Blog
May 31, 2014
How many times has someone said to you ‘Hey, you gotta check out this app on my phone!”? Or better yet, have you said to someone “You won’t believe what you can do on your phone with this app I found”.
Like Apple’s App Store, Salesforce has cultivated an incredible ecosystem of partners on the Salesforce AppExchange with apps that plug right into your Salesforce instance. With over 2,300 apps – close to 950 free and 50 specifically for nonprofits – there are pre-built solutions ready to help enhance, streamline, and add to your existing business functions in Salesforce.
WHAT CAN THESE APPS DO FOR MY ORGANIZATION?
There are several ways AppExchange apps can add value to what you’re currently doing in Salesforce:
- Enhance current processes – There are many great apps that make what you are already doing in Salesforce better. For example, Action Plans (free) is an app that helps you automate and better track sets of repeatable tasks designed to accomplish a specific goal – like the various activities in a major donor cultivation process that eventually leads to a major gift solicitation.
- Extend the functional capabilities of core Salesforce – Out-of-the-box Salesforce has relatively limited functionality for mass emailing and events. Instead of using a separate system and an import/export process for contact information, there’s a wealth of mass email and event apps that cleanly integrate with the contacts you’re already storing in Salesforce. You can work those functions directly out of Salesforce and capture those important engagement touch points.
- Bridge Salesforce gaps – You probably know the frustration of running into a Salesforce limitation, particularly around reporting or automation. Apps like Apsona Multi-Step Reporting and Rollup Helper go beyond what Salesforce allows you to do so you can work magic for your staff that would otherwise require custom development.
- Tie into ancillary business functions– You may still have some of your business functions like Accounting in a completely separate system. What if you were able to integrate those with Salesforce so that your donations and event registrations could feed directly into your accounting system? Accounting Seed and FinancialForce Accounting are among many available options on the AppExchange.
HOW DO I KNOW THE RIGHT APP TO CHOOSE?
With so many apps available, the hard part can be choosing the right one. Start by searching for keywords like ‘events’, ‘email’, or ‘reporting’. The following tips will help you determine what will meet your needs:
- Check out reviews – Like most online stores it’s a community, so there are star rankings and reviews for each product … good and bad.
- Try it out – Many of the apps allow a free trial of some sort. Usually it’s a quick process to download and get started – just remember to try this in a sandbox instance first.
- Look at costs– Many are free, and some are paid. As a nonprofit, you’re often eligible for a generous discount. If no discount is listed, contact the vendor directly.
- Ask – If you need a suggestion for the right app for your specific need, there’s a good chance someone has already asked that question – or someone else is ready to answer it. Join the Power of Us HUB (PUB) Community and check out their many groups, including the AppExchange group.
- Stay up to date – Sign up to get the weekly AppExchange newsletter to learn more about the newest and best apps.
HOW WILL THESE APPS HELP THE BIG PICTURE?
Increased efficiency, better user adoption, and centralized constituent information are just some of the benefits of using the right apps to help you better engage and drive your cause. Plus, you’ll be able to say to your co-workers:“You won’t believe what you can do in Salesforce with this app I found”.
Have a Salesforce app you can’t live without? Let us know in the comments.
