Last Updated on October 2, 2023 by Rakesh Gupta

Data isn’t just a nice extra; it’s essential. Especially now, when businesses are largely operating in digital spaces, the need for good data use is clear. The role of data analytics has become crucial in pushing a business to succeed. It’s important for company leaders to have a strong data plan, one that lets their business move quickly and tackle tough challenges.

Teams benefit hugely from solid data analytics. They’re able to make smart decisions quicker than before, and with greater precision too. This kind of data use also helps teams work together better by removing things that get in the way of good teamwork. IT leaders have a special role here. They have the skills to make data useful in new ways, transforming the work teams do and improving what customers experience.

What Is Salesforce Data Cloud, and Why Should You Implement It?

The Salesforce Data Cloud is built to change how businesses interact with customers. It’s good at collecting data from different places. This data goes into a big storage area called a data lake. Then it uses precise analysis to explain what the data means.

The Salesforce Data Cloud helps to link various sources and clouds more quickly across the platform. However, Data Cloud is also an item that can be ordered. Although not all Salesforce customers have purchased Data Cloud, while they are at the starting point, they are still using Data Cloud to some level. However, this all becomes stronger when using the Data Cloud as a platform for customization and data unification.

Why Do I Need to Implement a Data Cloud Now?

Just imagine how the volume of data grows rapidly when you think of the quantity of clicks each customer does. You can track such engagement data as it occurs, for example, when users open and click through emails, explore pages on your mobile applications, and look at items on your online store. People are significantly more likely to click when you send them an email or an offer that is useful to them. You can capture the interaction when a consumer clicks through in Data Cloud. When you know what they’re interested in and whether or not they’re likely to buy something, you can leverage this information to your advantage.

For each sector or position, the Data Cloud may produce potent experiences and business opportunities.

To analyze integrated accounts and quickly and easily acquire insights about their customers and business effects, analysts can connect Data Cloud to Tableau or QlikView. When a company can identify its consumers based on the amount and subject of its support tickets, it may develop and carry out a plan to reduce those tickets. Check the data again to make sure the plan succeeded.

Developers can create software using Data Cloud data, such as a health scoring system that measures a patient’s health score using pre-built objects and insights. When a data activity starts a flow to send notifications to doctors when a score falls below a specific level, that score and its use become a life-saving experience.

Based on a client’s probability of converting, salespeople can obtain information about their customer prospects and potential sales. Based on user browsing habits and current product supply levels, e-commerce management can utilize data to customize their website.

How Does Salesforce Data Cloud Work?

*Image source: Salesforce Developers Blog* *Bring All Your Customer Data Together on Data Cloud*

In a nutshell, Data Cloud allows Salesforce admins to perform a variety of actions, including, but not limited to:

Link both your batch and streaming data sources.
Refine the incoming data by employing transformation methods and adhering to governance protocols.
Standardize your data by conforming it to an established model.
Merge different data elements through the application of identity-matching rules.
Probe your dataset for insights via in-depth queries and analyses.
Deploy artificial intelligence algorithms to forecast behaviors.
Slice and dice your data, then deploy it across multiple platforms to craft tailored experiences.
Evaluate your data through compatible analytics solutions.
Export this data to assorted destinations, aligning actions with specific business objectives.
Periodically reassess, quantify, and fine-tune your data assets.

Image source: Salesforce Help About Salesforce Data Cloud

How to Get Started With Data Cloud

A data lake-like structure may be used to describe Salesforce Data Cloud. As an example, collecting all the data from the Salesforce platform. However, it is also capable of importing data from other external sources, such as data lakes.

Insight:

A data lake is a concentrated location for storing unprocessed data. Companies utilize this enormous, adaptable, and affordable storage system to gather and save large amounts of organized, unstructured, and semi-structured data in its original format. Social network posts, sensor logs, and location data are just a few examples of the unstructured data that data lakes collect.

What it indicates for users: Brands are better able to predict consumer requirements and needs because of the vast amount of information accessible in a data lake.

How it affects teams: Teams can access tremendous amounts of data in one location, which enables them to move more quickly and stay up with (or surpass) opponents.

Implementation Steps

Review this suggested checklist before you begin using Data Cloud. Confirm that your team is set up before Data Cloud is implemented, check these points:

The team comprehends the main concepts and restrictions that may affect billing.
Analyzes the brand management and organizational structure.
Examines data model principles before agreeing on a data strategy.
Analyze the data you already have and the data sources.
Recognizes a Salesforce Administrator for setting up Salesforce Data Cloud.
Lists users in addition to the permissions they require.
Sets segmentation objectives.

Image source: Trailhead Module Set Up Data Cloud

Salesforce Data Cloud Cost and Availability

Salesforce Data Cloud is costly. It’s an investment that requires meticulous planning because it starts at $10k per organization, monthly. Realistically, depending on your data values, your company may already need to spend more on Data Cloud. As your data grows constantly, it’s important to keep in mind it all the time, but …

… At the last Dreamforce event, Salesforce announced that free Data Cloud licenses are now available. Customers who have the Enterprise Edition or higher can now access Data Cloud at no cost. Included in this offer are two Tableau Creator licenses, which enable businesses to connect up to 10,000 customer profiles and begin their explorations.

In Conclusion

Data is more crucial than ever, and overseeing the constantly growing flow of data is an incredible job. However, data has an enormous influence. The potential for business insights that may inform decisions and produce amazing customer experiences grows as you increase data access and data literacy for people across your company. AI and CRM may be used to drive intelligent activities and provide customized services at scale when combined with real-time, actionable data.

Now, with Data Cloud and Einstein AI native on the Einstein 1 Platform, companies can easily create AI-powered apps and workflows that supercharge productivity, reduce costs, and deliver amazing customer experiences. – Parker Harris, Co-Founder and CTO, Salesforce

Customer data, business content, telemetry data, Slack chats, partially structured and other structured and unstructured data are merged and connected by Data Cloud, Salesforce’s hyperscale data platform that works in real-time, to generate a unique profile of the customer. Already, the platform links and integrates 100 billion records daily, processing 30 trillion transactions monthly.

Companies can now create comprehensive, unified customer profiles, offer fresh CRM experiences, and access fragmented data in whole new ways thanks to the new Data Cloud’s full integration with the Einstein 1 Platform.

References:

Salesforce DF video: Data Cloud Keynote: Connect & Harmonize
Salesforce Help Doc: About Salesforce Data Cloud
Salesforce Guides Doc: Your Guide to Scalable Data
Salesforce 360 Blog: This New Data Glossary Will Demystify Data for You and Your Teams

Author

Dorian is a 4x Certified Salesforce Administrator and Developer with extensive experience in customizing Salesforce to the client’s needs. He started his journey in IT as a CRM admin and kept his focus on Salesforce ecosystem. He loves exploring new integrations in Salesforce and spotting alternative ways to optimize business processes inside the CRM. He is currently working as a full-time Salesforce developer and contributing content to the SFApps.info educational portal

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