Digital transformation is the way of the future. An initiative that improves process structures, expands digital footprints, and cultivates top-tier customer experiences in every medium, digital transformation is highly sought after across industries.

‍According to a study conducted by IDG Research Service for Insight Enterprises, 87% of surveyed enterprise leaders are actively looking to transform their companies digitally. Nearly half (46%) are looking for enterprise-wide changes, while 41% are looking to transform specific areas. Only 13% are not taking action, risking falling behind their contemporaries as they fail to re-evaluate their process structures.

‍Well-known CRM solutions like Salesforce provide unparalleled functionality for companies looking to transform digitally. Designed to improve process structures, Salesforce provides a foundation for digitalization by bridging over data silos, establishing a shared source of truth, and automating time-consuming manual processes.

‍However, the time and money involved in transitioning to a digitally transformed business model can pressure leaders to take stock of their needs (and how platforms can meet them). It’s completely understandable if business leaders look at solutions like Salesforce and wonder if they can cover all their transformation needs. 

‍However, investing in a one-size-fits-all CRM software — even one as comprehensive as Salesforce — may give pause to leaders who have more niche pain points or functionality requirements. Leaders may think their only options are to accept non-transformation or invest in costly homegrown systems that require expensive maintenance. 

‍Fortunately, these fears are misplaced; leaders have far more flexibility with Salesforce (and its compatible apps) than they might think.

Building Atop a Foundation: The Iterative Nature of Salesforce

Before looking at what makes Salesforce special, it’s important to establish what CRMs are and what they do.

Customer Relationship Management software (or CRM software) is a digital framework that allows companies to manage and cultivate relationships with established and would-be customers alike. Different CRMs perform different functions, of course, but generally, CRMs accomplish the following:

• Centralize communications and data management
• Draw on data to generate actionable insights
• Develop a thorough understanding of a company’s customer base, including segmenting and targeting customers as needed.

However, the base Salesforce CRM goes above and beyond other CRMs in the field, providing a general process structure that allows for unparalleled customization through iterative implementation. 

Designed with an iterative approach in mind, Salesforce solutions provide a blueprint for digital transformation, allowing companies to pinpoint niche-specific issues afterward and tailor their implementation accordingly.

Solution architects understand that digital transformation is a process, not something that can (or should) be accomplished all at once. All Salesforce products are designed to be flexible and customizable, so companies can take transformation at their own pace. 

After beginning with Salesforce CRM and its affiliated clouds, companies can cherry-pick additional solutions via Salesforce’s compatible app market, AppExchange. 

Introducing AppExchange: Customizing Salesforce Solutions

AppExchange is Salesforce’s cloud-based app marketplace, where companies can browse and shop for apps designed to customize and further their implementations. 

AppExchange makes it easy for business leaders to browse, access, and implement applications that allow them to address specific problems. More than a marketplace, AppExchange supports business leaders as they tailor their Salesforce solutions to their needs.

In addition to hosting thousands of approved third-party applications that are compatible with Salesforce, AppExchange offers pre-built process structures, essential building blocks for creating your own apps, and even guides to help businesses narrow down which apps can be most helpful for their specific use cases.

CareIQ, for example, is an innovative tool designed to provide specific functionality for healthcare providers. Compatible with Salesforce’s Health Cloud, CareIQ facilitates fast, accurate prior authorization for healthcare payers, resolving a major pain point in the industry without the need for expensive custom code. Available through AppExchange, this solution can be quickly built upon providers’ existing CRM, making it easy for staff to provide quality care faster.  

Meeting the Needs of the Business Community

Digital transformation is an initiative worth pursuing, resulting in process improvements that produce long-term benefits. Salesforce solutions provide the necessary framework to address generalized problem areas while providing means to gain niche functionality — all without the expense of custom code. 

Paired with the base Salesforce CRM, AppExchange makes digital transformation as flexible as needed. Through this marketplace of thousands of third-party apps compatible with Salesforce, leaders can tailor their Salesforce solutions to their specific needs.

If you’re looking to transform your business and want to learn more about how the iterative nature of Salesforce can benefit your company, our Salesforce implementation experts can help. Contact us today to learn how Salesforce technology can address even your most niche digital transformation needs.