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Service Cloud or Sales Cloud for Service

4 Reasons to Use Salesforce Service Cloud Over Sales Cloud’s Standard Case Functionality When businesses aim to elevate their customer support operations, Salesforce is often their platform of choice. While Sales Cloud and Service Cloud both help manage customer interactions, their core purposes differ. Sales Cloud focuses on managing the sales pipeline, whereas Service Cloud is specifically designed to optimize customer service and support processes. Here are four compelling reasons to choose Service Cloud for your customer support needs. 1. Advanced Case Management Features Service Cloud offers robust tools to manage customer cases with efficiency, far surpassing the basic case functionality available in Sales Cloud. Key Service Cloud Features: While Sales Cloud does support basic case management, it lacks these advanced features. Attempting to replicate them in Sales Cloud often requires extensive customization and development. 2. Omni-Channel Support for Seamless Customer Communication Modern customer service spans multiple channels, including chat, email, phone, and social media. Service Cloud provides powerful omni-channel capabilities to unify communication across all these touchpoints—something Sales Cloud does not offer. Key Service Cloud Features: Sales Cloud’s functionality centers on sales processes, leaving it without native support for omni-channel routing or social media integrations for customer support. 3. Knowledge Base for Self-Service and Agent Efficiency Service Cloud enables organizations to build and maintain a knowledge base, empowering both customers and agents with quick access to solutions. Key Service Cloud Features: Sales Cloud does not include tools for creating a knowledge base, self-service portals, or case deflection, as it is designed primarily for sales teams. 4. Entitlements and Service Contracts for Enhanced Customer Support Service Cloud provides specialized tools for managing entitlements and service contracts, ensuring customers receive the level of support they’re entitled to. Key Service Cloud Features: Sales Cloud does not offer dedicated features for managing entitlements or service contracts, limiting its utility for businesses focused on structured customer support. Why Service Cloud is the Better Choice for Customer Support While Sales Cloud is a powerful tool for managing sales pipelines, it falls short in addressing the complex needs of modern customer support. Service Cloud provides: If your priority is delivering exceptional customer support and enhancing customer satisfaction, Service Cloud is the clear choice. With its comprehensive features, your support team will be empowered to work more efficiently, resolve issues faster, and provide outstanding service across all channels. Invest in Service Cloud to transform your support operations and create seamless, satisfying experiences for your customers. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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January 6, 2025in Salesforce, Salesforce Service Cloud0 Comments
Tectonic Salesforce Customization
05Jan

