Top 5 Reasons to Build Your Application on Salesforce

Salesforce, the world’s #1 CRM solution, is also one of the best places to deploy rapid application development utilizing low code methodology. Not sure if you are ready to embrace low code? Consider this; you can build an entire database, create data validation, configure user experiences, and build basic and sophisticated business automation processes using only points and clicks.
According to the Low Code Snapshot Survey conducted by Salesforce Research, “82% of IT professionals say they are willing and ready to try low code in their organizations to achieve 1) better IT-business collaboration, 2) more time for IT to focus on complex tasks, and 3) higher level of innovation.”
A recent article on ZDNet investigates how game changers like Uber, Twilio, and WhatsApp utilize low code techniques “to quickly reconfigure apps, modify logic flows and deliver new UI elements as needed. Meanwhile, developers can also take advantage of new features and APIs from their service provider partners, getting better performance and more functionality without needing to invest in infrastructure and software.”
#1 Your Development Team Wants to Build Your App on Salesforce
Salesforce supports a multitude of proprietary languages including VisualForce and Apex in addition to providing the Lightning Design System. VisualForce is the markup, user interface language used in Classic. Apex is leveraged throughout Salesforce’s backend as the underlying object orientated programming language to manage processing control.
The Lightning Design System adds development flexibility and facilitates point and click driven development using a combination of Aura and JavaScript to build responsive mobile websites and reusable components. Building reusable components brings clicks and codes together to allow administrators to leverage the power of your developer’s talent to optimize your CRM.
According to Jon Sigler, “component frameworks are the future of app development. This sustainable and efficient method is being used across the industry, with Salesforce the only company offering it in a scalable and secure fashion for the enterprise.”
Access to thousands of pre-built applications that plug and play with your ecosystem through the Lightning Component Exchange and Salesforce App Exchange further eases the burden on your development team. Developers can create a customized experience by mixing and matching different applications without building from scratch.
“If you give developers a way to create functionality that can also be used by non-developers, it takes a lot of the work out of the hands of the developer.” ~ Jon Sigler
#2 Your Executive Team Craves Competitive Advantage
With so many ways to streamline development, standing up a new application faster than your competitors has never been easier and, as an added bonus, the application automatically bolts-on to the world’s leading CRM.
Quick go-to-market strategies and rapid iteration allow businesses to adapt and stay ahead of competitors. When your business needs to grow, your Salesforce application grows with you. Applications built on Salesforce are backed by a powerful and robust architecture that supports many of the world’s largest companies.
It often makes sense to start your application on Force.com. As your needs grow, you have the option to move your application to a wider Salesforce ecosystem and on to Heroku, which supports full integration with Salesforce.
#3 Your Brand Image Demands Consistency
Right out of the box, your new application will have the look and feel of the rest of your CRM without spending a single moment on building in those nuances. Salesforce’s style sheets and responsive design ensure that your new application will fit in perfectly with your most used business tool.
Creating consistency for your customers is obviously vital to developing trust and securing a long-term relationship. However, many businesses miss the boat when it comes to developing internal consistency.
Not sure if consistency matters to your internal team? Bo Bothe points out that brand consistency “provides a rallying point for internal buy-in and helps employees understand how they fit within your organization. In contrast, erratic, inconsistent behavior quickly leads to confusion and mistrust.”
“Brands are built through the consistent delivery of brand promise through all stakeholder touch points.” ~ Forbes
#4 Your Compliance Team is Watching
Building your application on Force.com automatically gives you the highest level of security available on any cloud-based platform and ensures that your application is HIPAA-compliant. It also comes with a robust user management and profile permission security system to control access and is exceptionally powerful when it comes to controlling data level access and meta data level access.
“You had me at HIPAA-compliant.” ~ Your Compliance Officer
#5 You Don’t Have a Data Management Team, per se
Organizations of all sizes are operating without a data management team. Instead, they rely on individual departments to manage their piece of data and keep their records straight. On the surface, this approach is working but scratch the surface, and you will see a major flaw. Business success is not built on multiple silos operating independently. It is built on combined efforts and shared vision. When your executive team asks a question, the answer is often found at the intersection of several data points taken from multiple departments.
However, if all of your data is spread out, finding this answer can take weeks and even then, can you really trust it? Building your application on Salesforce keeps all of your data in one place and creates a single, reliable source of truth in your organization. Building additional applications and integrating your application with other systems is simple because all of the data you need to interact with your customers already lives within Salesforce, dramatically simplifying the entire experience.
Salesforce is the number one CRM for a reason. Building an application on Salesforce ensures that your business is getting the most out of your CRM and drives consistency, security, and streamlined, low code design philosophies throughout your organization.
Michael Rockford, CEO and Founder of Radialspark, a registered Salesforce partner and leader in custom software development and implementations.
Originally published on www.radialspark.com
