Product launches are the impetus for many marketing activities. The time leading up to a product launch can be incredibly hectic for marketers, whose job is to make sure everything looks perfect in their customer's eyes when they finally see your new product.
Everything from logo size and placement on packaging to the last details of email subject lines must be considered when pushing out new products to large audiences--whether that audience is regional or international.
Managing inventory levels across multiple channels is crucial during these busy times. Fortunately, integrating Salesforce Marketing Cloud with Manufacturing Cloud and other platforms can help you efficiently manage inventory, so there are no slip-ups come launch day. Here are 4 ways this integration helps manufacturers handle inventory effectively:
1. Streamlined data collection and storage
While it may be easier to store all your various marketing data in separate places, having everything collected and stored in one place is much more efficient for planning purposes. If Salesforce Marketing Cloud can gather information from other marketing automation tools and then send that information into Manufacturing Cloud and Sales Cloud, you no longer have to transfer information manually between cloud platforms.
You can also use the integrated system to set up automated reports to know exactly where each lead falls on the spectrum of qualified versus unqualified or whether they are ready to buy now or will need additional nurturing before purchasing a new product.
2. Product launch readiness
By integrating Marketing Cloud, you're not just collecting information. You're also creating powerful connections across your business that allow you to manage inventory more carefully than ever before. Product launch readiness is a perfect example of how integration can help you connect the dots between different sides of your business.
For instance, suppose marketing automation tools notify Salesforce Marketing Cloud about every new lead generated by social media, email campaigns, and search engine optimization activity. Marketing Cloud can then pass this information over Sales Cloud to sales reps so they don't waste time trying to contact leads who are already prequalified but won't be ready to buy right away.
Sales managers can use all this product launch-related data in customer clouds to better understand areas of potential concern. Product managers can use it to track the progress of trial users and gather valuable insights on which features are most attractive to trial users, helping them prioritize new feature development.
3. Product marketing
With an integrated system in place, your product marketing team can directly send specific details about customer needs to sales reps, who can customize their pitches accordingly. Product marketers can even coordinate with marketing automation tools to set up multi-touch campaigns that strongly appeal to returning customers and first-time buyers who need some extra time before making a purchase decision. Product marketers can also make sure these campaigns are hitting the right demographics at the correct times, all through Marketing Cloud integration.
4. Product support
Integration also helps manufacturers manage inventory during product launches by making communication more efficient. For example, your marketing automation tools can gather information about customer service requests and send that data into Service Cloud so the product support team is ready to help as soon as a new product goes on sale and customers start calling and looking for online assistance. Product support reps can use this same integrated platform to quickly find FAQs, tutorials, or other documentation they may need to provide top-notch customer service during a new product launch.
Product marketers can also track brand reputation through integration across all cloud platforms. This is especially important for managing inventory levels because happy customers are much more likely to stick around and buy again than disgruntled ones. Product marketers can quickly get a pulse on customer sentiment and keep track of any product launch problems by connecting Marketing Cloud with Manufacturing Cloud.
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