I can’t think of a better way to collect data about our alumni community than to create tools that provide the services alumni desire, track their activity, and offer the applications we need to operate more efficiently. Now with the implementation of Salesforce, we are one large step closer to doing so.
Working in close collaboration with the project’s co-sponsor, Emily Morris, representing the CAA’s needs and collaborative efforts for our alumni relations community, Columbia is four months from launching Salesforce — a dynamic platform for directories, networking, events management, and e-mail marketing that integrates with Athena.
So, what does this mean for us? To put it simply, we’ll be able to collect new data from our community — and have the tools to do more with that information. You can expect to see improved data trafficking for events and e-mails, new self-reported biographic updates from alumni, and so much more. With this information, we will work together to create new ways for alumni to interact with one another, while enriching our own relationships with alumni through more personalized engagement. Salesforce will also give alumni relations and development teams across our campuses the chance to collaborate and share best practices.
Here’s a special shout out to Gwynne Gauntlett, Bronwyn Knox, Amanda Orchanian, David Park, Clay Torres, Nancy Wong, and so many others who have helped move this project forward. We’ve hired Yanira Gonzalez as our Salesforce project implementation manager. Having worked in this capacity for Citrix, American Express, and others, Yanira has expertise that is already proving invaluable as we prepare to roll out.
If this is the first time you’re hearing about Salesforce, talk to your colleagues — many have already participated in demonstrations and can tell you what they’ve learned. You’ll be hearing more from the project team before the platform launches — the goal is April — and afterwards!
We’ll be back…
