![Remote work for accountants](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/3S3I1Qq0KdKTeRF96ZvfCB/5b4b2956fa88d90598b0388c21f5e886/kelly-sikkema-wgcUx0kR1ps-unsplash.jpg)

There was a time when accountants only worked in offices, relying on desktop accounting software and on-prem management systems. Accounting was the archetype for a 9-5 job, with rigid structures and routines. It used to be a commonly held belief that high levels of productivity required supervision or even surveillance. 

But those days are a thing of the past. 

As digitalization continues to disrupt sector after sector, the finance and accounting industry is seeing a massive shift in working conditions. Technological advancements and cloud-based accounting systems enable accountants working from home to produce results just as good as those in office settings.

The World Economic Forum also points to [workplace flexibility](https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/davos-2020-future-work-jobs-skills-what-to-know/) as a crucial topic in the future of work, and an increasing number of businesses are discovering the upsides of this new way of working.

[Younger generations in particular want more freedom](https://startupnation.com/manage-your-business/millennials-want-work-remotely/) and have come to expect a different level of flexibility and autonomy. 

**Remote work is here to stay, and with COVID-19 the transition went from optional to imperative.** Today, more accounting firms than ever are embracing remote work and leveraging the benefits.

&nbsp;

## Remote work gives you access to top talent

Finding skilled employees in finance and accounting can be difficult. Widening the candidate search to include remote candidates is an efficient way to get a larger pool of talent to choose from and a competitive edge. 

Allowing remote work is also a way to become a more attractive workplace for local talent. [88% of people who work remotely](https://www.talentlms.com/blog/remote-work-statistics-survey/) would recommend telecommuting to their friends, and [only 20% of employees working from home](https://www.talentlms.com/blog/remote-work-statistics-survey/) would prefer to go back to working in an office.

Leading accounting firms are adapting to the remote trend, and according to a 2018 survey by Convergence Coaching, [43% of CPA firms](https://financesonline.com/accounting-trends/) offer their employees the option of working from home.

&nbsp;

## Other benefits of remote work for accounting firms

Alongside talent acquisition, the benefits of remote work for accounting firms are numerous, both for the employer and employees. From a business perspective, [Forbes lists the following five proven benefits](https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurelfarrer/2020/02/12/top-5-benefits-of-remote-work-for-companies/#5972ae1416c8) as the most important:

- **Productivity:** Remote workers are 35-40% more productive than their office colleagues, and have an output increase of more than 4.4%.
- **Performance:** With more autonomy and location independence, employees deliver results with 40% fewer quality defects.
- **Engagement:** With increased levels of productivity and performance, remote workers are typically more engaged with 41% lower absence rates.
- **Retention:** Teams showed an average of 12% turnover reduction after remote work is offered.
- **Profitability:** Companies save an average of $11,000 yearly per remote worker, translating to a 21% higher profitability.

&nbsp;

## Help your team transition to remote work

As we've seen, there are many reasons to give remote work a go in your accounting firm, even after the pandemic has passed. But what does it take to succeed?

While the benefits of working remotely for accountants are numerous, some challenges come with it too. 

Not being able to meet your team members or clients in person has its downsides, and for your company to thrive in this new situation you need processes that facilitate connection – even from afar. Here's how to handle these challenges of remote work.

---

### 3 common challenges of remote work for accountants – and how to handle them

#### 1. Not meeting your clients in person

Cutting out 1-1 time with clients can make it seem more difficult to build a relationship. It can also increase the risk of misunderstandings.

**Solution:** Whenever possible, opt for video calls to make your meetings more personal. Keep a clear agenda for every meeting and always send a follow-up email listing what was discussed and decided. 

When everyone is working remotely, communicating every little detail in writing is key to achieving goals and delivering excellent customer experiences.

&nbsp;

#### 2. Managing a remote team is difficult

Managing a team without meeting your team members will always be different from when you all work in the same space. Team-building, motivational activities and planning need to happen in a different format.

**Solution:** Make sure to book regular team meetings and one-on-ones with your team members. As with your client meetings, use video whenever possible. 

To learn from another industry, software developers often start their day with a daily 15-minute standup meeting; a habit that lends itself well to all kinds of remote teams. The standup (which, when done remotely often is a sitdown) is a great way to check in with your team, give each other a boost of energy and sync around your projects. 

Also, do remember to plan some time together that is not work-related. This can make up for the lack of office banter that would have taken place by the coffee machine were you all in the same space. 

Virtual happy hours and video games are both fun teambuilding activities that can work wonders for motivation and morale.

<RelatedPost slug="manage-a-remote-team-with-automation" /> 

&nbsp;

#### 3. Customer service and internal comms can get messy

With no receptionist to guide visitors and clients to the right person, you risk having clients calling the wrong number or be left hanging.

**Solution:** [Integrate all your applications and contacts](https://www.piesync.com/why/) to enrich the data in every app and help your team know exactly which client is calling.

A robust PBX (Private Branch Exchange) or VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) system that's [integrated with your CRM system and other applications](https://www.piesync.com/connections/voip/) can also help you ensure everyone who is calling your business has the best possible experience.

---

## Cloud-based tools make remote work easier for accountants

To fully enjoy the [advantages of remote work](https://www.piesync.com/blog/28-stats-about-remote-work/), having the right tools in place is essential. With the right tech stack, your team will be able to transition seamlessly between the office and remote work and between different devices.

- **Communication:** Slack and Zoom are great tools for communication and video meetings. To quickly set up local numbers and call anywhere in the world, also check out [VoIP tools](https://www.piesync.com/blog/9-voip-trends-for-2020-to-pay-attention-to/) (Voice over Internet Protocol) like [Aircall or RingCentral](https://www.piesync.com/blog/ringcentral-vs-aircall-which-voip-phone-software-is-best/).
- **Collaboration:** To keep your team aligned and in sync, you can adopt a cloud-based tool for collaboration and project management. [Trello](https://www.trello.com) is a popular Kanban-style application, while [Monday](https://monday.com/) and [Asana](https://asana.com/) are more classic project management tools.
- **Business management:** To be able to work remotely, you'll need a cloud-based CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system that your team loves. We've listed some of the [best CRMs for small businesses](https://www.piesync.com/blog/the-best-crms-for-small-businesses-pros-cons-and-what-you-need-to-know/) here. For the best results, make sure to [connect your other apps to your CRM](https://www.piesync.com/solutions/crm/).

<RelatedPost slug="apps-for-working-remotely" /> 

---

## How will your accounting firm thrive remotely?

There are numerous upsides for accounting firms who choose to embrace remote work, including higher productivity, performance, engagement, retention and profitability.

But to be fully able to reap the benefits of remote work as an accountant, it's vital to be proactive and aware of the challenges that come with a new way of working.

By using the right cloud-based technology, and making sure [all your applications and systems are integrated](https://www.piesync.com/why/), you provide your team with the tools to succeed. Other critical success factors include a strong focus on regular communication, video meetings and remembering to take the time for some social banter now and then.


Your accounting firm can thrive remotely, but there are a few challenges to watch out for and best practices to follow. Here's what you need to know.

A guide to remote work for accountants

Remote work for accountants

Bill.com

![integration solution for bill.com](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/2t3VmTGlo5tfyJSWK3Y6fo/5081a07fa5336ad3f376152c81562989/Bill.com-CRM_launch.png)

[Bill.com](https://www.bill.com/) is a provider of cloud-based software that automates back-office financial operations for small and midsize businesses. The company's AI-enabled platform creates connections between businesses and their suppliers and clients to help businesses manage their cash inflows and outflows.

Your Bill.com data can be very useful for your sales, marketing, and customer support teams. But how do you keep all those different databases together?

Integration is one of the main challenges companies are currently facing. Native integrations and zaps work perfectly if you need one-way pushes (from one app to the other one). But for a complete synchronization, you got PieSync. 

