The intrepid Pipeline podcasters break down the MuleSoft acquisition, which enables hybrid cloud/on-premises CRM. Also: Salesforce Essentials replaces Desk.com and SalesforceIQ.
Salesforce is in the news for releasing a product aimed at helping the smallest of businesses, while simultaneously acquiring an enterprise cloud software company for more than $6 billion. In this podcast, the Pipeline podcast team discusses the implications of these two announcements as they relate to previous moves and inside information from Salesforce executives.
It has been a busy start to the year for the San Francisco-based CRM company, as the Salesforce acquisitions in 2018 now reach three, with its latest purchase of MuleSoft Inc. being by far the priciest in the company's history.
Many analysts believe the purchase will help Salesforce find new hybrid cloud customers. Others, however, think that Salesforce overpaid -- perhaps due to a bidding war, according to public reports.
The main difference with the MuleSoft acquisition is what role it's meant to play within the larger Salesforce ecosystem.
Usually, Salesforce acquisitions are immediately obvious as to why they made them, and they fill a specific hole in a customer-facing portfolio.
Paul Greenbergmanaging principal, 56 Group LLC
"Usually, Salesforce acquisitions are immediately obvious as to why they made them, and they fill a specific hole in a customer-facing portfolio," said Paul Greenberg, managing principal at 56 Group LLC.
In a news release, Salesforce said MuleSoft will power its new Integration Cloud.
"Together, Salesforce and MuleSoft will enable customers to connect all of the information throughout their enterprise across all public and private clouds and data sources -- radically enhancing innovation," said Marc Benioff, Salesforce CEO.
Salesforce releases Essentials for small businesses
On the other end of the business spectrum, Salesforce also released its Salesforce Essentials product, which is marketed for small businesses with up to 20 employees.
"A small mom-and-pop shop doesn't have IT resources," said Kate Leggett, a Forrester Research vice president. "If they're looking for CRM, they're not looking for sales applications, customer service applications and marketing applications -- they basically want one application for everything."
The Salesforce Essentials product will replace current products Desk.com and SalesforceIQ, which will retire in 2020.
Salesforce is marketing its Essentials product to small businesses with growth opportunities, hoping to sink its hooks into companies early on so that when they grow into potentially enterprise-sized companies, Salesforce can scale with them.
Salesforce Essentials will also receive specific content in Trailhead, Salesforce's free, interactive, gamification education service.
