What Are Salesforce Application Management Services (AMS)?

Salesforce Application Management Services A Deeper Look

Beyond the Break-Fix: A Deeper Look at Salesforce Application Management Services

So, your business runs on Salesforce. You’ve made a significant investment in the world’s leading CRM platform to power your sales, service, and marketing efforts. But who is looking after that investment? Who is ensuring it’s not just running, but evolving and delivering maximum value every single day? For many companies, the answer is a small, overwhelmed internal team.

For the smartest companies, the answer is a strategic partnership for Salesforce Application Management Services (AMS).

But what is AMS, really? It’s a term that’s often misunderstood. It’s not just an outsourced helpdesk. It’s a proactive, strategic partnership designed to help you get the absolute most out of your Salesforce platform.

The Four Pillars of True Salesforce AMS

A genuine AMS partnership goes far beyond simple, reactive support. At BlueSky, our approach is built on four key pillars:

  1. Proactive Administration & Support: This is the foundation. It’s about keeping the lights on—managing users, fixing bugs, and ensuring the platform is stable and secure. But it’s also about proactive health checks and monitoring to prevent problems before they happen.

  2. Continuous Optimisation: Your business is not static, and your Salesforce instance shouldn’t be either. This pillar is about continuously improving and refining your existing setup. We analyse your processes, identify bottlenecks, and enhance workflows to make your teams more efficient.

  3. Strategic Enhancement: This is where we help you grow. As your business needs evolve, we work with you to design and implement new features, applications, and integrations. It’s about leveraging the full power of the Salesforce ecosystem to meet your strategic goals.

  4. Innovation & Roadmapping: The Salesforce platform releases hundreds of new features three times a year. A true AMS partner acts as your innovation guide. We help you understand what’s coming, identify the features that will have the biggest impact on your business, and build a strategic roadmap for the future.

The BlueSky Takeaway:

Salesforce Application Management Services are not an expense; they are an investment in the health, efficiency, and future of your most critical business platform. Stop thinking of it as just "support" and start seeing it as a strategic partnership for continuous growth and innovation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  1. When does a company need Salesforce AMS?
    A company typically needs AMS when they find their internal team is spending all their time on day-to-day administration and has no capacity for strategic improvements. Other triggers include falling user adoption rates, a growing backlog of feature requests, or a feeling that you’re not keeping up with new Salesforce releases and features.

  1. What is the difference between AMS and a one-time project?
    A project has a defined start and end date and is focused on a specific implementation goal. AMS is an ongoing relationship focused on the continuous improvement, support, and strategic evolution of your Salesforce platform over the long term.

  1. How do I choose the right Salesforce AMS partner?
    Look for a certified Salesforce partner with a proven track record in your industry. They should demonstrate a proactive, strategic mindset, not just a reactive, ticket-based approach. Ask for case studies, check their customer satisfaction scores, and ensure they have a local team that understands the South African market.
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Tashya Singh

Head of Human Capital

As Head of Human Capital at BlueSky, Tashya Singh plays a pivotal role in shaping a people strategy that empowers innovation, agility and growth. With more than 15 years of experience in Human Capital Management within technology-driven environments, she brings deep expertise in building cultures that align people and purpose.

Tashya is passionate about fostering inclusive, high-performance teams and supporting diverse talent across all functions — from engineering to commercial operations. A proud member of the South African Board for People Practices (SABPP), she is recognised for combining strategic thinking with a hands-on, empathetic approach to leadership.

In a rapidly evolving tech landscape, Tashya ensures that the Human Capital function acts as a key enabler of business outcomes — leading initiatives that attract top talent, develop future-ready skills and embed agility into organisational design and culture. Her focus on data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement helps BlueSky scale effectively while maintaining a people-first ethos.

Outside of work, Tashya is a devoted mother to her two sons, whom she affectionately calls her greatest blessings.

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Tracy Surkont

Growth Marketing Executive

As Growth Marketing Executive at BlueSky, Tracy Surkont drives business growth at the intersection of cloud technology, product strategy and industry transformation. She helps shape go-to-market strategies that align with client needs and position BlueSky’s offerings for measurable impact across key industries.

With more than 20 years of experience in sales and product leadership, Tracy has worked with leading enterprises across Africa to unlock value through innovative product development, strategic engagement and deep industry alignment — particularly in the telecommunications, media and FMCG sectors.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Business Management. When not building growth strategies, Tracy enjoys running, travelling and spending time with her family.

Michael-Baxter

Michael Baxter

Head of Finance and Commercial

As Head of Finance and Commercial at BlueSky, Michael Baxter oversees the organisation’s financial operations and reporting, leading the financial strategy to support growth while ensuring fiscal responsibility. He also manages commercial contracts to drive short-term profitability with a clear focus on long-term sustainability.

With more than 20 years of experience in the technology and communications industries — and a background in programming — Michael brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role. His vision is to reimagine finance at BlueSky through automation and innovation, enabling more strategic decision-making and ensuring that financial insights are readily available to guide business partners across the organisation.

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Martin Cheetham

Business Executive – Experience Design

Martin Cheetham is a design thinker, guitarist, husband and father with a passion for design, technology, music and film. He is dedicated to creating experiences that make people’s lives simpler, easier and more enjoyable.

