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Manage Report Subscriptions in Salesforce

Manage Report Subscriptions in Salesforce

Disorganized data can dismantle even the most organized strategy. This is why it’s essential to make sure that your reports in Salesforce are current and get to the people who need them. Reports help your team stay on task, find the information they need, and monitor the health of their workflow. 

In this article, we’ll explain:

  • How Salesforce Reports work and what they do
  • How to subscribe yourself and others to reports
  • Managing report schedules
  • Setting up notifications

How Do Salesforce Reports Work?

You can think of a report as a list of information with all the information you’ve asked Salesforce to provide. For example, this could be a list of prospects that your sales team will call, accounts in default, or open support cases that need follow-up. Salesforce looks for the criteria you select and presents users with a list of that data. 

In Salesforce, this information will show up grouped into rows and columns. You can then organize this info by characteristics like priority level or dollar amount, filter it only to see what’s relevant, or create visual representations of the data.

The information in these reports is stored in folders, which can be private or available to whoever you like. You can allow users in specific groups to see them and those with particular roles, license types, or permissions. If you want, you can also hide or share your reports with people inside and outside your organization. This means that anyone who needs to access the data will be able to get it.

Why Should You Use Salesforce Reports?

Birds-eye view of data
Reports can tell you information at a glance to quickly take action. Fast, accurate responses can give you a leg up on your competition. For example, time required to prepare for a meeting could be reduced by automatically mailing reports out to your team. Or, you could respond to support tickets faster by having a detailed list right in front of you. 


If you have a weekly meeting with your sales team, everybody needs to see the numbers for that week’s sales. It wouldn’t make sense to mail the report to each person individually, so instead, you can set up report subscriptions, so everyone has it sent to them.

While reports provide the insight, subscriptions make sure that those who need them have them. People are liable to error. We take sick days, we go on vacations, and we occasionally make mistakes. Setting up reports to automatically go out takes one more task off your team’s plate while giving more intelligent updates on what needs action. 

Before Subscribing to Reports, Check Your Permissions on Salesforce.

You will need different permissions for report subscriptions depending on who you’re trying to add and how you intend to do it.

  • If you’re trying to subscribe yourself to a report, the only permission you need is to Subscribe to Reports
  • If you’re trying to subscribe other people to reports, you will need permission to Subscribe to Reports and Add Recipients
  • Or, if you’re trying to subscribe groups and roles to reports, you will need permission to Subscribe to Reports and to Send to Groups and Roles
  • Finally, if you want to change who runs the report, you will need permission to Subscribe to Reports and Set Running User

How to Subscribe Yourself to Salesforce Reports

Now that you know what permissions you need, you can subscribe to whichever reports you like. To do this in Salesforce Classic, follow these steps.

  1. Navigate to the Reports folder and click on All Folders on the left-hand side. 
  2. Then, click the pull-down menu on the right and navigate to Items I’m Subscribed To.
  3. On this page, you can view, edit, and delete your current subscriptions to reports.

In Salesforce Lightning, here’s how to do it.

  1. Click on the Reports tab and find the All Reports option on the left-hand side. 
  2. At the top, you’ll see a tab labeled Subscribed
  3. Now, you can manage your subscriptions and add new reports.

How to find your Subscribed Reports

If you want to see what reports you’re currently subscribed to:

  1. First, go to the Reports tab. 
  2. Next, look at the sidebar on the left and click the option that says All Reports.
  3.  In the menu on the right, sort the reports by Subscribed.

How to Subscribe Other Salesforce Users to a Report

Now that you know how to subscribe yourself to reports, you can subscribe others as well. Salesforce allows you to choose users, groups, and roles for report subscriptions. So, for example, you can send reports on how many hours your dev team has worked for a client to your Human Resources department, so they’re billed correctly.

To subscribe users, groups, and roles to reports, follow these steps.

  1. First, navigate to the Reports tab on the Report Run Page
  2. Next, click Subscribe
  3. When it brings you to the Edit Subscription menu, set the schedule of how often you’d like the report to send. 
  4. You can also add conditions before sending a scheduled report. That means that the email won’t go out with the subscribed reports until all of these conditions are met. 
  5. After you’ve set the schedule on the conditions if chosen, navigate to Send To. You are automatically selected as the only recipient of the report. 
  6. If you would like to add others or take yourself off the report, hit the Edit Recipients button. 
  7. This area will show the users, groups, and rules with access permissions for the report here. You can add and remove recipients here.
  8. When you’re finished, you can close the window, and it will save your recipients. 

