Advent delivers new standard for building and deploying apps for every employee

Challenge

• Advent Software, which provides software and services for investment managers, needed an enterprise platform for the entire company.
• The company wanted to streamline its business architecture and global business processes going forward. It also wanted to build an easy-to-use, self-service Web site for its customers.
• Advent had used a legacy system for more than 10 years, but found it rigid and difficult to adapt to its business processes.
• The company preferred a proven cloud-computing solution; it wanted to leverage the time and cost advantages of the cloud.
• The new solution had to work seamlessly with existing technology and systems.

Solution

• Advent considered multiple vendors, but chose to deploy Salesforce CRM and the Force.com platform throughout the company. Executives liked the low upfront costs, rapid time to value, and ease of user adoption.
• The company has the ability to deploy unlimited standard and custom apps to marketing, professional services, customer support, IT, finance, and executive management employees in the U.S., Europe, Hong Kong, Australia, and the Middle East.
• Advent is developing project management and other custom applications on the Force.com platform. By using multiple Force.com sandbox environments, Advent’s IT team can develop and test new customizations and applications before deploying them.
• Bi-directional integration with Advent’s Oracle and Intraware systems make it easy to get pricing and customer entitlement information. Advent also integrated the platform with core IT systems including its unified customer hub.
• Salesforce.com Consulting assisted with customization and configuration of Salesforce CRM Unlimited Edition. Salesforce.com Training & Certification programs helped Advent employees learn about the solution before deployment and understand its potential.
• Salesforce CRM Sales houses information on accounts, contacts, and opportunities and tracks related tasks and activities. Custom forecasts and dashboards give real time views of key opportunity and deal metrics, and make it easy to compare historical data.
• Salesforce CRM Service helps more than 100 reps and account managers from across the globe quickly access customer information and give solutions.
• A custom application links Salesforce CRM and Advent’s Web site to provide information on bugs, fixes, and functionality. Email to case functionality helps customers get fast answers to questions.
• Salesforce CRM's mobile access lets employees access and update data using BlackBerry and iPhone devices.
• Force.com's connect for Microsoft Outlook keeps a record of customer communications.

Results

• Advent has achieved an enterprise standard with Salesforce CRM and the Force.com platform that it can build its business around.
• The cloud-computing solution didn’t require large hardware and software expenditures to get up and running. Now Advent can quickly adapt to manage growth and changing business needs, without needing to worry about servers and software.
• Central data repository helps sales and customer service better understand customers and provides global visibility across all departments. High adoption rates across all departments mean that data is consistent and reliable.
• Initial business case goals are met and IT is looking for ways to expand into the cloud.
• Salesforce.com provides a lower-cost option for building and deploying apps to all employees.
• Fast access to key business metrics and increased visibility across the entire company drive better business oversight and decision-making.
• Advent plans to add marketing online community features in the future. It also plans to develop a customer portal and project management application using Force.com.