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5 min read

Shopify theme development - store optimization to improve customer experience

Updating the online store is nowadays a must-have. Check tips for success that’s been taken to improve the customer experience on the Shopify website.

The Shopify theme development project concerned the online store selling physiotherapy products. A Shopify specialist has been hired to make code corrections and visual changes to optimize the customer website.

Shopify theme development - project’s details

Nowadays, updating the website is a must. If we want to follow the latest trends, of course. Updating is also often a security feature.

In an outdated software or website, it is highly probable to find a vulnerability in the code to launch a cyber attack. Shopify updates automatically. In the case of this platform, we aren't exposed to attack caused by outdated software. However, when using WordPress or Magento, it is important to keep your site up-to-date. In the IT industry, a year is all eternity. Many people who exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software use automatic scanners that track the page code - Robin, SoftwareSupp Freelancer

I am a WordPress and Shopify freelance expert and have been working in the field for over 10+ years, and in the last 3-4 years with my current job, I have developed skills of being a support specialist. Years of experience working on various worldwide projects give me the confidence to provide the highest quality service.

The goal of Shopify theme development project implementation:
Optimization of the store in terms of SEO requirements and expanding the functionality of the website

Project's scope:

  • Visual fixes by modifying the Shopify theme
  • Corrections in the website code
  • Store's functionalities extension with advanced attributes and features of products

Projects time: 36h

Design and visual effect improvements as a primary objective of the Shopify theme development project

It took about 36 hours to adapt the store to the customer's needs. During this time, the client ordered extra tasks on an ongoing basis. Part of the complementary job resulted from necessity, and some from additional preferences. It was the case, for example, with the fixes in the code. It turned out that the code structure needed to be changed.

The main goal of the project was to expand the functionalities of the store. Further, the client wanted to optimize individual elements for the efficient positioning of the website in search engines. The project also focused on visual changes that improve the user experience. The adjustments were typically front-end. Hence, the following coding languages were used: PHP, Javascript, HTML CSS.

Shopify developer's tasks:

  • Supplementation of the section with missing elements/information
  • Developments on the product page
  • Changes in headings
  • Flattening the page structure
  • Linking repair
  • Adding a sitemap
  • Visual updates

As data published by Shopify shows, as much as 93% of customers consider visual appearance as a determining factor in a purchasing decision.

The Shopify online store which the project concerned sells products for physiotherapy. The customer wanted to correct and expand some of the website's details and complete the missing information. The changes in the headlines were a task not only for better SEO and positioning, but also for the content's optimization, which directly influences the reader's impression. It means that the appropriate structure of the website improves the content's readability for users and Google's algorithms. The website user and algorithms have a better understanding of the content that has the appropriate structure. In this project, one of the tasks was to change the headings from H1 to H2. H1 is the headline that titles the entire page. On the other hand, the H2 headers are used for titling the page's content, such as a broad text fragment. A properly designed website contains 1 H1 header and some H2.


The flattening of the webpage structure consisted in editing the code so that all products appear on one page with the possibility of scrolling. This option makes it easier to navigate. The user can find a specific product faster and more comfortably than switching product pages. Checking the linking on the website blog was to verify the problem of hiding links and the lack of highlighting. Expanding the website's functionalities also depended on adding icons for payment methods in the cart and on the product pages. The possibilities of developing an e-commerce store are endless.

Development of advanced product attributes

Products attributes
Product's attributes


Shopify theme development focused on supplementing the template in the product with advanced variants. A miniature carousel has been created to open the possibility of choosing the product at different prices, in various colors. The choice of the appropriate variant determines the change of the price and the displayed picture.

Shopify theme optimizations the product page
Customer product page with the extensions data entered into the Shopify theme

Robin's job was to create an XML sitemap, update variant pictures and fix fonts. He designed a custom functionality to switch the product's images on a selection of variants - a JavaScript query to change a picture with the click of the variant. Thanks to mentioned functionality, the website looks better and duplicated products are removed and consolidated into single products using alternatives. Robin needed 16h to finish these three tasks. He has demonstrated his skills how to code in Shopify.

Code modifications in Shopify theme
             Shopify code for images variants update

Sitemap

A sitemap is a list of URLs that we want to point to the web crawlers. A sitemap helps search engines to index the page correctly and faster. It affects the positioning of the site in searches. This form of communication with the search engine informs which subpages are important and which are less.

