"Pivotal Load Simulation Services prevent costly performance problems by detecting bottlenecks before a new system or upgrade is deployed. With our load simulation services, we help you predict server usage scenarios, detect system boundaries, and fine-tune performance. With
an accurate picture of system performance, you can cut costs and accelerate the delivery of new applications and upgrades, while minimizing downtime risks, sluggish performance, and missed expectations."
1. Pivotal Load Simulation Services
Diagnose problems and deploy with How can you be sure that your mission-critical CRM applications
no surprises.
will meet your performance and utilization objectives? Pivotal
• Improve application performance CRM provides simulation modeling of your real-world production
and resolve issues before you deploy
environment, so that you can make better IT investment decisions and
• Reduce the risk of new application diagnose problems, scale appropriately, and deploy with no surprises.
rollouts and upgrades
• Be confident that new or upgraded It’s not enough to guarantee up-time; it’s the end-user experience that counts. There can be
systems exceed business requirements vast differences between how an application performs in pre-production and how it works in
the “real world.” In order to meet end-user requirements, customers look to providers to predict
• Identify and eliminate bottlenecks performance bottlenecks, prevent downtime, and optimize applications. Customers demand
in pre-deployment testing processes and methodologies to validate overall system performance, test usage scenarios,
• Take advantage of best practices and pinpoint performance restrictions, helping them deploy applications with confidence.
and experienced support
Pivotal Load Simulation Services prevent costly performance problems by detecting bottlenecks
• Deploy faster at a lower cost and before a new system or upgrade is deployed. With our load simulation services, we help you
with less risk predict server usage scenarios, detect system boundaries, and fine-tune performance. With
an accurate picture of system performance, you can cut costs and accelerate the delivery of
To learn more about Pivotal Load Simulation
new applications and upgrades, while minimizing downtime risks, sluggish performance, and
Services, contact your Customer Account
missed expectations.
Manager at +1 877-PIVOTAL.
Whether you are implementing Pivotal CRM for the first time, adding new functionality, or
expanding your deployment, we can simulate your production environment quickly and reliably.
From identification of KPIs and usage scenarios to testing for scale and functionality, we provide
the ability to create a virtual environment and execute and monitor system usage to make the
best recommendations.
Customers that use our Load Simulation Services can continue to use our proprietary tools for
production monitoring and future upgrades. With Pivotal Load Simulation Services, you benefit
from using proprietary tools built specifically for your Pivotal CRM system combined with the
expertise of Pivotal CRM Technical Account Managers (TAMs).
Your management team will rest easier knowing you have the best minds in the industry working
to ensure your system and applications will perform as expected.
Proactively Manage the Performance of Your Applications and IT Infrastructure
Pivotal Load Simulation Services can emulate thousands of concurrent users in your Pivotal
CRM production environment. We test your applications from end to end—virtual user loads
are throttled, and the effects on the utilization of resources can be observed. PLASMA (Pivotal
LoAd SiMulAtor), our proprietary simulation tool, monitors and displays performance data from
each server, application, and system and captures end-user response times for key business
processes. This allows us to identify, and avoid, scalability issues that would otherwise impact
performance in production. Pivotal Load Simulation Services and PLASMA let you become
proactive in the performance management of your most critical systems.
Once system testing is complete, we present you with a summary of recommendations to assist
you in making any required modifications. Furthermore, to help manage the evolution of your CRM
system, you can reuse PLASMA scripts to continually retest and monitor performance.
In-Depth Pivotal CRM Product Knowledge and Support
Real-time access to critical systems allows you to act quickly and make important decisions—any
interruptions or delays can bring business processes to a halt. If your organization doesn't have
the time or resources to quantify performance levels or the ability to identify root causes, your TAM
can help. By supplementing your staff and sharing best practices, your TAM will guide you through
performance simulation throughout the lifecycle of your deployment.
Pivotal CRM | Solution Sheet
2. Our proven approach has helped When you engage a TAM, you are going straight to the source of the most in-depth Pivotal CRM
companies worldwide maximize product knowledge available. Pivotal CRM technical account managers are our most senior
their systems’ scalability with technical resources; they are at the forefront of Pivotal CRM innovation and can provide you with
less downtime so they can focus unique insight into how your CRM system can meet your business needs.
on growing their business and
remaining competitive. Key Phases
Your management team can rest easy knowing that your Pivotal CRM system is scalable and
ready to evolve along with your business. Whether initiated as a standalone service or as a part of
the greater Performance Health Check Services, Pivotal Load Simulation Services can move your
business forward in just a few weeks.
Our proven approach has helped companies worldwide maximize their systems’ scalability with
less downtime so they can focus on growing their business and remaining competitive. For a fixed
fee, we deliver the most cost-effective, innovative way to test the limits of your CRM performance
capabilities, and we clearly outline your responsibilities in working together for a collective
successful output.
• Scoping and Planning
Objective: Identify the primary areas of the Pivotal CRM application to be load tested
A Pivotal CRM technical account manager works with your project manager, stakeholders,
and user groups to identify “use cases” to be simulated during the course of the testing effort.
Furthermore, business objectives and KPIs can be continually monitored and tuned throughout
the project. These use cases are then validated with the user community and later modeled in
Pivotal CRM’s proprietary PLASMA load simulation tool. The KPIs will drive future decisions on
how to optimize the system. After careful analysis of your systems and information gathered
at interview sessions, your TAM will provide you with recommendations on how to test and
manage application performance.
• Test Script Validation
Objective: Construct and validate load simulation test scripts that accurately model test cases
Working with your project manager, your TAM will help validate the test scripts and create an
accurate, simulated environment—onsite or offsite—that reflects real-life conditions using real
data. Once test scripts are finalized, our team programs the scripts in our proprietary PLASMA
tool. To ensure programmed scripts in the PLASMA tool accurately model the defined use case
scenarios, we run several trials to evaluate whether the testing program is correctly simulating
actual end-user activities and apply any required modifications.
• Load Testing and Performance Data Collection
Objective: Execute tests using randomized sets of end-user data
During the load simulation process, we replicate a typical business day and take your CRM
system through a series of processes and workflows, using random sets of test data, while
monitoring all key points of the infrastructure. Our PLASMA tool generates repeatable load tests,
allowing you to replace real test users with thousands of virtual users. This process will identify
any infrastructure issues or system bottlenecks and validate that your infrastructure can meet
demands today and in the future.
Our team performs the first round of scalability tests for a predefined set of users. We test
for specific points of failure, as well as noticeable drops in performance. We also monitor for
low-level issues, making quick fixes where appropriate. Once initial testing is complete, we
move to second- and third-level testing, taking an iterative approach to testing and tuning until
the system meets your performance objectives.
• Analysis and Feedback
Objective: Provide analysis and project reporting
Upon completion of the test simulation, we produce a detailed report that provides specific
and measurable facts on any problem areas. We summarize this analysis with precise
recommendations and guidance to address issues and improve system performance.
Pivotal CRM | Solution Sheet