Now that you’ve set that up, the reports will send to the email addresses found under Settings > Email > My Email Settings. If you haven’t sent an email yet under My Email Settings, the emails will automatically go out to the address associated with each person’s Salesforce user.

Tips on Subscribing Others to Reports

Here are a couple of helpful pointers for subscribing others to reports.

  1. First, each user can have up to five report subscriptions. This is regardless of what type of user they are within your Salesforce org. 
  2. You also won’t see the recipients listed on the emails, so you will have to go back to Salesforce to see them. If you were working with a platform user, an admin must enable these features.
  3. Remember how these reports live inside of folders? To send the report to a user, the user must have access to the folder. Don’t forget to check this before continuing. 
  4. You can subscribe up to 500 users to each report. If you exceed this, some users will not receive the emails.

How Do I Manage Report Schedules in Salesforce?

Report schedules make sure that the information in your reports is up-to-date. The Schedule Report page lets you manage the frequency and conditions for sending out scheduled reports. Here, you can schedule a new report run, change an existing schedule, view current schedule jobs, and delete scheduled runs. 

View Existing Report Schedules

  1. To view a report schedule, navigate to the Reports tab.
  2. Next, hover over the checkmark in the Schedule column.
  3. This shows you how often the report goes out and the next date it is scheduled to run. 
  4. Keep in mind that Salesforce users who don’t have permission to schedule reports will not see this information.

To see a report’s schedule from the schedule report page, follow these two steps.

  1. Click on the report’s name on the Reports tab. 
  2. After that, click the Schedule Future Runs button on the run report drop-down menu.

If you want to see all the scheduled reports within your organization:

  1. Navigate to Setup
  2. Click the Scheduled Jobs option.
  3. Here you will see all of your organization’s scheduled reports. If you don’t see this, check that you have the View Setup and configuration permissions.

Change a Report’s Schedule

If there is a report with an existing schedule that you’d like to change, for a score of the reports tab and then click the name of the scheduled report. Next, hit the schedule future runs option from the run report menu. Here you can make the changes to the report schedule. When you’re done, make sure to hit save report schedule to keep the changes that you made.

Delete a Scheduled Run 

If for whatever reason you would like to delete a scheduled run for a report, you can do it without deleting the entire report. 

  1. First, go to the Reports tab and then click on the report’s name that you’d like to delete. 
  2. Click Schedule Future Runs on the Run Report menu.
  3. Then, click on Schedule Report
  4. Now, the run schedule for that report is canceled, but the report is not sent to the recycle bin. You can set a new schedule or keep the report unscheduled.

How Do I Manage Report Notifications?

Notifications for reports let you know when data meets a particular set of criteria that you set. You can select what you want to be notified about and what conditions are essential to you to receive relevant notifications. You can also set up notifications for the Salesforce app, email, and on Chatter. Just remember that the report has to be saved before you set notifications.

Also, keep in mind that your notifications on reports are not related to the option which lets you schedule future runs. The Schedule Future Runs feature lets you send email reports at a given time with or without specifying which conditions you need them to meet. If you want to schedule email reports, choose the Schedule Future Runs option from the Run Report menu instead.

Changing Report Notification Settings

In order to set and change your notification settings, follow along here.

  1. Click on the Report Run page. 
  2. Next, hit Subscribe
  3. On the Report Subscription page, select if you want to receive a notification each time your data meets these conditions or if you wish to receive it the first time. 

Setting conditions helps you avoid repetitive and unhelpful notifications. The requirements can be related to three different areas; aggregate, operator, and value. You can set up to five conditions for each report. You can also schedule checks to see if the report meets those conditions, Including daily, weekly, or every weekday.

When you choose to receive notifications, you can select the most helpful type for the task at hand. For example, you can send a notification within the Salesforce app, post it to Chatter, have it send an email, or set it to carry out in Apex action. This could be something like escalating a case or creating a task. Make sure to set up your notifications so they only give you relevant updates.

Wrapping it Up

Report subscriptions are an intelligent way to make sure that valuable information gets into the right hands. When you automate their distribution, you reduce human error and save time used to reach more of your company’s goals. 

Now that you understand how Salesforce reports work, how to set up subscriptions, and manage their schedules and notifications, your team will have even more resources to put towards growth. Remember to check back in for more ideas on how you can get even more out of Salesforce. 