With over 15 years’ experience, Martin has immersed himself in Design Thinking and human-centred methodologies to uncover people’s deeper motivations and translate insight into meaningful experiences that deliver business value.

At BlueSky, he leads dynamic teams to design innovative products, services and experiences, while remaining hands-on in projects. An experienced facilitator and teacher of Design Thinking, Martin has guided corporate teams, individuals and students through practical frameworks that foster creativity and problem-solving.

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Nicole Adriaans

Business Executive – Data Analytics AI

Nicole Adriaans is a seasoned Business Executive specialising in Data and AI, with over 20 years of experience delivering transformative solutions across the full business value chain. Since 2009, she has led the strategic design and implementation of data-driven initiatives — from omni-channel optimisation to cutting-edge omni-digital programmes — driving measurable value and innovation.

Passionate about inclusive leadership, Nicole is a dedicated advocate for empowering women in technology, actively mentoring and championing diversity in the tech sector. At BlueSky, she brings a human-centred approach to AI, challenging organisations to move beyond the hype toward real, measurable transformation.

Her forward-thinking leadership and commitment to excellence continue to shape impactful data strategies and foster a culture of innovation, empathy and equity.

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Rob Williamson

Business Executive - Amazon Web Services

As Business Executive of BlueSky’s AWS Business Unit, Rob Williamson leads a world-class, customer-centric team of engineers helping enterprise clients embrace secure, scalable and innovative cloud solutions that reimagine their digital futures.

With more than 35 years of experience in the technology industry, Rob has led transformative initiatives across financial services, telecommunications, retail, and the public sector. He is passionate about building high-performance teams, forging strategic partnerships, and inspiring change with clarity and purpose.

Rob holds a BCom in Business Management and is a lifelong learner, guided by Stephen Covey’s philosophy: “To Live, to Love, to Learn, and to Leave a Legacy.” Above all, he is a devoted family man, deeply committed to community development through his involvement in education, sport and his church.

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Dave Thomson

Head of Sales

As Head of Sales at BlueSky, Dave Thompson is passionate about people and technology — and about combining the two to deliver value and growth through a strong customer-centric focus.

With more than 25 years of experience across South Africa and the UK, Dave has a proven track record of leading high-performing teams, building lasting relationships and implementing innovative sales strategies in the fast-moving digital transformation landscape.

Outside of work, Dave is a dedicated family man and sports enthusiast. He has played provincial golf, enjoys social padel and loves to travel — guided by his personal mantra to live life to the fullest in both work and play.

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Nomfusi Masangwana

Director

Nomfusi is a finance and investment professional with a BCom in Accounting and more than four years of experience in financial management, reporting and compliance. She has developed a strong track record in navigating complex financial processes, ensuring accuracy, governance and accountability across investment and corporate structures.

With extensive experience compiling financial and investment reports for private equity funds and investment companies, Nomfusi delivers data-driven insights that support strategic decision-making. Her methodical and proactive approach ensures that financial and compliance processes are executed with rigour and efficiency.

As a Director at BlueSky, Nomfusi brings a disciplined financial lens, a deep understanding of reporting and governance, and a commitment to excellence in oversight and accountability — strengthening the organisation’s strategic direction and supporting sustainable growth.

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Janet Naidoo

Director

Janet Naidoo is a seasoned financial services professional with over a decade of experience across private banking, wealth management and investment consulting. She has held senior roles at Invequity, State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, RMB and Allan Gray, where she specialised in managing high-net-worth and corporate clients.

FAIS-accredited (RE1 & RE5), Janet is passionate about building trusted relationships and driving business growth. She brings deep financial expertise, strategic insight and strong leadership to her role as Director at BlueSky.

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Rassie Engelbrecht

Co-CEO

Rassie Engelbrecht is an experienced executive and thought leader with a strong track record in Business and Digital Transformation, Cloud and AI Consulting, and delivering results across multiple industries — including Financial Services, Telecommunications, Media, Automotive, Retail, Public Sector, Mining and Social Enterprises.

An engineer, futurist, strategist, and innovator, Rassie combines technical expertise with a passion for client centricity and empowering people. As Co-CEO of BlueSky, his entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen are central to the company’s ambitious growth plans.

Rassie holds an Engineering degree from the University of Pretoria, an MBA from Aston University in the UK, and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from BMGI. He has also completed various certifications in Agile, Data, Design, AI, Project Management and People Change.

Beyond his professional life, Rassie is dedicated to community upliftment through his non-profit initiatives and enjoys hiking, travelling, and speaking at conferences on future trends. Above all, he values time with his family and believes deeply in relationships, servanthood and stewardship.

Matt-Surkont 2

Matt Surkont

Founder / Chief Executive Officer 

As the founder and CEO of BlueSky, I have helped numerous clients drive their digital and AI transformations by delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance efficiency, effectiveness and growth. 

As an entrepreneur, having started and invested in numerous technology companies, I am also the founder of a private equity fund, where I employ hands-on venture capital and business building strategies for entrepreneurs. I support startups with focused business resources and lived experience in every aspect of growth. 

I hold a Bachelor of Business Science degree with honours in Information Systems from the University of Cape Town.

When I’m not BlueSky thinking, I enjoy spending time with my family, trail running and fishing.