Custom sitemap created as a part of Shopify theme development project
Sitemap created for website optimization

With a developer from SoftwareSupp, the client carried out various tasks, commissioning them day by day, depending on the needs. In this project, we can clearly see the positive aspect of hiring a developer on-demand. SoftwareSupp made sure that the client received a qualified expert in order to complete the tasks in the project.

Customers

5 min read

Salesforce data export - how to plan work so as not lose any information

Data export requires analytical commitment. Here is a short guide about challenges Salesforce data export can bring and how to safe 50% of time consumed on manual data transfer.

Salesforce is a platform that offers CRM solutions. It is one of the most frequently chosen systems, currently used by over 150,000 companies. According to the data collected by Statista, it manages over 19.5% of the revenues in the CRM application market. The main slogan that distinguishes this system is 'no software'. Why? Because the platform works 100% in the cloud. It means that when using it, you do not need any applications or additional tools, but only a web browser and, of course, access to the internet. The code and other data are stored on Salesforce servers, which gives them an advantage in the platform speed.

According to the research conducted by Salesforce, 72% of entrepreneurs running small businesses, despite the pandemic, have a positive view of the future of their company. By this, we can understand that companies want and will develop to adapt to changing economic conditions.

I have a total experience of five years as a Salesforce developer and worked on multiple projects with companies from various industries. For instance, I have worked on projects related to a legacy system. My job was to move the records from production to the new software and decommission the old one. I have expertise in Salesforce Apex Scripting, Automation, and Data export projects. Utkarsh Sidana, SoftwareSupp Freelancer

Salesforce data export - project’s details

The project concerned the transfer of data from Salesforce to a CSV file in Google Sheet. The assigned freelancer had to know the SOQL language and the methodology of data export.

I need someone extremely good with Salesforce to proceed with Salesforce data export. I would like to move multidimensional data to a CSV file. The data has different formats, hence the need for a specialist. - the Client

Project scope:

  • Analysis of the client’s data for export
  • Solution design
  • Creating a sample CSV file

Project time: 5h (consultation and solution design)

40h is an estimated time for writing scripts and conducting tests to complete the salesforce data export in the required format.

Effect: Designing a salesforce data export solution in the form of Account-Contact - Cases - Notes in order to create a CSV file that will be useful during data import to a new system.

The client was moving his internal system to a new platform, and for that, he needed the Salesforce data export to be conducted in an organized way. The records had to be pulled out of Salesforce and stored in an Excel sheet. CSV files created can directly be used by the new system to import the records.

Salesforce developer

The project required proficiency in the use of the Salesforce platform but also experience in data management. As already described by a data management specialist, data migration requires extreme care and attention to detail.

The biggest challenge in this project was meeting the client's requirements in terms of data structure and communication concerning understanding the value of specific information. My experience in a data export, combined with knowledge of Salesforce, enabled me to design export solutions for this company.

Developer skills and tools necessary for salesforce data export

  • Data management
  • SOQL (Salesforce Object Query Language)
  • VS code
  • Workbench

Tips for successful Salesforce data export

As the client is moving his database from a Salesforce to a new CRM, they wanted to capture the records thoughtfully so related contacts and notes can be carried all in one go. We have designed a solution so that information of the Account will have all the cases linked along with the notes attached. The overall goal is to get the connected data in Excel.

Structure of data exported:
Account - Contacts - Cases - Notes

Sampe Google Sheet file prepared for Salesforce data export project
Sample CSV created for Salesforce data export

The project was quite challenging as we were operating with multiple objects such as Account - Contacts - Cases - Notes. Working on multidimensional data requires an appropriate action plan. The difficulty was to design a solution that would enable Salesforce data export in a form that would correspond to the required fields of the new system. To get all the records, we could not use the data export tool because of multiple objects. The complexity of the data forces us to write scripts. Apex classes need to be written to capture the results in CSV. After creating a solution, many rounds of testing have to be done. This process has been prepared to verify that none of the information and no field had been omitted.
The major problem is that an Account can have multiple Cases. Each Case has many fields which need to be captured. Each Case has numerous notes attached, and it also should be transferred in an organized format. So linking all the Accounts with their Cases and Notes- thousands of positions could be a time-consuming task.
The client had 3271 accounts, which included 1176 cases. 773 of the cases contained 5026 notes.
In short, it can be assumed that the manual process of data transfer would be as follows:
Transfer of accounts without cases (3271-1176 = 2095 accounts) 2095 accounts x 1 m = 2095 minutes: 60 m = 35 h
Transfer of accounts with cases but without notes (1176-773 = 403)
403 accounts x 2 m = 806 minutes: 60 m= 13.5 hours
Transfer of accounts with cases and with notes 773 x 3 minutes = 2319 minutes: 60m = 37h
The total Salesforce data export done manually to a CSV file could take 35h + 13.5h + 37h = 85.5h
Additionally, we should include the spent time to check the correction of transferred data and the possibility of human error. It is highly probable that some mistakes may appear if you order such a task to be done manually by one person within 85 hours of work - it is almost 11 days of continuous work on one task. Data export performed by the designed developer solution would not only take less time but would also be 100% correct.
Implementation of a software solution would accelerate Salesforce data export by 50% compared to manual data transfer.