## What's two-way synchronization? 

Most apps are not natively integrated. This means you have to work out a way to get contact data from one app to another. A two-way or bidirectional sync means that whenever you add or modify your customers’ information in one tool, you’ll have it automatically up-to-date in the other one, and vice versa.

That helps you [avoid data silos](https://www.piesync.com/blog/data-silos-what-they-are-what-causes-them-and-how-to-fix-them/). Plus, PieSync keeps in mind historical data to make sure you don’t overwrite contacts or have incomplete databases.

From now on, you can connect Bill.com to all these apps: 

<Widget type="piesync-widget" left="bill" size="compact" />

__Every Wednesday, PieSync releases a new application. If the business tool you are using is not available yet, go to the section 'investigating' and [vote for the app you need.](https://www.piesync.com/connections) We'll add it to our pipeline.__

## Key PieSync features for Bill.com users 

### Intelligent Syncing 

Sync according to your contacts attributes, categories, lists, etc. This allows you to maintain your segmentation across apps for marketing, sales and support purposes.

It works with an intuitive “If–*this*–then–*that*” set of rules, enabling you to accomplish complex automatic workflows across different applications.

![bill.com. rules syncpng](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/7u2TeIlPsxVwlTFYvaQ9Ei/c29d0a42bdadfb5e3effac918f296579/bill.com._rules_syncpng.png)

<Button href="https://www.piesync.com/bill/" text="Try it now!" />

## Custom Mapping 

The PieSync dashboard will show common contact fields: first name, last name, email address, etc. These are mapped by default. Additionally, you can map other custom-made fields. 

![Integration by PieSync for bill.com](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/6AQHzpFTUGNfZ6Us2ptAF0/19c15fefc779790cf4da8e376f5ffa3e/Screenshot_2020-08-12_at_11.49.27.png)

Additionally, you can map other custom-made fields. 

![custom fields bill.com sync](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/5gQ0iwBB2TE6pWuyRWV0r/2b7b967777757b9f65c6949c11b66696/custom_fields_bill.com_sync.png)

__Do you need help setting up your sync? [Here’s everything you need to know about it.](https://www.piesync.com/help/connector-apps/bill/)__

# Bill.com and PieSync

<Embed src="https://youtu.be/iHf4zLHpPTA" />

<Button href="https://www.piesync.com/bill/" text="Try it now!" />

## Top Syncs For Bill.com

__From now on, you can have in sync:__

### Bill.com and your Contact Management Tools

- [Bill.com and Google Contacts](https://www.piesync.com/bill/googlecontacts/)
- [Bill.com and Outlook](https://www.piesync.com/bill/outlook/)
- [Bill.com and Contacts+](https://www.piesync.com/bill/contactsplus/)

### Bill.com and your CRM

- [Bill.com and HubSpot](https://www.piesync.com/bill/hubspot/)
- [Bill.com and Salesforce](https://www.piesync.com/bill/salesforce/)
- [Bill.com and Pipedrive](https://www.piesync.com/bill/pipedrive/)

### Bill.com and your Email Marketing app

- [Bill.com and Mailchimp](https://www.piesync.com/bill/mailchimp/)
- [Bill.com and ActiveCampaign](https://www.piesync.com/bill/activecampaign/)
- [Bill.com and Sharpspring](https://www.piesync.com/bill/sharpspring/)

### Bill.com and other apps

- [Bill.com and KWCommand](https://www.piesync.com/bill/kwcommand/)
- [Bill.com and Phoneburner](https://www.piesync.com/bill/phoneburner/)
- [Bill.com and Aircall](https://www.piesync.com/bill/aircall/)

__These are only some examples, the combinations and workflows you can create are limitless! Keep your software stack in sync, your way!__

<Button href="https://www.piesync.com/bill/" text="Try it now!" />

PieSync's two-way sync is now available for Bill.com! Have the contacts of your accounting app in sync with 236 other business tools. Discover everything about this amazing integration solution. 

Now you can sync you contacts between Bill.com and other apps 

integration solution for bill.com

Now PieSync supports Bill.com: Have your contacts in sync with 236 apps

Zoho CRM

Mailchimp

HubSpot Marketing Hub

Quickbooks

Google Contacts

![zoho integrations](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/67dz1kOPzeWt7qVE7YPBLa/c51527b75dfe28726a8ecabd31e2a87f/zoho-book.png)

[Zoho CRM](https://www.zoho.com/crm/) makes sure your sales team stays focused on their targets. Lead generation from existing websites, lead activity tracking, email integration, task management and complete sales cycle views are just some of Zoho’s many features.

[Having Zoho CRM in sync with other tools via PieSync](https://www.piesync.com/zoho-crm/) enhances the power of your entire software stack. Integration improves the quality of your data by enriching and unifying it.   

Here are some popular use cases where integrating your tools makes all the difference: 

1. [Keeping your CRM and contact management tool in sync](#contact-management)
2. [Syncing your CRM and your marketing automation tool](#automation) 
3. [Keeping your CRM and your email marketing app in sync](email)
4. [Having your accounting app in sync with your CRM](accounting)

We'll use as an example [Google Contacts](https://www.piesync.com/google-contacts/) as a contact management tool, [HubSpot](https://www.piesync.com/hubspotmarketinghub/) as a marketing automation app, [Mailchimp](https://www.piesync.com/mailchimp/) for email marketing and [Quickbooks](https://www.piesync.com/quickbooks/) as an accounting tool. But you can combine Zoho CRM with many other applications:

<Widget type="piesync-widget" left="zohocrm" size="compact" />

Let's get started!

&nbsp;

## 1. Keeping your CRM and contact management tool in sync{#contact-management}

&nbsp;

#### Zoho CRM and Google Contacts (GSuite)

G Suite doesn’t have its own team contacts manager. This is a huge headache for administrators who want to be able to manage contacts on a team-based level. That’s why businesses choose to use Zoho CRM in conjunction with Google Contacts or G Suite - it allows administrators to manage contacts on a team based-level.

Once you've [signed up for PieSync](https://app.piesync.com/sync/zohocrm), you can select the apps you need to sync in our dashboard. 

![Zoho CRM integrations](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/5utXQ1ZOFnfA8M66mqKycy/d5bd3fba71f624f85f52122ab49a32ac/Screenshot_2020-07-09_at_12.00.23.png)

&nbsp;

Once you've selected Zoho CRM and your contact management app, you'll need to authorize PieSync to access those tools. You can do so by login into your account or using the API key. [Here's how to authorize Zoho on PieSync.](https://www.piesync.com/help/connector-apps/zoho-crm/)

![Zoho and google integration](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/35CHUDvyu2dUVt8HiI4nKa/8be512ffbd49a7583b794ef048aba835/Screenshot_2020-07-09_at_12.00.52.png)

&nbsp;

Now it's time to configure your sync. A two-way, real-time sync requires two rules which are preconfigured for you. The first one reads: “__IF__ a contact is in Google Contacts, __THEN__ sync the contact between Google Contacts and Zoho CRM”. The second one implies that “__IF__ a contact is in Zoho CRM, __THEN__ sync the contact between Google Contacts and Zoho CRM.”

When both rules are switch on, all the contacts added or updated in Google Contacts will be synced with Zoho CRM. At the same time, all the contacts in Zoho CRM will be in sync with Google Contacts.

![Google contacts and Zoho](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/47H3LxQUtd5kq9cVS01eGx/3858bd559a54629e06169ae60ff780ec/Screenshot_2020-07-09_at_12.03.44.png)

&nbsp;

A lot of people don’t want to sync all contacts, or they want to segment their contacts into lists or groups. This can be done by adding __filters__.

