Features and Advantages of Salesforce Commerce Cloud(SFCC)

Salesforce Commerce Cloud (SFCC) is a leading eCommerce platform designed to empower businesses with the tools needed to deliver personalized shopping experiences across all channels. Known for its strong customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities, this belongs to the Salesforce ecosystem. Salesforce Commerce Cloud has emerged as a dominant solution for businesses striving to flourish in the online arena, boasting of serving more than 150,000 companies. In this blog, we shall look at the numerous features and benefits offered by SFCC alongside pricing options so that you can appreciate why it’s the preferred choice for several organizations.

What Is Salesforce Commerce Cloud?

The cloud-based eCommerce platform, Salesforce Commerce Cloud Services facilitates the creation of delightful and uninterrupted shopping experiences for diverse digital channels like social media, mobile apps and websites. Originally developed as Demandware, it was acquired by Salesforce in 2016 and rebranded as Salesforce Commerce Cloud.

Enterprises can optimize their online sales operations by utilizing the variety of resources offered by SFCC. By integrating Salesforce’s ecosystem into their operations, companies can benefit from a range of additional features in areas such as customer relationship management and marketing automation. This results in highly efficient handling of product, order and customer data processes leading to improved engagement with customers along with increased business profits. The integration also creates an effective eCommerce solution that is scalable for businesses looking to ramp up their digital presence significantly.

Understanding the Pricing of Salesforce Commerce Cloud

Salesforce Commerce Cloud pricing operates on a subscription-based model, with costs varying based on the size of the business and the specific features required. The platform is highly scalable, and its price is flexible, depending on multiple factors. Pricing typically depends on gross merchandise value (GMV) and the number of transactions processed. Salesforce follows a shared model pricing, meaning it charges 1–3% of your GMV for the B2C edition and 1–2% for the B2B edition.

While Salesforce does not publicly disclose exact pricing, smaller businesses can expect to pay a percentage of their sales revenue, while larger enterprises may negotiate custom pricing. Additionally, the implementation of Salesforce Commerce Cloud may lead to costs associated with incorporating external software and ensuring ongoing assistance is provided. Thanks to its adaptable pricing model, businesses with any budget can find a plan that meets their specific requirements.

Key Features of Salesforce Commerce Cloud

Salesforce Commerce Cloud features a wide array of tools designed to optimize online selling. Some of the key SFCC eCommerce features include:

Omni-Channel Commerce for Seamless Customer Journeys

SFCC enables businesses to sell across multiple channels—web, mobile, social media, and in-store—creating a unified shopping experience. Customers can interact with your brand seamlessly, whether they start on a website, chat with support, or visit a physical store. This omnichannel approach ensures a consistent customer journey, regardless of the touchpoint.

AI-Driven Personalization

With AI-powered recommendations and customer segmentation, SFCC allows businesses to deliver personalized shopping experiences tailored to individual preferences. Einstein AI analyzes customer behavior and preferences, offering targeted product recommendations, adjusting search results, and optimizing content sorting to drive upselling and customer satisfaction.

Mobile-First Approach for Modern Shoppers

As mobile commerce continues to grow, SFCC takes a mobile-first approach, ensuring that online stores are optimized for smartphones. With mobile traffic representing a significant portion of web visits, businesses using SFCC can provide seamless shopping experiences on handheld devices. SFCC also supports various mobile payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay, making the checkout process simple and smooth.

Efficient Order Management Across All Channels

SFCC simplifies the process of tracking and fulfilling orders across various sales channels. Whether your customers are buying online or in-store, the platform’s comprehensive order management capabilities ensure smooth and efficient operations. Businesses can streamline inventory tracking, shipping, and order fulfillment in real-time, leading to higher customer satisfaction.

Scalability for Businesses of All Sizes

SFCC is designed to scale with your business. Whether you’re a small enterprise just starting or a large organization handling high transaction volumes, the platform adapts effortlessly to your needs. The cloud-based infrastructure allows you to grow without worrying about website performance issues like slow load times or crashes, even during peak traffic.

Cloud-Based Infrastructure for Reliability and Security

Being a cloud-based platform, SFCC guarantees high availability, enhanced security, and automatic updates. Businesses don’t need to worry about managing on-premises servers or manual software updates, allowing them to focus on enhancing the customer experience and driving sales.

