Salesforce is without a doubt one of the most prevalent and robust customer relationship management (CRM) solutions on the market. It's the clear winner of the TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award in our lineup of CRM software for Mac. Since Salesforce is entirely web-based (with no on-premise solution), it is compatible not only with Mac but all modern operating systems. The system has all the features and functionalities we'd expect from first-rate CRM software, plus some extra features that push it ahead of the pack. Additionally, the CRM software for Mac offers both native tools and compatible plugins that allow users to completely customize their dashboard and sync the system with Mac's suite of personal management applications.
One of the biggest selling points of Salesforce is that the CRM software for Mac is completely cloud-based, meaning your account can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection through a web browser. However, the broad accessibility of cloud computing obviously poses intrinsic security risks. Salesforce abates such risks and keeps customer data secure through robust security features. All sessions on Salesforce are SSL-encrypted, and the website is hosted on a secure server that utilizes powerful firewalls and other advanced technology to prevent unauthorized access. Furthermore, users can configure their own security settings (such as password protection) within the control panel as they see fit.
Salesforce offers rich integration capabilities with Mac-based applications through various apps and synchronization tools – some native to the Salesforce dashboard and others available through the Salesforce AppExchange. The AppExchange is an online marketplace for cloud-based systems. Here users can install applications that facilitate seamless integration between Salesforce and Mac. One such app is Maildrop, which automatically copies email messages from Apple Mail or Entourage (a popular Mac email client) directly into Salesforce. Another application we found advantageous is SF3 (pronounced "SF Cubed"), an open-source app that syncs Mac address book contacts and iCal (the Mac OS calendar) events and tasks to Salesforce.
Aside from total Mac integration, Salesforce offers a range of standard features users will appreciate including real-time alerts, synchronization with mobile devices and easy search options within the user interface. It also has dialing capabilities that enable calls to be placed through the interface using Bluetooth, Skype or a modem.
One unique feature the CRM software for Mac offers that we really liked is the new "Chatter" feature, which functions much like a corporate social networking tool. Each user has a business profile, where they can upload a photo, share job expertise and push real-time updates. In addition, users can browse and follow other employees' profiles. The chatter feature is a great way to foster interaction between employees of large corporations and boost productivity through collaboration.
Salesforce definitely scores high marks when it comes to its contact section. Versatile and extremely user-friendly, this section contains all the personal information and contact history pertinent to a particular contact. What we especially liked, and imagine most users will too, is how customizable it is. Under the "Create New View" tab, users can tailor the section to show exactly the information they want, such as which contact fields (e.g., mailing address, lead source, etc.) to display, visibility restrictions and filter criteria. There's also a "quick create" section where you can enter basic contact information to save immediately and expand the contact's profile at a later date. Users should note that an account must be created before a contact that is associated with that account can be created; otherwise the contact information will be private and not included in any reports. At first we thought it was a little cumbersome to have to create an account in order to create an associated contact, but it does help keep all your accounts and contacts completely organized.
Salesforce offers a vast array of beneficial sales and marketing tools that enable both small businesses and large corporations to efficiently manage business prospects. The CRM software for Mac provides several feature categories including leads, accounts, opportunities and reports – all located in the top main toolbar of the interface.
The "Leads" tab has comprehensive tools for managing all your leads; you can import leads, delete leads, transfer leads and view leads by source. Additionally, you can see which marketing campaigns and efforts generate the most leads for your company. The reports section allows you to create detailed data reports. We really liked the flexibility of this section because it allows you, whether you're in a small business or part of a large corporation, to create real-time reports based on your current needs. You can either create a new custom report or select a prefab option that automatically generates based on that criterion. For instance, under "sales reports," you can choose to generate a sales report by account, rep or lead source.
Another section we liked was the "Opportunity" tab. While some users may want to consolidate accounts, contacts and opportunities into one entity, we find the separation Salesforce offers between each one to be highly useful. An account is any organization you do business with while a contact is any individual within that organization you deal with directly. Within a single contact you may have multiple opportunities or repeat business or more than one purchase. Such defined categories enables users to be highly organized and maximize potential sales and opportunities with every single account.
Other notable tools the CRM software for Mac offers include collaborative task lists, invoicing capabilities and an array of formatting options for mailing labels, letterheads and letter templates.
After familiarizing ourselves with Salesforce and testing it extensively, it's no wonder why it is one of the most well-known and successful CRM solutions available. The CRM software for Mac offers unparalleled functionality and customization. However, its versatility may also be a hindrance for some users, especially small businesses. It's easy to become overwhelmed with the numerous options and the vast list of navigation tabs in the software. That being said, users can customize their dashboard (through the "Create New View" section mentioned previously) so it is manageable and tailored specifically for their needs.
Any ease of use concerns we had were instantly quelled upon assessing the help and support options Salesforce offers. Every section, tab and functionality of the software is well-documented with built-in wizards and tutorials that offer instruction and help you understand how to use that feature or function. For instance, when we went to import contacts, an import wizard for accounts and contacts popped up and walked us step-by-step through the importation process.
In addition, each page of the dashboard has a static "Help for this Page" link in the top right-hand corner. Clicking on the link takes you to the Salesforce help and training knowledgebase and the help section relevant to that particular page.
We were just as impressed with the Salesforce direct support as we were with the company's documentation support. We utilized the live chat function on the Salesforce website multiple times and each time we received friendly, prompt help or were directed towards the appropriate contact or department for our inquiry. Customer service is also available through a toll-free telephone number.
There's no question Salesforce is the best CRM software for Mac – and for good reason. It easily outperforms the competition, and no other PC or Mac contact management solution offers users so much flexibility and so many management tools. It's a feature-rich solution that can be configured and managed by actual users rather than IT staffers. We were a bit concerned that the software may be overwhelming for small businesses; however, comprehensive help and support and customization options work together to simplify this powerful software.