the software itself. With many internal IT departments overworked and overloaded, a strong case can be made that the SaaS delivery model could alleviate headaches such as capital expense, end-user training and others. The white paper also includes a TCO calculator that incorporates all the cost variables discussed. Using the calculator enables companies to make better informed decisions when considered SaaS or traditional software deployments. For a copy of the white paper visit: Software-as-a-Service; A comprehensive Look at the Total Cost of Ownership of Software Applications.

  As a pioneer in the SaaS arena, Salesforce.com has been help more companies deliver better products and services, at lower costs than any other CRM SaaS vendor. You can learn more about Salesforce.com's award-winning CRM Software-as-s-Service applications by visiting www.salesforce.com.

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• A Dozen CRM Best Practices

  Aug 10, 2006

  Whether you’re just starting out in customer relationship management (CRM) or you’re a seasoned CRM veteran looking for a boost, these 12 CRM best practices can get you off on the right foot or into the next generation. From justifying a CRM investment, to measuring and improving customer loyalty, these short and easy to read CRM best practice whitepapers answer some of the most common CRM questions today.

  1. Download Eight Ways To Justify an Investment in CRM.doc
  2. Download Building the Case for CRM in Your Organization.doc
  3. Download Four Strategies for Creating Successful Customer-Centric Organizations.doc
  4. Download Five Secrets for Building the Customer-Centric Small or Mid-sized Business.doc
  5. Download Business Process Automation.doc 
  6. Download Cleaning Up Dirty Data-Choosing the Right Approach.doc
  7. Download Leveraging the Salesforce On-Demand Platform.doc
  8. Download Managing Strategic Customers.doc
  9. Download Improve the Customer Experience with Self-Service.doc
  10. Download Leverage Professional Service Automation for Success.doc
  11. Download How to Select Mobile Apps for Your Workforce.doc
  12. Download How to Measure and Increase Customer Loyalty.pdf

  To learn more about the on-demand CRM and business applications offered by Salesforce.com you can visit our CRM software as a service applications area on www.salesforce.com.

  Have a CRM question? AskWendy@CRMSuccess.com

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• Finding the On-Demand Applications You Most Want in the AppExchange: #1 Customer Satisfaction Surveys

  Jun 22, 2006

  For the second quarter in a row, customer satisfaction surveys remained the number one on-demand application of most interest to our customers. It’s not surprising as most often, the first step toward improving the customer experience is to start surveying customers. Can you tell your CEO what percent of your customers are loyal and what percent are likely to defect?  And, better yet, what your strategy is to acquire and retain loyal customers? For best practices in measuring customer loyalty and all kinds of advice on finding the on demand solutions you most want to solve your top business issues, Download finding_the_apps_you_most_want.pdf

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• Best Practices in Selecting Applications in the AppExchange

  Jun 22, 2006

  With the AppExchange, Salesforce customers now have an easy way to address dozens of business needs through the world's first on-demand application-sharing service. The AppExchange directory gives Salesforce customers an easy way to find and install hundreds of on-demand applications designed to solve a wealth of common business challenges. With hundreds of pre-integrated, on-demand applications now available on the AppExchange, you may be wondering where to begin.  For some good advice, 

  Download best_practices_in_selecting_applications_in_the_appexchange.pdf

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• On-Demand versus On-Premise CRM: There Are Proven Performance Differences

  Jun 14, 2006

  Over the past five years, CRM users have aligned themselves into one of two camps; those organizations that have implemented, administered, and maintained their CRM systems in-house (On-Premise) and those who have leveraged the services of software as a service (On-Demand) solution providers like salesforce.com to meet their CRM needs. According to recent research conducted by CSO Insights, based on user experiences, On-Demand CRM holds the edge over On-Premise CRM in key areas. If your organization is still debating On-Premise versus On-Demand CRM, this independent research by CSO Insights and available compliments of salesforce.com, is a must read.

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• Improving Customer Self-Service: Analyst Research and On-Demand Webcast

  May 8, 2006

  Are you creating great customer experiences? According to research firm Yankee Group, customer service is one of the few differentiators that a company possesses. And, self-service is increasingly the customer's first choice for interacting with your business. Join us for a complimentary on-demand Webcast ‘Five Steps to Improving the Customer Self-Service Experience' including myself as host, Wendy Close, Salesforce.com CRM Success Expert; Yankee Group Director of Customer-Centric Strategies Sheryl Kingstone; and salesforce.com customer Steve Petrofsky, VP of Support Services at m-Qube. Learn 5 key steps for creating great customer self-service experiences from auditing your current service and support operations to developing a 360-degree, real-time, cross-channel view of the your customer. And, hear how m-Qube deployed Salesforce Service & Support to immediately scale its support center to handle more than 10,000 inquiries a week without adding any new staff. View the Five Steps to Improving the Customer Self-Service Experience Webcast now and get Latest On-Demand Software Eases Self-Service Experience, a Yankee Group research report by Sheryl Kingstone, compliments of salesforce.com.  The Webcast is about 50 minutes of easy listening packed with actionable advice. It is well worth the time for all those with a keen interest in improving customer self service. As always, comments and questions welcome. Have a CRM question? Askwendy@crmsuccess.com.

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