The customer was unaware of the difficulties of data portability. It is a common problem and requires proper communication. It is worth providing a comprehensive explanation to the client of project complexity and necessary steps. In this case, the problem of multidimensionality needed to be clarified.- SoftwareSupp Freelancer

Within the five working hours of the project, I have analyzed the objects and created a Sample CSV of one single record. This file presented an initial form of saving information, matching data to appropriate tables. Then, the prepared CSV file has been sent to the client for approval. After the analysis, it turned out that the data could not be transferred using the available exporting tools. This Salesforce data export project requires the appropriate script. It means much more work than expected. Scriptwriting, test execution, and data export were estimated at 40 hours of salesforce developer work.

As the aim of the project was to develop a well-conceived data transfer solution rather than a manual process, we used the Workbench tool. For maintaining the connection between the Account - Cases - Notes, we have used apex classes to fetch the records using multiple SOQL statements to capture the data in CSV format.

Workbench is a visual database design tool. It was used to transfer Account and Cases into a CSV. Whereas Salesforce developer made use of VS Code for scripting to recognize which linked records can be exported. This stage of work was crucial due to the analyzed conclusions. The results of the scripting performed showed not all data can be transferred in the same way. VS code stands for Visual Studio Code. It is Microsoft source-code editor with a multi-language syntax highlighting option. In 2018, it was recognized as the most popular software development tool.

Top 5 steps of Salesforce data export

1. Performing the analysis of the transferred data

2. Using VS to check which data can be transferred

3. Application of a workbench tool to transfer data to CSV

4. Create a sample CSV file

5. Consultation with the client and presentation of the designed solution

In summary, open communication with the client and adapting the form of presenting the stages of work are essential in this type of project. It very often happens that a project requires much more complex solutions than it was initially assumed.

Salesforce data export analysis prepared by the salesforce developer
Communication with client published on the project board

The Project board enables transparent communication between the freelancer and the client. The project manager also has access to the project board to control the course of cooperation so that the client receives all the necessary information. The image above shows a detailed description of the task analyzed by the Salesforce Developer.

Customers

10 min read

UTM parameters as a solution to measure the effectiveness of marketing activities

How to make the published content meet the preferences of users? Before all, it is worth checking what makes them visit your website. Certified web developer describes a method based on UTM parameters, which will make you know the URL source of the given user.

UTM (Urchin Tracking Module) indicate what marketing activities generate traffic on the website. Following the principle that a campaign based on the researched effects is a converting campaign. Wisely using the knowledge acquired from indicators helps plan campaigns properly to potential customers' requirements interested in our products or services.

One of the fascinating challenges was to code a large amount of information in a short form of a 16-character tag. With the client, we have developed a solution that makes it quite legible. Details of the developed method based on UTM parameters are described in this article. - Jarosław Danielak, SoftwareSupp Freelancer

Urchin Tracking Module opens up new possibilities for performance analysis

UTM is an indicator used to measure the effectiveness of a campaign. It is a parameter added to the URL that checks the origin of the traffic on the website. The implementation of UTM parameters makes it possible to obtain a large amount of detail about the visitor. Urchin Tracking Module consists of five identifiers:

  1. Source - defines the origin of the traffic. In other words, it indicates where the user came from
  2. Medium - determines the type of traffic, e.g. paid, email, etc
  3. Campaign Name - name campaigns with specific words
  4. Campaign content - specifies the URL that led the user
  5. Term - is used to denote keywords in paid campaigns

The use of the indicator during social media marketing campaigns shows the effectiveness of the posts. In short, it informs you which of the published content generated a new lead on our website. With using Urchin Tracking Module acquiring new customers is easier because it allows us to react appropriately to their presence.