For instance, you can filter your contacts based on their tags in Zoho CRM. Perhaps you want to segment contacts who have the tag “Prospects” in Zoho CRM into a label called “Prospects” in Google Contacts (you will need to create this label in Google Contacts if you don’t already have one).

To achieve this, you can create a rule that reads: “__IF__ a contact is in Zoho CRM and has the tag “Prospects”, __THEN__ sync the contact between Google Contacts and Zoho CRM and add label “Prospects’”. 

At the bottom of this rule, activate the toggle which reads “Undo if Zoho CRM contact does not have tag Prospect, then remove label in Google Contacts." This will ensure your list is kept up to date.

![Integration for Zoho CRM and Gmail](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/2aZexXKULK2VlLrb5QW0yi/31f2001e70237212a6900117fff82bee/Screenshot_2020-07-09_at_12.04.43.png)

&nbsp;

Thanks to PieSync’s Teams features, you and your colleagues can sync contacts in Google Contacts or G Suite into Zoho CRM. PieSync also prevents duplicates (where the same contact is synced multiple times) by checking if similar contacts have been synced based on email addresses.

<RelatedPost slug="the-ultimate-guide-to-google-contacts" />

&nbsp;

## 2. Syncing your CRM and your marketing automation tool{#automation}

&nbsp;

#### Send marketing qualified leads to Zoho CRM

Everyone likes to work with the best-of-breed apps. But what if your marketing team wants to use HubSpot and your sales team thinks Zoho CRM is the tool for them? 

PieSync can integrate these apps and create an amazing lead gen stack. This integration is especially useful for CRMs that don’t treat leads differently from prospects or other contacts.

Once you access PieSync's dashboard, select Zoho CRM and your marketing automation tool. [Here are all the marketing apps PieSync supports](https://www.piesync.com/connections/marketing-newsletters/).

You can choose to sync contacts, leads or accounts. 

![contact sync between hubspot and zoho](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/2XLjA82LFmJkKdzRuVNTS3/30a0a3c67387047fff5b0e632edbe291/Screenshot_2020-07-09_at_14.11.57.png)

&nbsp;

Next, create this rule for this sync: "__IF__ a contact in HubSpot is greater than 5, __THEN__ sync the contact to Zoho CRM and add Tag MQL." 

In essence, this means that when a HubSpot contact’s lead score goes over a certain threshold (in this case 5, but this is up to you), then PieSync syncs this contact to Zoho CRM and adds a tag indicating that it is a marketing qualified lead.

![HubSpot and Zoho integration](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/3w6ON6xBCLnkbqhp8GqDpD/61d5a50792d61994affefa8993f58b31/Screenshot_2020-07-09_at_14.12.49.png)

&nbsp;

You can also assign those marketing qualified leads to a dedicated Zoho CRM sales rep through a filter. Instead of choosing “add a tag”, select “set owner to” and choose your rep from the drop down menu.

&nbsp;

#### Sync based on opt-in and opt-out preferences

You can also keep your email lists sparkling clean by syncing based on your subscriber’s opt-out and opt-in preferences.

In the following example, customers who have not opted out are subscribed to a list:

![Zoho CRM and HubSpot marketing](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/71FgNSvG479BIvhB4H5BRn/b84e18aea532e8be987e05ff74ec7aea/Screenshot_2020-07-09_at_14.13.50.png)

&nbsp;

__Tip: Keeping [GDPR](https://www.piesync.com/help/faq/piesync-and-gdpr/) in mind, syncing and storing opt-out preference on a CRM level is a must.__

&nbsp;

#### Sync HubSpot Analytics to Zoho CRM

With the [HubSpot to Zoho CRM sync](https://www.piesync.com/hubspotmarketinghub/zoho-crm/), you’re able to sync HubSpot’s analytics to Zoho CRM through PieSync’s customizable field mapping. 

First, create the custom fields you need within Zoho CRM, such as when  they last visited your website, and what was the last marketing e-mail they opened from you.

![Create custom fields in Zoho](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/uJqExzETf50jqP4FGAnLO/1d345ad9a88caa5d05cd4d76364ca55c/Screenshot_2020-07-09_at_14.18.13.png)

&nbsp;

On the PieSync dashboard, you can map those custom fields between HubSpot and Zoho CRM, so that this information is synced to Zoho CRM from HubSpot. You only need to link these fields once, and you’re all set! 

![HubSpot and Zoho CRM integration](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/1k7lyNKw6gIbcKK9COeHQx/72c9c41b36c78b382d6c9df5392e6cf4/Screenshot_2020-07-09_at_14.16.33.png)

&nbsp;

__Good to know: setting up a sync between HubSpot and Zoho CRM syncs historical website activity too!__

<Button text="Sync Zoho CRM and HubSpot" href="https://www.piesync.com/zoho-crm/hubspot/" />

&nbsp;

## 3. Keeping your CRM and your email marketing app in sync{#email}

&nbsp;

#### Syncing email subscribers between Zoho CRM and Mailchimp

One of the most popular PieSync integrations is keeping selected Zoho CRM contacts (marketing opted-in) in sync with a Mailchimp list.

Businesses that use this sync notice an increase in productivity because they no longer have to manually keep email lists up-to-date in both app - the sync does this for them automatically. It is also easier to implement email marketing campaigns knowing that all your subscriber information is updated.

Correct subscriber information is paramount these days, especially with data protection laws such as GDPR - you don’t want to be hit with a fine because you accidentally sent out a bunch of emails to subscribers who are no longer opted-in!

This sync helps you send out timely campaigns to interested subscribers in email marketing lists with the most up-to-date information.

To create this connection, first authorize your apps on the PieSync dashboard. For Mailchimp, you can only sync one Mailchimp list per connection slot. If you want to sync more Mailchimp lists, you have to create more syncs. 

__[Click here to learn how to authorize Mailchimp.](https://www.piesync.com/help/connector-apps/mailchimp/)__

Then, it’s time to set up a two-way sync between Zoho CRM and Mailchimp.

![mailchimp integration with zoho](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/2Gc1h9KdfoxHoH2oq4QDy0/9048131d1e4eefe4f27da7aabd2d8404/Screenshot_2020-07-09_at_15.10.41.png)

&nbsp;

This sync dictates that all contacts in Zoho CRM will be synced to Mailchimp and all contacts in a Mailchimp list will be synced to Zoho CRM.

Because syncing *all* contacts between the two is usually not what we’re after, you can add some customization to the sync. For example, you can filter contacts using Zoho CRM tags.

We've added the additional rule that if the contact has the tag “Newsletter”, then it will be synced to Mailchimp.

![zoho crm with mailchimp](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/7zF9VqCTSNScyJCeCUk1Av/f2fcf8ed5773e377ba20596e4d09a81d/Screenshot_2020-07-09_at_15.11.33.png)

&nbsp;

If someone subscribes to your Mailchimp list, their information will be synced to Zoho CRM and the tag “Newsletter” will be added.

&nbsp;

#### Sync based on opt-in and opt-out preferences

You can also keep your email lists clean by syncing based on your subscriber’s opt-out and opt-in preferences.

In the following example, customers who have not opted out are subscribed to a list:

![mailchimp and zoho crm integration](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/1lkM3xcWieBqfhuxbxca4L/790d41e3ad33e8eccc43abbcc56214ad/Screenshot_2020-07-09_at_15.13.59.png)

&nbsp;

If a customer unsubscribes from your mailing list, this information gets picked up by PieSync and is reflected in Zoho CRM.

<Button text="Sync Zoho and Mailchimp" href="https://www.piesync.com/zoho-crm/mailchimp/" />

&nbsp;

## 4. Having your accounting app in sync with your CRM{#accounting}

By [creating a sync between Zoho CRM and Quickbooks](https://www.piesync.com/zoho-crm/quickbooks/), colleagues in accounting can count on the information in Quickbooks to be correct and up-to-date. 

