Transcription
An Enterprise-GradeArchitecture forSalesforce Native Applications
TABLE OF CONTENTS2Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Salesforce in the Digital Transformation Landscape. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Bringing Enterprise Grade to Salesforce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Model N Advanced Salesforce Native Performance Architecture . . . .9Model N Architecture Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Delivering an Enterprise Grade Salesforce Architecture. . . . . . . . . . . .14
Introduction3
INTRODUCTIONToday, end users are truly in the driver’s seat; thedigitally empowered customer becomes the focus:business scenarios and their data sets span the entireorganization and channels globally; and very complexhigh volume tasks need to be managed seemingly withease. Companies are grappling with new technologiesand new platforms to enable this change, while theyseek to better leverage the core data and systems thatare the backbone of their businesses today.To be successful in this age of the customer, ITorganizations require an enterprise grade architecturethat supports 3 fundamental building blocks fortransformational applications:41 End-to-End — functionality that aligns and automatesprocesses spanning multiple business organizations,that is inclusive of direct and indirect channels andthat combines data and analysis from internal andexternal sources2 Robust and Interoperable — with Master Data,CRM, and ERP leveraging these systems as part ofthe transformation, providing administration andmanagement capabilities that simplify complexityand living up to enterprise IT standards3 Performance and Scalability — the ability to deliver theexpected performance and user experience even withhigh volumes and complex models
Salesforce in the DigitalTransformation Landscape5
SALESFORCE IN THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION LANDSCAPEDigital transformation is ushering in a new world oftechnology into the corporate IT landscape. Salesforcehas become a leading platform in digital transformationprojects, and has also created a platform for 3rd partysoftware companies to build “native” applicationsthat interoperate with it. Building on the Salesforceplatform provides customers with a diverse and richset of applications on a secure, common cloud platform,sharing a common user and administration experience.But Salesforce is not without it’s limitations.The Gotcha’sLimitations on data volume — which come into playwhen dealing with big data such as managing transactionlines from distribution channels for chargeback andrebate calculations and processing.Parallel execution and calculation duration — which affectapplications such as pricing analysis and CPQ that maydeal with large complex scenarios or models.6Limitations on caching — which can degradeperformance for applications such as CPQ that dealwith large, complex models.View state limitations — that restrict the ability of theUI to incorporate advanced usability features to simplifycomplex user interactions.
Bringing EnterpriseGrade to Salesforce7
BRINGING ENTERPRISE GRADE TO SALESFORCEFor decades, Model N has been successfully deliveringenterprise grade Revenue Management applicationsincluding pricing, quoting, contract life cycle management,rebates and channel management on a global scale. Theseapplications manage over 700 billion in annual revenuesacross 100 countries and are designed to be interoperablewith our customers ERP systems, in particular SAP.Model N brings its proven expertise to the Salesforceplatform with its Revenue Cloud suite. The Revenue Cloudarchitecture leverages the full capabilities of the Salesforce1 platform. Model N applications are Salesforce nativesolutions deployed in the customer’s Salesforce org.There is no “punching out” to a separate application.The Model N architecture respects and follows theplatform framework for data models, transactions andUI actions, utilizing standard APIs available in Salesforce.8Data Models aredefined withinSalesforce andstored withinSalesforce.Transactions aredefined by theSalesforce platform,initiating and endingwithin Salesforcetransparently to users.The user experienceis always withinthe SalesforceUI, enhanced byLightning ready UIobjects to deliverbetter usability.
Model N AdvancedSalesforce NativePerformanceArchitecture9
MODEL N ADVANCED SALESFORCE NATIVE PERFORMANCE ARCHITECTUREModel N set out to solve three fundamentalarchitecture challenges for Salesforce nativeapplications: storage, calculation resourcesand memory resources.EnhancedManagementfor Data,Calculation,MemoryModel N applications have a unified data layer tostore and share data using standard Salesforceobjects. Big data types, such as channel sales linesare stored in enhanced Model N data servicesand surfaced as native Salesforce objects usingSalesforce REST APIs and Lightning Connecttechnologies. To native Salesforce applicationsthis approach is transparent.10To address the challenges of calculation or computingtime and memory limitations, Model N uses statelessperformance engines. The engines do not storeany data, just accept and process requests fromthe applications. The engines operate within theSalesforce transaction and the service is completelytransparent. The engines are mutli-tenant, clusteredservices that are highly scalable.Model N built a Node.js implementation of the Retealgorithm into the configuration engine which cachesmodels to improve response times. Any calls and rulechaining during the session are then evaluated in subsecond time, delivering instantaneous response forvery large configuration models.
Model NArchitectureOverview11
MODEL N ARCHITECTURE OVERVIEWModel N Advanced Salesforce Native PerformanceArchitecture has three layers. The applicationsthemselves are Salesforce native applicationsfully leveraging the Salesforce User experience.Model N has enhanced certain elements of the UIwith Lightning ready UI components to enablecapabilities like a patent-pending model navigatorin CPQ to simplify complex configurations.The second layer of the architecture is the Model NData Platform which provides a unified data layerfor the applications. The Data Platform unifies SalesCloud with the Revenue Cloud Suite and enablesseamless collaboration among the applicationswithin the suite.12Model N Performance Engines provide high performance,specialized services for the Revenue Cloud applications.The engines use highly secure 2-way SSL certificates toensure that access is only through the known Salesforceentity. The engines are mutli-tenant, clustered servicesthat are highly scalable and are operated withinSalesforce App Cloud on Heroku or in a Model NAWS environment.
MODEL N ARCHITECTURE OVERVIEWThe architecture also includes world-class enterprise application integration (EAI) with robust high availability,monitoring and management tools, used to enable integration with many types of packaged applications andcustom systems.13
Delivering an Enterprise GradeSalesforce Architecture14
DELIVERING AN ENTERPRISE GRADE SALESFORCE ARCHITECTUREModel N Advanced Salesforce Native PerformanceArchitecture is designed to meet the expectations ofenterprise customers implementing corporate-widedigital transformation initiatives.In addition, Model N built out comprehensive tools tomanage the complexities of the data, documents andproducts included in transformation projects.Design Principle 3 — Performance and ScalabilityDesign Principle 1 — End-to-EndModel N architecture enables a suite of Salesforce nativeapplications that span the entire revenue managementlifecycle. The suite includes pricing, CPQ, contract lifecyclemanagement, rebates and intelligence applications builtto drive complexity out of the sales process.Model N performance engines deliver a significantimprovement in response time and scalability for theSalesforce platform. The performance engine’s multitenant clustered design enables fast and efficientscalability as load increases, transparently offeringcomputing cycles for specific functions to Salesforcenative applications.Design Principle 2 — Robust and InteroperableFor more information, visit www.modeln.comModel N architecture brings together critical masterdata and facilitates interoperability between multipleapplications to create a foundation for transformationthat leverages existing systems. Model N offers deepinteroperability with ERP – particularly SAP – usingspecialized engines tuned to leverage the data andbusiness logic in SAP Pricing and Variant Configuration.15
Model N brings its proven expertise to the Salesforce platform with its Revenue Cloud suite. The Revenue Cloud architecture leverages the full capabilities of the Salesforce 1 platform. Model N applications are Salesforce native solutions deployed in the customer's Salesforce org. There is no "punching out" to a separate application.