Maximizing Salesforce Customizations

Data Goldmine: Maximizing Salesforce Customizations to Supercharge Contact Center Efficiency In the fast-paced realm of customer relationship management (CRM), Salesforce has become an indispensable tool for businesses aiming to optimize customer interactions and streamline operations. Despite its widespread use, many organizations barely scratch the surface of its customization potential. The issue isn’t a lack of tools but rather the underutilization of powerful resources like Apex code—a hidden goldmine that can significantly elevate contact center performance. Unlocking Potential with Apex Customizations Salesforce’s Apex code empowers businesses to craft tailored solutions that meet unique operational needs. However, these customizations often remain static, failing to evolve alongside changing business requirements. By revisiting and repurposing existing Apex code, businesses can unlock advanced features and innovative applications that go beyond their original scope. Here are a few ways Apex customizations can transform your contact center: 1. Intelligent Task Routing Picture a contact center where customer inquiries are dynamically routed to the most qualified agents based on expertise, availability, and historical performance. With Apex, businesses can design systems that enable intelligent task assignment. This improves operational efficiency while boosting customer satisfaction, ensuring every inquiry is resolved by the right person at the right time. 2. Proactive Workload Optimization Workload imbalances can lead to agent burnout and reduced service quality. By analyzing Salesforce data, businesses can develop Apex-driven algorithms to optimize workload distribution. These systems identify interaction trends and allocate tasks in real time, ensuring that no agent is overburdened. The result? A healthier, more productive team and consistently superior customer service. 3. AI-Augmented Decision-Making AI integration with Salesforce customizations is reshaping customer support. By leveraging AI-driven insights, businesses can equip agents with real-time recommendations, allowing for more personalized, informed interactions. These tools not only enhance the customer experience but also empower agents to make faster, smarter decisions. Taking Action: Steps to Unleash Your CRM’s Full Potential To harness the full power of Salesforce customizations, consider these actionable steps: Looking Ahead: Preparing for Next-Gen Customer Support The future of customer support is driven by data, AI, and personalized experiences. Salesforce customizations can help businesses stay ahead by enabling cutting-edge capabilities like multilingual support, visual troubleshooting, and advanced interactive features. By revisiting your existing customizations and aligning them with emerging trends, you can not only enhance customer satisfaction but also set your organization apart in a competitive marketplace. Salesforce isn’t just a CRM—it’s a platform for building next-generation customer service. A Call to Action: Unlock the Potential of Your Salesforce Ecosystem Are you ready to explore how your Salesforce customizations can revolutionize customer service? The potential is vast, and the rewards are significant. Let’s discuss how to harness the full power of your CRM to drive smarter workflows and enhance your contact center’s efficiency. Take a closer look at your existing customizations—they may hold the key to the innovation and success you’ve been seeking. By embracing Salesforce’s full potential, you can create a future-ready customer support ecosystem that works harder for your business. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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January 5, 2025in Data, Salesforce Development Services, Salesforce Implementation Services, Salesforce Optimization0 Comments
From Chatbots to Agentic AI
04Jan

