What is the Outlook for Salesforce as a Career?

Salesforce is a cloud-based software company that provides businesses with a range of tools to help them manage their customer relationships and sales processes. The company’s flagship product, Salesforce CRM, helps businesses track customer interactions, manage sales leads, and automate key processes like marketing campaigns and customer service.

Salesforce customer relationship management (CRM) technology is pervasive across industries in today’s digital age. In conjunction with its CRM technology, Salesforce also has tools that many companies use for marketing automation, e-commerce and analysis. All of these tools together are designed to help businesses streamline their sales and marketing processes, improve customer engagement, and drive growth.

As Salesforce becomes more pervasive throughout industries, there is a growing need for skilled Salesforce professionals. A career in Salesforce can be highly rewarding and lucrative, with many opportunities for growth and advancement, too.

The first step in becoming a Salesforce professional lies in gaining a certificate through an accredited training programme. Our ALX Salesforce Administrator programme can provide you with comprehensive training and certification in Salesforce administration. It covers everything from basic concepts to advanced customization and automation techniques.

Research has shown that the Salesforce ecosystem is expected to create 9.3 million new jobs and generate about $1.6 trillion in new business revenues worldwide by 2026. This article will explore the prospects of Salesforce as a career – there’s never been a better time to learn Salesforce.

Different Salesforce Career Paths

The daily tasks of a Salesforce pro typically revolve around technology, customer service, and sales. It is an excellent choice if you are interested in innovation and have a knack for using data to solve business problems.

Here are a few career paths you can take with a Salesforce Administrator certification:

Salesforce end user

An end user is typically responsible for using Salesforce to manage customer interactions and track sales leads alongside any other tasks having to do with marketing and sales for your company. Companies like Coca-Cola, Aston Martin, Adidas, and F1 all employ Salesforce end-users for this purpose.

As a Salesforce end user, you will be responsible for entering and managing data in the platform, running reports, and analysing data to help inform crucial business decisions. You will usually work closely with sales representatives, the marketing department, and customer service representatives in your company to ensure that Salesforce is being used effectively across all departments.

There are many different roles Salesforce end users might find themselves in:

• Sales representatives use Salesforce to manage leads and opportunities, track sales activities, and collaborate with team members to help close deals. Their expertise lies in using Salesforce to identify key prospects, track their engagement, and prioritise their sales activities.

• Marketing executives use Salesforce to create targeted campaigns and track the performance of marketing efforts. They work together with the sales team to ensure that leads are being converted into customers. Salesforce helps them manage their marketing database, track campaign performance, and generate reports to inform marketing strategies.

• Customer service representatives use Salesforce to manage customer interactions and track cases. Their priority is to ensure that customers are receiving timely and effective support from the people they need it from. They also use Salesforce to track customer issues, assign tasks to other team members, and generate reports to identify areas where customer service can be improved.

• Operations managers use Salesforce to track key metrics and KPIs, manage workflows and approvals, and make sure processes are running smoothly. Salesforce helps them automate routine tasks, manage data quality, and generate reports.

Salesforce consultant

A career in Salesforce consultancy is ideal for people who are passionate about the intersection of tech, business strategy, and customer service. Salesforce consultancies are companies that specialise in helping other companies implement and optimise the Salesforce platform. Their services typically include strategy consulting, implementation, customisation, and support. Companies like Accenture, Deloitte, and IBM all offer Salesforce consultancy services.

Salesforce consultants work closely with clients to develop customised Salesforce solutions for their specific needs. You would usually be using your Salesforce expertise to help clients optimise their processes and workflows, improve their data management practices, and increase their overall efficiency.

Other tasks Salesforce consultants are typically in charge of include managing projects, developing project plans and timelines, and ensuring projects are delivered on time and on budget. 

Here are some entry-level roles that you could pursue in Salesforce consultancy after receiving a Salesforce certification:

• Salesforce administrators manage and configure Salesforce systems for clients. They might help users set up their accounts, manage their security and access controls, create workflows and automation, and troubleshoot any issues that arise.

• Salesforce consultants develop solutions that meet the specific business needs of their clients. This involves analysing business processes, designing solutions, and configuring Salesforce systems according to the company’s needs.

• Business analysts take a close look at their clients’ business processes in order to identify areas for improvement. They typically analyse data and develop strategies to improve the efficiency and productivity of the business.

• Salesforce developers build customised Salesforce applications using programming languages such as Apex and Visualforce. They design and build custom applications, integrate Salesforce with other systems, and maintain existing applications.

Salesforce ISVs (AppExchange)

Salesforce Independent Service Vendors (ISVs) are companies that create and distribute software products that are built on Salesforce. These apps provide additional features and capabilities that are otherwise not available in the core Salesforce platform. Companies like Conga and OwnBackup are great examples of these.

ISVs might be created to do things like help sales teams manage their leads and opportunities more effectively, or to help marketing teams automate their email campaigns and social media outreach. They are usually built based on the needs of a specific industry or business function.

After receiving a Salesforce certification, you might find yourself interested in building software with ISVs. Joining an ISV might interest you because they are often smaller and more nimble than other larger organisations. This gives you more freedom to take on a variety of roles and remain at the cutting-edge of technology in Salesforce. They also provide great opportunities for career growth and advancement, too.