As 33Across research published by Yahoo indicate: as much as 82% of the provided content is shared via copy & paste. Among the materials distributed, there were texts, pictures, and URLs. During this research, the impact of information sharing on website traffic was examined. By implementing UTM, you can check where the traffic is coming from on your website, maybe some users copy and paste content on Instagram or Facebook, and thanks to this, you can observe traffic increases.

Setting up UTM parameters as part of CRM ongoing support

In the initial part of the project, we have effectively implemented a CRM system from scratch and provided ongoing support for technological development. This client is an example of a regular customer. The cooperation began with the implementation and customization of Pipedrive. After it finished, a customer began to report new tasks to us.

Projects second phase scope:

  • Pipedrive support
  • Salesmanago support
  • Dev support

Effect: Refining the implemented Pipedrive system to meet additional customer requirements and developing a traffic tracking solution based on UTM parameters.

Project time: 20h

Client: A company that offers online programming courses.

Jarek is a web developer who is working daily with web applications and the .NET backend. He was responsible for UTM solution development. On the other hand, Paweł was a project manager engaged to contact the client and determine the project's scope.

In order to introduce and outline the topic of the article, I present an example of a tag, based on UTM parameters:
Source: facebook.com
Type: post
Campaign: Free Java lessons

= FBPSFJL

Freelancers tasks:

- Facebook flow corrections
-  CF7 -> CRM flow change
- Leads management and leads analysis: webinars, Vocare, Callcenter
- Zapier for SalesManago and tags
- CRM support
- Development of a Script saving UTM to local storage
- UTM documentation

Wordpress script
Minified script injected into WordPress via a plugin.

Coding UTM parameters- steps to complete one of the project tasks

The first stage of the UTM development focused on preparing a programming solution that captures information about where the traffic originates. The point was to gain knowledge about the user source. Freelancers to complete this task chosen to code in JavaScript. The code checks if the URL contains information about the UTM and a redirect to the landing page. Earlier, a dictionary method was developed with the client that structured the construction of the label. With its use, the collected information is translated into a short, maximum 16-character tag and saved in the browser. In the next step, a tag is sent to CRM. It has been achieved by adding hidden fields to which tags are attached and sent to the forms that provide this information. Then, the values of these fields are used in Zapier to save the details to the CRM.
In other words, the presented solution collects information about the source of traffic coming to the website based on UTM parameters contained in the query string or the domain from which the redirection was made. The collected information is saved in the form of a short tag, which is sent to Zapier together with the Contact Forms (course scopes, contact details, etc.) and the competency test in Zoho Forms.

UTM parameters

When the URL contains parameters such as utm_source, utm_medium, and utm_compaing, the tag consists of:
XXYYZ ... Z, where:
- XX: utm_source parameter (interpreted by the dictionary below). If the value is not contained in the dictionary, parameter is translated as its first letter and the following consonant (TikTok -> TK)

UTM parameter/ source
utm_source parameter

- YY: the value of the utm_medium parameter (interpreted by the dictionary below). If the value is not in the dictionary, it is translated as its first letter and following vowel.

UTM parameter/ medium
utm_medium parameter

- Z… Z: utm_campaign parameter: value devoid of special characters and cut short to the first letters of the words

Special cases. If there is no UTM information in the URL, the tag will be set to:

- DIRECT, if the user has entered the website directly, by entering the address or selecting the page from the tabs,

- ORGANIC, if the user entered the page through a Google search result,

- RF + the first 14 characters of the redirected domain, if the user visits the page from a link on another website.

Examples:

website:

courses.com/pl/?
utm_source=facebook&utm_medium
=post&utm_campaign=2021.08.24_Java_script

tag:

FBPS20210824JS

Visiting the website through an article on Onet.pl will generate the tag:

RFONET

Implementation

Adding hidden fields to forms

WordPress Contact Forms: For each form that is to pass UTM information to Zapier, two hidden fields have to be added, named utm0 and utm1: [hidden utm0]  [hidden utm1]

Adding a script to WordPress

The script from the out/UTM-parser.js file from the repository should be used with a plug that allows modifying the <head> tag in the WordPress HTML structure.

