Salesforce-Marketing-Cloud-Developer test - Salesforce Certified Marketing Cloud Developer Updated: 2023

Businesses must successfully convert leads and manage and grow customer relationships to succeed. Salesforce CRM features myriad customization options to achieve these goals, empowering businesses of all sizes – and across various industries – to better understand and support prospects and customers. You can adapt nearly every aspect of the software’s interface and performance to help sales, marketing, customer service and technical support teams succeed. Salesforce CRM features thousands of fully integrated apps, plug-in scripts, and a superior API interface to help businesses create a flexible, customized solution. Once implemented, you’ll enjoy a beautifully designed product that’s speedy, powerful, and perfectly tailored to your company’s specific needs and processes.

Veeam Software, the leader in Data Protection and Ransomware Recovery, today announced it has launched Veeam Backup for Salesforce v2, available on Salesforce AppExchange Veeam Backup for Salesforce eliminates the risks of Salesforce data and metadata loss from human, integration, and corruption errors. This newest version from Veeam — the #1 data protection provider — extends support for multiple clouds, provides greater security with single sign-on (SSO) and multifactor authentication (MFA), and provides a safe environment for testing and developing via sandbox seeding. Organizations can deploy on-premises or in the cloud, recover exactly what they need when they need it, and experience backup that is custom-engineered for Salesforce data and metadata.

Alice Steinglass, Executive Vice President of and General Manager, Platform at Salesforce, said, “Veeam Backup for Salesforce is a welcome addition to AppExchange, as they accelerate business transformation for customers by backing up and quickly recovering Salesforce data and metadata in the cloud and on-premises. AppExchange is constantly evolving to connect customers with the right apps and experts for their business needs.”

Veeam Backup for Salesforce  

Data loss is inevitable within an organization, so it’s important for organizations to protect themselves at all costs. This newest version builds on the success of Veeam Backup for Salesforce with its already powerful, rapid-recovery capabilities for IT departments and Salesforce administrators. It underlines why Salesforce data backup is critical to prevent data loss, ensures compliance and enables fast recovery by providing a comprehensive, purpose-built Salesforce backup solution that gives organizations the ability to recover from Salesforce data loss with speed and confidence.

New capabilities of Veeam Backup for Salesforce include: 

• Salesforce business applications: Extended support of the Salesforce platform, including Salesforce Government and Education Clouds, Field Service, CPQ, Person Accounts, and managed packages, is now part of data backup offerings to ensure critical field service data meets compliance and is protected when off-site.
• Salesforce SSO and MFA: Enable role-based access for backup and restore operators via Salesforce to simplify and Boost the security of your systems. Audit trail will keep track of all the sensitive operations.
• Sandbox seeding and enhanced restores: Restore to your sandbox with data from production or from another sandbox. Set alternate keys and get better controls over hierarchy restores. Enhance your company’s ability to test, develop and troubleshoot with the option to restore production data to your sandbox.

Danny Allan, CTO at Veeam, said, “Reliability and consistency of protecting SaaS data is a key driver for improving data protection in 2023, according to the Veeam Data Protection Trends Report 2023. However, many organizations still don’t believe that Salesforce needs to be protected and that their data and metadata are safe in a cloud somewhere. We disagree – and so does Salesforce. Veeam Backup for Salesforce bookings grew 195% quarter-over-quarter for Q3’23. With V2, we’re excited to continue to support our customers and partners in this shared responsibility to ensure that their business is kept running and critical data is both protected and quickly recoverable in case of human error, integration error or data breaches.”

Veeam Backup for Salesforce is a separate standalone paid product that is new to Veeam Data Platform. Available today from Veeam technology partners, Veeam Backup for Salesforce is sold in one- to five-year annual subscriptions, priced per user license. Veeam is currently offering promotional packages through December 31, 2023 for current customers.

Veeam Backup for Salesforce Community Edition is currently available. Community Edition provides fully functional free backup and recovery of Salesforce data for organizations with 50 Salesforce user licenses or less.

Enterprise Strategy Group Practice Director Christophe Bertrand, said, “Our accurate study on the disconnect in SaaS data protection reveals that while most end-users recognize the importance of Salesforce environments and data, they find it challenging to safeguard these assets from the threat of data loss. Veeam for Salesforce V2 provides essential features to mitigate this risk and enhance data and metadata protection at scale, making it an ideal solution for many organizations in need.”

Salesforce offers a full suite of add-ons available mainly on the SalesForce AppExchange. These optional Salesforce programs include tools to support different needs and industries. Depending on the complexity of those needs, you’ll pay anywhere from nothing to hundreds of dollars for one (or multiple) apps. You can also find add-ons under the “products” tab on the Salesforce website.

