Published on: 06 November 2017
Last Updated on: 01 April 2020
The right environment is essential for the growth of a business and for the employees to be result-driven. A healthy environment can either boost your productivity or hamper it. While deciding on office space, I am sure you would be going through different factors in mind. Here I am discussing one of the most important factors which are usually ignored by the people. While trying to decide between an open office space and cubicle office space, wither people will choose the one which is cheaper or they will opt for a cubicle just because they are more habitual to it.
The importance of office layout depends on the type of work a person has to do. If somebody is into developing and he or she does a lot of coding, then a cubicle would be more suitable for them as they would be able to concentrate more in a cubicle than an open working space. And if a person writes blogs or does creative writing, then they would not mind an open environment. And they can even draw inspiration from their surroundings. While both the options are not bad if you’re co-working space is good, but both of them have some pros and cons. Let’s discuss some points here.
Choosing Open Office Space vs Cubicle Office Space:
Open Office Plan:
Open office plan also called a modern layout, which is most commonly seen in a Google office, is an office layout where you do not have any kind of cubicles and environment is open and casual. These days more and more people are considering these types of offices because it makes their company look cool and employees also consider it these days more than a corporate environment. But you have to understand not all types of employees like this type of environment, so it is very important for you to analyze your team first and then decide.
Cubicle office plan:
Cubicle office space is often seen at corporate offices and banks. The cubicle option in a co-working facility is often an expensive option, so you need to consider what do you need a cubicle or not.
Type of people:
Suppose if you have introverts in your team, then they wouldn’t really be comfortable with working in an open environment, as they enjoy being in themselves and more people’s presence can make them uncomfortable, but if the majority of people are extrovert than the case would be vice versa.
Idea generation:
An open office plan encourages communication which is great for idea generation and brainstorming. So it is great for idea generation as people can bounce off their ideas off of each other and can come up with great concepts and collaboration ideas.
Lack of Privacy:
An open office plan can severely affect a person’s privacy which can interfere with the employee’s mind and they cannot express openly, as they fear that other people might be judging them. It also not great for someone who has to do a lot of client interaction and through calls and Skype, it would disturb other people also and the person who is on the call also.
A Common Solution:
This would be the best option for any kind of business, as a person who loves to work in a cubicle can work there and if a person wants to work in an open space, they can do that. Employees can even switch places so that they can get a break from spending their whole day at the same place. The open office space can also be used the time to time as an accelerator for idea generation.
If you are a new business owner:
If it’s your first time managing a business and trying to expand it most efficiently, you may find that there are many tips and tricks that you can keep in mind while you are growing. With office rental options in Miami, you can ensure that you can find a working space where you can constantly find new clients, allowing you to help your business develop. It’s not easy to have all of the answers at the beginning, but having an office where you can quietly get down to work with your employees is one of the most important factors to a successful business.
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Have you ever felt like your desk wasn’t quite meeting your needs? Do you wish it was just a little different so that you could use it more effectively and efficiently? Perhaps you’d love to have a desk that’s custom-tailored to the way that you work.
But how can you achieve something like this? There are plenty of options, but if you want to adjust an existing piece of furniture, the easiest option is to build one yourself. If you’re planning to build a desk or have an existing desk that you’d like to customize, here are ways to customize a modern desk.
Here Are Five Ways In Which You Can Customize A Modern Desk:
1. Choose The Right Shape
The shape is one of the first things to decide when customizing your desk. You may prefer a defined rectangular shape or something more unique, such as an L-shaped desk.
The main thing to remember when choosing the shape of your desk is the amount of space available in your office or home office. If you have a smaller room, an L-shaped desk will allow you to fit in more furniture while still leaving you space to walk and work comfortably.
2. Add Your Desired Features
Next, consider the features you’d like to have on your desk. Do you want a place to store your keyboard or your computer monitor? What about drawers? Keyboard trays are a great addition to an office desk, allowing you to type while sitting in a comfortable position.
If you work with a lot of documents, you might love the idea of adding a file drawer. You want your desk to be as functional as possible; to do that, it needs to be well-suited to your needs. Desk drawers are an excellent tool for increasing the desk’s functionality.
