Vaishnavi Pai

Should BDMs Dive Deep into Product Knowledge, or Stick to Sales core? 🤔 Recently, I had the opportunity to attend Salesforce-India's AInow Tour in Ahmedabad—their first-ever event in Gujarat (and judging by the packed house, definitely not the last!😁). As a Business Development Manager, I typically avoid these events, finding them more of a time sink than a value-add. But this time, my director Nivid Jain, strongly encouraged me to attend, and I decided to go, albeit with some skepticism. When the sessions began, everything changed. The event, which focused on Data Cloud, Prompt Building, and Agentforce AI, was a masterclass on understanding what Salesforce is truly providing to its end-clients. I gained invaluable insights into the true potential of these tools, and suddenly, it clicked why my director was so insistent. 💡 This experience left me with a thought-provoking question: Should Business Development Managers focus solely on sales strategies and networking, or should we dive deeper into understanding the products we’re selling? 🤔 While honing sales skills is critical, isn’t it equally important to speak the client’s language and grasp the technical value of the solution? Perhaps it’s not about becoming technical experts but rather building enough knowledge to add real value to client conversations. And on a personal note, I’m proud to say: I built my first Agent using Agentforce! 🚀 #Salesforce #AInowTour #BusinessDevelopment #SalesforceAI #SalesLeadership #BDMThoughts

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Writing in the Harvard Business Review, ZS’s own Prabhakant Sinha, Arun Shastri and Sally Lorimer weigh in on how AI is poised to revolutionize sales—from coaching sales teams to analyzing customers. They look at how companies can begin adoption across the spectrum of maturity. Read the article here: https://bit.ly/3N1aZay

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"The Weightage of Revenue Metrics in an Organization's Performance Evaluation" 💰 Revenue metrics play a crucial role in performance evaluations, especially for sales-focused positions like sales representatives and account executives. At Sprinto, Revenue metrics for sales-focused positions contribute to only 50% of the overall evaluation. You may ask - where's the rest 50%? 🤔 🥇 Quarterly OKRs - The Professional Development Cycle. 🥈 Sales Rep Competency - Sales Skills. 🥉 Sales Excellence - Win Rate, Avg Deal Size, Deal Tenure, Revenue Per Lead, etc. Questions? - Shoot them up in the comments or DM me directly! #Sales #PerformanceEvaluation #RevenueMetrics #SalesExcellence #CareerGrowth #Sprinto

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Managing a Global Team of Sales, Marketing, and Customer Success Professionals: Key Strategies for Success Managing a global team of sales, marketing, and customer success professionals is both exciting and challenging. With 15 years of sales leadership experience, I’ve navigated the complexities of leading diverse teams across different time zones and cultures. Here are some key strategies for success. 1. Foster Open Communication Effective communication is crucial. Use tools like Slack, Teams, and Zoom for regular check-ins to ensure alignment and provide a platform for voicing ideas and concerns. 2. Embrace Cultural Diversity A global team brings diverse perspectives. Encourage sharing cultural insights and traditions to foster inclusivity, creativity, and innovation. Be culturally aware and sensitive to different communication styles and work ethics. 3. Set Clear Goals Define clear objectives and KPIs. Use project management tools like Asana or Trello to track progress and keep the team focused. Regularly review and adjust these goals. 4. Leverage Technology Utilize collaboration tools like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 for real-time editing and sharing. Use a centralized platform for storing important resources to ensure everyone has what they need. 5. Promote Continuous Learning Invest in your team’s growth. Provide access to online courses, workshops, and industry conferences. Encourage sharing learnings to enhance skills and keep the team engaged. 6. Promote Work-Life Balance Respect different time zones and work schedules. Encourage flexible working hours and avoid scheduling meetings outside of reasonable working hours. Be mindful of local holidays and traditions. 7. Celebrate Successes Recognize and celebrate individual and team achievements. Acknowledge milestones through virtual celebrations, shout-outs, or personalized notes to boost morale. 8. Lead with Empathy Understand that team members may face unique challenges. Provide support and be adaptable in your leadership style to build trust and create a supportive environment. Conclusion Managing a global team requires thoughtful strategies. By fostering open communication, embracing diversity, setting clear goals, leveraging technology, promoting continuous learning, ensuring work-life balance, celebrating successes, and leading with empathy, you can create a cohesive and high-performing global team.