This sync can also automatically send customer information from Zoho CRM to Quickbooks when a deal is closed so that invoicing can begin. Through the power of syncing, your business has only one address book to maintain: Zoho CRM’s.

After closing a deal, sales staff typically identifies to whom invoices should be sent. They will create this contact in Zoho CRM. Through PieSync, the contact information of the invoice recipient can be synced to your accounting team in Quickbooks.

As with the previous setups, you'll have to authorize your apps on the PieSync dashboard and you'll see a default two-way sync between your Quickbooks and your Zoho CRM.

You can use PieSync rules and tags such as “invoice recipients” to personalize your sync from Zoho into Quickbooks. This way, colleagues in accounting can rely on recipients’ address information to be correctly pre-filled out in Quickbooks, no more double checking. Smooth handover!

Maybe sales forgot to handover to accounting? No worries! Even when accounting creates new contacts in their own app, they will be synced to Zoho CRM and identified as invoice recipients there. So make sure you set up a rule that stipulates that PieSync sync contacts from Quickbooks to Zoho CRM if they carry a specific tag such as “invoice recipient.”

The cherry on top: Quickbooks can track whether a contact still has open invoices or not to their name. Since PieSync works two ways, as soon as the invoice gets paid and is logged in Quickbooks, the tag disappears in Zoho CRM. Make sure you switch on the toggle next to “Undo” for this - this toggle is located under the rule on the PieSync dashboard.

![Quickbooks integration with Zoho](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/1uLloKFhrnnMNZ7AGgrS09/54edecd2a257cd0f3a76c1827e166d51/Screenshot_2020-07-09_at_15.25.26.png)

&nbsp;

In addition, when accounting creates new contacts in Quickbooks, they will be synced to Zoho CRM, along with the information about their payment status (handy for sales and customer care teams who are in touch with contacts).

For this latter feature, simply create a custom field in Zoho so it can store Quickbooks’ information.

Using custom fields in Zoho CRM you can create more nuances:

![Quickbooks integration with Zoho](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/6eRqp4pdYrTpPjY4DwTVYz/3eac81a85fa02aa90ec175fbfa1e6081/Screenshot_2020-07-09_at_15.26.38.png)

![Quickbooks integration with Zoho](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/36o99f1ldKQBZHeI9ZhYnk/de5b8749e436e34a2bcd733fe3e10897/Screenshot_2020-07-09_at_15.27.03.png)

---

We hope you're all set to start syncing Zoho CRM with the rest of your tech stack! To make the most of two-way syncing for your apps, [get started with a PieSync free trial now](https://app.piesync.com/signup/).

<Button text="Try PieSync for free" href="https://app.piesync.com/signup/" />

Want to integrate Zoho CRM with the rest of your business tools, but don't know where to start? These guidelines will show you how to use PieSync to sync Zoho CRM with your tech stack to be more productive, save time and have a beautifully streamlined contact database.

How to sync Zoho CRM with your app stack: a complete guide

zoho integrations

Salesforce

Marketo

![marketo vs salesforce marketing cloud](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/7jWj0p9dSdPcj5bgo6E5KC/b27eda5aec28c360ce98b5eff0146f2f/marketo_vs_salesforce_marketing_cloud.png)

Salesforce and Marketo are both enterprise marketing platforms, but they thrive in different use cases. 

Salesforce has a huge customer base – [150,000 users](https://www.salesforce.com/campaign/worlds-number-one-CRM/) and counting – and has seven years on Marketo, having launched in 1999. 

However, the biggest difference between these platforms is that they were __originally designed to target different types of marketers__. 

Salesforce Marketing Cloud is more of a business-to-consumer (B2C) platform, and Marketo is a business-to-business (B2B) platform.

Despite their differences, both Salesforce and Marketo are among the world’s most-used marketing technology platforms. But which one is best for you? It all depends.

At times, it’s like comparing apples and oranges, but when all is said and done:

- [Salesforce](https://www.salesforce.com/products/marketing-cloud/channels/) has a relatively complex data model. This is great for flexibility, but it requires more data management expertise.
- [Marketo](https://www.marketo.com/), on the other hand, is still designed for large corporations but tends to be a better choice if you have smaller data sets.

Of course, there’s much more to this.

In recent years, Salesforce has grown into a complex labyrinth of clouds, apps and analytics. For the purpose of this guide, we’re going to __compare Marketo with Salesforce Marketing Cloud__, which is just one component of the Salesforce family of apps. 

You can also compare Marketo with Pardot, Salesforce's B2B marketing automation tool:

<RelatedPost slug="pardot-vs-marketo-which-marketing-automation-tool-is-best" />

&nbsp;

__Jump to:__

- [When to choose Salesforce Marketing Cloud](#choosing-salesforce)
- [When to choose Marketo](#choosing-marketo)
- [Can you use Salesforce Marketing Cloud with Marketo?](#salesforce-with-marketo)
- [Comparing Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Marketo features](#comparing-features)
- [Setup](#setup)
- [Ease of use](#ease-of-use)
- [Marketing automation](#automation)
- [Reporting and analytics](#reporting)
- [Customization](#customization)
- [Customer support](#customer-support)
- [Pricing comparison](#pricing-comparison)
- [Summary: When to choose Salesforce Marketing Cloud vs. Marketo](#summary)
- [Use PieSync to connect your apps with Marketo and Salesforce](#piesync)

---

## When to choose Salesforce Marketing Cloud{#choosing-salesforce}

### You have more complex data

Salesforce Marketing Cloud is well-suited to marketers who have large, complex data sets, like those found in B2C contexts. You'd be hard-pressed to find a marketing platform that can handle more complexity than Salesforce.

Flexibility is the real benefit here, but with this comes extra responsibility. For many tasks, you will need at least intermediate knowledge of data management principles, if not more.

&nbsp;

### You want to create multi-touch campaigns

Salesforce lets you reach customers at various touch-points in your marketing pipelines with its Journey Builder feature. The journey will be bumpy if you don’t have the required data management know-how, but this shouldn’t be a problem for most medium to large companies with in-house marketing teams and tech support. 

The destination for these companies will be well worth the wait, as Journey Builder facilitates cross-channel campaigns brilliantly, allowing marketers to move prospects through their funnels without breaking a sweat.

![salesforce customer journey builder](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/6m4WToa24hDyqORdJqE6JE/b93eb25f1fe91ce13ed7a22a7eafed8b/journey-management-overview.gif)

&nbsp;

### You want to manage all of the things

You can think of Marketing Cloud as the framework and other Salesforce products as the building blocks.

Here are the different Salesforce marketing tools you can add to Marketing Cloud:

![Salesforce Marketing Cloud product family tools](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/7yMaJn10eps5pPvHYJQdAJ/bc6b7fa2cd56a4643114c7e995b7636e/Journey_Builder.png)

Marketing Cloud offers plenty of variety and flexibility for your set-up, but you need an impressive budget to put behind it. With the separate modules for email management, automation, data and more, this also makes the platform's user interface more complex than Marketo.

If you're trying to choose between Marketing Cloud and Pardot, Salesforce's B2B automation tool, [here's our in-depth comparison](https://www.piesync.com/blog/salesforce-marketing-cloud-vs-pardot-which-marketing-tool-is-best-for-2020/):

<RelatedPost slug="salesforce-marketing-cloud-vs-pardot-which-marketing-tool-is-best-for-2020"/>

----

## When to choose Marketo{#choosing-marketo}

### You want a simpler interface

We just mentioned that the Salesforce UI can take a while to get used to, so Marketo’s your platform if you prefer a simpler approach. Everything you need to manage campaigns is accessible from the Marketing Activities screen, and there are separate menus for more detailed actions and views.

