Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud: Transforming process manufacturing through digital integration

To address these challenges, it’s crucial to replace fragmented systems with integrated, intelligent platforms that bring customer, product, and asset data under one roof. That’s where Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud comes in.

Powered by Agentforce, this innovative solution enables manufacturers to manage the entire sales process while aligning sales forecasts with production strategies. The result? Time and cost savings, greater efficiency, and more accurate insights.

What is Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud?

Manufacturing Cloud is Salesforce’s industry-specific platform designed to unify sales, service, and partner operations. It provides a single source of truth for teams that traditionally work in silos, including sales reps, service technicians, partner managers, and business leaders.

Unlike generic CRM solutions, this platform is purpose-built for manufacturers, offering specialised capabilities that address the complex, relationship-driven nature of B2B manufacturing sales cycles. Users can access features, tools, data models, and other resources based on industry-wide best practices, making it easier to refine, monitor, and manage their processes.

Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud translates complexity into clarity. By leveraging AI, automation, or other modern technologies, it empowers manufacturing companies to optimise account-based forecasting, coordinate with channel partners, and deliver outstanding service experiences. At the same time, it gives them the flexibility to adapt to changing market conditions and evolving customer needs.

Why process manufacturers can’t afford to ignore Manufacturing Cloud

This AI-powered platform enables customer centricity for manufacturers across all industries. One area of application is process manufacturing, where it addresses challenges like production planning complexities, fragmented data, and demand volatility.

Below are a few examples of how Manufacturing Cloud can help:

• Complex Multi-Stakeholder Sales Processes: Process manufacturing often involves lengthy sales cycles with multiple decision-makers, from stakeholders to engineers, compliance officers, and procurement teams. Manufacturing Cloud’s account-based approach provides visibility into these complex relationships and buying processes, enabling smarter decisions and more accurate planning.

• Channel Partner Complexity: With 80% of manufacturers selling through distributors, dealers, and franchises, coordinating channel operations becomes critical. Manufacturing Cloud enables real-time alignment across the entire sales network, addressing the coordination challenges faced by industry players.

• Missed Aftermarket Revenue: According to Salesforce’s Trends in Manufacturing report, 97% of manufacturers are actively rethinking their service models. Manufacturing Cloud connects service operations with sales and inventory, empowering companies to seize aftermarket opportunities while improving customer satisfaction.

• Data Integration Challenges: Per the above report, 78% of manufacturers spend significant time searching for information across systems. Enterprises can leverage Manufacturing Cloud to consolidate data sources and gain a 360-degree view of their operations.

• Inaccurate Forecasting: Without a unified data system, forecasting demand becomes unreliable, increasing the risk of shortages or excess inventory. Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud connects your data, leading to more accurate forecasts and improved resource planning.

Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud allows you to seamlessly manage all your data, systems, and workflows in one centralised location. Process manufacturers can also use the platform to automate quotation processes, streamline contract management, improve internal communications, and much more.

Why switch to Manufacturing Cloud?

According to Salesforce, Manufacturing Cloud can help manufacturers increase ROI by around 30%, automate 60% of warranty claims, and accelerate service case resolution by over 20%, driving efficiency and profitability.

The platform delivers value across multiple dimensions critical to process manufacturing success, including:

• Enhanced Sales Performance: Per Salesforce’s 2024 Trends in Manufacturing report, only 38% of manufacturers exceed their profitability targets. With its advanced forecasting and pipeline management capabilities, Manufacturing Cloud helps sales teams optimise pricing strategies and close more deals.

• Improved Partner Coordination: 46% of the manufacturing companies surveyed by Salesforce cited improved communications as the top driver of partner channel initiatives. Manufacturing Cloud’s partner portal and collaboration tools streamline coordination, addressing this critical need to strengthen partnerships, reduce friction, and boost efficiency.

• Service Excellence: Only 41% of manufacturers exceed aftermarket revenue goals. The platform’s service management capabilities address this performance gap by integrating service delivery with forecasting, parts inventory, and customer data. This approach enables process manufacturers to optimise their services and create new revenue streams.

