Salesforce has introduced Sales Cloud Partner Relationship Management (PRM), a new sales app that aims to arm every partner, distributor, and reseller with the personalized tools and information they need to sell smarter and faster.
The new PRM app will allow companies to easily build modern, branded partner communities with clicks, not code. In contrast to legacy partner portals that are built on inflexible, archaic systems creating disconnected silos, Sales Cloud brings together both partner and direct sales functions.
“Traditional partner portals tend to be pieced-together legacy systems that are generic and disconnected from CRM. This results in substandard channel performance and ultimately a poor user experience,” says Mike Micucci, GM and SVP, Salesforce Products. “Sales Cloud PRM is the solution companies have been looking for—a turnkey app that enables them to extend the world’s best CRM to their partners.”
To deliver Sales Cloud PRM, the company is bringing together new and existing technologies, including:
- New Guided Setup Wizard – The interactive wizard is designed to help channel managers easily configure, customize, and deploy their app. Channel managers will be able to configure lead distribution, deal registration, marketing development funds, and AppExchange Components, such as Xactly for compensation management and NetExam for a learning management system. Additionally, channel managers will be able to automatically assign partners into tiers and provide targeted promotions and customized content based on those tiers.
- Lightning CMS Connect – Channel manager will be able to drag and drop existing website content, graphics, and videos ensuring it stays as up-to-date as a company’s website.
- Einstein Content Recommendations – Einstein uses machine learning to surface files that enable channel reps to be more productive. For example, if a partner views a new product description document, Einstein will be able to recommend files, including logo graphics, product placement instructions, and pricing documentation for that new product.
- Channel Marketing Automation – Extending the power of Marketing Cloud to every partner, this technology enables them to build, track, and analyze email campaigns to deliver 1:1 customer journeys on any device.
Sales Cloud PRM is generally available with the Partner Community Cloud License for $25 per member per month. New Guided Setup Wizard, Einstein Content Recommendations, and Channel Marketing Automation are expected to be available in the second half of 2017. Lightning CMS Connect will be in beta in June 2017.
