Challenge

• Fresno Pacific University, a fully accredited independent Christian university, needed a flexible technology platform that could keep pace with rapid innovation in business and communications software without requiring additional IT resources or expensive, time-consuming upgrades
• An existing student information system lacked the desired functionality and agility needed to manage current and future processes
• Different departments were trying to bridge the technology gap with different solutions, creating a complex patchwork of systems that didn't work well together and were difficult for IT to manage

Solution

• Deployed Force.com and Chatter as a student recruiting platform in early 2010 and now serves over 55 users
• Leads from community events and from the university's Web site flow directly into Salesforce, where they are routed to staff members based on level of interest for additional follow up
• All student application materials—including grades, letters of recommendation, and transcripts—are tracked in Salesforce
• IT uses Chatter to post training videos, answer questions, and troubleshoot, as well as to communicate about changes or enhancements
• Employees in different physical locations use Chatter to form relationships and create a sense of camaraderie, making it easier for new employees to quickly get up to speed and feel part of a virtual team
• A successful rollout led to expanded use of the platform; for example, the University Advancement (fundraising) team is using Salesforce to better manage their communication with people and organizations

Results

• Built apps on the Force.com cloud platform to meet the university's specific requirements in 1 month, a significant improvement over previous platforms
• Significant cost savings thanks to the discounts and donations offered to universities by the Salesforce.com Foundation
• Enthusiastic adoption of Chatter and Salesforce thanks to an intuitive user interface
• Improved communication and collaboration because of increased connections among coworkers