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Salesforce is a powerhouse known for its scale, quality, and diverse offerings. From sales to customer service, their customizable software meets various business needs. With over 5 million monthly searches, many have questions about Salesforce. BrainSell compiled the most frequently asked questions to provide clarity. Discover why Salesforce is a top choice for businesses. https://okt.to/CWU86f #Salesforce #CRM #BusinessGrowth #Software #Tech

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Introducing Salesforce's latest innovation: 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭. 🙌 It makes it easy for partners to access deals across CRMs and gives channel managers deal visibility too. That means everyone selling your product – whether inside your business or on a different team -- is always on the same page. 💡 With Partner Connect, you get: ✅ Control over fields shared and synced ✅ Real-time bi-directional syncing ✅ Secure and reliable data Available this fall. Want to learn more? 👀 See how this innovation can help you level up your partner sales: https://lnkd.in/gYCaJuuY

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Salesforce has released its latest State of Sales report, surveying 5,500 sales professionals from 27 countries, including 300 from India. The report provides insights into how sales teams are using technology and building trusted customer relationships in a competitive market. AI is being increasingly adopted by sales teams for better productivity and personalisation. In India, 89 per cent of sales teams have implemented or are testing AI, while another 10 per cent are evaluating it. The main benefit is improved data quality and accuracy. However, challenges such as security concerns and customer trust remain. Meeting evolving customer expectations is a major challenge for sales teams globally. In India, sales representatives spend 27 per cent of their workweek connecting with customers. A significant 65 per cent of sales professionals in India find changing customer expectations more challenging than last year, while only 7 per cent find it less so. #TechyTuesday #ITMBusinessSchool #ESMEducation #WB2024

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Yes, I will use metaphors at work too - CS Ops is like the equipment/gear you need to put on for a successful skiing experience to enjoy your downhill ski on the perfect snowy slope! Head over to my next blog to learn more about the behind-the-scenes-maestro of successful CS teams 😎 #customersuccessoperations #customersuccess #customersuccessmanager

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#D2CDreams 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 7 🌸🌟 "𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲" - 𝐀 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐝 🌟🌸 India is the land of emotions and celebrations—be it birthdays, anniversaries, or festivals—there’s one brand that everyone remembers: Ferns N petals. Meet Vikaas Gutgutia, born in 𝐁𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐫, who moved to 𝐊𝐨𝐥𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐚 for studies and stayed with his uncle, a flower shop owner. Vikaas always dreamt big, aiming to create something of his own. After having a bad experience ordering flowers for his girlfriend in Delhi, he noticed the flower business was highly disorganized and saw a golden opportunity there. With determination and a vision, he founded Ferns N petals, a brand now synonymous with celebrations across India—whether birthdays, anniversaries, or festivals. Today, FNP boasts over 400 outlets in 130+ cities and a presence in 120+ countries, delivering joy worldwide. But what makes FNP a market leader after 28 years? It’s their relentless innovation and customer-centric approach. Vikaas's mantra, "EQ > IQ," underscores the importance of emotional intelligence in business. Despite early setbacks, like the unsuccessful venture into the food business, Vikaas learned invaluable lessons. He curated a list of 500 do’s and don’ts, proving that failure is merely a qualification for success. As FNP eyes an IPO by 2026, Vikaas's journey from a single flower shop to a potential listed company is truly remarkable. His story is a testament to passion, persistence, and the power of sticking to your core competencies. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 Vikaas - 𝑺𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆. - 𝑬𝒎𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔. - 𝑨𝒅𝒂𝒑𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒕. - 𝑴𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆. Vikaas's journey with FNP exemplifies that challenges are opportunities for growth and resilience. His unwavering commitment to delivering the right experience has made FNP what it is today. Here’s to celebrating the bloom of every opportunity! 🌺 Stay tuned for the Eighth episode of #D2CDreams! #D2C #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Leadership #SuccessStory #FernsNPetals #BusinessGrowth #CustomerExperience #linkedinforcreators #postoftheday #EmotionalIntelligence

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Presales is a critical phase in the sales lifecycle, as it serves as the bridge between initial client interest and the final deal closure. Here's why presales is significant....

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Great chat with Bayron at Customer Success Talks ✌ We focus on the unique challenges & strengths introverts bring to the CS field. Check it out!

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🛫 Top CRO Trends in ANZ for 2024 📈 As digital behavior rapidly shifts in Australia and New Zealand, CRO strategies are evolving to meet the demands of modern users. Here are key trends shaping the region: 1. Mobile Optimization 📱 : With over 60% of traffic coming from mobile, seamless mobile experiences are a must 2. Personalization 🎯 : Tailored user journeys are driving conversions 3. UX Enhancements 🔍 : Intuitive designs = better engagement #VWO is helping businesses stay ahead by embracing these trends! #CRO #ANZ #MobileOptimization #Personalization #UX