Change Standard Object and Field Names in Salesforce – CloudMyBiz

Change Standard Object and Field Names in Salesforce – CloudMyBiz


What makes it possible for businesses across so many industries to all use Salesforce? The answer is customization. Lenders, doctors, restaurants, and clothing stores can all use the same software because it adapts to their unique operations. Changing standard object and field names is one easy way for users to customize Salesforce around their needs. 

To help you understand why and how to change Salesforce’s default names for its objects and fields, we’ll show you:

  • How data is organized in Salesforce
  • What standard objects and fields are
  • Why you should change the default names
  • What to know before making changes
  • A step-by-step guide on how to do it

How Do You Look at Data?

Imagine that you’ve got a stack of papers in front of you with all the information about your operations. You’ve got pages with your customer’s names, items sold, and every support ticket you’ve ever handled. Technically, all the information you need to plan out your goals is here. But how do you make use of it?

The most common way someone would organize this data is with a spreadsheet. You could arrange your numbers to get a good idea of your business’s finances, the contributing factors, and what realistic goals you can set. Salesforce uses this kind of method, too, with a few minor changes.

What Are Objects in Salesforce?

Instead of using spreadsheets, Salesforce uses objects. An object serves the same purpose for visualizing data. It helps you organize the information you have so it’s usable. For example, an object might include information about your customers, products, and support cases. They are Salesforce’s particular way of grouping information about a specific topic. 

In Salesforce, each column in a spreadsheet would appear as a field, and each row would appear as a record. Then, you can use it in dynamic ways such as creating reports and dashboards to guide your decisions. 

For example, imagine that you are a funding company that stores their funding information in Salesforce. Each deal has an object that lists all the associated data. If you were to look at this object, you would likely see information such as the outstanding amount, interest rate, payment schedule, etc. This is how you keep it organized and link related bits of data.

Why Change the Names of Standard Objects?

For most, the assigned names of Salesforce’s standard objects work just fine. However, you can get more use from custom names under the right circumstances. For instance, a funding company would use different terms in their operations than a bakery would. In an industry with distinct terminology, customization keeps processes clear. 

Using more descriptive industry titles helps your team understand what info they’re working with. Also, it keeps your terminology consistent. Keeping things the same across your business’s communications helps avoid confusion, and your team won’t have to “translate” terms throughout the day. Also, it makes it easier to prevent issues when you onboard and train new staff. Finally, it’s much easier to learn one word than memorize three or four terms for the same thing.

Which Standard Objects Come With Salesforce?

Salesforce comes with a set of objects by default. These cover information that Salesforce users almost universally need. Since they include the basics for business’s day-to-day processes, they help users quickly set up their org and get thorough help from their support articles. 

The standard objects in Salesforce include:

Account – This includes the relevant data about an entity pertinent to your business. This could be a client, a deal, a competitor, a partner, or anyone else you interact with. Think of the account as the bread of your information sandwich and the info listed within it as the meat inside of it.

Account History – The account history object shows you the changes that a user made to an account. You can check this to see what actions have been taken and make sure that no steps were missed, for example, sending an estimate to a client. 

Case – The case object represents a support ticket. These are open whenever your customer has an issue that they need your help with. Tracking these gives you a consistent way to make sure your customers are getting the best support possible and helps you retain business.

Contact – The contact form gives you information about a person associated with your account. This would include the person’s name, phone number, email, and any other information to help users reach out to them.

User – The User object represents a user in your Salesforce organization. You can find their name, account ID, email, and location here, alongside other details.  

Asset – An asset describes whatever your company is selling. You can use it to keep track of products, for example, and associate them with the account of the individual or business that purchased them. This way, you can see what was sold to each customer. Or, in the case of software, you can see what product they are currently using if they need service or an upgrade.

Domain – The domain is a field that displays the URL of your company’s website. This is the address you have within your Salesforce org’s data, so users cannot change it from the object itself.

What Purpose Do Fields Serve?

Fields in Salesforce let you fill in different types of information about an object. For example, some information you may put in fields could include a prospect’s name, contact information, the cost of a product, the owner of an account, or the last person who modified the data. 

You can also add custom fields to an object if you want to include more details. For example, if you work in real estate, you might like to add the price of a property to its object. In addition, you can set the field to accept typed input from your Salesforce users or allow them to select options from a pre-set list. Whatever you choose, there are enough ways to modify your fields to capture the information you need. 

What is the Difference Between a Standard and Custom Object?