![Marketo workflow builder](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/1ZrDmJCInJYchsJYTSomeV/0acd8724f432986a86b799db3412e496/Screenshot_2020-03-04_at_16.13.53.png)

&nbsp;

### You’re newer to this

Not everyone can be a marketing wiz, and we get that. While Marketo is far from being an entry-level system, it’s certainly easier to navigate than Salesforce, and this will suit marketers who don’t want to overcomplicate things.

&nbsp;

### You want scope for simpler customization

There’s a misconception that Marketo adopts a one-size-fits-all approach to marketing, but this certainly isn’t the case. Although there’s less customization than Salesforce, you can still personalize your email and social campaigns just the way you like. Plus, there are external APIs if you want to customize further.

----

## Can you use Salesforce Marketing Cloud With Marketo?{#salesforce-with-marketo}

You could, but you’d be over-complicating things! It’s best to choose one of these platforms and stick with it. 

Interestingly, Marketo was built for Salesforce CRM, and some people find it integrates better with that than Salesforce Marketing Cloud. Sure, this is subjective, but Marketo’s strengths lie in its simplicity. 

You might find PieSync useful if you’re already using Salesforce CRM. It offers a [deep two-way contact data sync between apps](https://www.piesync.com/why/) so you can improve contact management and target the right leads - and the sync works with both Marketo and Salesforce Marketing Cloud, as well as hundreds of other apps.

----

## Comparing Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Marketo features{#comparing-features}

### Setup{#setup}

To get started with __Salesforce Marketing Cloud__ you will need to:

- Install and configure Salesforce Marketing Cloud in Salesforce CRM
- Grant access to your admin
- Create users
- Choose permission sets
- Manage/add assignments
- Update security

Here's the [in-depth setup guide](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/en/content/learn/modules/marketing-cloud-connect/install-mc-connect) from Marketing Cloud.


Alternatively, the key steps for getting started with __Marketo__ are to:

- Create your account and log in
- Create Marketo users
- Set up authorized support contacts
- Customize landing page URLs
- Allow email deliverability
- Configure protocols (probably the hardest part!)
- Submit URLs for email pages/landing pages
- Integrate the CRM of your choice
- Add tracking codes to your web pages

Here's [Marketo's setup documentation](https://docs.marketo.com/spaces/flyingpdf/pdfpageexport.action?pageId=2949469) that talks it through in more detail.

Before choosing between Salesforce and Marketo, it's worth comparing their respective documentation and seeing how you get on. Unless you invest in 1-1 training or support, that's what you'll be spending a lot of time looking at after making your marketing software choice.

&nbsp;

### Ease of use{#ease-of-use}

__Marketo__ definitely wins this one. Salesforce isn’t rocket science, but it’s significantly more complex than its rival. This isn't always a bad thing, and it's a reason why so many customers choose it and love it. With time, you’ll likely get used to either system, but if it’s simplicity you require, we recommend Marketo.

If you have a smaller business or want much more user-friendliness, there are many more straightforward marketing platforms that will likely be a better choice. One of the best alternatives to Salesforce and Marketo for smaller businesses is [HubSpot](https://hubspot.com/):

<RelatedPost slug="hubspot-vs-marketo-which-marketing-software-is-best-for-you"/>

&nbsp;

### Marketing automation{#automation}

Both Salesforce and Marketo are powerful marketing automation platforms. So what's the difference?

Journey Builder is __Salesforce__'s B2C journey management tool for cross-channel personalized experiences at every step of the customer lifecycle.

It's one of Marketing Cloud's stand-out features, offering seemingly endless possibilities for personalization, split-testing and other powerful automation options.

![Salesforce journey builder automation](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/1XzTnBEv2CdUV4WQtZIOUX/e2123bd7e91c4b1ef7c8825448e67d17/c777fb4e39fb2a9acd4095580fd1cf76_unit-5-5.jpg)

&nbsp;

Email management is a crucial component of any marketing campaign, and Salesforce does all the hard work for you with triggered "sends" that let you connect with customers pre- and post-purchase. Even if you have limited knowledge of code, you’ll find it pretty easy to create B2C email workflows with Marketing Cloud. 

![Salesforce email studio](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/7JCFmcHewZsd45sYPgfCgp/f69b99b9e4c00357c929154362c7800d/email-create-2.png)

&nbsp;

__Marketo's__ perfect user is a large enterprise that needs extensive marketing automation. You can create highly personalized workflows in the Marketing Activities dashboard, taking actions such as sending emails, adding contacts to a list, or changing their program enrollment or engagement score.

![Marketo workflow builder](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/1ZrDmJCInJYchsJYTSomeV/0acd8724f432986a86b799db3412e496/Screenshot_2020-03-04_at_16.13.53.png)

&nbsp;

To streamline email management, Marketo makes it easy to manage communications with its Smart Campaigns feature. There are fewer customization options compared to Salesforce, but this platform will do nearly everything you need it to. There’s no code, either, making Marketo a go-to choice if you want to keep life simpler.

![Marketo email templates builder](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/3JYnredgloFXm0xrBNadpP/a6dc3c8458fc47f167185944492a89a9/starter_templates.png)

&nbsp;

Remember: if you're looking for the best-fit software for __B2B__ automation, you're better off with [Salesforce Pardot or Marketo](https://www.piesync.com/blog/pardot-vs-marketo-which-marketing-automation-tool-is-best/).

&nbsp;

### Reporting and analytics{#reporting}

Both Salesforce and Marketo have built-in analytics tools that provide you with deep insights into your customers. 

As __Marketo__ is more of a B2B platform, you can advertise your services to companies as they progress through your marketing lifecycle and gain valuable intelligence along the way. 

![marketo reporting and analytics](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/6pmrhn1PxMmPv3KKoVdXMO/ca0bb40e22e88ffea0fddfcb79f6a90b/marketo_reporting_and_analytics.png)

&nbsp;

__Salesforce__ offers customer-driven data with multiple metrics that will influence campaigns and help you generate leads, track customer behavior and discover new insights every day.

![Salesforce Interaction Studio](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/rkRJ7qJ1qIxCZFVtOlv64/c0f3cd82a7122ee9d4bd45ae0ca03dbc/interaction-studio.gif)

&nbsp;

### Customization{#customization}

Customization is king with __Salesforce__, and you can personalize marketing communications in almost any configuration that you can imagine. 

You can [incorporate AI into your campaigns](https://www.salesforce.com/blog/2018/12/create-personalized-content-marketing-cloud.html), create personalized experiences and develop content blocks and widgets, as just a few examples.

Many options are right there on your dashboard, but you can take a deep dive and uncover a treasure trove of customization options that you’ll love. 

With __Marketo__, customization is still possible and in many cases more user-friendly than with Salesforce. However, it tends to be more limited than the complexity offered by Salesforce.

&nbsp;

### Customer support{#customer-support}

Both Salesforce and Marketo provide users with a wide range of support options, including phone, email, live chat, technical guides, online FAQs and more. However, much of this comes at a cost, so make sure to understand what your options are and how they fit your budget.

If you want to save your budget for the product itself, you’ll also find various tutorials on YouTube and Reddit.

----

## Pricing comparison of Salesforce Marketing Cloud vs. Marketo{#pricing-comparison}

__Salesforce Marketing Cloud__ pricing is extremely complicated, but we’ll do our best to explain. First, there’s no free trial option. This is a testament to Salesforce’s powerful position in the marketplace, which is unlikely to change any time soon. 

There’s also no set pricing. You’ll need to ask for a quote, and someone will get back to you.

Some elements of Salesforce can seem fairly affordable, such as the Marketing Cloud framework, but your investment will see sharp increases as you add other features to the mix. To make the most of Salesforce, you'll likely want to add these.

