Get introspective for a minute and ponder all the events that have shaped your organisation over the last 5 years. Is your business exactly the same as it was in 2021? Probably not. It may not be even remotely the same.
There have been some dramatic shifts over the last few years, notwithstanding workforce dynamics, supply chain resilience issues, and artificial intelligence. Big, external changes like these can sometimes force adaptation in your organisation whether you like it or not.
But what about internal, or small changes? The need for increased data security. Staff with the same amount of time but more demands upon it. Acceptance of workflow obstacles as an inevitable part of business because no one has the time – or the mandate – to fix it. Seemingly small irritants that bother your staff, suppliers or customers more than they let on. Every organisation has them.
A Continuous/Continual Improvement Process (CIP) is a business methodology that can deliver incremental or breakthrough improvements for your organisation as well as your Salesforce solution.
Approaches differ slightly, but the main objective is to enhance products, services or processes in an ongoing, continuous manner. PDCA, Kaizen, Lean, and Six Sigma are the most common CIP methods. Companies such as Toyota, Amazon, Apple, Walmart and GE all use CIP methodologies.
PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) – a 4-step, cyclical model for change. Recognise an opportunity, carry out a small study, review and analyse results, then take action based on learnings from the study, before cycling through again.
Kaizen – a Japanese philosophy and management methodology. Aims to improve productivity through several key concepts – respect for people, standardisation, focus on the ‘shopfloor’, elimination of waste and creating value.
Lean – focuses on delivering customer value efficiently via identifying value, mapping value streams, creating staff flow, establishing pull (production that reflects actual customer demand), and seeking perfection.
Six Sigma – a method for disciplined quality improvement that aims to improve customer satisfaction by reducing and eliminating process variation that may lead to defects, errors or mistakes.
For your Salesforce solution, tackling a CIP may sound daunting, but it is highly recommended for keeping your organisation on track and up-to-date. Salesforce delivers major, automatic updates 3 times a year, introducing new features, updating security and delivering improvements.
A dedicated Salesforce administrator will need at least 45minutes to review the product updates and new feature notes. Interrogating what’s relevant for your organisation and then relaying all of that to your staff/users, training, implementing, reviewing and adjusting could well be a full-time role.
We recommend quarterly planning and review sessions to make solid and consistent progress towards your objectives and to adjust plans as needs and circumstances shift. This rhythm not only fits with standard business practice and financial year planning patterns, but allows you the opportunity to make these improvements stick and adjust your sails.
Ultimately, Continuous Improvement is not a one-time project, but a cultural shift toward excellence. This is exactly where the SalesFix Customer Success program becomes your greatest asset.
We bridge the gap between ‘having’ Salesforce and ‘mastering’ it, providing the expert guidance and strategic oversight needed to turn these CIP methodologies into measurable business results. By aligning our deep technical expertise with your unique business objectives, we ensure your platform doesn’t just keep up with the world, it stays ahead of it.