1. Install and activate Plug Headers and Footers by WPBeginner (or another plug with the same functionality). https://wordpress.org/plugins/insert-headers and-footers /
2. Copy the entire script from out/UTM-parser.js in the repository.
3. In the plugin settings in the WP admin panel, in the Scripts in Header field, paste the entire copied script, enclosed in the <script> tag.
<script> [file content out / utm-parser.js] </script>
4. Save your changes.

Development of a script saving UTM to local storage


This part of the project consisted of three tasks:

1. Development of a script in JavaScript that creates a tag from UTM information contained in URL and/or HTML document parameters. Each time the website is accessed, this script analyzes several parameters and determines the source of traffic and the collected information. Then, the details are saved in the form of a short tag and can be used for filtering and analyzing data in CRM.

2. Design hidden fields in forms on the WordPress website and create a script that will send the previously generated tag together with the form. A script has been injected into WordPress, which adds tags to specially prepared fields in contact forms.

3. Implementation. After testing the complete solution in the client's test environment, the whole solution was implemented in the production environment. The implementation consisted in injecting the script using a plug-in and adding hidden fields in the Contact Forms configuration.

The client left a great deal of freedom in planning the work. Weekly status meetings were a regular part of my work. However, I was free to divide the entire project into tasks and manage them flexibly- Jarosław Danielak, SoftwareSupp Freelancer

The project was carried out for our regular client. They took advantage of the possibility of implementing the project by several freelancers. The company hired Michał - Project Manager, and Jarek, who implemented the main scope task: implementation of UTM parameters. Freelancers have been assigned so that their skills complement each other. Experts with the client's employees created a team to fulfill all assigned tasks. Freelancers worked on one project board, where the client had access to transparent information on the project progress. Additionally, the customer had the opportunity to stay in touch with the freelancers employed via the built-in communicator.

Customers

5 min read

LinkedIn contacts export and database design with low-cost approach

Around 80% of social media B2B leads originate from LinkedIn. A database design expert has integrated LinkedIn with Google Sheets using the Zapier Chrome plugin to provide the client with easy contact management through LinkedIn contacts export.

Few words about the client

Our client is the Director of Global Sales at a company that offers contract research services to pharmaceutical, biotech, start-up, and academic researchers who need faster, smarter, and cost-effective solutions for drug profiling.

Scope of the project

As a regular customer, he approached us for database design to manage his LinkedIn contacts in an easy way.

Duration of the project

The project was implemented within 1 man-day across one week of agile collaboration with the customer over the entire lifecycle of solution design, implementation, and testing.

Effect:  LinkedIn contacts export to Google Sheets integrated with Zapier’s chrome plugin.

Thanks to this implementation, the client can manage the data of his clients much more efficiently. Creating an automated list of people interested in its services helps in faster service and additionally increases the quality of connections. Orderly and systematic activities are essential when building a long-term relationship.

Over the course of my career, I have implemented a large number of databases and integrations of databases with external IT systems, especially around CRM and across the customer journey. For SoftwareSupp for example, I completed a data analytics project using Pipedrive and its dashboard capabilities to set up a management sales cockpit for a green energy start-up. - Stefan Behrendt, SoftwareSupp Freelancer

For this project, the following skills were essential

  • Solution design and architecture
  • Database design, data analytics
  • SaaS and social media platform know-how
  • Master data management/CRM knowledge
  • Digital systems integration of various SaaS tools

Database of potential clients- LinkedIn contacts export

The initial stage of the project required understanding the client's needs and the expected end-results in combination with the workflows that the client was willing to conduct when operatively filling the database during his daily work.

LinkedIn has been considered as one of the most effective social media for B2B lead generation. According to the information published by Linedlin,  80% of social media B2B leads come from LinkedIn.

During the solution design phase of the project, the following key requirements of the client were elaborated

  • Lay-out of data structure and database fields, based on the CRM system used and the client’s information needs
  • A lean, minimally invasive approach without connecting external systems directly to LinkedIn
  • Full (manual) control of the data-capture process
  • A low-cost approach leveraging existing tools and infrastructure and ideally not relying on expensive additional SaaS tools
  • An open solution that allows the client to modify the solution by himself post-launch (data structure, type of data to be captured, target CRM system)

Based on these requirements, three basic solution-designs were evaluated

  1. Specialised tools connecting to LinkedIn
  2. Use of Zapier, the Zapier Chrome Browser Extension and google sheets/Excel365
  3. Manual approach by using a freelancer to handle the data entry process

We discussed with the client the respective solution designs and mapped these against the client’s requirements and decided for solution 2, a combination of Zapier’s free basic product and a google spreadsheet.