3. Choose A Suitable Material
After you’ve specified the shape and features you’d like on your desk, you can focus on the material it’s made from. There are many different options, each with unique benefits, so choosing one that suits your needs is essential.
Here are some of the most common materials you’ll find in desks:
Metal: The most common type of desk is made from metal, usually aluminum or steel. These desks are durable and easy to clean but tend to be heavy and cold.
Wood: A timeless classic that offers a warm, natural aesthetic. Wood is also easy to maintain and can be customized with stains or paints to match your office’s decor.
Glass: Glass desks are popular because they look great and are easy to clean. They’re also a good choice if you want a modern-looking desk that won’t clash with other furniture in your office. However, glass desks can be heavy, scratch easily, and aren’t very durable.
So it’s worth researching to find material that’s right for you.
4. Pick A Style
One of the final things to consider when customizing a modern desk is the style. The two main styles of desks are modern and traditional. Modern desks are sleek, clean, and minimalist, with sleek lines and a lack of ornamentation. Traditional desks are more whimsical and often feature ornate carvings, ornate legs, and decorative panels.
5. Choosing The Color Of Your Desk.
The color you choose should complement, not clash with, the other colors in the room. Colors that clash creates a harsh, unpleasant look. You’ll feel energized and ready to work if your workspace is inviting.
Summary
Make sure your office is functional, good-looking, and comfortable. The game of business is most effectively played with a well-designed workspace that fits the needs of its occupant. If you can find a desk that allows you to do more, that is an asset to your business.
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As an entrepreneur, your customers are the biggest pillar of your business. No matter your industry of domain, area of specialization, or even your business focus, they are the single most valuable asset to your organization and you should treat them as so.
Through their valuable feedback, your business can gain a new sense of direction, develop new concepts, as well as bring in more revenue. With that said, as a business owner, simply appreciating your customers isn’t enough. You need to truly understand them to tailor your products and services to meet them at their point of need. And that’s where Salesforce application development comes in.
It entails creating integrated customer relationship management solutions that interface businesses with their customers. These CRM platforms also give all the departments in a particular organization a unified view of all the customers and how they interact with various aspects of the business.
In this article, we are going to look at what Salesforce is and its uses. While at it, we are also going to delve deeper to see the entire Salesforce application development lifecycle.
What Is Salesforce?
Simply put, it’s a cloud computing SaaS company that provides customer relationship management (CRM) solutions. Thanks to the company’s cloud technology, businesses are able to better connect with their existing clientele, partners, and potential customers.
Over the years, Salesforce software has grown to become the leading marketing and customer behavior tracking solution for both small startups and Fortune 500 companies. As it turns out, customer relationship management is one of the key driving factors for the increasing demand for application development in Salesforce.
Recent research from Vonage offered a compelling view of the effects and consequences of poor customer service. In the US alone, the research revealed that an estimated $62 billion is lost annually as a result of bad customer experience.
To underwrite this figure, a different report from Huffpost has indicated that 91% of customers won’t hesitate to switch brands once they experience bad customer service. These are mind-blowing figures, especially if a business has no solution to counter the consequences of poor customer experience.
However, with Salesforce in place, businesses are able to overcome the problems caused by poor customer service and other business process variables. According to statistics published on Salesforce’s website, companies that are currently using their software have continued to see average increases in multiple areas. For instance, 34% of users have seen an increase in customer satisfaction, with 27% and 32% users seeing an increase in sales revenues and lead conversion respectively.
In 2018, Salesforce emerged as the biggest CRM software commanding a total of 19.8% market share of the CRM software market. During the same period, the company was voted as the #1 CRM provider by the International Data Corporation. It shouldn't come as a surprise that companies are willing to pay the highest Salesforce consultant salary just to get wind of this technology.
The Benefits of Using Salesforce
Given the commendable portfolio of Salesforce, here are areas it can help your business find success. Below I am going to discuss the benefits of using Salesforce.
Helps Collect Customer Intel
In the prevailing competitive business environment, overlooking data collection can be a fatal and unforgiving mistake. As a business, collecting and collating customer intelligence should be an obsession or the very least treated as a full-time affair, because it can lead to loss of revenue. As such, if you are to improve customer satisfaction and continue remaining competitive, hiring qualified Salesforce developers to build a high-quality CRM tool is inevitable.
