Do you ever get curious about the cold, hard facts about tech giants like Salesforce?
Salesforce offers a complete suite of cloud-based solutions and is one of the few .com companies to survive!
In this article, you’ll get up to speed with the most important Salesforce statistics like user numbers, revenue growth, and even some surprising details about how they help businesses win big.
So, grab a coffee, sit back, and let’s get cloudy!
Salesforce in History- How it All Began
Salesforce’s story began in 1999, not in a gleaming Silicon Valley office but in a one-bedroom San Francisco apartment.
Marc Benioff, Frank Rodriguez, Dave Moellenoff, and Parker Harris set out to revolutionize customer relationship management (CRM).
Their mantra was “no fluff,” which means fast, simple, and done right the first time.
Their dream quickly gained traction. By year’s end, the team had grown to 40 and moved into a much larger space across the street.
The early days weren’t without challenges. The dot-com bubble burst in 2000, forcing Salesforce to lay off 20% of its workforce.
But the team wouldn’t be deterred.
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The same year, they launched their iconic “The End of Software” campaign, a playful jab at traditional software giants. This bold move and their innovative cloud-based CRM helped Salesforce stand out.
2001 revenue reached $5.4 million, and the customer base boomed to over 3,000.
This growth continued throughout the decade. Salesforce expanded globally, opening offices in Dublin and Tokyo in 2001.
By 2002, the customer base had nearly doubled, reaching 5,740 with a user base of 70,000 in over 100 countries.
Their continued business achievements secured Salesforce a coveted spot on the Fortune 500 list in 2015.
In 2020, IDC recognized Salesforce as the #1 CRM provider for the seventh year.
Salesforce acquired popular internal communication giant Slack in 2021, further contributing to its growth.
Today, with Marc Benioff as CEO and Chairman, Salesforce boasts over 150,000 customers worldwide. It has acquired many businesses, and its revenue continues to grow annually.
But that’s not all!
Coming up, you’ll see many more interesting stats and facts about the all-mighty Salesforce.
Salesforce Customer Demographics
Let’s kick things off with some juicy stats about Salesforce’s VIPs – the customers!
These numbers unveil the vibrant community of Salesforce users and provide insight into their diverse industries, roles, and locations.
How many companies use Salesforce?
Salesforce is a trusted ally for businesses of all shapes and sizes across every corner of the globe.
According to Statista, Salesforce has over 150,000 customers worldwide and across different industries.
Let’s see how they are distributed across countries and various sectors;
Salesforce Customers by Industry
All sorts of businesses use Salesforce to manage customer interactions.
But which industries are the biggest fans?
Professional services take the lead with 29% of Salesforce users, but finance, retail, and transportation companies follow close behind!
Take see where things stand according to Statista;
- Professional services 29%
- Manufacturing 11.1%
- Banking and Finance 9.8%
- Retail Trade 7.8%
- Consumer packaged goods 5.4%
- Media 4.4%
What top industries use Salesforce?
While Salesforce caters to various businesses, some industries have truly embraced its CRM functionalities.
These are the top 4 major players in its customer base by industry:
- Professional Services – Professional service companies take the lead, with 29% of Salesforce customers hailing from this sector. They include professions like law, architecture, sales & Marketing, and accounting. These companies benefit from Salesforce’s capabilities in managing client relationships, project pipelines, and communication.
- Manufacturing industry: Next is the production industry with 11.1%. Salesforce helps manufacturers streamline production processes, manage inventory, and optimize supply chains.
- Banking and Finance Sector: The finance industry comes third with 9.8%. Salesforce helps financial advisors gain a wholesome view of their operations. It provides insights that allow them to make data-driven decisions and manage customers better.
- Retail Trade Sector: The retail sector comes in next with 7.8%. Salesforce helps retailers manage customer loyalty programs and optimize sales across their channels. They can also create a personal shopping experience for customers with Salesforce.
In which countries is Salesforce most popular?
The U.S. takes the lead with 61.8%. After the U.S, the top 5 countries are;
- United Kingdom 13.9%
- France 4.9%
- Netherlands 3.2%
- Germany 2.7%
- Australia 1.8%
What Fortune 500 companies use Salesforce?
You’ll be thrilled that about 90% of Fortune 500 companies manage and enhance customer relationships using Salesforce.
Some top salesforce users are;
Company |
Revenue ($) |
---|---|
Walmart Inc |
611 billion |
McDonald’s |
23 billion |
UnitedHealth Group Inc |
357 billion |
Spotify |
10 billion |
Canon |
26 billion |
Amazon web services |
28 billion |
T-mobile |
80 billion |
Amazon.com |
538 billion |
Comcast |
121 billion |
McKesson Corporation |
276 billion |
Macy’s |
24 billion |
What Is Salesforce’s Annual Revenue?