As a general rule, the main project's challenge was the proper identification of the client's needs and direct cooperation. My knowledge and experience allowed me to offer the client three different solutions. During database design, setting the appropriate structure of the uploaded information from the beginning is crucial. Thus, the client can correctly and with ease add consecutive database fields by himself.

Process of LinkedIn contacts export by Zapier to GoogleSheet
LinkedIn contacts export process

By hiring a specialist for Linkedin contacts export, the client saved the whole day of monotonous and manual work. Moreover, the implemented automation will enable the customer to export contacts in the future independently.

Assuming that 1000 contacts were transferred through Zapier automatically, and manual copying of information would take at least 30 sec/contact, it turns out that the client saved over 8 hours of work. This number of hours saved will systematically grow with the transfer of new LinkedIn business contacts.

LinkedIn contacts export by using Zapier’s Chrome plug-in

The implementation of the LinkedIn database consisted of the following steps

  • Setting up accounts in google sheets and Zapier
  • Creating a google sheets document with the customer’s data structure
  • Setting up a „Zap” (= automation) in Zapier that transfers data from Zapier’s Chrome browser plug-in to google sheets
  • Downloading Zapier’s google Chrome extension to start using the solution

The data transfer from the Google Chrome browser to the Google Spreadsheet was implemented as a Zap using Zapier’s Chrome extension which was connected to a google sheets tab containing the data structure of the LinkedIn contacts.

Zapier as a LinkedIn contacts export tool
Zapier used to transfer data automatically

After implementation, the solution was tested with various datasets by the expert and by the client and smaller corrections in the data structure were implemented and tested. Finally, the solution was handed to the client and the client was trained on how to operate and also modify the solution in case additional requirements would come up.

The final result

The developed solution allows the client to capture his LinkedIn contacts from a browser, enrich these with additional data manually and immediately transfer the data into a google sheets database. This database can be further enhanced, sorted, filtered, and then also be uploaded into CRM systems like Pipedrive, Salesforce, or Hubspot to further process the LinkedIn contacts export. The solution design developed in this project has the following advantages

  • a lean approach that does not require any systems integration between LinkedIn, other systems, and the CRM
  • an open solution that works with any CRM leveraging the flexibility of google or alternatively Excel365 spreadsheet
  • a low-cost approach using mostly existing tools like google sheets (or alternatively Excel365) and Zapier and not relying on additional costly SaaS tools to handle the LinkedIn integration
  • Full control for the user when transferring the LinkedIn contacts with the possibility to select contacts and also enrich these with additional data manually

The client for whom this project was carried out already used SoftwareSupp before. Customer satisfaction about the first project contributed to reach to SoftwareSupp after a year to improve subsequent internal processes. SoftwareSupp is an agency where you can hire quality resources on-demand, hourly, or complete a project. You can request professional software services depending on your needs.

Software support projects
The client's projects in the SoftwareSupp product
Customers

5 min read

Sales automation by implementing a smooth data flow

Growing needs do not have to be associated with a change of the project management tool used. This case shows that it is enough to integrate additional CRM software to manage customer relationships more efficiently and increase the sales automation rate.

Observations by McKinsey show that, more than 30% of sales- related activities can be automated.

The client's company helps to build careers for talented young entrepreneurs. They offer comprehensive management services that lead to developing original business ventures. The firm used Asana for project management and also customer relationship management. Pipedrive has already been pre-deployed to automate individual elements of customer service processes. The client needed a specialist who would automate internal workflow and enable these two tools to work simultaneously.

Project time: 6h

Effect: Integration of sales automation CRM tool to the existing activity workflow on Asana.

Asana's integration with Pipedrive was to increase the automation of information and data flow. One of the main assumptions was to automate the data transfer from input boxes to Pipedrive.