What happens if you can’t use one of Salesforce’s out-of-the-box objects to do what you want? There’s no need to call for help yet. The next step is to look at Salesforce’s custom objects. These are objects that let you set names, input fields, and input types so you can keep track of information. 

Putting it simply, a custom object is any object that is not already included in Salesforce. You can use these to create sections that log details about products, track applicants for an open position, or keep tabs on your staff’s accrued vacation, for example. 

Keep in mind that if you’re using custom objects, it’s best to use them only when needed. Keeping information as standardized as possible is a general good practice. It’s easier only to customize fields when you have a well-thought-out purpose so information doesn’t become overly complicated. When you build around Salesforce’s native objects, it’s easier to transfer data to other applications that you’ve integrated and connect your Salesforce org with new software.

What Should You Consider Before Changing Object and Field Names?

Sometimes, you don’t need to create an entire custom object to solve the problem. For example, if your ultimate goal is to keep terminology consistent or you can use an existing object’s configuration to do what you need, all you have to change the name.

When renaming an object, keep in mind that most of them, but not all, can be renamed. The standard objects that users cannot rename include objects that perform specific functions, like the Forecasts tab, which shows your expected sales revenue. Thankfully, there are few cases in which these would need to be changed, so you’ll be okay with custom objects and reports if you need something more detailed.

Does Changing an Object’s Name Update it Everywhere?

In short, while changing the object’s name updates it in most places, there are a few places where you’ll have to update it yourself. For example, editing the names of objects in Salesforce updates your setup information with the new titles. However, when you go to the Setup area (found under the gear icon), the names you see will be the original ones that Salesforce assigned.

Always check different areas in Salesforce and in your training materials where you’ve referenced these names. The first place you want to check is the list view so you can see which names it’s displaying. The list view uses your original object names until you update them there manually. 

You can also check the names of reports referencing the objects to make sure they match. Don’t forget to read the descriptions as well and make sure that they’re consistent. Additionally, if you use email templates, click on them to ensure that all the information is consistent. This will help you make sure that all the auto-filled information still works.

Always double-check if there are any other items on and offline where the old name appears. Some examples are custom fields that you’ve created, record types that reference the original name, and your saved page layouts. Your integrations will benefit from an extra check, too.

What Permissions Do You Need to Change Object Names in Salesforce?

Before changing any object names, check that you have the proper permissions. 

  • If you want to rename a tab or a field, you’ll need permission to Customize Application or Manage Translation
  • If you are designated as a Translator, check that you have permissions, including View Setup and Configuration
  • If you want to reset tabs that have been renamed, you’ll need Customize Application or Manage Translation permissions. 
  • If you are a Translator who wants to reset tabs, you’ll need View Setup and Configuration permissions.

How to Change Standard Object Names in Salesforce

Now that you’ve gotten all the basics down, you’re ready to change the standard object names. 

  1. To start, go to the Setup item with the gear icon in the upper right-hand corner. 
  2. Next, click customize
  3. After that, hit the option labeled Tab Names and Labels
  4. Click on Rename Tabs and Labels
  5. Now, select the tab or object that you want to rename and then hit edit
  6. When you change the names, make sure that you also update the plural label and select if the name starts with a vowel sound
  7. After you’ve done this, click next.
  8. Now, you can change the standard field names
  9. As with the objects, make sure to update the singular and plural labels and indicate whether the word starts with a vowel sound.

If you’re working with a custom object, you won’t be able to edit the name. So make sure to name it well when you’re creating it so you won’t have any problems down the line. 

Wrapping It Up

Salesforce’s ability to customize objects gave it a reputation as one of the best CRMs available. Its insights are unmatched, its reports are quick, and it integrates with programs that give your business a competitive edge. Now that you’ve changed your custom object and field names, you can get even more perks from your CRM. 

With a good understanding of how Salesforce looks at data, you’ll know when to change standard object and field names and how to do it when that time comes. This is just one of many ways that Salesforce’s customization features give your company a boost, so check back in for more tips.

CloudMyBiz Podcast – SaaS Marketing Tips with Nicole Alvarez

CloudMyBiz Podcast – SaaS Marketing Tips with Nicole Alvarez

On CloudMyBiz podcast our marketing manager, Nicole Alvarez, touches on the subject of how to stand out as a SaaS company.