And with Salesforce, you get an upper hand over your competitors by enjoying tools that help you identify, understand, and solve customer problems.
Flexible And Scalable
As companies and business needs continue to evolve, the tools of trade must also adapt. For instance, if the structures of your business start to grow, the management software should be able to seamlessly accommodate the changes. Cognizant of this fact, Salesforce CRM comes with multiple functions that allow for scalability right from the initial stages to any future interactions.
Helps in Account Planning
Having a unified view of customer information allows your teams to independently make plans for various accounts. It also facilitates a more hands-on customer connection approach as well as allows various reps and departments in your organization to modify their plans for optimized results. Salesforce also comes with a to-do items feature, which helps your entire workforce stay organized throughout the day.
Along with that, Salesforce also works as an organizational tool. Your team can create calendar reminders specifying the future customer follow-ups or important duties reminders to the upper management, which helps prevent anything from falling through the cracks.
If you are in the service-based businesses, Salesforce also gives you insights into the amount of time a particular customer/s has stayed in a particular subscription package. Once this info is established, your team is able to customize marketing materials to match a particular customer niche.
Cloud Connectivity
Many companies are now gravitating towards software as a service (SaaS), which means software that is available online. Luckily, Salesforce doesn’t need to be installed on a computer as it is cloud-based. This means that you can easily access it everywhere, interface it with other digitized services, and enjoy unlimited storage capacity. And since no maintenance is required, you get to save on a Salesforce developer salary that would have otherwise been paid for this purpose.
Facilitates Team Collaboration
Poor team communication and collaboration can lead to reduced productivity. On top of a unified view of customer data, Salesforce’s “Chatter” feature allows your team members to easily and regularly communicate work-related information. Additionally, the feature also lets you highlight and prioritize urgent issues that require special attention by inviting different team members to look at them.
Salesforce Application Development Lifecycle
Software developers spend a lot of time designing, developing, securing, and delivering products that perform better than initially envisioned. As a result, different software development approaches like agile development, waterfall model, and many others have merged.
When it comes to cloud-based solutions, the incorporation and implementation of various software development methodologies make it even more complex. Moreover, the Salesforce Development Lifecycle also means that the software is developed, tested, and deployed in a cloud environment.
Below, we have laid down 6 steps that clearly illustrate the entire Salesforce Development Lifecycle:
Business Requirements Analysis
The first step towards a successful custom Salesforce application is to conduct an internal business needs analysis. It entails the development team eliciting the potential customer needs, elaborating them, validating all the assumptions, and devising efficient methodologies to meet these requirements.
Business requirements analysis is important as it helps avert potential mistakes as well as make the final product both efficient and compatible with the existing system and security standards.
UI/UX Design
Another important aspect of Salesforce application development is optimizing the app for user experience. A report by iMPACT indicates that 52% of customers are less likely to conduct business with a brand offering a poor mobile experience. On the other hand, Forbes conservative estimates indicate that intentional and strategic user experience can yield a conversion rate as high as 400%.
If these numbers are anything to go by, designing a user-friendly and highly responsive Salesforce application development is absolutely paramount. In order to optimize an app for effective and enjoyable use, developers need to map out the user journey and creatively choreograph user/platform interactions to benefit the end-user.
Development Phase
The next step in Salesforce application development entails creating developers creating isolated sandboxes. Generally, these distinct sandboxes hold the main production app copy and other supplementary Salesforce configuration information. They are also independent, implying that changes in a single sandbox don’t affect the main Salesforce production enterprise. Individual developers have to clone their branches.
To retrieve the metadata from the sandboxes to the IDE, the developers need to use Force.com IDE. Once they have the metadata, they continue coding their assigned app features, performing initial unit testing, and then submit the finished code to the Git repository.
If a subsequent developer wants to build on top of this freshly updated branch, they need to clone it to their sandbox and continue developing new features. Once done, they also have to submit their latest development to the repository.
With that said, the possibility of multiple developers working on the same branch cant be overlooked. To avoid conflicts, it is important for everyone in the development team to check for possible branch updates before committing.
Testing
The next step after building a Salesforce application is to ensure that it has an excellent and stable performance. This mainly entails developers carrying out QA activities including unit tests and code reviews. It is also at this stage that functional, performance, and integration testing is conducted within the development process.