Advantages of Using Salesforce Commerce Cloud

There are several Salesforce Commerce Cloud benefits that make it an attractive option for businesses looking to expand their online presence:

1. Integrated CRM Capabilities: As part of the Salesforce ecosystem, SFCC seamlessly integrates with Salesforce CRM, enabling businesses to leverage customer data for more personalized marketing and sales efforts.
2. Speed to Market: With its out-of-the-box features and pre-built integrations, SFCC eCommerce allows businesses to quickly launch and scale their online stores.
3. Global Reach: Salesforce Commerce Cloud features support multiple languages, currencies, and payment methods, making it easy for businesses to expand internationally.
4. Continuous Innovation: Salesforce is known for its continuous innovation, and SFCC benefits from regular updates and new features, ensuring that businesses stay ahead of the competition.
5. Enhanced Security: As a cloud-based platform, SFCC offers robust security features, including compliance with industry standards, protecting customer data and transactions.

Which Companies Should Consider Using Salesforce Commerce Cloud?

Salesforce Commerce Cloud is ideal for businesses of all sizes that are looking to create a comprehensive online shopping experience. It is particularly well-suited for:

1. Retailers: With its strong omni-channel capabilities, SFCC eCommerce is perfect for retailers looking to unify their online and in-store shopping experiences.
2. Global Enterprises: Companies operating in multiple regions can benefit from Salesforce Commerce Cloud features like support for multiple languages, currencies, and payment methods.
3. Brands with High Sales Volumes: Salesforce Commerce Cloud benefits include scalability, making it an excellent choice for businesses with large transaction volumes or those expecting significant growth.
4. Businesses Seeking Integration: Companies already using Salesforce products will find SFCC eCommerce integration with other Salesforce tools advantageous.

Integration Into Salesforce Digital 360

Salesforce Commerce Cloud is a key component of Salesforce Digital 360, a suite of tools designed to help businesses create personalized, data-driven experiences across marketing, commerce, and customer service. By integrating with Digital 360, businesses can create a unified customer journey from awareness to purchase to loyalty. The integration allows for enhanced customer insights, better segmentation, and more effective marketing campaigns, all of which contribute to increased sales and customer satisfaction. The integration of Salesforce and eCommerce through Digital 360 ensures a holistic approach to managing customer relationships.

Examples of Successful Salesforce Commerce Cloud Implementation

Several well-known brands have successfully implemented Salesforce Commerce Cloud to enhance their eCommerce capabilities:

• L’Oréal: L’Oréal leverages both B2C and B2B solutions to deepen its relationships with customers and beauty professionals. SFCC powers over 200 of their direct-to-consumer (D2C) websites. One of their brands saw a sales increase of 15% to 20%, thanks to personalized recommendations generated by Einstein AI.
• Guess: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Guess had to bolster its online presence. In just 12 months, they successfully migrated their ecommerce operations from 48 countries to SFCC. This move resulted in their websites loading 72% faster, while conversion rates saw an impressive 60%
• ECCO: Back in 2015, ECCO trialed SFCC’s Endless Aisle feature, aiming to enhance in-store customer service. They equipped store consultants with iPads to assist visitors in locating products—whether in-store or online. The positive results from this test led ECCO to expand the program to 26 additional stores across the U.S.
• Unilever: As one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies, Unilever, with over 400 brands and 160,000 employees, relies on Salesforce products, including Commerce Cloud. The platform enables them to connect with customers through multiple channels, and they have significantly shortened the time it takes to launch new websites—rolling them out in just weeks or months instead of years.
• Puma: Puma sought to optimize its mobile traffic, which led them to adopt Salesforce Commerce Cloud’s Storefront Reference Architecture. By implementing this system across multiple countries with support for various languages and currencies, their mobile sites now load 69% faster, with images appearing in under two seconds. This has resulted in the sites handling more traffic and a noticeable uptick in conversion rates.

Final Thoughts

Salesforce Commerce Cloud is a comprehensive eCommerce platform that offers a range of features and benefits for businesses looking to excel in the digital marketplace. From its seamless integration with Salesforce CRM to its robust omni-channel capabilities, SFCC eCommerce provides the tools needed to create personalized, engaging shopping experiences. Whether you’re a small retailer or a global enterprise, Salesforce Commerce Cloud can help you achieve your eCommerce goals. With continuous innovation, strong security, and scalability, it’s a platform that grows with your business, making it a worthwhile investment for companies looking to thrive in today’s competitive online environment.