Cloudsquare

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president, co-founder, and CEO of CapFront, a business funding brokerage firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cloudsquare?

We needed help with our marketing and customer relationship management efforts.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cloudsquare primarily provides support for our customer management system (CMS) and technology. They’ve handled our Salesforce deployment and provided us with an app called BrokerSuite, which they developed internally and is licensed on Salesforce as an app. It acts as a central hub for everything that we do and is customized for our industry.

Additionally, they’ve integrated related applications and software into our Salesforce CRM system — they’ve integrated DocuSign for easy e-signature solutions, Salesforce Pardot, which allowed us to automate our marketing efforts, and a bank statement reading technology for our sales representatives. Beyond that, they’ve also integrated Vonage, a smart call center solution for inbound and outbound contact, into our systems.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact from Cloudsquare is Paul (Salesforce Consultant), but I’ve also worked with Dennis (Director of Sales) directly on the business development side. Most of my communications with Cloudsuare run through a third-party consulting company, so I don’t usually communicate directly with the team.

How did you come to work with Cloudsquare?

I was doing research and one of their clients, who is an acquaintance of mine, posted about their work with Cloudsquare. I gained interest in their work because of my respect for that person.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent somewhere around $60,000 in total so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2020, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We brought Cloudsquare with the purpose of completely overhauling and preparing our business to go from an early-stage startup to a scalable post-revenue business. It’s hard to put a finger on the ever-changing metrics, but we’ve definitely seen drastic growth in our organization because of the changes that we’ve implemented with Cloudsquare. For one, we’ve been able to add a number of new sales representatives, business development officers, and support staff primarily because of the work that Cloudsquare has done.

We’ve also seen a lot of improvements in our workflow and sales processes because of the development and integration work that Cloudsquare has done. Their work has effectively streamlined our data-processing efforts, automated our outreach, data entry, and file analysis work, and maximized the productivity of our sales representatives and the efficiency of our management processes.

How did Cloudsquare perform from a project management standpoint?

Cloudsquare has performed exceptionally well in terms of project management — they’re efficient and extremely responsive and communicative on a personal level.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m really impressed with the fact that Cloudsquare is as efficient as larger companies whilst still being able to maintain the posture of smaller boutique firms.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything Cloudsquare could improve on at the moment — I’ve been very happy with the work they’ve done so far.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure that you have someone in your team who has a background in web development. Otherwise, it would be a good idea to bring in a third-party consultant to guide you throughout the process because the people at Cloudsquare are more on the technical side — they’re not necessarily equipped to hold your hand if you have no one on your team who knows what they’re talking about.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the president of KenKar LLC, and we’re a master distributor for medical equipment manufacturers. We sell exclusively to Mexico; Central and South America; and the Caribbean through a network of independent distributors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cloudsquare?

We had been using Salesforce since the company’s inception. I used to separate tasks with a partner, but his work fell on me when he left the company. We had numerous manual and repetitive processes specifically for generating orders, and they involved a lot of paperwork. 

One single order took me 10–20 minutes, and it was just unsustainable. I needed help automating our order processing using Salesforce. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, I sent Cloudsquare information about how my current processes ran. They came back with ideas and suggestions for the project. From there, they developed an order processing program within Salesforce. 

The tool generated documents digitally and took away the bulk of the work in our order fulfillment process. It also allowed us to track the salesman and enduser and generate other reports. Cloudsquare conducted a recorded training on how to use the solution.

What is the team composition?

I worked with their sales director, a project manager, a product manager, and a developer.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from March–June 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Cloudsquare’s work resulted in 3–4 hours of time savings per day, making my business sustainable as it grew. They successfully automated manual tasks, and I could also easily view information and reports on the dashboards they generated. 

They made our processes more efficient, and the information generated by the program was invaluable. I could run reports and pull out information quickly. Everything became quick to find. 

