T.A.G.S (The Abhinav Gupta Show‪)‬ Abhinav Gupta

Summary

This conversation is about Salesforce startups and ISVs. The guest, Shailendra Singh, shares his journey as an ISV partner with Salesforce and the success of his app, Astonous, on the Salesforce AppExchange. He discusses the importance of gardening and how it relates to building a startup. Shailendra explains the challenges he faced in building his app, including outdated technology and lack of flexibility in existing apps on the AppExchange. He also shares tips for ISVs, such as visualizing success, being transparent with employers, and continuously reviewing and providing feedback to freelancers. In this conversation, Shailendra Singh and Abhinav discuss various strategies and challenges for ISVs in the Salesforce ecosystem. They emphasize the importance of putting the right keywords and customer reviews on the AppExchange to attract leads. They also discuss the role of graphic designers and content writers in creating attractive listings. Shailendra shares his experience with co-marketing programs and the importance of scalability. They also touch on the challenges of providing support and the benefits of using Salesforce for documentation and knowledge base. The conversation concludes with tips for ISVs, including focusing on building a sustainable business and finding niche markets.



Takeaways



Building a startup is like gardening - it requires nurturing and care.

ISVs should focus on building dynamic apps that can be easily configured for different use cases.

Transparency with employers about building an app can lead to support and a smooth transition to full-time entrepreneurship.

Manifesting success through visualization and setting goals is important for ISVs.

Hiring freelancers requires regular feedback and prompt reviews.

The first customer can validate the app's functionality and boost morale.

AppExchange is a valuable channel for finding customers, so it's important to optimize the app listing and keep it updated. Put the right keywords and customer reviews on the AppExchange to attract leads

Consider hiring graphic designers and content writers to create attractive listings

Explore co-marketing programs and partnerships with Salesforce account executives and SI partners

Focus on scalability and finding niche markets to grow your business

Provide support by documenting customer implementations and using Salesforce for knowledge base

Submit your app for business approval and be transparent with Salesforce about your idea and strategy



Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:40 Gardening as a Metaphor for business

03:31 Journey of Building an App on AppExchange

06:19 Making application dynamic, saving implementation time.

10:34 Acquiring non-tech skills to be an ISV

12:49 Moonlighting and working part-time as an employee

17:16 Setting own office

18:56 Power of Manifestation

20:48 Initial Challenges as an ISV

25:45 Getting the First Customer

28:03 AppExchange, Listing and it's Impact

30:11 Outsourcing Graphic Design and Content

33:10 Co-Marketing with Salesforce

36:20 Challenges and Scalability after 2 years of launch

39:15 Support and Documentation

42:04 Handling Different Time Zones in Customer Support

45:17 Utilizing Salesforce to the Max

48:06 Book Recommendation: Rework

50:30 Finding Gaps and Building a Sustainable Business

54:13 Submitting for Business Approval

56:30 Intro Banner.mp4

Summary

QA Automation uses software tools and scripts to automate repetitive and manual testing tasks in the software development lifecycle. It includes test execution, regression testing, and performance testing. QA Automation helps in the early detection of defects and improves test coverage by executing a more comprehensive range of scenarios. It also enhances test accuracy by reducing the risk of human error. When choosing a QA Automation tool, evaluating project complexity, compatibility across different testing environments, and reporting capabilities is vital. Reporting is crucial in tracking test results, identifying trends, and making data-driven decisions. Various reporting tools and frameworks are available in the market, both open-source and paid. In this conversation, the principal themes discussed were the impact of parallelism on performance, the importance of customizability in test automation tools, the need for cost-benefit analysis when choosing a tool, and the introduction of UTAM and Tricentis as potential tools for Salesforce automation. UTAM is an open-source tool that requires initial training but allows for efficient automation of the Salesforce ecosystem. Tricentis is a comprehensive tool that addresses various challenges faced by Salesforce teams. Overall, the conversation highlighted the importance of choosing the right tool based on specific requirements and considering factors such as performance, customizability, and cost.



Takeaways

QA Automation automates repetitive and manual testing tasks in the software development lifecycle.

QA Automation helps detect defects early and improves test coverage.

QA Automation reduces the risk of human error and improves test accuracy.

When choosing a QA Automation tool, evaluate project complexity, compatibility, and reporting capabilities. Increasing parallelism with the number of browsers can impact performance in test automation.

Test automation tools should have flexibility in customizing test scripts and consider features like scripting language, plugin architecture, and configuration settings.

Performing a cost-benefit analysis is crucial when choosing a test automation tool, considering factors like licensing fees, training costs, and productivity gains.

UTAM is an open-source tool developed by Salesforce that allows for efficient automation of the Salesforce ecosystem.

Tricentis is a comprehensive test automation tool that addresses various challenges faced by Salesforce teams.



Chapters

00:00 Panel Introductions

02:59 What is QA Automation and its Benefits

08:28 Evaluating Requirements

13:24 Key Features to Consider

19:33 Decision Making Process

24:15 QA Automation options in Salesforce-verse

29:10 Conclusion and Next Steps

In this conversation, Sanket Atal, Managing Director for Salesforce Operations in India, discusses the Salesforce Startup Program and its goal of supporting startups in India. The program is not an accelerator or incubator but a startup community that offers connections, guidance, and access to the Salesforce platform. Sanket shares examples of startups that have benefited from the program, including developing apps, connecting with sales, and achieving success in the Salesforce ecosystem. The program promotes a pay-it-forward model, where startups help each other and contribute to the community. Salesforce is an accessible ecosystem to enter, even without a technical background. The platform allows individuals with a business background to solve specific business problems. Salesforce does not put any guardrails around the types of backgrounds or industries they work with, as they believe in enabling people to do amazing things. The key is to leverage the platform and connect with the right people within Salesforce for support. Ideas are plentiful, and it's important to have a customer-centric mindset when developing solutions. Design is also crucial, focusing on practicality rather than fancy features. Seeking help and being part of a community can greatly contribute to success. The conversation with Sanket Atal highlights the vibrant startup ecosystem in Singapore and the support it receives from the government. Salesforce is eager to enter the Singapore market and connect with the startup community. The response from startups, startup bodies, and VCs has been overwhelming. The goal is to create a global community of startups that help each other and thrive. Meditation and introspection are recommended practices for personal growth and success. The experience of witnessing the rise of South and Southeast Asia has been eye-opening and humbling, inspiring a desire to do bigger and better things for the community.