Going from paper and pen to the cloud with Salesforce

Daily habits represent a huge part of our work culture. They determine how effectively we operate and how much we achieve with the time we have. There are habits that merely slow us down but there are also some that wouldn’t allow us to communicate and transfer our work and ideas freely. Using analog instead of digital data is an example of how we limit ourselves to the framework of the old business culture. It is really a matter of habit and the relationship we’ve built to our beloved and sacred notebooks. In all fairness, maybe we shouldn’t render the notebook obsolete but rather change the way we use it. Notebooks are great for boosting creativity and productivity. It’s more than fine to carry one around so you could draw, sketch or express your ideas. When it comes to storing and working with data, however, we simply run the risk of mixing it up and inevitably losing it at some point.  

Here are just some of the reasons you might consider limiting the use of a notebook to store and operate with important data.

Security

Keeping data secure is a growing challenge and concern to business. With so many different ways we need to use data there is always a risk of unwanted leaks or vital unsolicited changes. Furthermore, analog data is so much vulnerable to loss and deletion. With analog data it is simply not possible to monitor and track important aspects like who viewed or altered data, as well as when and why it happened. Storing analog data in vaults is also not a viable solution anymore because data is much more dynamic nowadays and needs constant care in order to stay relevant. In other words we need a way to constantly update data while keeping it all safe and secure. It is a challenge that is beyond what we could achieve with analog data. Luckily we have the cloud and the Salesforce platform to take care about security and privacy. While Salesforce is more famous for its unparalleled CRM, Service and Marketing tools as well as its powerful cloud platform, their main product has always been trust. 

Integrity

Data integrity and consistency is yet another challenge with analog data. As people we are all different and unique. The same is valid for the ways we handle and process data. Comparing notes offers more challenges than potential benefits. Thus, if we don’t have a single integrated data entry then we run the risk of piling up unstructured and low-quality data that is highly unreliable. Furthermore, unreliable data entry could lead to dysfunctional business analysis and decision making. The better we are able to grab and process data the better we would be suited to get the most out of it in the long run. No matter how diligent and coordinated our team members might be it is simply not possible to establish data entry validation or a single standard for working with data when we primarily use analog data sources.  

Connectivity

Nowadays data is anything but static. We need a reliable and secure way to share and communicate our data with co-workers, partners and clients. While taking pictures of our notebook with a smartphone could somehow do the work, it is tough to scale, sync and keep secure. Moreover, we don’t simply need a way to share data, we need a coherent and solid framework to operate and control data flows. If you think about the very nature of the cloud it does just that. It gives us flexibility and scale whenever we might need them plus a way to manage processes with ease. Salesforce took all that is great about the cloud and added a sense of user-friendliness and efficiency. Boasting features like Salesforce Chatter and Communities the Salesforce platform offers a variety of ways to communicate and exchange data. 

To sum up, the cloud and its manifestations through the Salesforce platform does not mean the end of the reign of the mighty notebook as a business tool. It is merely a matter of practical reconsideration. The sooner we learn to use and appreciate data the more successful our digital transition would be.