Lastly, automation tests and debugging are conducted to augment the app’s speedy delivery.
Integration
During the integration phase, the custom CRM application is interfaced with third-party software like CMS. To facilitate a smooth transition, the development team also conduct hands-on training sessions as well as provides training materials to the client.
Launch
Once the app is launched for internal use, it is transferred to the client and subjected to their User Acceptance Testing environment (UAT). Once satisfied, the finished product is moved to the production environment and deployed to the end-users.
Salesforce Application Development Team Actors
During the app development process, different players are involved and handle different aspects of the app. In the Salesforce app development life cycle, the most common actors include:
Product Manager: Help finalize business requirements.
Release Manager: Help coordinate the app’s release schedule.
Software Developer: Handles the main coding and produces the requisite deliverables.
Quality Analyst: Tests and confirms the functionality of various app features.
Potential money from the Salesforce AppExchange development:
After researching the fact this has been seen that Potential money from the salesforce AppExchange development can depend on several other factors.
How To Build an App for Salesforce AppExchange?
To build your AppExchange app, you must go through the multi-step procedure, which includes compliance, release, ongoing support, and demand app development. Below, I will discuss how to create an App for Salesforce AppExchange.
1st Step: Become the Part of Salesforce Business Partner Community
The first and foremost step in becoming a Salesforce AppExchange trade Partner is to join the Salesforce Partner Community. In this case, you must submit the form using AppExchange. After all, the Salesforce Partner Community is the hub of existing AppExchange Partners.
2nd Step: Examine AppExchange Market
The next step in building the app is to examine the AppExchange market. AppExchange offers many products and solutions for several products and cloud services in Salesforce. In this case, for optimal outcomes, you must use the curated collections of AppExchange.
3rd Step: Make the First Sketches of Your Product
Once you are done researching the existing solutions on AppExchange, you must start defining the unique value proposition of your product. For the outline, you must follow the below-mentioned procedure such as:
Firstly, you must understand your target audience.
Secondly, ensure you have an idea of business targets.
Thirdly, you must follow the types of Salesforce editions you will support.
After that, ensure you have an idea of the package type.
Next, ensure you have the Salesforce Licenses that you want to use.
Lastly, it would help if you ensured the requirements for your AppExchange App security.
4th Step: Define the Type of ISV Partnership and the Type Of Your AppExchange Solution
Once you have joined the Salesforce Partner Community, then, you must analyze the existing products, and you can create a rough roadmap. In this case, ensure you have defined the type of ISV partnership, and consequently, you also have built the AppExchange solution.
There are seven types of ISV partners in AppExchange. It includes OEM, CDP Cloud Partner, Commerce Cloud Partner, All Other Clouds (paid), All Other Clouds (free), and Technology Partner/Tableau.
5th Step: Choose the Programming Type and Tools to Build Your Salesforce App
Recently, Salesforce provided two types of programming languages and two types of tools that you can use. Let’s know what programming tools are used in Salesforce App development. This includes Apex Cloud-based programming language. Next are Lightning components and Visualforce.
6th Step: Build Your Salesforce App
Once you can identify the exact type of solution, it must have the programming language, licensing, and packaging, and of course, you must continue with the building procedure.
Two ways to do this are using internal sources or outsourcing the dedicated team. If you want to build the SalesForce App using an in-house team, it could be one the most viable and remarkable options. If you don’t have enough resources, ensure you can control the entire product cycle of AppExchange.
7th Step: Test Your Salesforce App
If you want to ensure optimal performance, then it must conduct comprehensive end-to-end testing in technological domains. In this case, you must adhere to the development of best business practices, especially for testing.
8th Step: Prepare Your App for the Launch on AppExchange
Once you are done testing and finalizing the app, the next step is to prepare by submitting it to the SalesForce AppExchange. In this procedure, it includes creating the managed packages and providing screenshots.
9th Step: Submit Your App for Security Review and Market This
Ensure you have submitted your final app by undergoing the security review and then have met the necessary security requirements.
Final Thoughts
Salesforce CRM is a critical business tool. It helps streamline data analysis and reporting, provides invaluable customer feedback, and aid in formulating better customer service strategies. As a result, businesses are able to align their resources towards creating timely, customer-oriented solutions.
