We know technology makes lives better. We also know if we combine the Salesforce.com platform and its key components (Sales Cloud, Salesforce Work.com) with our hardware (Slate 10 HD, Slate 7 Extreme, Slate 8 Pro and eventually the Slate 7HD), the result will be an even more powerful transformation in the future. 

Pairing the Salesforce platform and our “technology DNA” has already helped us achieve the largest global sales transformation in Salesforce history, including maintaining a rigorous quarterly product release schedule while also changing sales processes across the company. Salesforce.com, HP Slate hardware and HP software tools will continue to be  keys to our success and they can add to yours, too.  

1. Go mobile – get sales

Mobile isn’t the future – it’s now. This Salesforce blog post on tech trends noted that, when evaluating a product, buyers make 60% of their decision online. That’s not surprising, given a 2011 Cisco study predicting 50 billion Internet-connected devices by 2020.

When we designed our tablet portfolio, efficient cloud collaboration anywhere there was internet connectivity was a priority. This includes the Slate 10 HD, the Slate 7 Extreme, the Slate 8 Pro, and the upcoming Slate 7 HD. 

With easy access to ePrint for getting contracts signed on the fly and go-to business apps, HP’s tablets prove that the combination of Salesforce and your sales force is a winner.

2. Start with inside sales

The inside sales role is critical as companies tighten budgets and review cost per sale figures, and as the number of automated B2B transactions rise, we’ve taken a closer look into reinventing the role of the enterprise inside sales rep.

Any change requires focus, engagement and communication at all levels and it doesn’t happen overnight. Salesforce.com has proven to be an invaluable tool, with Work.com and Sales Cloud helping us to better communicate for stronger results.

3. Making big data more accessible

Big data is a big buzzword, but what’s the best way to use it to your advantage? For HP, the dynamic duo of Salesforce.com and HP IDOL (intelligent data operating layer) has served as a system of checks and balances to make sure we spend money, time and people resources in the right way.

We have no doubt that we are delivering the right customer information at the right time and getting the outcomes we want. After all, what’s the point of big data if you can’t turn it into big ideas and lucrative sales?

4. Develop + test + deploy = win

Demand is growing and we need to improve deliverables and quality faster. In our search for the best approach, we combined project management software in Salesforce.com with HP Application Lifecycle Management (HP-ALM). HP-ALM supports testing through all product development cycles.

We used Salesforce.com to manage the releases and HP-ALM to test before production. The combination helped HP become the first company to deploy more than 30,000 users to Salesforce.com in 12 months – the shortest ever timeframe for Salesforce and the highest adoption rate of 95% and rising for HP. 

5. A better customer experience

Success is measured in sales, results and bottom line revenue, but also by connections. Without connections and great customer service, repeat customers don’t repeat.

The Salesforce.com platform helps us make those connections and take action, such as monitoring customer sentiment. We can also connect with customers and partners in ways we couldn’t before. 

See Salesforce in action on the Slate 7, Slate 10 HD, and the Slate 8 Pro at the HP Dreamforce booth and get a closer look at how your company can transform its own sales process. Finally, don’t miss our experiences with Sales Cloud, Service Cloud and Chatter during special product keynotes at Dreamforce.

Learn about other customer companies like HP and how you can achieve business success with Salesforce with this free Salesforce ebook below.