Running an E-commerce store requires a reliable, secure, and customizable platform to offer customers an optimal shopping experience while ensuring smooth business operations. As e-commerce businesses increasingly depend on technology to fuel their marketing and growth strategies, the cloud has emerged as the go-to solution for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs) that face challenges in software development, maintenance, and system administration.
How Does the Commerce Cloud Work?
Salesforce conducted a global survey across 29 countries to understand the needs and expectations of B2B and B2C buyers. Key findings include:
- 73% of customers expect companies to understand their unique preferences, with technologies like AI helping businesses meet these expectations at scale.
- 88% of customers agree that the shopping experience is as important as the products and services offered.
- Customers who embraced digital-first experiences during the pandemic—such as AR/VR, contactless payments, and social media shopping—intend to continue using these technologies over the next few years.
Against this backdrop, Salesforce’s Commerce Cloud provides an integrated platform that helps businesses meet customer expectations and deliver exceptional experiences.
What Is Salesforce Commerce Cloud?
Salesforce Commerce Cloud is a multi-tenant, cloud-based commerce platform equipped with innovative features and tools that streamline the purchase process, personalize shopping experiences, and enable mobile-friendly interactions. It offers:
- Unified omnichannel experiences: Salesforce Commerce Cloud enables businesses to offer seamless customer experiences across all channels—mobile, social, web, and in-store—ensuring that customer interactions, like online purchases and in-store returns, are connected and visible across platforms.
- Customer data integration: Leveraging Salesforce’s Commerce Cloud technology, businesses can integrate data from multiple touchpoints, using predictive technologies like Einstein to understand customer preferences and anticipate future behavior.
- Engaging customer experiences: The platform aggregates data to improve customer interactions, from shopping to returns to customer service, helping businesses drive conversions, enhance loyalty, and expand their reach.
Salesforce also infuses next-gen AI into the platform, providing high levels of personalization, backed by a robust ecosystem of technology partners and in-house expertise to support business growth.
Components of Commerce Cloud
Salesforce offers key components within its Commerce Cloud for a comprehensive, unified e-commerce experience:
- Commerce Cloud Digital: Tools for creating responsive e-commerce sites, optimizing search, payment processing, and reducing cart abandonment, with mobile app enhancements to improve the shopping experience.
- Storefront Reference Architecture: A flexible architecture for building scalable e-commerce websites, featuring pre-designed wireframes, integrated digital technologies, and personalizable website management.
- Endless Aisle: Integration of shopping channels to simplify the process for customers and store associates, while giving access to customer data and inventory to improve experiences.
- Commerce Portals and Platforms: Build lasting relationships with customers through loyalty programs, account portals, learning materials, and community engagement via social media.
- Order Management: Streamline order fulfillment, payment processes, and returns, allowing businesses to automate these tasks and manage customer orders globally.
Salesforce Commerce Cloud for B2B and B2C Businesses
B2B Commerce: Salesforce Commerce Cloud for B2B focuses on analytics and custom storefronts, offering self-service functionalities for B2B buyers. It streamlines business processes, automates tedious tasks, and fosters repeat purchases.
B2C Commerce: Salesforce B2C Commerce solutions emphasize scale and innovation, allowing businesses to create personalized catalogs, payment options, and marketing campaigns. It also offers multi-language support, social media integration, and customer-centric features for an enhanced shopping experience.
Who Can Benefit from Salesforce Commerce Cloud?
Salesforce Commerce Cloud is ideal for businesses of all sizes, particularly those in the B2B and B2C sectors with 50–200 employees and $1M–10M in revenue. It’s particularly useful for businesses managing large e-commerce operations and looking to scale quickly.
The platform is widely used by businesses across industries like apparel, beauty, home and garden, sports, consumer electronics, and more, providing them with the tools to succeed in the competitive e-commerce landscape.
Conclusion
Salesforce Commerce Cloud offers scalability, unified digital interactions, and mobile optimization, empowering businesses to increase sales, generate traffic, and enhance customer experiences. By consolidating e-commerce functions on a single platform, businesses can gain valuable insights, automate processes, and stay ahead of the competition in the rapidly evolving digital marketplace.