__Marketo__ pricing isn’t that much more transparent. However, there’s a free trial, so you can dip your toes in the water. If you like what you see, there are [four different pricing plans](https://www.marketo.com/marketo-engage/pricing-packaging/):

- Select
- Prime
- Ultimate
- Enterprise

![Marketo Engage pricing](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/ZLHuGO7fZ8KrrSxvncGEo/32267dae492122f548be57dd824be6ff/Screenshot_2020-03-04_at_16.38.54.png)

&nbsp;

We’re told that prices start from around $900 per month for up to 10,000 contacts. However, you’ll need to contact the company for a full quote.

Marketo supports up to 10 different users, with additional costs for extra users based on the plans above. Note: Marketo doesn’t offer any refunds, so bear that mind.

Neither Salesforce nor Marketo are designed with small businesses in mind. But for larger businesses, investing in software like Marketo and Salesforce could provide you with a significant return on investment.

You’ll be able to fine-tune your marketing campaigns, generate leads, increase visibility, engage customers and boost sales – for the right business, these can be priceless.

---

## Summary: when to choose Salesforce Marketing Cloud vs. Marketo {#summary}

Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Marketo are two very different marketing enterprise platforms, but one isn’t necessarily "better" than the other. 

Despite dominating the market, Salesforce can be a cheaper option if you don't need extra bells and whistles (a big if), and it certainly packs a punch when it comes to customization and features. 

Marketo, on the other hand, is easier to use, making the platform a great choice for marketing rookies as well as companies that want to focus on B2B. 

Each one of these platforms meet the requirements of different marketers.

__Here are a few examples of when it can be better to choose Salesforce or Marketo:__

- You’re __a small company with around 10 employees__ and a healthy budget, and you want to market your products to __customers__. __Salesforce__ might be a good option for you because of its B2C capabilities. Even though this software is more complicated than Marketo, it could be the better option to drive your marketing efforts.
- You are a __large company with 1,000 employees__, and you want to market your services to other __large companies__. __Marketo__ might be a good option for you because of its B2B capabilities. It can work out cheaper or more expensive than Salesforce depending on the features you need, so ask both providers for a quote to compare this.

&nbsp;

##### Here's our summary of when to choose Salesforce Marketing Cloud vs. Marketo:


| When to choose Salesforce Marketing Cloud     | When to choose Marketo     |
| ---------- | ---------- |
| You have more complex data  | You want a simpler interface       |
| You want to create multi-touch campaigns   | You’re new to this       |
| Your business is B2C      | Your business is B2B
| You want to manage all of the things     | You want scope for simple customization |


&nbsp;

##### Looking for other advanced marketing solutions to compare with Marketo and Salesforce?

* [HubSpot vs. Marketo: which marketing software is best for you?](https://www-preview.piesync.com/blog/hubspot-vs-marketo-which-marketing-software-is-best-for-you/)
* [Pardot vs. Salesforce Marketing Cloud: which marketing tool is best for 2020?](https://www.piesync.com/blog/salesforce-marketing-cloud-vs-pardot-which-marketing-tool-is-best-for-2020/)
* [Pardot vs. Eloqua: which marketing automation software is best in 2020?](https://www.piesync.com/blog/pardot-vs-eloqua-which-marketing-automation-software-is-best/)


---

Whether you decide to use Salesforce or Marketo, it’s important you keep your software integrated with the rest of your tech stack in order to seamlessly manage your customer data. 

PieSync lets you [keep your contacts moving freely between apps](http://piesync.com/why/) with two-way syncs. [Get started with a free trial here](https://app.piesync.com/signup/).

Marketo vs. Salesforce... which marketing software is the best fit for your business? We've compared the two enterprise systems in-depth to help you make the best decision.

Salesforce vs. Marketo: which marketing tool is best in 2020?

marketo logo vs salesforce marketing cloud logo on pink background

marketo vs salesforce marketing cloud

![Access benefits of iPaaS](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/QV1norwSmywXn4l0wRZus/1e47fc0a66aaf9eee65f65e94693b2b4/element5-digital-N9182BKazK8-unsplash-min.jpg)

The way we manage business operations is changing fast. Although many companies are still struggling to manage their data in disconnected systems, the most effective organizations are using technology to __create connections__. These are:

* Between their teams
* With their customers
* With their data

With these connections in place, you put your business in the best position to collaborate, deliver consistent customer experiences, fix [data silos](https://www.piesync.com/blog/data-silos-what-they-are-what-causes-them-and-how-to-fix-them/) and __thrive__. 

In fact, [over 80% of enterprise operations leaders](https://www.forbes.com/sites/louiscolumbus/2020/03/29/the-state-of-enterprise-data-integration-2020/) say __data integration is critical__ to ongoing operations.

The best way to get results from data integration? With an Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS).

&nbsp;

### What is iPaaS?

> iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) is a cloud-based solution to connect and integrate your business apps, so you can automatically share data between apps and keep your data updated across multiple tools.

An [example of an iPaaS is PieSync](https://www.piesync.com/why/). PieSync enables you to connect the dots between your apps and sync the latest customer data between them, enriching your data everywhere and keeping every app up-to-date.

![What is iPaaS](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/7MaF3nEPEc5Y6DwkTe9IGI/ad87caea037192e1a813684e269c6235/iPaaS_visuals__2_.png)

&nbsp;

Rather than trying to stay on top of lots of different tools and databases, iPaaS offers centralized management in one place for a more simple and reliable solution.

<RelatedPost slug="what-is-ipaas-a-guide-to-getting-started-and-best-practices"/>

----

## The benefits of iPaaS to harness in your business

&nbsp;

### 1. Less complexity

iPaaS is a low-code or __zero-code solution__, which means that you won't need highly-skilled specialists or custom API connections to integrate your data.

When you implement an iPaaS solution, the vendor has already done all the hard work for you in developing the technical side of the integrations. All you need to do is create an account, configure your connections in the way that best suits your business, and start syncing.

Integrations also enable you to do more with a simpler SaaS stack and have less need for in-house IT teams to manage complex systems.

&nbsp;

### 2. Up-to-date data everywhere

Without iPaaS in your business, it's all too common to have these scenarios play out: 

* A customer starts a conversation via your live chat and your team has no idea who they are because they can't find their contact record.
* Your marketing team sends a 50% discount offer to a brand new customer who's just paid full price (ouch).
* Your reporting dashboard always comes with the proviso that "this might not be accurate because it's from app X".

iPaaS solves these problems by __creating an up-to-date view of your data in every app__. Whenever something changes in one app, it's reflected in the other synced apps.

Let's say you [sync all contacts in your CRM](https://www.piesync.com/solutions/crm/) that have the label 'Customer' with your email marketing platform and add them to a dedicated email list for customers.

If a customer churns and their label changes to 'Unsubscribed', this will instantly be reflected in your email marketing apps and they will no longer receive customer communications.

&nbsp;

### 3. Get more from your tech stack

iPaaS enables your SaaS apps to talk to each other and exchange data, so you can get more from each app. 

For instance, you can [connect your customer support app with your CRM](https://www.piesync.com/solutions/customer-support/) for a 360-degree overview of customer data that enables your team to solve tickets faster and more effectively.

<RelatedPost slug="6-ways-to-optimize-your-saas-stack-with-piesync"/>

&nbsp;

### 4. Fix and remove data silos

Another problem that iPaaS fixes is __data silos__. Wondering what [a data silo](https://www.piesync.com/blog/data-silos-what-they-are-what-causes-them-and-how-to-fix-them/) is?

> A data silo is a collection of data that one department has access to but others do not. This can reduce transparency, efficiency and trust within the organization and hinder business performance. Data silos also drain your resources as you pay for extra data storage and the cost of inefficiency.