From Chatbots to Agentic AI

The transition from LLM-powered chatbots to agentic systems, or agentic AI, can be summed up by the old saying: “Less talk, more action.” Keeping up with advancements in AI can be overwhelming, especially when managing an existing business. The speed and complexity of innovation can make it feel like the first day of school all over again. This insight offers a comprehensive look at AI agents, their components, and key characteristics. The introductory section breaks down the elements that form the term “AI agent,” providing a clear definition. After establishing this foundation, we explore the evolution of LLM applications, particularly the shift from traditional chatbots to agentic systems. The goal is to understand why AI agents are becoming increasingly vital in AI development and how they differ from LLM-powered chatbots. By the end of this guide, you will have a deeper understanding of AI agents, their potential applications, and their impact on organizational workflows. For those of you with a technical background who prefer to get hands-on, click here for the best repository for AI developers and builders. What is an AI Agent? Components of AI Agents To understand the term “AI agent,” we need to examine its two main components. First, let’s consider artificial intelligence, or AI. Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to non-biological intelligence that mimics human cognition to perform tasks traditionally requiring human intellect. Through machine learning and deep learning techniques, algorithms—especially neural networks—learn patterns from data. AI systems are used for tasks such as detection, classification, and prediction, with content generation becoming a prominent domain due to transformer-based models. These systems can match or exceed human performance in specific scenarios. The second component is “agent,” a term commonly used in both technology and human contexts. In computer science, an agent refers to a software entity with environmental awareness, able to perceive and act within its surroundings. A computational agent typically has the ability to: In human contexts, an agent is someone who acts on behalf of another person or organization, making decisions, gathering information, and facilitating interactions. They often play intermediary roles in transactions and decision-making. To define an AI agent, we combine these two perspectives: it is a computational entity with environmental awareness, capable of perceiving inputs, acting with tools, and processing information using foundation models backed by both long-term and short-term memory. Key Components and Characteristics of AI Agents From LLMs to AI Agents Now, let’s take a step back and understand how we arrived at the concept of AI agents, particularly by looking at how LLM applications have evolved. The shift from traditional chatbots to LLM-powered applications has been rapid and transformative. Form Factor Evolution of LLM Applications Traditional Chatbots to LLM-Powered Chatbots Traditional chatbots, which existed before generative AI, were simpler and relied on heuristic responses: “If this, then that.” They followed predefined rules and decision trees to generate responses. These systems had limited interactivity, with the fallback option of “Speak to a human” for complex scenarios. LLM-Powered Chatbots The release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT on November 30, 2022, marked the introduction of LLM-powered chatbots, fundamentally changing the game. These chatbots, like ChatGPT, were built on GPT-3.5, a large language model trained on massive datasets. Unlike traditional chatbots, LLM-powered systems can generate human-like responses, offering a much more flexible and intelligent interaction. However, challenges remained. LLM-powered chatbots struggled with personalization and consistency, often generating plausible but incorrect information—a phenomenon known as “hallucination.” This led to efforts in grounding LLM responses through techniques like retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). RAG Chatbots RAG is a method that combines data retrieval with LLM generation, allowing systems to access real-time or proprietary data, improving accuracy and relevance. This hybrid approach addresses the hallucination problem, ensuring more reliable outputs. LLM-Powered Chatbots to AI Agents As LLMs expanded, their abilities grew more sophisticated, incorporating advanced reasoning, multi-step planning, and the use of external tools (function calling). Tool use refers to an LLM’s ability to invoke specific functions, enabling it to perform more complex tasks. Tool-Augmented LLMs and AI Agents As LLMs became tool-augmented, the emergence of AI agents followed. These agents integrate reasoning, planning, and tool use into an autonomous, goal-driven system that can operate iteratively within a dynamic environment. Unlike traditional chatbot interfaces, AI agents leverage a broader set of tools to interact with various systems and accomplish tasks. Agentic Systems Agentic systems—computational architectures that include AI agents—embody these advanced capabilities. They can autonomously interact with systems, make decisions, and adapt to feedback, forming the foundation for more complex AI applications. Components of an AI Agent AI agents consist of several key components: Characteristics of AI Agents AI agents are defined by the following traits: Conclusion AI agents represent a significant leap from traditional chatbots, offering greater autonomy, complexity, and interactivity. However, the term “AI agent” remains fluid, with no universal industry standard. Instead, it exists on a continuum, with varying degrees of autonomy, adaptability, and proactive behavior defining agentic systems. Value and Impact of AI Agents The key benefits of AI agents lie in their ability to automate manual processes, reduce decision-making burdens, and enhance workflows in enterprise environments. By “agentifying” repetitive tasks, AI agents offer substantial productivity gains and the potential to transform how businesses operate. As AI agents evolve, their applications will only expand, driving new efficiencies and enabling organizations to leverage AI in increasingly sophisticated ways. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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January 4, 2025in Agentic AI, Artificial Intelligence, Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Technology0 Comments
What is Heroku
04Jan

What is Heroku

What is Heroku? Heroku is a modern, container-based Platform as a Service (PaaS) that enables developers to deploy, manage, and scale applications with ease. Designed for simplicity, flexibility, and elegance, it provides the fastest path for developers to take their apps to market. Key Features of Heroku: The Evolution of Heroku Heroku has recently undergone a transformation, becoming fully cloud-native with advanced integrations like Kubernetes, OpenTelemetry, and Agentforce, an AI-powered enhancement to its platform. These upgrades retain the platform’s hallmark simplicity while delivering more performance and tools, such as Graviton processors, EKS, ECR, and AWS Global Accelerator. AI-Powered Innovation: Agentforce Agentforce, Heroku’s latest feature, brings AI-powered automation to app development. It empowers both technical and non-technical users by offering natural language workflows for building applications, making it accessible to a wider range of business users. According to Betty Junod, Heroku’s Chief Marketing Officer at Salesforce, the platform now seamlessly combines user-friendly experiences with cutting-edge AI capabilities: “We’ve replatformed while keeping the experience as simple as ever, but now with added horsepower, Graviton performance, and managed AI tools like Bedrock.” Agentforce is particularly impactful for non-developers, guiding them through building apps and automating processes with no-code or low-code tools. This innovation aligns with Heroku’s mission to make app creation easier and more interactive: “It’s not just apps serving information anymore; users are engaging with them in entirely new ways.” Deliver Apps, Your Way Heroku is designed to serve a variety of needs, from quick prototypes to mission-critical enterprise applications. Its fully managed ecosystem allows you to build and scale apps efficiently, leveraging the tools and languages you already know and love. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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January 4, 2025in AI Tools, Data, Enterprise, Salesforce0 Comments
03Jan