Audio transcript: 

Camille:  Welcome to CloudMyBiz Podcast, where we give insights on the latest trends within the SAS and lending industries. My name is Camille, and I’m one of the hosts. At CloudMyBiz, we provide business consulting and a loan management software solution called Fundingo. Our job is to help lending companies streamline their processes from beginning to end. On our first episode, we have Nicole Alvarez, who is our very own marketing manager at CloudMyBiz. A little bit of background on her is, she started writing music and fiction from a young age, which grew into her passion for marketing. Since then, she’s been working for SAS companies developing their marketing and SEO strategies. She was born in New Jersey, and has since lived in 4 different countries, which is so cool. When she’s not working, she’s neck-deep in an online course, trying to create hybrid plants, or contemplating how much rotisserie chicken it’s taken to train her cats. Hey Nicole, how are you doing today? 

Nicole:  I’m doing good, thank you. How about yourself?

Camille:  I’m doing well. I really like this contemplating rotisserie chicken, it’s actually hilarious. 

Nicole:  it’s the only thing they will go nuts for. They don’t bother me about any other human food, but I have to actually lock the garbage can in a different room when I’ve eaten chicken.

Camille:  That’s so funny. I’ve actually heard that that’s really effective in training cats.

Anything else, they’re like “What is this?” Well, I gave a short introduction, but if you wanna add anything, you’re more than welcome to. Otherwise, we can just hop into our questions. 

Nicole:  No, that summed it up really well. I definitely got my start in writing at a young age. I was the first in my daycare to learn how to write my name, and I promptly spent the next few months trying to blame the graffiti on the walls of my name on the other kinds who hadn’t learned how to write yet. But, into my start in ghost writing- I guess it paid off. 

Camille:  That is so cool. So, I touched base on how you ended up here, but just expand a little bit on how you even ended up getting into the SAS industry. 

Nicole:  So, naturally, humble beginnings as a writer. I started on 2015 as a freelance writer, and I was picking up articles wherever they would accept them. So, as much as I loved writing on motorcycle parts and storage units, I wanted to do something more challenging. I am a giant nerd. You will hear this every day. So, I thought about going into coding, or other really technical careers, but I’ve always had a pull towards psychology and understanding how people work. so, naturally, when I started writing, my next goal was to learn more about marketing. So, I started getting into SEO, content strategy, digital marketing, and then I picked up a couple of freelance gigs with some SAS startups. It was a blast. I loved the freedom, the whole culture of it. It’s a really fun place.

Camille:  Would you say that there was anything specific that was a pivotal moment in writing that you remember that made you think “I think marketing would be a really cool field to go into”?

Nicole:  In a lot of the content marketplaces that I was writing for, I noticed that they were focusing on keywords, and they would just come and give you a keywords to use. And there was just something about it that didn’t really seem intuitive to me. There were these horrible 5-6-word long phrases, and it was impossible. It was just word salad, and they desperately wanted you to shove it in that article. So, I thought “This is nonsense, I can learn how to do this.” And 7 years later, I did. 

Camille:  It’s really cool to learn a little bit about your background. When it comes to this industry, in this time period, what would you say are the top 3 most important elements to a successful marketing team?

Nicole:  If I had to narrow it down, number one: You’ve gotta be flexible. Number two: you’ve gotta learn everything that you possibly can, everywhere. Number three: don’t set out to make no mistakes. You’re gonna make them. Set out to learn from them. 

Camille:  I can touch base a little bit on that. It’s trial and error, when it comes to marketing. You never know. 

Nicole:  Exactly. Marketing is changing all the time, even in comparatively normal times. So, if you’re being super rigid, you’ve just decided that you’re gonna stick with your current tools and strategies forever then the people who are taking calculated risks are definitely gonna get ahead. 

Camille:  Like you said, you have to be flexible. 

Nicole:  Actually, I just read a really great quote from Paul [inaudible], and it’s: “Education is what you get when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get when you don’t.” So that leads back into the second one. You gotta learn everything you can. If you wanna make a calculated investment with little risk, learn something. You could listen or open course lectures from Yale and MIT, and all that stuff on YouTube. You can take LinkedIn learning classes. I’m hooked on that.

Camille:  I think one of the first things I ever learned when I started studying marketing in college was that as a marketing person, you have to learn a lot about what marketing is, and a little bit about everything else. So, it’s like a [inaudible], is what they said, you learn a lot down this aisle, and you have to touch base on everything, because everything is connected in a way. 