![Fix data silos with iPaaS](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/6Mgic3jePm3ACftg4KJVZW/357bdd13df19259de680688e71e2fa04/Copy_of_Evolution_of_CRM__2_.png)

&nbsp;

By eliminating data silos, you break down barriers between departments and create a culture of __transparency and collaboration__. Instead of wrangling with data that's difficult to access and scattered between tools, everyone in your company can find key insights and numbers and collaborate effectively. 

With iPaaS, you can also remove duplicate contacts and optimize data flows between teams. This leads to __better alignment__ between different teams.

[Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.co.uk/blog/zendesk-customer-experience-trends-report-2020/) has shared that 73% of sales leaders who predict revenue growth in 2020 say that collaboration between sales, customer service and marketing is critical for success.


<RelatedPost slug="data-silos-what-they-are-what-causes-them-and-how-to-fix-them"/>


&nbsp;

### 5. More reliable data

Rather than looking at siloed databases in every app, iPaaS enables you to treat your data holistically and create the strongest overall database. It becomes simpler to prioritize and sync the data that you need while [cleaning up the rest](https://www.piesync.com/blog/top-4-clean-data-tips-for-your-database/). This means more accurate data in every app.


&nbsp;

### 6. Centralized contact data

All businesses benefit from having a centralized contact database that offers a reliable overview of all leads and customers. __Usually this centralized database is your CRM__. 

However, to get the most comprehensive and up-to-date view of your contact data, you should connect data between your CRM and other key business apps that store customer data, such as:

* Email marketing app
* Customer support software
* Invoicing systems

By [syncing your CRM with other important apps](https://www.piesync.com/solutions/crm/), you can enrich the data on every contact record and create the most valuable and efficient directory of your contacts.

When done well, salespeople can get a full view of a new lead's journey with your business so far, including interactions with marketing. Customer support reps can similarly consult your CRM to best understand a customer's history when they submit an inquiry.

&nbsp;


### 7. Stronger internal communication

> According to [Zendesk's Customer Experience Trends Report 2020](https://www.zendesk.co.uk/blog/zendesk-customer-experience-trends-report-2020/), more than 70% of customers expect companies to collaborate on their behalf.

With an iPaaS tool to keep everything in sync, every team and role has a clearer view of how the company is performing in different areas.

Your salespeople will know your marketing numbers, while your marketing team can stay on top of sales performance. By looking at integrated and reliable data, every team member can contribute new perspectives and notice problems that might otherwise be overlooked.


![Customizable contact sync with iPaaS](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/5ZVmOJjYaJcmcO897ITCrN/7f40476dd5a44da9c273599e347efab6/Customizable_contact_sync_mapping_infographic-c5d90308ac2590bfac0dbafc138c0ddf.png)

&nbsp;

### 8. Less tool-switching

An integration platform enables you to get more done in your main app and quickly find the data you need. You won't need to hunt down separate pieces of information across multiple apps, because your iPaaS tool will have automatically connected all the data between those apps.

iPaaS also eliminates the need to manually update several apps with the same data. When something changes in one tool, like a subscription status or email address, it's instantly reflected in others.

&nbsp;

### 9. Better automation workflows

[51% of email marketers](https://econsultancy.com/51-of-email-marketers-say-data-integration-is-the-biggest-obstacle-to-personalisation/) say __data integration is the biggest obstacle__ to personalization. In order to implement stronger sales and marketing automation, your team needs in-depth and up-to-date data insights to create relevant customer segments and deliver personalized messaging. iPaaS instantly delivers this data in the right apps to enrich your automation flows.

<RelatedPost slug="most-effective-ways-to-automate-your-business"/>

&nbsp;

### 10. Improve customer experience

Nearly [80% of customers expect consistency](https://www.salesforce.com/blog/2019/06/customer-engagement-trends.html) when interacting with multiple departments of the same company. For this to happen, all departments need access to the same data. 

By [syncing your customer support systems to your other tools](https://www.piesync.com/solutions/customer-support/) – including your CRM, billing system and phone apps – you create a centralized database with enriched data for every contact. This means that anyone who answers a customer support inquiry can quickly understand the full picture and provide the best service based on previous interactions.

<RelatedPost slug="12-ways-to-improve-customer-experience-with-automation"/>

&nbsp;

### 11. Enhance cost efficiency

iPaaS is highly cost-effective, removing the need to recruit developers to create complex APIs and integrations. iPaaS is in the cloud and subscription-based, so you also don't need to invest in expensive on-premise hardware that requires ongoing manual maintenance.


&nbsp;

### 12. A clearer overview of performance

Data reporting requires clean, up-to-date and integrated data from all channels. This is another place where iPaaS steps in.

After centralizing all data, such as in your CRM, it becomes much easier to set up an all-in-one reporting dashboard for management to keep an eye on key insights and trends.

<RelatedPost slug="automate-business-reporting/"/>

&nbsp;

### 13. Increase security and compliance

[iPaaS systems like PieSync](https://www.piesync.com/why/) give you much more __control over your data__. This means a clearer view of the data your organization holds in every app and increases your scope for keeping it clean, secure and compliant with regulations like GDPR.

&nbsp;

### 14. Manage integrations in one place

In a pre-iPaaS world, your business would be left managing multiple integrations with different setups and rules. But with iPaaS, you can manage all integrations on one centralized platform to know exactly what's running and what needs optimizing.

For example, with [PieSync's health dashboard](https://www.piesync.com/help/features/health-beta/), it's easy to get a quick overview of your integrations and identify any areas that need fixing.

&nbsp;

### 15. Reduce time spent on manual tasks

By increasing collaboration between teams, reducing time spent on manual tasks, and increasing data accessibility, one of the top benefits of iPaaS is improving performance across the board. Every team member can work more effectively in their role and reduce time spent on busywork that doesn't bring value.

&nbsp;

### 16. Optimize scalability

The sooner you [set up iPaaS](https://app.piesync.com/signup/), the better. It's an incredibly effective way to future-proof your business operations by making your organization more agile and enabling your SaaS systems to easily scale. When you start using a new tool or migrate apps, you can easily slot the new addition in with the rest of your tech stack and sync all data to the correct places.

<RelatedPost slug="7-steps-to-get-right-before-scaling-your-business"/>

----

To access the benefits of iPaaS in your own organization, [get started with a free trial of PieSync](https://app.piesync.com/signup/) to connect your SaaS stack and integrate customer data everywhere.

<Button text="Try PieSync for free" href="https://app.piesync.com/signup/" />

Integrated data, stronger collaboration, improved productivity and cost-efficiency... here are the top benefits an iPaaS platform can bring for your company.

16 benefits of iPaaS that show how it can transform your business

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![Using Google Analytics and questioning data accuracy](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/7jayYncTmsMvie5mu5xGIA/26da2db465bdc4a8ea90ce9809cb001e/campaign-creators-pypeCEaJeZY-unsplash__1_-min.jpg)

Despite huge investments in data, most executives __don't trust their business data__. According to a survey of over 2,000 data and analytics decision-makers by [KPMG and Forrester Consulting](https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/xx/pdf/2016/10/building-trust-in-analytics.pdf), only 38% of respondents have a high level of confidence in their customer insights, and only one-third trust the analytics they generate from their business operations.

The stats shout loud and clear that if you struggle to trust your business data, you're absolutely not alone. However, this doesn't make it any less important to fix it.

Untrustworthy data has repercussions across your entire organization. You run the risk of:

* Pivoting strategies based on incorrect assumptions
* Lacking a clear picture of business performance and ROI
* Delivering poor customer experiences
* Reducing job satisfaction for your team because of manual tasks and frustrations
* Being hesitant to share important insights across the team

Instead, __every business's goal should be data integrity__. Data integrity refers to the quality and reliability of your business data, including how precise, consistent, timely and well-preserved that data is.

With high data integrity, your business can also benefit from the surge in [opportunities that big data brings](https://www.piesync.com/blog/big-data-for-small-businesses/).