Below is a list of some of the entry-level jobs you might be interested in at a Salesforce ISV:

• Technical support specialists provide customers who are using your company’s Salesforce product with technical support. This might involve troubleshooting various issues, answering technical questions, and providing guidance on how to use the product effectively.

• Quality assurance analysts test your company’s Salesforce ISV to make sure it meets industry standards of quality and performance. They create and execute test plans, identify and document defects, and work with developers to resolve issues.

• Junior Salesforce developers write custom code and develop integrations that extend the functionality of your company’s Salesforce product. In this role, you will write code in Apex or Visualforce, work with Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and integrate Salesforce with other related systems.

• Sales development representatives spend their time generating leads and setting up meetings with potential customers who might be interested in your company’s Salesforce product. This often involves cold-calling, emailing, and using social media to reach out to prospects.

Salesforce

As one of the fastest-growing and most innovative tech companies in the industry, Salesforce offers a wide range of products and services that are used by companies of all sizes across all industries.

As a Salesforce certified professional, then, you will have a skill set that is in high demand across industries. Whether you are a developer, consultant, or administrator, there is a wide variety of job opportunities available to you in the Salesforce ecosystem. Some of these are even available at Salesforce itself.

Working at Salesforce offers an excellent opportunity for career growth and development. They are equipped with the support and resources necessary to grow careers and remain at the cutting-edge of technology.

As someone with a Salesforce certification, here are are some career paths you could purse within Salesforce itself:

• Sales involves selling Salesforce products and services to various clients. This involves identifying sales opportunities, cultivating relationships with clients, and working closely with the pre-sales team to develop solutions that meet the clients’ needs.

• Solution engineers are like consultants, working with clients to identify and develop Salesforce solutions to meet their specific business needs. In this role, solution engineers design and configure solutions, create prototypes, and work closely with the sales department to ensure the solution meets the needs of the client.

• Customer success team members help clients use their Salesforce products in ways that are most effective for their business needs. This role involves working closely with clients to understand their needs, coupled with enough knowledge of Salesforce products to provide clients with adequate guidance and solutions.

• Managers lead teams of professionals by overseeing their work, providing guidance and mentorship, and ensuring value is being delivered across the board.

Average Salary for Salesforce Professionals

In general, choosing Salesforce as a career can yield very competitive salaries. The average salary for a career in Salesforce, however, varies based on your location, experience, and job title.

For entry-level positions, like Salesforce Administrator or Salesforce Developer, you can expect anywhere from $60,000 – $80,000 USD per year. More senior roles, like a Salesforce Consultant or Salesforce Architect, can pay upwards of $120,000 USD per year or more.

At Salesforce itself, the average salary for a Salesforce employee in the United States is around $125,000 per year. This varies based on job role and experience.

Start Your Career with the ALX Salesforce Administrator Certification

Salesforce has helped countless businesses across the global digitise their operations, improve their customer engagement, and increase their efficiency. In Africa specifically, Salesforce has helped many African enterprises overcome the challenges of traditional software systems. Salesforce has partnered with several African organisations to drive social and economic development in the region.

The ALX Salesforce Administrator programme is delivered in partnership with Salesforce, providing learners with a globally-recognised certification in Salesforce administration. Throughout the programme, learners are taught Salesforce platform fundamentals, data modelling and management, security and access management, business process automation, how to build reports and dashboards, and a whole lot more.

In the end, they have the knowledge and skills necessary to work as a Salesforce administrator.

Included in the programme are career services to support individuals in finding employment in the industry after they’ve gotten their certificate. With this certificate, you can demonstrate your proficiency in managing and maintaining Salesforce systems, opening up career opportunities in various industries.

Summary

The Salesforce ecosystem has become nearly universal in tech industries and beyond. This, combined with its increasing number of niche roles, has created the ‘perfect storm’ for career growth. Getting a Salesforce certification is the first step towards a career that offers a variety of options in technology, customer support, and sales.

ALX Africa’s overall mission is to transform Africa by developing and connecting its talent to opportunities in the digital economy. The ALX Salesforce Administrator programme is currently accepting applications – enrol today!

FAQs

1. Is Salesforce a good career option?

Salesforce can be a great career option for individuals who are interested in technology, customer relationship management, and innovation. The high demand for Salesforce professionals, competitive salaries, career growth opportunities, flexibility, and innovative culture make Salesforce a compelling choice for many individuals looking to build a career in technology.

2. Is Salesforce still in demand in 2023?

Based on current trends and market demand, it is likely that Salesforce will continue to be in high demand in 2023 and beyond. This is due to its growing customer base, expanding product portfolio, the overall increased adoption of cloud computing, constant innovation, and industry recognition.

3. What companies use Salesforce?

Salesforce is used by a wide range of companies across various industries including Coca-Cola, Amazon, Adidas, Totoya, Spotify, Marriott International, L’Oreal, and Unilever. Additionally, Salesforce is widely used by small and mid-sized businesses, startups, non-profits, and government organisations. The flexibility and scalability of Salesforce make it an attractive option for businesses of all sizes and industries. 

Salesforce also has a vast network of partners, including consulting firms, system integrators, and independent software vendors, who work with companies to implement and customize Salesforce solutions. These partners help to extend the reach of Salesforce and provide a range of services to customers.