Salesforce has been on a roll, growing its revenue year after year. Towards the end of its inaugural fiscal year in 2021, Salesforce recorded a revenue of $5.4 million.
Fast forward to the subsequent year, and the figures skyrocketed, boasting a staggering fourfold increase to $22.4 million.
And the year after? Salesforce’s revenue doubled!
Since then, Salesforce’s revenue has shown no signs of slowing down, consistently climbing year after year.
This impressive growth shows how popular Salesforce’s customer relationship management solutions have become.
Let’s take a closer look at those numbers from 2010 to 2024 and see what’s fueling Salesforce’s success story!
Next, let’s see Salesforce’s annual revenue classified in different areas.
Salesforce Revenue by Region
The Americas contributed the most to Salesforce’s revenue during this time! From a solid start at $923.82 million in 2010, the revenue from this region shot up to a whopping $23.2 billion in 2024.
Salesforce also saw impressive revenue growth in the European market. From $232.37 million in 2009, their revenue increased to $8.1 billion by 2024.
Now, let’s focus on the Asia Pacific region, where Salesforce’s revenue has shown remarkable growth.
Starting at a modest $149.39 million in 2010, the revenue has surged to an impressive $3.4 billion by 2024. That’s a testament to Salesforce’s strong market presence and customer trust.
Salesforce Revenue by Product/Service
Salesforce’s success stems from a robust suite of products catering to different aspects of customer relationship management.
Let’s explore some of its core offerings and how they contribute to the company’s overall revenue:
- Sales Cloud: Sales Cloud is a one-stop shop for sales teams, covering everything from generating leads to managing opportunities and forecasting. And in 2024 alone, it brought in a whopping $7.5 million in revenue. That is 23% of the total subscription and Support revenue, making it one of Salesforce’s biggest moneymakers!
- Service Cloud: Back in 2009, Service Cloud hit the scene, offering businesses the tools to tackle customer inquiries. With Service Cloud, Companies can build stronger relationships and make clients happier. In 2024, it contributed 25% of subscription and Support revenues, reaching an impressive $8.2 million.
- Marketing and Commerce Cloud: Marketing Cloud offers businesses tools to create personalized marketing campaigns. These include different channels like email, social media, and mobile. In 2024, it pulled in $4.9 million in revenue. This product contributed 15% to the subscription and Support segment.
- Data Cloud: Data Cloud provides businesses with tools to tap into the power of data. It helps companies handle, analyze, and use customer data to uncover valuable insights and guide smart, data-driven decisions. And in 2024, Data Cloud flourished, accumulating $5.1 million in revenue. That is a 16% contribution to the overall subscription and Support revenues.
- Platform and Other: The Salesforce Platform serves as a solid foundation for creating custom applications that fit businesses like a glove. Companies can tweak Salesforce to match their needs and blend with their current systems. It generated $6.6 million in 2024, 21% of the subscription and Support revenues.
Let’s see how each product did from 2015 to 2023 at a glance;
Salesforce Revenue By Segments
Salesforce operates through two main segments: Subscription and support, as well as professional services and others. Let’s see how they contribute to Salesforce’s revenue according to its annual financial reports;
1. Subscription and Support Revenues
The Subscription and Support segment accounts for 93% of Salesforce’s total annual revenue. This segment covers cloud services, software licenses, and related technical support for all Salesforce products. That includes the sales cloud, service cloud, marketing, and commerce cloud, data integration and analysis, and the Salesforce platform.
Here’s how the subscription and Support segment contribute to Salesforce revenue:
End of Fiscal year |
Revenue ($) |
---|---|
2001 |
5.02 million |
2002 |
21.51 million |
2003 |
47.66 million |
2004 |
85.8 million |
2005 |
157.98 million |
2006 |
280.64 million |
2007 |
451.66 million |
2008 |
680.58 million |
2009 |
984.57 million |
2010 |
1.2 billion |
2011 |
1.55 billion |
2012 |
2.13 billion |
2013 |
2.87 billion |
2014 |
3.82 billion |
2015 |
5.01 billion |
2016 |
6.2 billion |
2017 |
7.76 billion |
2018 |
9.71 billion |
2019 |
12.41 billion |
2020 |
16.04 billion |
2021 |
19.98 billion |
2022 |
24.6 billion |
2023 |
29 billion |
2024 |
32.54 billion |
2. Professional Services and Other Revenues
The Professional Services and Other segment contributes the remaining 7% of Salesforce’s total revenue. It encompasses services like implementation, customization, and ongoing support offered by Salesforce or its partners. Revenue here stems from various factors, including the complexity of a client’s implementation and the ongoing support services required.
