More and more companies are using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software such as Salesforce to organize their data, track opportunities, manage campaigns and complete a variety of other tasks. Within a company, the Salesforce administrator plays a vital role in the success of not only the CRM, but the company as a whole. In order to have the machine run as smoothly as possible, and to really take advantage of the multitude Salesforce features, the administrator needs to have both tactical and strategic skills.
At Big Bang, we’ve compiled a list of things we feel make a Salesforce admin top-notch.
Never Stop Learning
Even as a certified Salesforce administrator there is always room to grow. The CRM world is constantly changing and like most SaaS platforms, Salesforce continually goes through updates which can include adding new features, formulas and workflow rules. Staying up to date is paramount to keeping your company at the leading edge of business management. There are lots of training options out there – Salesforce University, how-to videos on YouTube or for customized training contact Big Bang!
Connect With Other Salesforce Users
What better way to keep your finger on the pulse of Salesforce than connecting with the plethora of users around the world, Salesforce users love sharing and collaborating. Salesforce has official regional groups that will connect you with users and other administrators, some even offer in-person events! And don’t forget all the social media tools for engagement including Big Bang’s Facebook and LinkedIn pages.
Familiarize Yourself with AppExchange
Launched in 2005, the Salesforce AppExchange is the go-to marketplace for cloud computing web apps that you can integrate with your Salesforce platform. Today, there are thousands of apps that you can use to extend Salesforce including 3rd party email marketing connectors, HR recruitment tools or task management apps. Developers are regularly introducing new applications on AppExchange, so it’s important for Salesforce Administrators to stay abreast of new developments.
Maintain Data Quality
Maintaining data quality is an ongoing effort. While the Salesforce administrator may be the one ultimately responsible for data management, lots of other people in the company can help. For example, ask your sales reps to search for records before they create new ones to reduce data duplication. A simple way to ensure cleanliness out of the gate is to decide on naming conventions such as “USA” instead of “U.S.A” or “US”.
Communication is Key
People in a variety of departments count on the expertise of the Salesforce administrator. Communicating on a regular basis not only keeps you apprised of business happenings and needs, but also allows for others in the company to ask you questions and increase their knowledge of Salesforce. Setting up new employee training is also important to make sure that anyone coming into the company is aware of best practices, how to use the system and most of all – who you are!
The Salesforce administrator wears many hats: answering user questions, working with key stakeholders to determine requirements, customizing the application to appeal to users, setting up reporting and dashboards to keep managers happy, keeping an eye on availability and performance, activating the features in new releases, and much more. If you are this person within your company – congrats, it’s an exciting role!
