Salesforce Beyond the Sales: HR & Operations

One of the primary reasons Salesforce is becoming the go-to platform for HR departments is its exceptional security features. In HR, data security is paramount. Human Capital Management (HCM) systems handle highly sensitive, personally identifiable information such as employee health records, payroll details, and performance reviews. A breach in HR data can not only disrupt operations but also lead to significant legal and reputational damage.

Salesforce addresses this concern head-on with top-tier data security protocols. The platform offers data encryption at rest, ensuring sensitive information remains secure in global data centers. Role-based access controls further protect employee data, ensuring that only authorized personnel can view or edit specific records. Audit logs track every interaction with the system, giving administrators full visibility into who accessed or modified data. By centralising HR data within a secure cloud infrastructure, Salesforce reduces the risk of data breaches while ensuring compliance with data sovereignty requirements across different regions.

Landmark’s Synergy with Salesforce

Landmark, a commercial real estate company with 40 flexible working centres across the UK, is renowned for delivering exceptional client experiences. When Landmark sought to upgrade its HR system, they evaluated six different platforms. Ultimately, they chose the xcd people platform for four key reasons, the most critical being its seamless integration with their existing Salesforce infrastructure.

“With xcd, there are customisations that we could select – we knew that we wanted a fairly standard core HR and payroll solution, but we wanted something more bespoke when it came to the performance module and xcd could work that way.” – Henry Horsfall, Landmark

Since Landmark already utilised Salesforce solutions such as Certinia for its financial operations, xcd’s Salesforce-backed platform allowed for immediate synergy across departments. This meant that HR data could be managed alongside finance and operations, improving collaboration and ensuring all company systems worked harmoniously within a secure perimeter. From a security perspective, having all core systems within the Salesforce ecosystem was a game-changer. “All of our company’s core systems sit within a Salesforce perimeter, and that makes quite a significant difference to us from a security perspective,” said a representative from Landmark.

Equally important was the flexibility of the xcd platform, which allowed Landmark to configure different modules to meet its unique HR needs. For example, while they opted for a standard HR and payroll solution, they customized the performance module to better align with their objectives. In an era where hybrid working is becoming more common, Landmark found Salesforce’s HR solution to be an invaluable tool in adapting to new ways of working without compromising on security or functionality.

A Secure and Flexible HR Solution

Fosroc, an international leader in the construction chemicals industry, with a global workforce of 2,000 employees, required an HR solution that could securely handle its global operations while providing a single source of truth for employee data. The xcd platform, built on Salesforce, offered Fosroc the security and flexibility it needed.

For Fosroc, the strength of Salesforce’s security architecture was a critical factor in their decision. As a manufacturer dealing with complex industrial processes and regulations across multiple countries, ensuring data privacy and protection was essential. The xcd platform, leveraging Salesforce’s robust security protocols, reassured Fosroc that their sensitive HR data was protected and ‘ring-fenced’ from unauthorized access. This gave the company peace of mind, knowing that their global operations were underpinned by a reliable and secure platform.

According to Sue Scott of Fosroc, “The solution leverages the extensive reputation of the Salesforce platform, while also enjoying the personalised touch of a smaller organisation through xcd’s solution.” The result? A seamless blend of enterprise-grade security with the customisation and flexibility needed to handle Fosroc’s unique requirements.

In addition to security, the flexibility and configurability of Salesforce’s HR solutions make it an appealing choice for businesses operating in today’s dynamic environment. The ability to adapt to evolving workforce needs, whether it’s hybrid work models, performance tracking, or employee engagement initiatives, is essential. Many HR systems struggle with rigidity, forcing organisations to alter their processes to fit the platform. Salesforce’s HR solutions, however, offer a high degree of customisability, allowing businesses to tailor the system to their specific needs.

Salesforce HR for Social Impact

Beyond the corporate world, Salesforce has also proven to be a valuable tool for nonprofit organisations. These organisations often face unique challenges, such as limited budgets, dispersed teams, and a need to justify funding through evidence-based practices. A reliable HR system that offers flexibility, scalability, and real-time data insights can significantly improve operational efficiency for nonprofits.

Data-Driven HR Approach

Homeless Link, a charity committed to ensuring everyone has a place to call home, leverages Salesforce’s CRM platform to manage its client relationship app, “In-Form.” Built on the Salesforce platform, this app tracks everything from tenancy information to health and safety checks. It empowers frontline staff with real-time data and allows the organisation to measure performance effectively.

When Homeless Link decided to bring its HR system onto Salesforce, the transition was seamless. The xcd platform enabled them to manage employee data alongside client data within a single, unified system. This integration allowed Homeless Link to reduce workloads and improve HR processes, such as approving expenses and managing leave requests. As Clare Riddiford, Salesforce Manager at Homeless Link, explained, “It was simple to get people to adopt xcd, as most of our people use Salesforce every day. Now they can view and approve holiday or expenses when they are out and about, reducing the workload and simplifying things for everyone.”

The Future of HR with Salesforce

Salesforce has revolutionised HR by bringing the power of automation, real-time data, and flexible, secure systems to workforce management. By providing a platform that is both adaptable and scalable, Salesforce enables organisations to optimise their HR processes, engage employees more effectively, and align workforce strategies with business goals. As demonstrated by Fosroc, Landmark, and Homeless Link, Salesforce’s HR solutions offer unparalleled flexibility, security, and synergy with existing business systems.

The future of HR is here, and it’s powered by Salesforce. As the platform continues to innovate, HR departments will become even more interconnected, insightful, and instrumental in driving business success.