Let’s see how this segment contributed to Salesforce’s revenue for the past 24 years;
End of Fiscal year |
Revenue ($) |
---|---|
2001 |
413,000 |
2002 |
896,000 |
2003 |
3.33 million |
2004 |
10.23 million |
2005 |
18.4 million |
2006 |
29.22 million |
2007 |
45.44 million |
2008 |
68.12 million |
2009 |
92.2 million |
2010 |
96.11 million |
2011 |
105.99 million |
2012 |
140.31 million |
2013 |
181.39 million |
2014 |
246.46 million |
2015 |
359.82 million |
2016 |
461.62 million |
2017 |
635.78 million |
2018 |
769.47 million |
2019 |
869 million |
2020 |
1.05 billion |
2021 |
1.28 billion |
2022 |
1.8 billion |
2023 |
2.3 billion |
2024 |
2.3 billion |
Salesforce CRM Market Share
Salesforce has dominated the CRM market for years, leaving competitors in the dust. But just how big is its slice of the pie?
As of 2023, Salesforce commands a whopping 22.1% share of the entire CRM market. That’s miles ahead of rivals like Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, and Adobe.
That makes the Salesforce CRM #1 for the 11th year in IDC’s books.
According to the IDC Worldwide Semiannual Software Tracker in November 2023, here’s how the market share stacked up:
As of May 2024, Salesforce continues to give its competitors a large gap. According to 6sense, Salesforce holds an estimated market share of 21.7% in the CRM platform market. However, the combined market share of their top 4 competitors (Oracle, SAP, Adobe, and Microsoft) is 17.2%.
Who are Salesforce’s top competitors?
Salesforce faces competition from various companies depending on the specific functionalities being offered. Here’s a breakdown of some of their top competitors:
Broad CRM competitors:
- Microsoft Dynamics 365: Microsoft 365 offers a solution similar to Salesforce, which is CRM, alongside enterprise resource planning functionalities. But, Salesforce leads the CRM market with over 20% share, while Microsoft Dynamics 365 holds a strong second place.
- Zoho CRM: Zoho CRM is an intense competitor known for its affordability and wide range of integrated features. However, it only holds around 4% of the market share.
- HubSpot CRM: A popular option for smaller businesses, especially those focused on inbound marketing. However, Salesforce dwarfs HubSpot’s share, which is around 4-5%.
Other notable competitors:
- Oracle NetSuite CRM: It is a cloud-based CRM solution designed for businesses that already use NetSuite’s ERP software. It provides a suite of features for managing the entire customer lifecycle. Unlike some standalone CRMs, NetSuite CRM integrates seamlessly with NetSuite’s ERP and e-commerce functionalities. This makes it ideal for businesses seeking a tightly integrated CRM that can leverage existing NetSuite investments.
- Monday.com: Monday.com is a cloud-based platform that goes beyond just project management software. It allows you to create custom applications and workflows to fit your specific needs. It offers features and integrations with popular applications to streamline your work processes. Monday.com is known for its user-friendly interface and flexibility, making it a popular choice for teams of all sizes.
Salesforce Workforce and Jobs
Salesforce isn’t just a software giant. As of February 2024, it was a bustling hub for nearly 80,000 talented individuals worldwide. That’s quite the leap from its humble beginnings with just 40 employees!
Year |
Number of Employees |
---|---|
2015 |
16,000 |
2016 |
19,000 |
2017 |
25,000 |
2018 |
29,000 |
2019 |
35,000 |
2020 |
49,000 |
2021 |
56,606 |
2022 |
73,540 |
2023 |
79,300 |
Feb 2024 |
80,000 |
Here’s an exploration of the Salesforce workforce, packed with interesting stats and hot career paths:
Salesforce Workforce by the Numbers
- Global Growth Spurt: Salesforce’s employee base has experienced significant growth. In 2018, they had roughly half the number of employees they do today.
- Gender Diversity on the Rise: While the tech industry often faces criticism for gender imbalances, Salesforce is making strides. In 2023, their workforce boasted 43.3% women, a positive trend towards greater inclusivity.
- Pay it Forward Culture: Salesforce employees are well-compensated. As of 2023, the average annual salary for a Salesforce employee in the US was $114,753.