Nicole:  And the thing is that this is all trial and error. As soon as you make amends with the fact that you’re gonna mess up, then it gets easier to learn from it. Especially here. And to me, all experience is good experience. Something didn’t go as planned? That’s fine, don’t stress it. go back, write out the steps that led to that outcome, then go over other options, and write some really solid standard operation procedures, so not only you will win this the next time, but anyone else who takes on the task has it there. 

Camille:  All right. So, as far as the SAS industry goes, tell us about a few marketing trends that you’ve noticed within the industry. How are people adapting to the pandemic? Are there any changes that you notice that you think will be permanent?

Nicole:  I love these questions. Absolutely, because this is one where everybody had to change. So, all the companies that were doing the bare minimum with their marketing really got a wakeup call, especially if they’ve been neglecting digital marketing. So, everyone moved from these in-person normal day to day experiences to suddenly really expecting a full, easy, comprehensive digital experience. So, now, even older audiences, even my grandma is calling me. Everyone is starting to do this. And those that aren’t, either really need to do it, or everybody’s gonna move past them. 

Camille:  I think that’s very true. The pandemic was definitely a catalyst in the digital world. If people weren’t doing it before, they definitely have to adapt now. And that was that push over the edge of working remote, and things of that nature. You wanna make sure that even if you don’t see people in person, you have to create that experience online as best as possible, and that’s what pushed people to enter that digital realm full-fledged. 

Nicole:  And it’s a lot of learning by doing. People didn’t learn it before because they didn’t have to, because they had other options. But now, that hurdle of taking the first steps, that’s already done. And it opened up all these new possibilities, just because we couldn’t continue doing things the same way we were. 

Camille:  What would you say is a piece of advice that you would give to a SAS company that’s just starting. 

Nicole:  Tech is your friend. Yu really don’t need a crazy budget or a huge team. Now we’ve got software that can do nearly everything. I was actually reading the 2021 digital advertising trends report from [inaudible], and they reported something really interesting. They said that more teams are increasingly more satisfied using software solutions instead of hiring freelancers, or agencies, or actually even in-house talent. So, make sure you definitely have enough hands to do the work you need, but you don’t have to get wrapped up in hiring when you can use your existing teams smarter.

Camille:  Just leverage and make sure they’re using the tools. And it makes it easier for the people on your team. They have a million things going on. They can’t do everything at a micro level. So, having that software at hand, utilize it, take advantage of it…

Nicole:  And like you said with the last question. There is so much new technology, so many more new programs and methods that we can use from this, that all we have to do is find them and use them.

Camille:  Like I said, I think it just took that push, and it’s like, when people are swimming in a two-foot pool, they’re swimming for their life, and they’re like “Oh gosh, this is so crazy!” And then, all of a sudden, they’re like “It’s actually not that bad.” 

Nicole:  One door closes, you climb out the window. No, but there’s always another option.

Camille:  What are some common mistakes that companies make when it comes to the marketing aspect of their business? 

Nicole:  I think a lot of smaller companies, particularly, they know their app is great. They know their software is awesome. How do they know? They see it. They did it. The thing that a lot of people miss is that this awesome app, it’s not just gonna be beamed directly into the consciousness of your customers. So, it’s awesome, but marketing is how you show people. They won’t know it unless they see it. So, don’t freak out at the short-term costs of the software, or the initial investments. Make calculated risks, do your research, and invest in digital marketing strategies that pay off in the long term. It’s like most things in life. You only get out of it what you put in. 

Camille:  Very true. I like that. How do you become successful if you never take any risks? Well, that’s most of the questions we have for you today. I just want you to have the last two minutes or so. Let’s do a shameless plug. Tell us what your team has been up to, and is there any exciting new with CloudMyBiz? We wanna know. 

Nicole:  Yeah, without a doubt, there’s always exciting news. So, right now, we have a major collaboration with Lexus Nexus for their Salesforce integration, and that’s just been a blast to take part in. Aside from that, we just completed a project with Fanny Mae, and we have a lot of other huge collaborations with new clients in the works. So, it’s been a blast. Also, recently, we released new features for interest-based loans in Fundingo, and like we were talking about, this is an industry where people didn’t know they could do digital. It was that fear of trying something new. But now, they’re ready, and we have this software that helps people that are a little newer to this suddenly use all these automation abilities to start working more with their real estate loans, and construction loans, and all kinds of alternative loans. So, it’s great. I feel like we’re playing a first-hand role in getting people up to speed with new technology, and helping them compete. 

