AppExchange Turns 10: The Most Popular Salesforce Partner Apps
A Decade Of Downloads
It's been a decade since Salesforce introduced an online app store enabling partners to sell unique solutions enhancing Salesforce's core CRM software.
Today, AppExchange hosts more than 2,800 partner apps that have been installed 3.5 million times. Eighty-five percent of the Fortune 100 have installed at least one AppExchange App, and 79 percent of Salesforce customers use partner apps, according to the CRM leader.
For those following the cloud-focused startup back in 2006, AppExchange telegraphed a revolutionary vision that Salesforce would successfully implement over the coming years -- moving beyond a single Software-as-a-Service technology to becoming an enterprise-grade platform for the creation of novel and diverse solutions.
Since then, hundreds of independent software developers have built their businesses by selling on AppExchange unique tools backed by deep expertise in particular markets. And Salesforce relies on those third-party developers to keep meeting the rapidly evolving needs of its customers.
To mark its 10th anniversary, Salesforce shared with CRN the most downloaded AppExchange apps (Salesforce doesn't make available total number of downloads) for each of 12 business categories, from education to banking to government to retail.
Communications
Company: Vlocity
Headquarters: San Francisco
App: Vlocity Communications
This comprehensive suite of omni­channel sales, marketing, service, CPQ and order management applications was designed specifically for communications service providers and built entirely on the Salesforce1 platform. The Vlocity Communications suite helps businesses sell to and service both B2B and B2C customers. Vlocity has a channel program that includes many global systems integrators and sales force implementation providers as partners.
Education
Company: Groove Labs
Headquarters: Mountain View, Calif.
App: Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Apps Integration
Google Apps remains the go-to cloud-based office productivity suite for educational institutions. Groove's integration tools enable schools and universities to securely sync their Gmail and Google Calendar accounts with Salesforce's CRM in real time. The app displays contextual data and tools obtained from Salesforce within Gmail.
Financial Services (Commercial Banking)
Company: nCino
Headquarters: Wilmington, N.C.
App: nCino Bank Operating System
This solution, the most popular app in the Salesforce ecosystem among commercial banks, sits alongside a bank's core IT systems. The Bank Operating System offers financial institutions a suite of features for interacting with employees and customers, including CRM, document management, business intelligence and loan life cycle solutions. That drives profitability, productivity, compliance and operating transparency.
Financial Services (Life & Annuities Insurance)
Company: iPipeline
Headquarters: Exton, Pa.
App: AgentOne
This app delivers single sign-on access directly from Salesforce to tools that help insurance agents do just about every aspect of their job. AgentOne offers an integrated desktop that helps agents gather information, select products, run quotes, complete applications, guide customers through the insurance sales process and stay informed about delays in the process.
Government
Company: DocuSign
Headquarters: San Francisco
App: Electronic Signatures
DocuSign has been a pioneer in developing e-signature technology and the company's customer base spans the Fortune 500. The technology is also extremely popular in the public sector -- government customers downloaded DocuSign Electronic Signatures more than any other tool from the Salesforce AppExchange. DocuSign goes to market through an established and burgeoning global channel.
Health Care and Life Sciences
Company: Veeva Systems
Headquarters: Pleasanton, Calif.
App: Veeva CRM
Built on the Force.com platform, Veeva CRM is tailored to the health care and life sciences industry. The product delivers to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, animal health and consumer health companies a platform for engaging with their customers and providing unique content and services through multiple channels.
Manufacturing
Company: Apttus
Headquarters: San Mateo, Calif.
App: Apttus Configure Price Quote
Accurate and efficient price quoting is essential to manufacturers looking to drive sales from new and existing accounts. Apttus' CPQ solution, built on the Salesforce1 mobile platform and brought to market through a vibrant partner ecosystem, helps manufacturing companies manage configuration, pricing, quoting, discounts, incentives and proposals from any device.
Media
Company: Zuora
Headquarters: Foster City, Calif.
App: Zuora for Salesforce
Zuora for Salesforce enables customers to manage their subscription businesses by delivering quotes for new subscriptions, upgrades and renewals, pricing those products, automating billing and payment, and having full visibility into subscriber activity. Users have the ability to quickly configure tailored solutions on Force.com. Zuora partners with some of the largest global systems integrators and IT consultants, who deliver Zuora for Salesforce to media customers more often than any other app on AppExchange.
Nonprofits
Company: Cirrus Insight
Headquarters: Irvine, Calif.
App: Gmail, Google Apps, Google Calendar for Salesforce
Nonprofit entities prefer Cirrus Insight's solution for integrating Google App tools with their Salesforce accounts. Cirrus Insight's app enables users to track and manage customer information through their Gmail accounts, track emails and attachments, sync their CRM with Google Calendar, and schedule meetings through Gmail. Cirrus Insight has a channel program that includes many Salesforce implementation partners.
Professional Services
Company: FinancialForce
Headquarters: San Francisco
App: Professional Services Automation for Salesforce
Professional services firms turn to FinancialForce to gain visibility across sales, services delivery and finances. The app, brought to market through a vibrant partner ecosystem, delivers a mobile and social solution that automates and streamlines professional services tasks such as sales collaboration, project management, resource management, revenue management and services profitability.
Real Estate
Company: Propertybase
Headquarters: Berkeley, Calif.
App: Propertybase Real Estate CRM
Real Estate professionals have unique CRM needs, and the biggest names in the profession turn to Propertybase, and its network of consulting partners, more than any other vendor in the Salesforce ecosystem. Propertybase develops software for brokers, residential and commercial developers and franchises to manage their businesses. Users can publish listings, manage leads, integrate with MLS, track offers and agreements, and close deals.
Retail
Company: CloudCraze
Headquarters: Deerfield, Ill.
App: CloudCraze eCommerce for Salesforce
CloudCraze offers retailers a self-branded e-commerce solution built entirely on the Salesforce1 mobile platform. Users can deploy B2B or B2C storefronts that share data and processes with their CRMs. The user interface is configurable, and the solution offers merchandising, pricing, promotion and catalog content management, as well as integration interfaces for shipping, inventory and tax calculations.