Salesforce Job Opportunities
The Salesforce ecosystem is a goldmine for job seekers, offering various careers catering to various skill sets. Here are some in-demand Salesforce jobs, along with some stats:
- Salesforce Admins: These tech wizards are in high demand! The average job posting for a Salesforce Administrator lists a salary of $89,849 per year in the US as of April 2024.
- Salesforce Developers: There’s a high demand for skilled developers to build custom applications and integrations. The base salary for a Salesforce Developer in the US is a whopping $90k to 129k per year as of April 2024.
- Salesforce Consultants: These strategic thinkers are the bridge between business needs and technical solutions. According to Gartner, the average Salesforce Consultant salary in the US is $101,000 – $168,000 per year.
Beyond the Numbers: Perks and Benefits of Working at Salesforce
A job at Salesforce goes beyond just a paycheck; it’s about joining a vibrant and purpose-driven community. Let’s see some stats saying working at Salesforce might be the ultimate career move:
- Employee Retention Matters: Salesforce boasts an impressive employee retention rate. According to Zippia, the average Salesforce employee stays with the company for 4.3 years. That is significantly higher than the tech industry average.
- Learning Never Stops: Salesforce is committed to employee growth. Their renowned Trailhead platform offers free, online training to equip you with the skills needed to thrive in the Salesforce ecosystem.
- Giving Back Philosophy: Salesforce is passionate about social impact. Employees get opportunities to volunteer and contribute to meaningful causes through various initiatives.
- Employee’s Paradise: In 2015, Fortune recognized Salesforce as one of the best 10 companies to work with. It was also labeled one of the World’s Most Admired Software Companies.
Which Salesforce job role pays the highest?
According to MasonFrank International’s career guide, here’s a rundown of the highest-paying Salesforce jobs (rounded figures):
- Salesforce Technical Architect: $200,000 per year
- Salesforce Technical Consultant: $179,375 per year
- Salesforce Solution Architect: $175,000 per year
- Salesforce Development Manager: $170,125 per year
- Salesforce Program Manager: $160,750 per year
- Salesforce Functional Consultant: $155,750 per year
- Salesforce Developer: $155,125 per year
- Salesforce CRM Manager: $154,500 per year
- Salesforce Project Manager: $152,125 per year
- MuleSoft Architect (Salesforce Integration): $188,500 per year
While not strictly a Salesforce role, MuleSoft Architects with Salesforce expertise can earn high salaries due to their specialized skill set.
Salesforce Acquisitions
Salesforce has a habit of making strategic acquisitions, which has beefed up its product lineup and spread its wings in the market. Altogether, it has acquired 59 companies across sectors.
Check out these noteworthy additions to the Salesforce family:
2023:
- Airkit.ai: Airkit.ai technology is now part of the Salesforce Service Cloud under the Einstein AI umbrella. It contributes to the AI capabilities within Salesforce’s customer service solutions.
- Spiff: $570 million – Spiff focuses on commission management. It helps businesses automate commission calculations and design effective incentive plans for their sales teams.
2021
- Slack: $27.7 billion – Slack is a cloud-based platform designed for workplace communication. It allows teams to chat, share files, and collaborate on projects in real-time.
- Acumen Solutions: $570 million – Its team of Salesforce specialists is now part of Salesforce itself. They help them deliver and improve Salesforce solutions for customers.
2020:
- Vlocity: Vlocity, now called Salesforce Industries, provides industry-specific software built on the Salesforce platform. This means it tailors CRM tools to specific needs of industries like healthcare or communications.
- Evergage: Interaction Studio, formerly Evergage, personalizes customer journeys across channels.
2019:
- Tableau: $15.7 billion – A game-changer for data visualization and business intelligence within the Salesforce platform. It allows users to create interactive data visualizations and dashboards to analyze and understand information.
- ClickSoftware: $1.35 billion – It offers software solutions for managing mobile workforces and optimizing field service operations for businesses of all sizes.
- MapAnything: $225 million – MapAnything, now known as Salesforce Maps, is a location intelligence tool that helps businesses optimize sales territories. It plans routes and visualizes customer data on a map for better decision-making.
- SendGrid: $2 billion – SendGrid, now known as Twilio SendGrid, helps businesses send and manage both transactional and marketing emails at scale.
2018:
- MuleSoft: $6.5 billion – Acts as a bridge between different software systems. It allows businesses to connect data and automate tasks, making their operations more efficient.
- Datorama: $800 million – Datorama, integrated into Salesforce Marketing Cloud, acts as a command center for marketing data. It unifies information from different channels, allowing marketers to analyze campaign performance and make data-driven decisions.