I believe that the use of modern tools for automating processes in the company is the best solution. It gives us the opportunity not only to organize sales in a structured way but also allows us to maintain the highest quality of activities while saving time. - Carla Rodriguez, SoftwareSupp Freelancer

I have been working with Pipedrive for over four years. Previously, I specialized in process improvement, which turned into a passion for automating sales methods. In the described project, I helped the client organize sales processes and systematize customer data to enable him to generate advanced reports. In order to complete this project successfully, I used the following skills:

  • Quick research
  • Client guideline facilitation
  • Workflow process map to show the difference between Pipedrive and Asana native integration and Zapier integration.
  • Data structure organization
  • Process automation
  • Use client zap budget wisely

Sales automation through Asana and Pipedrive integration

Successful orderliness of work and systematization of customer data requires appropriate tools. The main reason why Asana is no longer a sufficient instrument for the client's company is that it does not have the function of creating extensive reports. The quality of sales and the increase in conversion all depend on the management of processes in the company. Without appropriate programs that monitor the course of specific transactions, achieving higher and more stable sales results could be difficult. Pipedrive gives the ability to create customizable and configurable reports. The filter function allows highlighting individual results. Additionally, customized Dashboards make it easier to track goals and increase efficiency progress. The client wanted to integrate subscriptions tasks to Pipedrive as deals and integrate a sales automation CRM tool to the existing activity workflow on Asana.

Project’s scope

  • Asana and Pipedrive Integration: Present POC to the client. Explain the difference between Native Pipedrive and Asana integration versus Zappier integration
  • Automate Asana task completed into a Deal In on Pipedrive Funnel. Create a contact related to the organization automatically and a transaction based on Asana task information. Send to Pipedrive key information of a deal.
  • Sales Asana Tags task Automation. utomate every time the sales team tagged a task as won. To win a deal on Pipedrive, send all deal info from Asana to Pipedrive.
  • Build a Sales Dashboard on Pipedrive to measure how many deals enter the sales pipeline and how many closed as sales.
Pipedrive with Asana native integration vs Napier integration for sales automation process
Differences of the Native vs Zapier integration in the sales automation process

Project management tools

Asana is a project and task management tool to organize teamwork. It is an amazing tool to coordinate all the tasks and projects in the organization. On the other hand, Pipedrive is a client relationship manager and streamlines all business initiatives and communications. It has an activity-based selling approach. These two tools combined will help the team to manage projects and relations with clients efficiently. This implementation was designed for sales automation and work improvement. The result will be visible in the increase in sales results. The main assumption was to create automation of the flow of customer data from Asana to Pipedrive.

In this project, the crucial part was the Zapier integration to connect Asana and Pipedrive. Without the ability to use this tool, automation would not be possible. Zapier is a product that allows the integration, combination of two or more applications for workflows and sales automation.

As the Aberdeen Group research shows, companies that use sales automation achieve 53% higher conversion rates and 3.1% higher annual revenue growth rate.

Asana- project management tool
Asana - completed task

Pipedrive automation
Pipedrive - contact created automatically


Pipedrive as a sales automation tool
Customer's details transferred from Asana to Pipedrive

Integration process

  1. Create the data fields structure on Pipedrive
  2. Create new data fields on Asana
  3. Use Zapier to create the integration
  4. Create two workflows automation on Pipedrive

Internal sales automation system

Every time a user completes a task - "Client submissions'' on Asana, Pipedrive (through Zapier) forms a new Person (contact). At this time, Pipedrive creates a Contact and transfers all the information the Submissions Area gathered during the task Management on Asana. Once this is done, Pipedrive establishes an organization (marketing agency) linked to the new Person. Then it creates a new deal on the first sales funnels step- "project submitted" with all Asana fields information. The process is automatic, so users do not need to take any action. Thanks to sales automation, all the data is collected and managed properly. Sales executives have all the records to quote and administer to clients.

The project aimed to create an integration to automate data transfer from input boxes to Pipedrive. During this process, we moved all data that the agency team researches to quote their service: influencers info, campaign launch, platforms used, etc.

The integration allows two different teams to work at the same time and bring together their results and add value. It automates sales and submissions. Moreover, it enables data consistency. Thanks to the integrated system, the client’s data is organized to further business development.

Prioritization of tasks in the project board allows keeping the required order of work. In this case, the priority for the client was to create a Dashboard template. Carla, a CRM and automation expert, did this task at the beginning. The transparent nature of the communication enables the client to mark his requirements. It increases the efficiency of the specialist work who, by following the instructions, can complete the project faster without wasting time discussing details.

Prioritization of tasks on Sales automation project
Task prioritization in the project board
Customers

5 min read

CRM system change with native integration - steps for a proper database migration

Monday CRM system has been changed to a more advanced one to increase the automation level of employees' tasks. Check how many hours a freelancer has spent on database migration.

