In an era where businesses are increasingly adopting sophisticated monetization models, Continuous Technologies has stepped up to the plate with an innovative solution that addresses the pervasive issues within the Quote-to-Cash cycle. The company recently rolled out Continuous Control, which is the first product of its kind to receive certification from both Salesforce and NetSuite. This dynamic tool is designed to create a seamless integration between Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, particularly for companies utilizing Salesforce Agentforce Revenue Management (ARM) along with NetSuite's Financials and Advanced Revenue Management.
One of the significant dynamics of modern business is the rapid evolution of SaaS and consumption-based revenue streams. They are continually shifting as contracts face amendments throughout their lifecycle, making consumption visibility crucial. Yet, the transition of these changes from CRM to ERP causes a breakdown in traceability, leading to frequent operational frustrations. This phenomenon is often referred to as 'the messy middle'—where the journey from sales in Salesforce to invoicing and revenue recognition in NetSuite becomes angular and convoluted.
John Banks, the Founder and CEO of Continuous, emphasizes the importance of maintaining financial integrity in the face of these challenges. According to Banks, "Finance still needs clean invoices, accurate revenue, and predictable closes." He notes that the disconnect happens not because finance teams don't care, but rather because sales must maintain agility to fulfill customer demands. Continuous Control aims to bridge this gap right from the start, allowing organizations to streamline their operational efficiency without compromising financial accuracy.
One of the standout features of Continuous Control is its pre-built and pre-configured nature. This offering ensures teams can seamlessly test and initiate new revenue models in a matter of days, thereby reducing time-consuming integration costs associated with Salesforce and NetSuite. The product's efficiency has already been acknowledged by various enterprise customers, who have reportedly seen a significant seven-figure decrease in operational costs after integrating Continuous Control into their systems.
The implications of this solution could significantly alter the landscape for finance teams. Steve Finley, CFO of ACI Learning, shared his insights on the positive transformation within their finance functions. He stated, "With Continuous, finance stopped looking backward and became a true thought partner in driving growth." He articulated how crucial it was for their organization to maintain NetSuite at the center of their operations, allowing for enhanced commercial agility while ensuring their financial framework remained intact.
Continuous Control also provides a plethora of functionalities, including:
- - Enhanced traceability for bookings, billings, and revenue, ensuring finance teams can confidently finalize their books.
- - Ready support for various selling models from Salesforce ARM and Salesforce CPQ, facilitating diverse business needs.
- - Streamlined invoicing and revenue recognition directly generated through NetSuite, aligning operational procedures seamlessly with sales orders.
- - Automating lifecycle changes to function correctly without necessitating complex customizations in NetSuite.
- - Future-proofing capabilities to explore and launch innovative AI revenue models with minimal coding efforts.
- - Mitigation of audit risks through detailed tracking of all sales transactions and customer lifecycle changes.
With the recent launch of Continuous Control, companies are encouraged to explore its capabilities through Essentials, Enhanced, and Enterprise editions. This suite of offerings is designed to cater to different scales of financial operations, from straightforward subscriptions to complex, usage-based consumption models. For those interested, Continuous Control is accessible through the company's website as well as platforms like the Salesforce AppExchange and NetSuite SuiteApp.
In conclusion, Continuous Technologies is not only presenting a product but is also initiating a paradigm shift in how businesses can approach their Quote-to-Cash processes. By integrating advanced technology and innovative ideas, Continuous is helping companies navigate the complex waters of modern monetization with newfound clarity and control.