Comcast Business was ready to use a mobile application to change the way they were connecting employees and customers. Together with Salesforce Platinum Partner Acumen Solutions, Comcast Business built the iPad app SMB 360, using Salesforce Platform. Released in November 2012, SMB 360 allows field sales reps to locate potential customers, offer quotes, generate contracts, and capture e-signatures on the spot.

Here are four of the lessons Comcast and Acumen learned while creating SMB 360.

1) Know your objectives for the app.

Comcast Business knew that mobile for the sake of mobile was not the point. They wanted to transform the way their field sales reps interacted with prospects. This called for a simple and speedy process for closing a sale in real-time, eliminated paperwork and trips back to the office. Building SMB 360 on a cloud platform made all of these objectives obtainable. All Comcast needed was the idea. Salesforce Platform provided the needed infrastructure, scalability, security, data storage and more.

2) Focus on design and the end-user.

Comcast Business’s field sales reps range from new graduates to company veterans. The reps’ comfort level with using tablets and applications also runs the gamut, thus it was extremely important that SMB 360 be easy to use. Although Comcast was sure to provide thorough training on the app, it was developed to be intuitive. Salesforce Platform made this uncomplicated design possible, while backing it with meaningful data.

3) Ensure the capturing of metrics.

The mobile device management tools built into SMB 360 allow Comcast Business to capture valuable user metrics. This includes the number of visits made by reps, the quantity of contracts generated, and even who has or hasn’t downloaded the most recent version of the app. Comcast Business’s sales managers and executives were already using Salesforce.com to view sales analytics and reports, prior to SMB 360. Now all the data captured in the app can easily be sent to the same cloud, via Salesforce Platform.

4) Provide a place for feedback.

Comcast Business created a Chatter group around SMB 360, using Salesforce.com. There, any issues their reps’ experience with SMB 360 can be addressed quickly. An added bonus is that reps are able to support colleagues. When an employee posts a question, a peer is often the one to respond back with tips and tricks. Comcast Business also conducts frequent focus groups around SMB 360, meeting with reps and watching them use the application. Salesforce Platform gives them the flexibility to take that feedback and use it to continually improve the application.

To hear more lessons Comcast Business learned while designing SMB 360, watch the free webinar How Comcast Business Redefined Field Sales with a Mobile App Built on the Salesforce Platform, but clicking the button below.