In addition, Cloudsquare’s tool was cost-effective and resulted in savings. They allowed me to invest in other parts of my business that would generate a larger return. I also had more time for my personal life because of their solution.  

How did Cloudsquare perform from a project management standpoint?

At the start of our partnership, Cloudsquare sent out a work statement. That document detailed the project’s purpose and our business challenges and objectives. It also laid out the solution with a time estimate of each part of the process. The file presented their committed schedule and our responsibilities as a client to keep the project on track. 

Cloudsquare stayed on our timetable and budget. They were communicative and responsive. Additionally, they were very transparent on their billings. We collaborated through Microsoft Teams and had weekly meetings to update their progress. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I searched for a Salesforce integrator for three years, and no one called me back. Meanwhile, Cloudsquare responded immediately when I first reached out to them. We immediately set up a meeting, and things got going pretty quickly.

In addition, Cloudsquare listened carefully and gave suggestions that improved our process. They saw things that I didn’t see and ended up improving our overall operations. Although I gave them a general outline, they suggested better ways. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Think about your business processes and give Cloudsquare as much information as you can. If they understand your business, they are more likely to deliver something better than what you expected. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a manager at THINK Mortgage, a mortgage brokerage firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cloudsquare?

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, we needed to work from home, so we wanted to migrate our information to a Microsoft cloud platform, and we needed assistance to do it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cloudsquare sent their team to our office, found our old manual server, and did the migration for us. After that, they continued to provide support because it was a brand-new process.

What is the team composition?

We worked with four members of their team, including the people who came to our facilities and the ones supporting our system.

How did you come to work with Cloudsquare?

They were referred to me by a friend of mine, and we chose them because they said they were familiar with the platform. 

How much have you invested in them?

We invested $1,575 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April–June 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The project was a success; they outlined what we needed to do and provided a cheat sheet to train our team.

How did Cloudsquare perform from a project management standpoint?

They introduced us to Microsoft Teams, so we had meetings with them through that platform, but we also used phone calls and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their experience and reliability were their main features. They were always available for me, and that was important.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their instruction packet could be in a language that everyone could understand, but other than that, I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Let them know from the beginning your preferred communication methods.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Project Director at Bizop Media, a digital marketing firm focused on the architecture & design industy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Cloudsquare?

Salesforce Consulting, Salesforce Integrations, Salesforce Migration to Lightning.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed to implement several changes to our client's sales process from Hubspot to Salesforce to improve the workflow and efficiency. We also needed to migrate from the old SF to the new lightning. Our prior setup was very disorganized and had several issues that made our sales team have to work much harder.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Referral from another business partner, discussed our issues with the CS team and felt they were the best fit for us.

Describe the project in detail.

Implemented several changes to our sales process from Hubspot to Salesforce to improve the workflow and efficiency. Migrated from the old SF to the new lightning. Ongoing support & SF consulting.

What was the team composition?

Dennis Jeff, and Mike helped us through each stage of the project. Dennis got us setup with the team initially, Jeff helped strategize and walk us through the high-level planning, and Mike has been the best day to day contact to have for any issues or problems we've ran into.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Implementation of several changes to our Sales process from Hubspot to Salesforce went successfully. Migrated from the old SF to the new lightning successfuly.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective, they have a great process and are very knowledgeable in what they do.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their helpful team, worry free process, and willingness to learn about our company and the issues we had.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There are no glaring areas for improvement. I felt confident that Cloudsquare was the best team for the job, and they proved me right.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CTO of Bankroll, a company that provides loans, lines of credit, equipment financing, and similar services. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cloudsquare?

I reached out to Cloudsquare to integrate a template into Salesforce, so I wouldn't have to create a custom solution from scratch. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cloudsquare collaborated with me to integrate the Brokersuite template from the AppExchange into our Salesforce system. 

What is the team composition?

I work with a few advisors and two engineers. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $750 a month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Implementing a template into Salesforce saved us a tremendous amount of time. The template is a great fit and has enabled us to start doing business right away. 