The project concerned the dental industry. The company for which we have implemented the project deals with the consolidation of the stomatologic market. The client needed an appropriate tool to manage the sales funnel. Due to the growing requirements, the customer wanted to change the management software from Monday to Pipedrive. Currently, the customer uses Woodpecker to send emails. After the management system change and database migration, Woodpecker had to be integrated with the Pipedrive CRM- it was performed through Zapier.

Project scope:

  • Monday data export
  • Adjustment of data to match target structure
  • Pipedrive data import
  • Woodpecker integration

Time of the project: 20h

Effect: Implementation of a more advanced tool to increase the possibilities of automating daily tasks and creating extensive reports.

My practical knowledge of Pipedrive implementation and external integrations contributed to I was hired to complete this project. Before becoming a Pipedrive Certified Specialist, I was dealing in broadly understood sales for over ten years. Experience in working in sales helps me understand the client's needs better. Daily, I implement CRM systems and adapt them to a specific company in a given industry.

The combination of an analytical sales approach with the knowledge of Pipedrive CRM allowed, among other things, to manage data after placing it in the software easily. Undoubtedly, the challenge was the technical aspect of getting the proper data transferred to the Woodpecker program. We had to use an additional automation tool. - Michał Tracz, SoftwareSupp Freelancer

Database migration expert’s tasks

  • Pipedrive account creation and configuration
  • Adding fields according to the client's guidelines
  • Native Woodpecker -> Pipedrive integration
  • Integration via Zapier on the Pipedrive -> Zapier -> Woodpecker line

Monday to Pipedrive database migration

Database migration concerned the transfer of information about current leads along with the marking of the cooperation stage. Monday is a project management software. It is a free and intuitive tool that allows monitoring of the progress of your work. Using Monday, users may manage and control the company's activities and employees' work.

Monday CRM software Dashboard
Monday Dashboard

A properly implemented CRM solution can yield an ROI of 45% per dollar invested, Readwrite, 2020

In my opinion, Pipedrive is a much more extensive system that allows a broader look at automation. Thus serves a wide range of facilities that save time for the employee. The layout is clear and fully customizable. First of all, we can take advantage of additional fields that help adapt the software to our needs with ease. By using automation features, we can quickly find the specific data and transfer them to the integrated software. A huge benefit, in the case of Pipedrive CRM, is extensive reports. Thanks to them, users can use filters to display the required information ably.

Pipedrive CRM Sales opportunities Dashboard
Pipedrive dashboard

In order to enable the client to use Pipedrive to manage work in the company, I had to set up an account and configure it properly. The next stage of the project assumed export data from Monday and prepared them for Pipedrive import. Due to differences in the data format, I had to remove the Monday tags after exporting. Later, after giving the appropriate data structure, it was uploaded to the target system. The described tasks were completed within 13 hours of work. For this project, the following information has been transferred:

  • company name
  • contact details
  • information about the company in the form of comments and notes
  • Added Snippets to Woodpecker in additional fields, which I also imported from the table

The client decided for database migration and change the internal system because his requirements regarding available functions increased. As the company grew, the expectations of the advancement of the downloaded reports also rose. Essentially, Pipedrive offers a wide range of possibilities to create reports on work results, unique campaigns, and sales-marketing activities.

Woodpecker integration

Woodpecker is a marketing automation tool. It is responsible for cold mailing and follow-up mailing to potential customers. Woodpecker can be easily adapted to CRM systems or by using Zapier.

Woodpecker was natively connected with Pipedrive -without any middleware. After the campaign is over, it sends details to Pipedrive, mainly:

- Did the email arrive?

- Has it been opened?

Native integration means direct integration via application programming interfaces (APIs). It enables a smooth flow of information between applications, which results in easier access to them.

However, we have also created a reverse integration by Zapier. Thus when the customer enters a contact into Pipedrive, the database in Woodpecker is automatically created or updated.

The client will use this integration to heat up cold leads that are in the database, but:

  • currently, they are not interested in the offer
  • the connection has been lost
  • are undecided

The CRM integration along with data migration was estimated in advance at 20h of integration consultant work. Before the project started, our client could look through the expert’s profile to check recommendations, certifications and previous work completed. This project resulted in the possibility to plan sales more effectively. The client received the advanced CRM implemented. Automation of activities and appropriate programs facilitating planning and sending emails brought on time saved on everyday activities.