• Operational Efficiency: By consolidating disparate systems and processes, Manufacturing Cloud makes data more accessible and easier to interpret. As a result, it can free up employees to focus on higher-impact activities like optimising production workflows and delivering better customer service. Instead of chasing down reports or reconciling conflicting data, teams can make faster and smarter decisions driven by unified, real-time insights.
• Forecasting and Analytics: Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud delivers predictive insights into sales performance, service demand, and partner effectiveness while supporting data-driven decision-making across the organisation.

• Customer Relationship Management: The platform delivers a unified view of customers across sales, service, and partner interactions. With these insights, manufacturers can create hyper-personalised experiences, strengthen customer loyalty, and reduce churn.

To reap these benefits, it’s important to have a partner who knows the Salesforce system inside out. That’s where Fluido’s team of manufacturing experts can help. From mapping out your data and workflows to configuring and testing Manufacturing Cloud, Fluido will guide you every step of the way.

TWOS analysis: Manufacturing Cloud for process manufacturers

Ready to get started with Manufacturing Cloud? First, assess your current state and make a plan to move forward.

Begin with a TWOS (Threats, Opportunities, Weaknesses, Strengths) analysis to understand what you do well and what you could do better. This step can also uncover missed revenue opportunities and provide the insights you need to develop a strategic roadmap.

Without further ado, here’s what a TWOS analysis looks like for process manufacturers:

Threats

• Cybersecurity risks from increased digital connectivity and data sharing;
• Competitive pressure from manufacturers with more advanced digital capabilities;
• Regulatory compliance challenges as data integration increases audit complexity;
• Market volatility, which requires rapid adaptation of sales and service strategies.

Weaknesses

• Legacy system integration complexity in established process manufacturing environments;
• Change management challenges, with 32% of manufacturers lacking internal AI/digital expertise, per Salesforce’s 2024 Trends in Manufacturing report;
• Data quality issues causing 48% of manufacturers to question their ability to make accurate, data-driven decisions;
• Resource constraints, given the cost concerns cited by 38% of manufacturers.

Opportunities

• Revenue growth through improved sales effectiveness and partner coordination;
• Service expansion, with 97% of manufacturers pursuing service transformation;
• Operational efficiency gains through process automation and data integration;
• Customer experience enhancement leading to increased loyalty and retention;
• Predictive analytics capabilities for proactive decision-making.

Strengths

• Industry-specific design tailored to manufacturing business processes;
• Proven platform with robust security, scalability, and reliability;
• Comprehensive integration capabilities addressing data silo challenges;
• AI-enabled insights guiding the 80% of manufacturers implementing AI;
• Partner ecosystem supporting implementation and ongoing optimisation.

Monitor and measure the KPIs that matter

Implementing Manufacturing Cloud isn’t particularly difficult if you work with an experienced Salesforce partner like Fluido. The question is, how are you going to measure success? After all, you want to get the most out of your Salesforce investment and see tangible results.

That’s another area where Manufacturing Cloud can help. The platform makes it easy to track all the right KPIs and metrics in one place, including:

As an integral part of the Salesforce ecosystem, Manufacturing Cloud brings all your data together, providing insights into sales performance, customer satisfaction, revenue growth, and other aspects. Moreover, you can tap into its AI capabilities to generate custom reports, summaries, and forecasts without having to dig through layers of data.

The Manufacturing Cloud advantage

From better inventory management to streamlined service delivery, Manufacturing Cloud can transform the way you do business. By integrating sales, service, and partner operations, it enables manufacturers to improve performance across the metrics that matter most. Think of it as a strategic tool to optimise resource planning, ensure data integrity, and unlock growth opportunities while addressing inefficiencies.

For process manufacturers struggling with coordination, data silos, or performance gaps, Manufacturing Cloud isn’t just a technology upgrade—but a strategic advantage. Not only does it provide a full view of your operations and customer interactions, but it also automates routine tasks like order tracking, contract renewals, and account forecasting.

Fluido can help your organisation implement, configure, and manage this platform so you can tap into its full potential. Learn more about the Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud Quick Start Package or get in touch with a consultant to discuss your business needs.