Best Practices for Implementing Salesforce CRM - Cloud Experts

Get these must-have administrator toolsManage releases effectivelyThree times a year, salesforce.com releases new features and functionality for all applications and theForce.com platform. It’s up to you to decide which features you want to make available to your users. Foreach release, you’ll find the following release-specific resources on the Community site:• Release Preview – Get an overview of upcoming features.• Release Notes – Get details about the new features.• Release Webinars – Watch presentations about specific features.• Release training – Check out the online training modules.• Tech Talk series – When there’s a new release, this series features product managers explaining thelatest features. Plus, it’s your chance to get any questions answered.You may also have change requests to customize your app or to create new apps. For such requests, youhave the following tools:• Use the Metadata API to access to code and data schema. The Metadata API was designed to managecustomizations and to build tools that can manage the metadata model, rather than the data itself. Thistool is very helpful if you use the Force.com platform.• Use the Force.com IDE to create, modify, test, and deploy powerful Force.com applications. The IDEprovides a comfortable environment for programmers familiar with integrated developmentenvironments. Developers can code, compile, test, and deploy their code from within the IDE.• Use the Force.com sandbox to create a snapshot of your production environment. With the sandbox, youcan develop, test, and train without interrupting daily business activities on your production system.• Use the Code Share directory to collaborate with other developers who build open-source apps.Give managers unprecedented insight into your businessTo support your users and managers, put the information they need at their fingertips with reports anddashboards. Both are built on the analytics that are part of Salesforce CRM. You can also browse theanalytic applications on the AppExchange.To get started, talk to your managers to find out what they want to measure and what key performanceindicators (KPIs) define success. For example, your managers may want to measure any or all of thesemetrics: number of leads, number of leads at a certain status, lead conversion rates, opportunities in thepipeline and forecast, or trending. When you define what metrics to highlight, it’s important to have welldefinedbusiness objectives that support your company’s vision.You can display analytics as reports or dashboards. Reports typically summarize data in tables and help youget an overview of performance over time. Dashboards show important company metrics as graphics.Because this information is displayed in real time, dashboards are great for an immediate view of thecurrent situation.BEST PRACTICE 3