The Challenge: Broken User Experience

Sales teams often rely on a multitude of tools to streamline their operations, from CRM systems to productivity apps and communication platforms. However, as Saleshandy grew, they realized that their customers, who were primarily sales teams, were struggling with a common problem: the need to integrate multiple tools and platforms to manage workflows effectively.

This fragmented experience not only creates inefficiencies but also increases the risk of customer churn as users struggle to navigate between disparate interfaces.

Challenges Faced by Saleshandy:

• Integration Requests: Customers frequently requested integrations, highlighting the critical need for native solutions

• Ineffective Workarounds: Customers were improvising with tools like Zapier, but these workarounds were insufficient

• High Drop-Off Rates: Saleshandy noticed a high drop-off rate after signup without native integrations

• Minimal Usage of Existing Integrations: The usage of existing integrations was minimal, indicating they were not meeting customer needs

The Search for Solutions: Evaluating Integration Platforms

Saleshandy's management recognized that their competitors were also moving toward native integrations as a way to acquire and retain customers. Therefore, they saw it as a critical factor for their growth and long-term success in the field of sales automation and started evaluating integration platforms for native integration.

"Once we recognized the need for integrations, we initially considered building them in-house. However, building each integration individually for every tool would have required a significant amount of time and cost. To reduce engineering efforts and expenses, we decided to opt for third-party solutions. After evaluating several integration providers like Paragon, Merge.dev, and more, we chose Cobalt," said Ravi Kemawat, Product Head of Saleshandy

Saleshandy chose Cobalt over others for several key reasons:

• Smooth and Efficient Operation

  Cobalt's platform offered seamless integration capabilities

• Responsive 24/7 Customer Support

  Cobalt provided round-the-clock support to address any issues promptly

• Cost-Effectiveness

  Other platforms charge 3x more than Cobalt, so Cobalt was affordable, making it a viable option for Saleshandy's needs

The Saleshandy development team faced technical hurdles to ensure seamless data synchronization and a consistent user experience across multiple platforms. However, close collaboration with Cobalt's support team and rigorous testing and quality assurance processes were able to overcome these obstacles and launch robust and reliable integrations.

Realizing the need for native integrations, Saleshandy embarked on a strategic journey to prioritize and execute integrations with key tools and platforms used by their target audience. They conducted extensive research and gathered feedback from their customers to identify the most pressing integration needs.

The integrations they needed:

• HubSpot

• Pipedrive

• Salesforce

• Zoho

Additionally, Saleshandy also needed piloted integrations with:

• Close

• Copper

Saleshandy successfully integrated the mentioned tools into their platform with the help of Cobalt.

Results: Significant Growth and Improved Customer Satisfaction

"We needed Zoho integrations within a short period to close a deal worth $20,000, which is a significant amount for us. Without Cobalt, this wouldn't have been possible. This is just one example; we have closed several deals after partnering with Cobalt," said Ravi Kemawat, Product Head of Saleshandy.

Major Outcomes:

• Customer Growth

  Increased Customer Acquisition: The integrated experience attracted new users, leading to a two-fold increase in customer acquisition. Improved Customer Retention: Current customers appreciated the convenience and efficiency of integrating multiple tools into one platform, leading to a notable improvement in retention.

• Revenue Growth

  The company observed a noticeable rise in turnover, which is a direct result of the positive impact of integrations on customer acquisition and retention. Saleshandy also saw an increase in stickiness and usability of integrated experience products, which contributed to their revenue growth.

• Streamlined User Experience

  By combining multiple tools and platforms into a single experience, Saleshandy users no longer need to navigate between different user interfaces, improving their productivity and overall satisfaction with the platform. Some use cases and workflows, such as seamless data synchronization between Saleshandy and their CRM, have been particularly well received and adopted by users.

• Positive User Feedback

  The integrations have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from Saleshandy customers, who appreciate the smooth and efficient workflow they enable. Saleshandy actively sought user feedback and insights that helped refine and improve the integrated user experience.

The Future Ahead: Continued Integration and Partnership Growth

Encouraged by the success of its integration strategy, Saleshandy plans to expand its integration offerings. They actively collaborate with new CRM tools and platforms, ensuring customers have access to the latest and most important integrations.

They plan to create dedicated teams and resources to grow these partnerships, ensuring seamless integration development and a proactive approach to meeting customer needs. To ensure a smooth implementation of the integrations, Saleshandy has invested in extensive documentation, tutorials, and dedicated support channels to help users take advantage of the integrated features.

Takeaways

Saleshandy's journey highlights the key role native integrations play in customer acquisition and retention, especially in sales and productivity software. By providing a seamless and unified experience, companies can stand out, reduce customer turnover, and promote sustainable growth.

Through its partnership with Cobalt, Saleshandy has proven that investing in native integrations is not just a technological necessity but a strategic imperative for companies looking to thrive in today's crowded and competitive software environment. This case study serves as a blueprint for other SaaS companies seeking to leverage the power of strategic integrations to drive user acquisition, retention, and long-term success.

"I liked the way they supported us while implementing the Cobalt into the system. The ability to iterate on quick feedback loops is something I haven't seen in many companies, and these guys are doing it so perfectly. Pricing of it is very reasonable, and they have got custom plans for your custom needs. I am very happy using this product." - Malav Joshi, Product Manager