With that said, Salesforce application development isn’t a linear process. It entails working with different tools and multiple software development methodologies. And with cloud solutions continuing to capture the imaginations of business owners, the world is yet to see the full potential of CRM Salesforce and the cloud ecosystem as a whole.
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You and your team only have so much time. It’s a limited resource, so you need to make the most of what you’ve got. Paradoxically, many teams burn away their precious hours in an attempt to save minutes here and there.
This can happen when teams are trying to create methods of working or task pipelines from scratch. Instead, it’s perfectly reasonable to simply outsource certain work or adopt practices that have already proven their efficacy. With this in mind, here are a few ways your team can stop reinventing the wheel and start moving forward.
1. Outsource Content Development
Every business needs good content to attract prospects and improve the experience of existing customers. And yes, that includes yours. You may think content development is limited to social media posts, but it’s not. To compete in the market, you need to produce content assets like webpages, newsletters, case studies, product descriptions, and much more. However, creating content is a full-time endeavor that can be difficult to master.
Now, you or a team member could devote the time and energy it takes to make great content for your business. Or you could hire someone to do it for you instead. There are numerous professionals in your market that specialize in producing the kind of content you need. Whether you require social media management or technical writing services, a trained pro will save you precious time and money in the long run. Hiring these individuals will give you more time to focus on what you’re in business to do: deliver your product or service.
2. Adopt Project Management Tools
Developing efficient workflows is another major time sink for many teams. Working through the best ways to tackle your projects can eat away the hours. Then more hours disappear in holding meetings and writing emails to assign action items and keep track of deadlines. Rather than watch the sands of time slip through your fingers, adopt a project management tool instead.
Project management tools facilitate seamless collaboration and information sharing. They allow teams to divvy up tasks, automate handoffs, and keep everyone apprised of project milestones. In so doing, they serve as a centralized platform that provides visual representations of your projects for every step from start to finish.
Most project management tools also provide detailed historical data so you can analyze current and past projects for improvement opportunities. You’ll be able to understand at a glance where your work engine is humming and what parts need help.
3. Synchronize on a Digital Calendar
If you’re looking for more ways to increase efficiency by centralizing information, start making full use of a digital calendar. By doing so, your team will be able to circumvent troublesome scheduling conflicts. Also, most digital calendars can sync with other work tools to foster collaboration. For example, calendar invites can include links to meeting agendas where participants can add agenda items and ask — or answer — questions beforehand.
In addition to saving time and increasing efficiency, digital calendars also help otherwise disparate teams function more compatibly. With the sharp increase in remote work, many teams struggle to balance schedules across multiple time zones. Digital calendars virtually eliminate this problem, as you’ll easily be able to see overlapping work hours. You’ll never have to wonder when someone is free to participate, so you can schedule meetings with confidence.
4. Learn From Other Leaders
This one’s for you, the team leader. Because even if your project may be the first of its kind, the best ways to lead your team through it probably aren’t. And they don’t have to be. Rather than trying to revolutionize your leadership style, seek the wisdom of those who have walked before you. History is punctuated by leaders both great and terrible, so take inspiration from its lessons.
In addition, reach out to leadership pioneers within and without your field for advice. You’d be surprised how willing thought leaders can be to participate in an informational interview with curious aspirants. Of course, you could also take classes and attend seminars and workshops to refine your leadership style. You’ll save your team time and grief by investing your efforts in bettering your leadership today.
5. Enable Professional Development
Just as it’s important to invest in your growth, you also need to invest in your team’s growth. Again, no matter what industry you work in, there are many who’ve come this way before you. Rather than developing training courses from scratch, sometimes it’s best to take what works and adapt it to your situation.
Online learning courses are a popular and relatively inexpensive way to enable your team members to gain new capabilities. Whether it’s learning a new programming language, honing their writing skills, or attaining an industry certification, an online course can likely meet the need. Or leverage the learning your senior employees have already done by matching them with a mentee who can benefit from their experience.
It’s Not Rocket Science
Your team doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel to get ahead of the competition. Sometimes standing out from the crowd is about taking better advantage of existing methods and technologies to do the best work. Your team can do this by outsourcing non-core activities, adopting efficient technologies, and prioritizing personal and professional self-development.
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