In another move that reinforces that it is a force to be reckoned with in the customer relationship management (CRM) market, Web-based ASP Salesforce.com today announced that it has entered into a strategic alliance with professional services giant PricewaterhouseCoopers. The companies say they will combine their CRM-related expertise and technology to target mid-size enterprises.
As part of its Customer Value Improvement Program, PricewaterhouseCoopers reports that it has trained and certified a team of Salesforce.com technology experts who will work with Salesforce.com’s CRM process and best practices consultants.
Customer Value Improvement Programs are designed to offer middle-market clients a turnkey CRM package that includes diagnosis, market management strategy and customer retention, and expansion advice as well as integrated CRM technology, process and implementation services.
“We can implement Salesforce.com in 30 days or less, including work on process performance. The value proposition of Salesforce.com complements ours perfectly — we are going to market with a practical offering that delivers measurable ROI in a specific timeframe,” said Paul Gulbin, a director at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Gulbin added that Salesforce.com’s technology platform has strong enterprise capabilities and that its utility model focuses on business improvement rather than IT infrastructure.
“By working together, we can ensure that middle market organizations have the best shot at CRM success by combining market expertise with technology,” said Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO of San Francisco-based Salesforce.com.
Research firm IDC earlier this year predicted that the worldwide market for CRM services will grow at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 19 percent to reach $45 billion by 2006. In the U.S., IDC reports, the market for CRM services will grow at rate well above other IT services markets to reach more than $18 million by 2006.
Earlier this month, Salesforce.com announced several new features aimed at larger enterprise clients (see Salesforce’s Enterprise Voyage Continues). The company has also been aggressively marketing its CRM application as an alternative to traditional enterprise software from companies such as Siebel and PeopleSoft (see Welcome to the CRM Jungle).
Salesforce.com is listed by ASPnews as a Top 20 Service Provider.
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