Salesforce.com Inc. reported a boost in quarterly sales and again lifted its full-year outlook in a sign companies continue their bet on cloud computing for business applications as the Delta variant of Covid-19 spreads.
The business-software provider has been one of the big beneficiaries of the pandemic, as companies embraced the kind of cloud-based enterprise tools Salesforce offers to connect users with customers and staff. Salesforce’s stock has jumped more than 75% since the formal start of the pandemic.
San Francisco-based Salesforce on Wednesday posted revenue of $6.34 billion, up 23% from the same quarter a year ago, topping Wall Street expectations, according to analysts surveyed by FactSet. The company generated earnings per share of 56 cents.
The spread of the more infectious Delta variant has only reinforced the adoption of digital tools, Salesforce Chief Operating Officer Bret Taylor said in an interview Wednesday. “Delta has shown this virus is not going away,” he said.
Salesforce is seeing a workplace response to Delta with its own employees, Mr. Taylor said. The company had opened half of its offices after pandemic lockdowns, but since the new strain appeared people are showing up less frequently, he added.
