Data integration is top challenge for Salesforce users: Survey

A new survey of 200 active Salesforce users and professionals revealed top challenges, usage patterns and future planning around Salesforce implementations. According to the survey, conducted by Progress in conjunction with Dimensional Research, 54 percent of respondents indicated that application and data source integration is their most pressing challenge. [caption id=“attachment_2303210” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Courtesy: Salesforce[/caption] These integration challenges stem from the need to share data between Salesforce and on-premises applications (48 percent), legacy applications (47 percent), connectivity (40 percent) and shared data sources (37 percent). Sixty-three percent stated integration difficulties result in slower Salesforce performance. Despite current challenges, the benefits of Salesforce are plentiful, ranging from ease-of-use to cost effectiveness to competitive advantage, the survey found. Fifty-six percent (56 percent) of respondents said Salesforce is intuitive and easy-to-use. In addition, 48 percent said, despite access to real-time data and analysis, Salesforce still increased the effectiveness of their sales teams. Survey responses indicated that Salesforce integrations are “spidering into a surprising variety of applications throughout the enterprise,” including support systems (46 percent), ERP, lead generation, marketing, shipping, licensing applications and more. Legacy applications account for 38 percent of all integrations. And, 12 percent of businesses surveyed have more than 10 applications and data sources connected to Salesforce currently. “While Salesforce remains as integral as ever, this survey digs deep into the key challenges involved in continuing to make the most of this critical platform,” said Michael Benedict, President, Data Connectivity and Integration, Progress. “With 89 percent of respondents pursuing new Salesforce implementations over the next two years, it is clear that data and application integration is and will remain hugely important–requiring companies to seek out the proper tools, technologies and best practices to leverage Salesforce in a more meaningful way.”