How did Cloudsquare perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication between our teams has been great; I can always reach them on Slack when I need to.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In addition to delivering a solid product, they're responsive to our needs and very knowledgeable in the space. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve their ability to integrate more APIs.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the VP of operations at a merchant cash advance (MCA) broker/lender. I was responsible for launching Salesforce for our 200+ users.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Cloudsquare?

We needed to bring someone on to implement Salesforce.

What were your goals for this project?

We were aiming to increase pipeline efficiency, close more deals, and better automate our receivable/payable tracking.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were referred to them by previous clients.

Describe the project in detail.

The salesforce implementation included custom de-duplication logic, a full automated commission engine, and a customizable and scalable lead assignment/reassignment engine. They also introduced automated submissions to one or more lenders, lead sources and internal staff tracking, and an application and funding wizard.

What was the team composition?

We were assigned a project manager, two business analysts, and a QA rep.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Lead and staff tracking efficiency grew and the application and funding wizard cut down time devoted to data input. The project was implemented on time and within budget, so it was a huge success. There were no surprises along the way and they delivered exactly what we scoped out. There was no bait and switch.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The communication pipeline was always open via phone calls, emails, scheduled meetings, and instant messaging.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their knowledge of and expertise in our industry, as well as of Salesforce, was superb. They knew exactly what we wanted, communicated effectively, and delivered the project excellently.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There’s always room for improvement, but there were no specific areas of the project that we were unhappy with.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the COO of California Energy Contractors. We specialize in high-performance, energy-efficient products like windows, doors, paints and coatings, and roofs and insulation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Cloudsquare?

After doing our sales process on paper for the last 18 years, we finally decided to implement a CRM system.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted our telemarketing department to integrate their dialing, scheduling, mapping, confirmation, and sale booking activities. We also hoped to track installations, crews, and accounting.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We contacted five Salesforce partners and Cloudsquare proved to be the most experienced. They were fast learners, which made me confident that they would make my vision a reality.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

We had a very complicated model with many moving parts, so Cloudsquare spent significant time talking through each process and getting everyone on the same page, from an execution standpoint. After designing the solution, they jumped immediately into development, sending out weekly status updates that included both hours worked and costs incurred. Prior to going live, they came onsite to teach us how to navigate Salesforce and show us some shortcuts.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a project manager and a project lead, but they had developers doing the heavy lifting in the background.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

We saw measurable improvement in numerous categories including leads generated per week (45%), time to generate each lead (almost 75%), appointment confirmations (70%), and monthly sales (24%). We also reduced the time administrators spent coordinating lead status between various teams, increased scheduling efficiency by region, and gained groundbreaking insight into our sales performance, gaps, and trends.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They delivered ahead of schedule and under budget, so it was top-notch. We hit every milestone and date they set and were in constant contact with the same people, thanks to Slack and JIRA.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to learn your business and truly understand what you need is exceptional. I’ve never dealt with anyone that was able to understand our needs so quickly and with such amazing accuracy.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

We couldn’t be happier, so there’s nothing to improve.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of a financial services company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Cloudsquare?

We engaged Cloudsquare to customize our Salesforce to match our needs.

What were your goals for this project?

We hoped to streamline our workflows and client communication practices.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I searched online for a vendor, but my Salesforce representative also recommended Cloudsquare to us.

Describe the project in detail.

My company received very little Salesforce training from a prior vendor, and a lot of our information was not migrated correctly. Cloudsquare provides on-site training and has corrected a lot of our migration issues.

What was the team composition?

I work primarily with Dennis (Director of Sales, Cloudsqaure) and Afolabi (Salesforce Project Lead, Cloudsquare).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Our workflows are now automated and better than expected.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Cloudsquare has been very attentive and sensitive to our needs. Their team is patient and understanding while helping us to meet our objectives.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their team is well-versed in addressing Salesforce issues, and they are responsive when called upon.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we’ve worked very well together.