Salesforce’s apps come from both first- and third-party providers. They also vary in pricing, often including new tiers that differ from what Salesforce offers. Simple apps, like 360 SMS, start at $7 per month but might cost more depending on how many texts you send. Other apps, like the Salesforce Adoption Dashboard, are entirely free. You also have freemium apps, like JotForm, which are free for the first five forms. 

Each app is different, requiring another knowledge base to learn this optional system. Much like shopping for CRM systems, you must go through testing and adoption phases. Thankfully, Salesforce is a cloud-based SaaS system, meaning you can easily customize it according to your needs. Below, you’ll learn more about some of the most popular add-ons you might consider. 

Pardot Pricing

Salesforce Pardot is a popular marketing automation platform that comes in four tiers. Here’s a breakdown of what those tiers provide:

• Growth: $1,250/mo; focuses on marketing automation 
• Plus: $2,750/mo; provides deeper analytics and personalization features
• Advanced: $4,400/mo; AI support and developer sandbox features
• Premium: $15,000/mo; offers predictive analytics and personalized product support

Pardot supports up to 10,000 contacts, with its higher tier supporting 75,000.

Service Cloud

Service Cloud focuses on the customer support side of Salesforce. It also has identical pricing compared to Sales Cloud (Salesforce’s primary offering). Here’s a breakdown of pricing:

• Starter: $25/user/mo; provides a simple customer case management dashboard
• Professional: $80/user/mo; provides case swarming and computer telephony integration (CTI)
• Enterprise: $165/user/mo; provides AI features and a self-service system for your customer support staff
• Unlimited: $330/user/mo; 24/7 support alongside AI-powered chatbots
• Unlimited+: $500/user/mo; advanced AI support and the ability to better integrate data across Tableau Analytics and Data Cloud

Sales Cloud does not come with Service Cloud. However, you can discuss discounts for integrating both when talking with an account executive. 

CPQ and Billing

Both CPQ and Billing are features you can find under Salesforce’s Revenue Cloud service. 

CPQ (Configuration, Pricing and Quoting) is a flexible pricing system that changes price depending on usage level or optional features. When selling software with add-ons, it can help you simplify billing customers. It comes in two forms:

• CPQ: $75/user/mo; provides limited customization options
• CPQ Plus: $150/user/mo; provides more process control and automated features

Billing is another feature of Revenue Cloud which comes in two forms, although the pricing requires you to call in:

• Growth: Has a built-in invoicing system for scheduling and merging multiple invoices
• Plus: Advanced billing systems based on usage ratings; supports automatic payments

If purchasing the complete sales CRM, some of these features are integrated with advanced plans, meaning you don’t need to pay extra. 

Einstein Analytics

Einstein Analytics is the AI-driven analytics software from Salesforce that comes with the Unlimited plan. Enterprise customers might choose to pay separately, selecting one of the four plans below:

• Einstein Predictions: $75/user/mo; provides simple, automated insights
• CRM Analytics Growth: $140/user/mo; more advanced analytics platform without AI features
• CRM Analytics Plus: $165/user/mo; combines features from Predictions and Analytics Growth
• Revenue Intelligence: $220/user/mo; provides revenue insights as well other features

MuleSoft

MuleSoft is an integration-based platform that connects multiple apps, helps integrate numerous APIs and provides automated systems between those softwares. Another way to look at it: it’s a complex version of Zapier with way more power for programmers. 

MuleSoft’s pricing varies heavily but can cost up to $250,000 per year. You’ll need to call and discuss your unique needs for a quote. 

With so many companies out there, it can be tough to nail down the best Salesforce alternative for your business. To find the right one for you, consider your goals, budget and must-have features. Additionally, consider user reviews and review articles to get a fuller picture of what the CRM software is like. We also suggest asking friends or colleagues from other companies to see what they use for their business and if they recommend it.

Essential Features

You may have certain CRM features or integrations in mind that are necessary for your business to run smoothly. If so, be sure to write them out and reference them during your search. Consult your team and other relevant stakeholders to review the list and add to it, if applicable.

• Automation tools: Your CRM software should be a central hub for finding leads, turning leads into customers, and relating with them to build customer retention. That means you need a CRM with automation features for lead management, contact management, sales forecasting, sales completion, project management, pipeline management and even email marketing.
• Reporting and analytics: Your business requires a CRM that provides in-depth and easy-to-understand CRM analytics. The data and reports you’ll get will guide your teams to develop and maintain the marketing and customer relationship strategies they need to achieve better and faster results.
• Integration capability: Ensure the CRM you’re considering enables integration with third-party apps. That’s because you’ll need CRM integration with customer data platforms, marketing software, VoIP services, email marketing software, scheduling tools such as Calendly and Doodle, and others to relate with your customers appropriately and from one place.
• Mobile accessibility: You need a CRM that provides access to CRM features even when you’re away from your desktop. That means accessing essential customer data and insights, staying on top of relevant information and initiating or completing necessary customer relationship tasks—on your Android or iOS devices with easy navigation.
• Customization options: Choose a CRM platform that allows you to customize the app to suit your business operations. You should be able to select dashboard elements, customize workflows, personalize communications and customize your package via multiple pricing plan options or add-on availability. Even better is a CRM that enables application programming interfaces (APIs) for enhanced CRM software configuration.
• Robust data security: Ensure your chosen CRM can secure customer data. Security features to look out for are encryption, two-factor authentication and advanced user permissions.