Here's our guide to what to do when you can't trust your reporting data. Learn how to turn things around long-term, so your data spend isn't spoilt by leaky processes and frameworks.

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## How to make your data more trustworthy

It might sound obvious, but if your business has been wrangling with unreliable data for some time, to create a different outcome you __need to do things differently__. 

Fixing untrustworthy data requires changes to your organization's:

* Processes
* Mindset
* Skillset

Let's explore the best ways to make your data more trustworthy so you can benefit from accurate and timely analytics that pave the way for informed decisions.

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### 1. Go back to basics

To make your data more trustworthy, let's go back to the very beginning. Imagine you're starting your database entirely from scratch with a clean slate. Now answer these questions:

* What data do you need to collect?
* What format do you need to collect it in?
* What data __don't__ you need?
* What's the clutter or noise you would like to avoid?
* How do you need to integrate your apps?

You can use these valuable insights to inform:

* New processes for data collection, management and [integration](https://piesync.com/connections/)
* What to clean up and prune from your database
* How to educate your team and increase data literacy in your organization

Once you're clear on what needs to happen, start creating an action plan to put it into place and make your data more trustworthy.

<RelatedPost slug="more-reliable-business-data" />

&nbsp;

### 2. Follow the data trail back to the source

Whenever you're faced with unreliable data, follow the trail back to the source. Where did the inaccurate data originate?

This includes looking at form fields and checking for consistent and standardized data collection. It also means making sure that Google Analytics tags are set up correctly, or that your SQL scripts for your business intelligence platform are flawless. 

If this stretches your tech knowledge, perhaps because the person who implemented your systems has left the company, consider bringing in a data specialist to help you out. You could also get their help simplifying your data processes so it's more manageable in-house going forward.

&nbsp;

### 3. Tick the boxes for data best practice

No matter the industry or company size, there are some best practices that every company should follow for trustworthy data. These include:

* __Consistency__ – Maintain the same format across systems by using consistent and standardized fields and collection processes. When you integrate your apps, [use customizable field mapping](https://www.piesync.com/help/features/new-customizable-field-mapping/) to ensure that the right data is synced to the right places. Here's an example of mapping fields between [Mailchimp and Copper CRM](https://www.piesync.com/mailchimp/copper/) to ensure a seamless sync with [PieSync](https://www.piesync.com/why/):

![Connect Mailchimp and Copper data](//images.ctfassets.net/f2ysq090txql/2tVpolQKugzKlybU2J7yeZ/26a1dcadf247fcbe17f445124d35e1e1/Screenshot_2020-06-04_at_16.36.54.png)

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* __Completeness__ – For each piece of data, you need to know the full picture. A few examples are the source of your marketing leads, sales history for your customers, or conversion path for new deals. Is your data complete? 

* __Centralized and enriched data__ – Rather than having fragmented and incomplete data spread across several systems, maintain one centralized database with the most up-to-date and trustworthy information. This can be your CRM for your customer data, and a system like [Chartio](http://chart.io/) or [Supermetrics](https://supermetrics.com/) for your company performance data. [Create two-way integrations](https://www.piesync.com/solutions/crm/) between your centralized database and connected apps to enrich your data everywhere.

* __Access control__ – Set permissions and policies that ensure only the right people see certain data. This is about balancing accessibility and transparency with security.

* __Validation__ – 28% of customer and prospect data is suspected to be inaccurate in some way, according to [Experian](https://www.edq.com/blog/highlights-from-our-2020-global-data-management-research/). For accurate data, you need a method for checking and validating it. This can include automated processes for checking for anomalies and missing fields, backed up by some manual checks.

* __Real-time updates__ – For the best results from your data, it needs to be up-to-date. Look for real-time updates when choosing a business intelligence system and a data integration solution.

* __Quality sources__ – Make sure you know where all of your data is coming from and that you can guarantee its integrity. Maintaining a neat and tidy database that you know you can trust beats having highly advanced data sets that you struggle to make sense of or control.

* __Cleanliness__ – Considering B2B data decays at a rate of [70% per year](https://biznology.com/2015/02/b2b-data-decay-list-rental-buyer-beware/), your database needs frequent clean-ups. It's important to [freshen up your data](https://www.piesync.com/blog/top-4-clean-data-tips-for-your-database/) by removing duplicates, inaccuracies and other data that's turned from value into clutter.

* __Security and protection__ – Maintaining high security is crucial for data protection regulations such as GDPR in Europe, but it's also just a basic principle for being a trustworthy brand. It's also absolutely crucial if you want valuable data at your fingertips (and only yours).

* __Integrations__ – According to [an IDC survey](https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/286084), over 80% of business leaders surveyed agreed that problems arise because they have different internal systems and applications that don’t ‘talk’ to each other. You can fix this by adopting [an integration platform like PieSync](https://www.piesync.com/blog/what-is-ipaas-a-guide-to-getting-started-and-best-practices/).

&nbsp;

### 4. Document processes

One common trap that organizations fall into is __relying on one person to set up and manage their data processes__. When that person leaves the organization, chaos is often unleashed. 

You can avoid this by creating clearly documented processes that are stored in your company wiki, Google Drive or a tool like [Notion](https://www.notion.so/product). And remember: overly complicated processes might end up doing you more harm than good. The simpler your processes, the better...

&nbsp;

### 5. Simplify everything

Complexity is often the root of bad data you can't trust. For complex data analytics to work successfully, you need the time, resources and knowledge to back it up. 

For most organizations, it's more effective to __keep your data and reporting as simple as possible__ instead. 

Simplifying your data means:

* Only collecting the data you need
* Organizing data consistently and in standardized formats
* Avoiding complicated workflows and systems
* Reducing your reporting dashboards
* Avoiding multiple systems for the same job
* Creating documentation that's clear and easy to understand
* Amending processes so anyone can quickly understand them

To make your data the most trustworthy, ask yourself: where can you simplify your data collection, management and [integration processes](https://blog.hubspot.com/website/5-common-data-integration-challenges-and-how-to-solve-them)?

<RelatedPost slug="automate-business-reporting" />

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### 6. Keep the sunk cost fallacy in mind

You've invested a lot of money, you have complex systems in place... and you don't want to throw that away. So instead of starting afresh, you build on top of what you have – and hope it will cover up what's underneath.

[Investopedia](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sunk-cost-trap.asp#:~:text=Sunk%20cost%20trap%20refers%20to,money%20they%20have%20already%20invested.) describes the sunk cost fallacy, or the sunk cost trap, as "a tendency for people to irrationally follow through on an activity that is not meeting their expectations. This is because of the time and/or money they have already invested."

This is all too common when it comes to business data and analytics.

If you keep building on unsound foundations, it will come back to bite you. Begin by understanding exactly what you're dealing with and the problems at hand. Bring in a second opinion here if you need it. Then, make as unbiased a decision as possible about what you need to do to increase data integrity. 

Over the long term, it might be easiest to go back to the drawing board, create a much more straightforward and accurate strategy, and trash what you had in place before.

&nbsp;

### 7. Communicate with stakeholders

While concerns over untrustworthy data are often valid, sometimes you or your organization's stakeholders *still* don't trust your data when everything is sound.

If this is the case, clear communication is your way forward. Explain why your business analytics data is trustworthy and how it's set up to ensure reliability. Answer questions to help stakeholders understand how data is collected, managed and integrated between your apps. Also, encourage concerns to be voiced so that you can explore their validity or irrelevance together.

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As your next step to making your data more trustworthy, use PieSync to integrate your contact data between your apps, enrich data everywhere, and create a centralized hub that's instantly updated when anything changes. [Get started with a free trial now](https://app.piesync.com/signup/).

Untrustworthy business data is all too common, but that doesn't mean it's harmless. Learn what to do when you can't trust your business data.

What to do when you can't trust your business reporting data

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