- CrowdCraze: Allows users to set up online storefronts and manage them from a centralized interface. The platform is designed to help businesses undertake seamless B2B transactions across multiple channels.
2016:
- Krux: $800 million—Krux is a data management platform (DMP) that helps businesses protect, manage, and monetize consumer data across all digital channels. It strengthens data management and audience targeting for marketing campaigns.
- Quip: $750 million – Quip introduced a collaborative document editing solution. It allows multiple users to work together on documents and spreadsheets in real-time.
- PredictionIO: PredictionIO is an open-source machine learning server. It empowers developers and data scientists to build and deploy custom machine-learning models for various tasks.
- SteelBrick: SteelBrick, now known as Salesforce CPQ (Configure-Price-Quote), helps businesses streamline their sales quoting process. It allows sales reps to quickly and accurately create professional quotes.
- Metamind: Metamind focuses on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Its functionalities include developing tools for natural language processing, image recognition, and data analysis.
- Demandware: Demandware, rebranded as Salesforce Commerce Cloud, helps businesses design, manage, and launch online stores.
2013
- ExactTarget: now a part of the marketing cloud, ExactTarget empowers businesses to manage email campaigns within the Salesforce ecosystem. This allows for a more data-driven and personalized marketing approach.
2012:
- Buddy Media: $649 million – Buddy Media’s functionalities are now integrated into Salesforce’s social media marketing tools. These tools allow businesses to manage social media presence across various platforms.
2011:
- Radian6: $276 million – Radian6, now part of Salesforce Social Studio, helps businesses monitor online conversations about their brand, competitors, and industry. It analyzes social media data to understand customer sentiment, identify trends, and engage with audiences effectively.
2010:
- Heroku: $212 million – Heroku is a cloud platform that simplifies building and running applications. It handles server management and infrastructure, letting developers focus on writing code and features.
2008:
- InStranet: Salesforce acquired InStranet on August 4, 2008. This customer service knowledge-base technology provided the foundation for what is now known as Salesforce Service Cloud.
2006
- Sendia: Earlier in 2005, the Salesforce AppExchange service was introduced. By 2006, Salesforce acquired Sendia, a wireless technology startup which would later become AppExchange mobile.
Salesforce’s Community and Environmental Impacts
Beyond its groundbreaking innovations, Salesforce is deeply committed to giving back to communities. Through various initiatives and programs, it aims to make a positive impact.
Now, let’s see some of the stats showing contributions Salesforce has made since its inception according to Salesforce’s documented history:
- Launched in 2006, Salesforce Power of Us helps nonprofits and schools get discounted access to their CRM platform, training, and other resources. This makes it easier for them to manage donors, students, and operations.
- In 2007, Salesforce employees gave back to the community by logging an impressive 70,000 volunteer hours.
- Salesforce awarded $14 million in grants to support nonprofits in 2009
- Between 2001 and 2010, Salesforce significantly impacted the nonprofit community through a combination of financial and volunteer efforts:
- Financial Support: Salesforce awarded nonprofits $23 million in grants, providing crucial funding for various causes.
- Volunteer Power: Salesforce employees donated a combined 255,000 hours of their time to volunteer work.
- Technology Access: Salesforce provided free access to Its products for 11,000 nonprofits. It empowers these organizations to operate more efficiently and manage their missions more effectively.
- By 2014, the Salesforce Foundation had donated $80 million and the employees 840,000 hours.
- In 2016, Fortune named Salesforce the #1 Workplace for Giving Back.
- By 2019, total grants given by Salesforce rose to $330,000. Employees had also volunteered 4.9 million hours, and 46,000 nonprofits used their products for free or at a discounted rate.
- In 2021, Salesforce announced that it balanced out the greenhouse gasses it produces with actions that remove the same amount. They made sure that all energy they used globally came from renewable sources.
- In 2022, Salesforce added “Sustainability” to the company’s core values. In the same year, it was recognized as the Most Sustainable Company.
- In 2023, Salesforce awarded $20 million to school districts and nonprofits to support tech, AI skill-boosting, and education development. By then, its total grants awarded had reached $704 million.
Wrapping Up
Salesforce’s journey has been nothing short of impressive. They’ve made strategic acquisitions to enhance their CRM offerings.
Alongside their commitment to environmental sustainability, they’ve established themselves as a leader in the tech industry.
As we look ahead, Salesforce’s focus on AI, low-code development, and the evolving metaverse hints at an even more exciting future.
Salesforce’s story is far from over. With its dedication to innovation and focus on the future, Salesforce is well-positioned to continue shaping the CRM landscape and beyond.
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