Digital Marketing for Casinos

Unveiling the Casino Experience: Harnessing the Power of Digital Marketing In the exciting world of casinos—where entertainment meets sophistication—the influence of digital marketing is undeniable. A strategic approach is packed with actionable insights designed to boost online presence, engage audiences, and drive sustained success. Discover how to craft compelling content, wield social media’s dynamic power, utilize a customer relationship platform, and optimize visibility to ensure your casino stands out in an increasingly competitive digital arena. Tectonic has a successful, winning track record in Salesforce implementation for casinos. Whether you’re promoting exclusive guest events, captivating diverse demographics, or showcasing the unique experience of your casino, this insight equips you to master the digital space with Salesforce. With these strategies, casinos can create a ever-growing online presence that not only strengthens bonds with existing patrons but also entices new guests. Generating New and Repeat Guest Traffic with Salesforce Key Takeaways Why Digital Marketing is a Critical Component for Casinos Digital marketing serves as a critical driver of customer engagement, loyalty, and revenue growth in the casino industry. Strategies such as SEO, email marketing, and social media engagement empower casinos to connect with target audiences and continuously refine their efforts to remain competitive. In today’s crowded and competitive gaming world, leveraging data-driven marketing offers the competitive edge needed to captivate and retain customers. Winning Strategies for Casino Marketing 1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO):Ensure your casino is easy to find with these tactics: 2. Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC):Drive traffic with targeted PPC campaigns by: 3. Social Media Marketing:Create buzz with engaging social media campaigns: 4. Email Marketing:Maintain direct communication with: 5. Salesforce 360 Degree Guest View:Maintain personalized communication with: Reaching the Right Audience with Precision Audience Segmentation:Segmenting your audience by behavior, demographics, and preferences ensures more effective marketing. Navigating Legal and Ethical Challenges in Casino Marketing Compliance is essential in maintaining trust and navigating complex regulations. Measuring Success: Metrics and Optimization Key Metrics to Monitor: Campaign Optimization: Addressing Industry Challenges with Marketing 1. Rising Competition:Stand out by delivering unmatched gaming experiences and innovative promotions. 2. High Player Churn:Combat churn with data-driven marketing and personalized offerings to boost player lifetime value. 3. ROI Challenges:Optimize your mix of games and services to balance player satisfaction and profitability. The Road Ahead: Commitment to Digital Transformation With the global online gaming market projected to grow at a significant pace, casinos must embrace a future grounded in digital and data-driven marketing. Investments in technology, analytics, and talent will be pivotal in securing long-term profitability and differentiation. In an industry where chance often rules, success lies in a deliberate, strategic approach to digital marketing. This insight equips you with the tools to not only compete but thrive in this dynamic landscape. Contact Tectonic today to explore Salesforce tools to better reach, engage, and serve your guests. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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January 3, 2025in Agentforce Platform, Data, Einstein 1 Platform, Einstein Insights, Enterprise, Laws, Marketing Automation, Salesforce, Salesforce Data Cloud, Salesforce Development Services, Salesforce Experience Cloud, Salesforce Hospitality Travel and Transportation, Salesforce Implementation Services, Technology0 Comments
Speed to Launch of Agentforce
03Jan