Goals

Aligning with your team is the first step you should take when looking for a Salesforce alternative. Understand what they need or don’t need in a CRM and ask if there are any pain points with Salesforce in particular.

Measure these against your business’s priorities. Review past reports to identify gaps or areas of improvement, and make sure that a CRM can help you reach your goals. For example, if you find that your customer satisfaction score (CSAT) numbers were lower than expected, a CRM can help you streamline your customer support management to provide better service.

Pricing and Budget

CRM providers vary in price. Companies such as Freshsales CRM and monday.com offer free versions, but you’ll need to pay something per month or year to get their premium features or add as many users as required. Generally, CRM pricing ranges from a few dollars per user to hundreds per month. It all depends on your needs. However, consider factors such as a CRM’s per-user per-month rates and whether discounts are available for bulk subscriptions.

Also, check for the need for specific contracts, add-ons or integration capabilities. For instance, Microsoft Dynamics 365 enables software integration only when you pay for its add-on feature. So, consider each CRM’s pricing peculiarity and nail down your budget ahead of time to make your search easier.

Ease of Use and Support

You need a CRM that is easy to set up and navigate. So, choose one with user-friendly layouts that allow you to create tasks, import and export data and update information. Also, ensure the CRM supports its users via various channels, including phone, live chat and email. Other popular support channels to look out for are tickets, user forums and resources such as webinars, tutorials, live demos and a rich knowledge base of answers to FAQs, infographics and videos. A CRM software that is easy to use will help you enjoy CRM benefits, and a reliable support team will make sure you don’t miss out on those benefits due to glitches.

Veeam has introduced version 2 of Veeam Backup for Salesforce, bringing new security features and secure testing and development environments to the solution.

Veeam has offered a backup solution for Salesforce environments for some time. With it, users can secure their Salesforce data and metadata and prevent problems. These include countering and recovering from human, integration and corruption errors.

New functionality

In the second version of Veeam Backup for Salesforce, functionality has been expanded to support multiple Salesforce Cloud environments. Among others, the Salesforce Government and Education Cloud are now also covered by the data protection and recovery solution. Field Service, COQ, Person Accounts and managed packages are also now supported by the dedicated Veeam backup solution.

In addition, more security functionality has been added with Salesforce Single Sign On (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Furthermore, Veeam Backup for Salesforce v2 now has restore functionality from a production or sandbox environment to a separate sandbox environment. This allows developers to better test, solve or develop projects with the ability to restore production to a sandbox environment.

Different versions

Veeam Backup for Salesforce v2 is a standalone addition for the Veeam platform. The solution can be purchased through Veeam partners, but also, for example, from Salesforce’s own marketplace, the AppExchange.

In addition, a Veeam Backup for Salesforce Community Edition is available. This version provides fully functional free backup and recovery of Salesforce data for organizations with 50 Salesforce licenses or less.

Also read: Veeam 23H2 update adds malware detection and Sophos partnership

© 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

In the last year, many Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) insiders sold a substantial stake in the company which may have sparked shareholders' attention. When evaluating insider transactions, knowing whether insiders are buying versus if they selling is usually more beneficial, as the latter can be open to many interpretations. However, if numerous insiders are selling, shareholders should investigate more.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

See our latest analysis for Salesforce

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Salesforce

The Co-Founder, Marc Benioff, made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$105m worth of shares at a price of US$211 each. That means that even when the share price was slightly below the current price of US$214, an insider wanted to cash in some shares. We generally consider it a negative if insiders have been selling, especially if they did so below the current price, because it implies that they considered a lower price to be reasonable. Please do note, however, that sellers may have a variety of reasons for selling, so we don't know for sure what they think of the stock price. We note that the biggest single sale was only 1.8% of Marc Benioff's holding.

In the last year Salesforce insiders didn't buy any company stock. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

If you like to buy stocks that insiders are buying, rather than selling, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Insider Ownership Of Salesforce

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Salesforce insiders own about US$6.1b worth of shares (which is 2.9% of the company). Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders.

Story continues

So What Do The Salesforce Insider Transactions Indicate?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Salesforce shares in the last quarter. While we feel good about high insider ownership of Salesforce, we can't say the same about the selling of shares. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. For example - Salesforce has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.