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The launch of Salesforce’s Revenue Lifecycle Management has given birth to doubtful market sentiment: → RLM vs. CPQ → no new CPQ advancement → the death of Salesforce CPQ In my opinion, it shouldn’t be a point of debate. RLM is a smart move towards automating and managing the product-to-cash process. It caters to businesses of all sizes and industries, aiming to streamline operations across: → product/service design → price management → contract lifecycle management → configuration, quote, and order management → billing, collections, and revenue lifecycle intelligence Salesforce RLM isn't a standalone product but a suite of offerings designed to address the full revenue lifecycle for a diverse range of customers. This includes: → Salesforce CPQ → Salesforce Contracts → Salesforce Billing → And RLM itself I have written a full article explaining RLM and the operational areas it covers. Link in comments below. #salesforce #salesforcecpq #rlm

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Elevate your sales game with the power of data-driven insights! Introducing Lead Intelligence View in Salesforce Lightning Experience! With Lead Intelligence View, you can now track lead activity metrics and engagement metrics effortlessly: Lead Activity Metrics: Total Leads: Know the total number of leads that match your criteria. No Activity: Identify leads with no completed activities. Idle: Spot leads with past activity but none in the last 30 days. No Upcoming: Find leads with recent activity but no future activities scheduled. Overdue: Keep tabs on leads with overdue activities. Due Today: Prioritize leads with activities due today. Upcoming: Plan by identifying leads with activities due in the next 30 days. Engagement Metrics: Leads Not Contacted Contact Attempted Engaged Meeting Scheduled Meeting Declined Disqualified With Lead Intelligence View, you can seamlessly filter leads, view aggregate activity statistics, and take immediate action, all from the Leads tab. Empower your sales team to make informed decisions and drive results like never before! #Salesforce #LeadIntelligence #SalesInsights #CRM #SalesEfficiency #ProductivityBoost

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Onwards and upwards 🚀 Freshworks shares jumped over 5% after the company outperformed revenue and earnings expectations for Q2. Key highlights include: 🎉 Revenue: $174.1 million, a 20% YoY increase. 🎉 Customer Growth: 21,744 customers spending over $5K annually, with a net dollar retention rate of 106%. 🎉 Cash Flow: Operating activity cash flow rose to $36.3 million. “Our results reflect our increasing financial discipline and our ability to meet the needs of customers with our AI-powered solutions,” Dennis Woodside, chief executive of Freshworks, said in the company’s earnings release. “With clear strategic priorities in place, we are well positioned to seize the massive opportunity in front of us.” Read more here - https://lnkd.in/ekbVEj64 #Freshworks #Earnings #CustomerService #AI

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Here are 10 key reasons why Nektar.ai’s integration with Salesforce stands out as best-in-class: 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: We allow organizations to assign permissions at a granular level, ensuring data security by giving the integration user only the necessary access, reducing potential risk. #datasecurity 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: Our customers can use dedicated service accounts for the integration, allowing fine control over data access. Nektar also offers reduced-privilege alternatives for stricter security setups. #datasecurity 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐜: We sync key Salesforce objects like Accounts, Contacts, Opportunities, and Activities every 10-15 minutes. This ensures that sales and engagement data stay up-to-date in real-time. #realtimedata 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠: With our ability to sync and map custom fields, organizations can track relevant metrics specific to their workflows. This customization allows tailored insights into sales performance and engagement. #customintegration 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐎𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩: Nektar automatically assigns ownership for created Contacts, Tasks, and Events based on logical rules, reducing the administrative burden for sales teams and ensuring correct data attribution. #dataattribution 𝐁𝐮𝐲𝐞𝐫-𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠: Nektar.ai intelligently links Activities to the correct Opportunities or Contacts using company domains and event attendees, minimizing errors in sales attribution and enhancing data integrity. #dataintegrity 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐃𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: The integration ensures that duplicate Contacts or incorrect Activities are not created by carefully linking new data to existing records, improving data accuracy and quality. #datadeduplication 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: Our customers configure rules that determine which records we write into Salesforce, allowing for further customization based on unique business requirements. #flexibility 𝐙𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: We enrich Event records with attendee data from Zoom, making it easy to track participation and call duration metrics, which are key for revenue and engagement analytics. #deeperinsights 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: The integration leverages advanced OAuth scopes for full read-write access and background operations, ensuring a secure and frictionless data sync between Nektar and Salesforce at all times. #datasecurity Our features bring streamlined workflows, precise data attribution, and secure access to Salesforce, making it the tool for RevOps looking to optimize CRM data management. Interested to learn more? Link in comments! Thank you 🔌 Andy Mowat for an inspiring & insightful post! #nektarai #salesforce #gtm #revops #dataintegration #datasecurity #data #dataengineering #datafiltering #datasync #dataspeed #dataaccuracy

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🏆 Introducing Partner Connect - a really easy way for vendors and partners to share CRM data with each other built on the #1 AI PRM. If you co-sell and are looking for a solution to share leads and opportunity data with partners and get easily notified on updates - look no further. #salesforce #prm 💕

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