Camille:  And I’m sure all those integrations are super beneficial, that you have coming up. So, they can have one hub in which they don’t have to go to different vendors for different things. They can have it all. So, I can imagine how easy that would be for streamlining purposes. That sounds like a really cool thing. 

Nicole:  Look at it this way: I’m a notebook person. I have my laptop, but I have a notebook- Actually, a minimum of 2-3 notebooks in every room of my house. When you have everything in separate places, it does get hard to keep track of. So, naturally, if you’re using the same software to keep track of everything, you don’t have to go searching for stuff, you don’t type in the same thing three times. It’s all there, and you don’t need the same time or resources, or even budget to just keep it going. 

Camille:  That all sounds really cool. Nicole, it was so exciting to have you on this podcast today. I hope that your cats are fed the rotisserie chicken. 

Nicole:  The other one is learning how to give you a high-five, one of my two. 

Camille:  I was definitely gonna ask what their newest trick was. 

Nicole:  You tell him “What’s up?” and he will, sometimes, give you a little high-five. 

Camille:  Thank you so much for joining us today, Nicole. I look forward to talking to you next time.

Nicole:  it was a blast coming out. Thank you for inviting me. 

Camille:  All right, you have a good one.

Nicole:  You too. 

[END]
A Guide to Selecting the Best Loan Servicing Software

A Guide to Selecting the Best Loan Servicing Software

Regardless of the size of your business operation, it is crucial to have a quality software system that manages your loan portfolio. A proper suite to manage this aspect of your business will inevitably save the business a lot of time and energy in the long run.

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Picking the right software will require an inside-out approach. Through this method, you will need to have an in-depth understanding of the nitty-gritty of your business before venturing to external sources for the solution. Aside from a loan management platform, CloudMyBiz also provides business consultation services to help with this process. To better appreciate everything, a number of internal factors have to be identified and sorted out, if required before executing any decision.

What Does the Business Need?

It’s important to maintain a realistic view of where the business currently resides in the grand scheme of things, but also have a well thought out projection of where the business should be directed towards.

This will require a strategic approach that caters to the most important features you look forward to having in your service your loan portfolios. You will need to prioritize a list that identifies the gaps in your current system and an approach that will work for the new system.

The best thing you can do for your business is pick a loan structure that aligns with your company’s goals and projections. This means that regardless of the number of loans you’re servicing, your focus is on the success of the business.

According to Ingvar Petursson, Chief Strategist with Slalom Consulting in Seattle;

“The goal should be to find a strategic partner in your software company so that ultimately, the software will meet your goals not just today, but in the long term.”

 

Generally speaking, getting a clear picture of your business processes, goals for the future and the hurdles standing in the way of those goals is essential in picking the right software.

What Does the User Need?

The successful implementation of your software will naturally require having ample information about the potential users/staff of the organization. Establishing everyone involved in the process, from top management to the loan servicers who will be working in the program every day is crucial. This sets the implementation up for success to make sure every part is delegated to a specific person.

This process will increase the efficiency of the program because you will know where your staff spends most of their time and the aspects that need to be tweaked or otherwise.

How Do You Deliver the Software?

This requires you to decide how you want the cloud lending software to be made available. Considering that there is a multitude of softwares in existence that vary based on qualities, you must choose wisely.

There are typically two ways of getting a new software; one is through purchasing the license and the other is a cloud-based approach. Picking either option depends on the personnel available.

For example, if you have a robust IT staff, then it is better to just purchase the license and let them navigate the software. However, if your team doesn’t have a dedicated IT department to handle such tasks, then using a cloud-based approach is preferable since it is remotely managed, serviced and maintained by the software provider.

Don’t Stretch It

Every business is focused on making a profit but at the same time, improving the quality and pace of activities should be just as an important factor when considering your goals. In this case, it is important to strike a balance between the quality of software used and the amount spent on procuring it.

This means that regardless of the type of software you pick, you have to make a budget that accounts for both direct costs like software and hardware cost, as well as indirect costs like the number of employees performing tasks that a dependable system will do automatically.

You’ll Need a List

When you’ve cleared out all the internal factors, the next step is to look for potential solutions. This requires for you to consider your needs, your vendor, and tech support.

You will need certified and reliable software, which will require in-depth research through numerous tools available. Your main goal is to come up with a short list of possible solutions.

