But throughout history, there have also At the Forefront of Innovation been those unwilling to accept. They poke, prod, question, and help shape the world In the Salesforce AppExchange ecosystem, around them. These tinkerers, inventors, our partners are at the forefront of and entrepreneurs have changed our world innovation that improves workplace for the better, in ways both small and large. efficiency and the lives of employees They refuse to believe things must stay the across departments and industries. I same because it’s how things have always spoke with executive thought-leaders from been. Conga, JustOn, and Vonage to understand common pain points experienced by Consider some of the inventions recognized businesses, learn how AppExchange apps to have changed the way humans lived. help solve them, and gather observations The wheel was created over 5,000 years around artificial intelligence and ago by Mesopotamians to make pottery, productivity. and now powers worldwide transportation. The compass, first made in China between Though efficiency gains are a goal across 300 and 200 BC, transformed human most departments and companies, exploration. The printing press allowed the the ways that inefficient processes and transfer of ink from movable type to paper — technologies impact them vary widely. and paved the way for the mass production Each executive I spoke with referenced of literature. customer pain points they hear about in their companies. And, of course, more modern technologies such as telephones, personal Marko Fliege is the Founder and CEO computers, airplanes, and the internet of JustOn, the provider of a billing and have transformed how people travel, invoice management solution that serves communicate, and work. businesses with recurring revenue models and generates invoices automatically Efficiency gains from innovation today are based on contracts and consumption. He often no less significant, although their cites complexity as a major issue for many impact is hard to assess in real time. While customers. some inventions, such as self-driving cars, promise to send shockwaves throughout “Our customers have software subscriptions society, some lesser-known innovations, to sell, professional services to invoice, and such as that in business software, can also hardware to sell. Building an invoice from affect individuals every day. Increased one system is hard for them if that system efficiency in the workplace, for instance, only deals with subscriptions or professional can lead to an improvement in customer services.” experience, higher employee morale, lower employee turnover, and ultimately an At Conga, Will Spendlove is VP of Product increase in revenue. Marketing. Conga has a suite of apps to help 14 THE EXCHANGE SPRING 2018