← All Comparisons

Workd vs Salesforce

Salesforce is the world's largest CRM company. But there's a fundamental question: is a general CRM with bolt-ons the right architecture for distribution?

Workd offers a different answer: a complete distribution platform where CRM is native, not central.

Quick Comparison

Architecture
Purpose-built vs Bolt-ons
ERP Functionality
Included vs Integration required
Voice AI
Built-in vs Telephony integrations
Implementation
Weeks vs Months
Total Cost
All-inclusive vs Accumulates

The Salesforce for Distribution Challenge

CRM Isn't Operations

Salesforce excels at what it was built for: managing customer relationships, tracking opportunities, enabling sales teams. But distribution is more than CRM:

Order management beyond quotes
Inventory visibility and allocation
Warehouse operations and fulfillment
Purchasing and vendor management
Complex distribution pricing
Phone order processing

For these capabilities, Salesforce requires integrations to ERP systems, order management platforms, and warehouse solutions.

The Multi-Cloud Reality

Salesforce's answer to expanded needs is more Clouds:

Sales Cloud – base CRM
Service Cloud – customer service
Commerce Cloud – B2B eCommerce
Order Management – order processing
Manufacturing Cloud – closest to distribution
Tableau/Einstein – analytics/AI

Each Cloud has its own licensing. A "complete" solution means multiple Clouds plus ERP integration.

Integration as Way of Life

Because Salesforce isn't an ERP, every distributor on Salesforce integrates it with their actual ERP:

  • Integration platform/middleware required
  • Data synchronization challenges
  • Two systems to maintain
  • Reconciliation processes
  • Integration failure points

Cost Multiplication

Salesforce licensing starts reasonably but expands rapidly

$ Per-user fees across Clouds
$ Additional capacity fees
$ AppExchange add-ons
$ Integration platform costs
$ Implementation services
$ Ongoing customization

Mid-market distributors regularly spend $200K-500K+ annually on Salesforce-centric solutions.

What Workd Does Differently

Distribution-Native Platform

Workd wasn't built as CRM that distributors adapt. It was built as a distribution platform:

  • CRM included — designed for B2B distribution
  • Order management — core (not an additional Cloud)
  • Inventory and warehouse — built-in
  • Pricing engine — handles distribution complexity
  • Operations first-class — not bolted on

AI-Native, Not AI-Added

Salesforce has Einstein. But Einstein was added to a CRM platform. Workd was built with AI at the core:

  • Voice AI agents take orders by phone
  • Intelligent order processing handles emails/docs
  • Predictive operations are native capabilities
  • Automation is the default, not exception

Unified Data

No integration between CRM and ERP because they're the same system. Order history, inventory levels, customer pricing, and relationship data all live together. One source of truth.

Predictable Investment

All-inclusive pricing without Cloud accumulation, AppExchange licensing, or integration platform costs. No surprises.

When Each Is Right

Salesforce Works When...

  • Sales process is complex with long cycles, many touchpoints
  • Marketing automation is central to your strategy
  • Ecosystem matters — AppExchange integrations you need
  • Operations are solved — you have a great ERP
  • Enterprise requirements — specific compliance/features

Workd Is Better When...

  • Operations are central — you're a distributor first
  • Multi-Cloud fatigue has set in
  • Phone orders are significant volume
  • Unified platform preferred over integrations
  • Cost predictability matters
  • AI-native operations is the goal

Purpose-Built Beats Bolt-On

See what a platform designed for distribution — not adapted for it — looks like in action.

Request a Demo