After the list is created, the next step is to streamline your search towards the software that accounts for all internal factors that are a must. Focus on all aspects of the software in the streamlined list, considering the price, customization capabilities, security features, “licensed / SaaS” options, and other features important in your evaluation.

You could even run demos of as many softwares as possible, getting a feel of them and knowing which one will satisfy your needs in all ramifications.

Put it to Work

At this point, you should have a crystal clear idea about which software will be perfect for your loan servicing business. Ensure that you keep detailed records of all transactions relating to the decision and contact support if you encounter any issues.

Read manuals, watch tutorials and get as much information from numerous sources on the internet. Ensure that the software resides in a safe and secure PC environment, handled by the right people and used for the right purpose. It is an investment towards the success of the business and should be treated with the utmost level of delicacy.

Why Your Business Should Use SOPs and What Results to Expect

Why Your Business Should Use SOPs and What Results to Expect

Why your business should use SOP standard operating procedures infographic

 

Having a suitable, standard operating procedure (SOP) is crucial for efficiently running any business. If your business doesn’t have a simple structure to handle the simple tasks, then creating SOPs must be prioritized.

Business owners often make the mistake of believing that the growth of a business depends on more advertising, but that is not always the case.

As important as these elements may be for your businesses, having a successfully operating business requires improvement in other departments. One of the most differentiating factors between a successful business and one that continues to play “catch-up” is having SOPs in place.

Standard operating procedures are instructions that are well-written to explain how a task or job is handled. They are tailor-made and in-depth guides to make a task easier to do. SOPs are practical and can be used for virtually any task imaginable. They have been used for financing, legal work, operations in business, and so much more.

How Do SOPs Improve Businesses?

Kamyar Shah, a strategic consultant and CloudMyBiz’s Fractional Chief Marketing Officer,  discusses his experience of working with organizations on The Process Breakdown podcast. He has found that most of them lacked SOPs or had very few of them. In comparison, organizations that had well-thought-out and structured SOPs ran quicker and more efficiently. The podcast continues with Kamyar emphasizing that SOPs are the factors that may seem small, but give businesses an edge in the industry. 

Why Should You Have SOPs?

Improves the ability of employees executing tasks

If an essential task in a workplace appears too complex, there is a strong possibility that clear instructions and expectations for this specific task are missing.

When a company takes the time to have SOPs written down, people know exactly what to do, are more reliable, and are more likely to succeed. Employees are also less confused and have fewer questions.

Improves reliability 

Consistent businesses are reliable. Even if the products are small, reliability in producing great results is important and customers will be satisfied. A written down SOP gives everyone a standard to target and if everyone meets that target then better results will be achieved.

What you produce can be affected by mistakes and these will reduce the quality or the quantity of the product.

Efficient on-boarding process

When you have standard operating procedures, you make hiring and retaining employees a lot easier.

Training new employees becomes much easier, because new employees can adopt the a lot faster when they are written down. SOPs also make it easy for you to recognize the problems a new trainee might be facing and address them faster.

Improves health and safety practices

An employee’s safety should be high priority when conducting a business. In some fields, an injured employee and damaged equipment often occur from an unsafe work environment. When employees follow SOPs, they tend to keep the environment and themselves safe.

When it comes to online and SaaS business, having a system of processes in play can avoid mishaps from happening. As a lending or software company, it’s important to stay away from bad press as much as possible. It is crucial for any company that has social media or any marketing outreach, to have the do’s and don’ts written out for any onboarding team member.


Get proper feedback

It is important to consider speaking with front-line workers. Your front-line has the most contact with customers and know their complaints. When you open the door for feedback, you may find that your business’s decisions to retain customers are actually doing the exact opposite.

Speaking to employees and trying to find out what the customers think will help you see progress. This can help build a good client relationship.

What Results Can You Expect from Using SOPs?

Common issues being resolved

When you have a working SOP, make sure to take the time and have the right people look over the SOP together so any details may be discussed. see if an ambiguous part of it can be dealt with. This helps you work with employees properly while bringing their problems they may be experiencing with either the procedure or workplace environment to light.

Improves communication

SOPs point out organizational needs. This allows new and employees to understand the standards of the company and receive the correct information.

If everything is properly spelled out within the SOP,  you will find that the frequency of communication gaps will be cut down drastically.

Better performance according to checklist

SOPs are used as checklists for supervisors and as a standard form of communication to team members. Because of this, there will be noticeable performance progress among your team. Invariably, this will lead to better client satisfaction, especially if proper feedback is given from the client on their specific needs.