Speed to Launch of Agentforce

Agentforce isn’t just another AI platform that requires months of customization. At most customers, they quickly saw its power, launching transformative generative AI experiences in just days—no AI engineers needed. For companies with larger admin teams, the benefits can be even greater. Unlike other platforms, Agentforce places a strong emphasis on data privacy, building on the trust that Salesforce is known for, making these virtual assistants invaluable. We began with employee-facing use cases, saving our team several hours per week. Now, with Agentforce, we’re seeing even more opportunities to drive efficiencies and better serve our customers. “We’re excited to leverage Agentforce to completely overhaul recruitment and enrollment at Unity Environmental University. Instead of traditional forms or chatbots, our students will soon engage with an autonomous recruitment agent directly on our website, offering personalized support throughout the college application process.”– Dr. Melik Khoury, President & CEO, Unity Environmental University “For first-generation college students, the 1:385 coach-to-student ratio makes personalized guidance challenging. By integrating Agentforce into our platform, we’re deploying cutting-edge solutions to better support students. These agents enable our coaches to focus on high-touch, personalized experiences while handling vital tasks like sharing deadlines and answering common questions—24/7.”– Siva Kumari, CEO, College Possible “Agentforce offers organizations a unique opportunity to move beyond incremental improvements and achieve exponential ROI. By automating customer interactions, improving outcomes, and reducing costs, it integrates data, flows, and user interfaces to mitigate risks and accelerate value creation. This agent-based platform approach allows businesses to harness AI’s full potential, revolutionizing customer engagement and paving the way for exponential growth.”– Rebecca Wettemann, CEO and Principal Analyst, Valoir “Autonomous agents powered by Salesforce’s Agentforce are revolutionizing customer experiences by providing fast, accurate, and personalized support around the clock. With advanced AI making decisions and taking actions autonomously, businesses can resolve customer issues more efficiently, fostering deeper interactions and enhancing satisfaction. This innovation enables companies to reallocate human resources to more complex tasks, boosting individual productivity and scaling business growth. Agentforce is setting new standards for seamless sales, service, marketing, and commerce interactions, reinforcing its leadership in customer experience.”– Michael Fauscette, CEO and Chief Analyst, Arion Research LLC “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” — Alan Kay, Computer Science Pioneer Technology progresses in what biologists call punctuated equilibrium, with new capabilities slowly emerging from labs and tinkerers until a breakthrough shifts the axis of possibility. These pioneering feats create new paradigms, unleashing waves of innovation—much like the Apple Macintosh, the iPhone, and the Salesforce Platform, which revolutionized the enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) model and sparked an entire industry. The Age of Agentforce Begins At Dreamforce 2024, Salesforce Futures reflected on the launch of Agentforce, inspired by visions like the Apple Knowledge Navigator. In 2023, we used this inspiration to craft our Salesforce 2030 film, which showcased the collaboration between humans and autonomous AI agents. Now, with Agentforce, we’re witnessing that vision come to life. Agentforce is a suite of customizable AI agents and tools built on the Salesforce Platform, offering an elegant solution to the complexity of AI deployment. It addresses the challenges of integrating data, models, infrastructure, and applications into a unified system. With powerful tools like Agent Builder and Model Builder, organizations can easily create, customize, and deploy AI agents. Salesforce’s Atlas Reasoning Engine empowers these agents to handle both routine and complex tasks autonomously. A New Era of AI Innovation At Dreamforce 2024, over 10,000 attendees raced to build their own agents using the “Agent Builder” experience, turning verbal instructions into fully functioning agents in under 15 minutes. This wasn’t just another chatbot—it’s a new breed of AI that could transform how businesses operate and deliver superior customer experiences. Companies like Saks, OpenTable, and Wiley have quickly embraced this technology. As Mick Costigan and David Berthy of Salesforce Futures explain, “When we see signals like this, it pushes us toward the future. Soon, we’ll see complex, multi-agent systems solving higher-order challenges, both in the enterprise and in consumer devices.” Shaping the Future Agentforce isn’t just a product—it’s a platform for experimentation. With hundreds of thousands of Salesforce customers soon gaining access, the full potential of these tools will unfold in ways we can’t yet imagine. As with every major technological shift, the real magic will lie in how people use it. Every interaction, every agent deployed, and every problem solved will shape the future in unexpected ways. Platform Evolution Adam Evans, Salesforce SVP of Product, notes that Agentforce builds on the company’s transformation over the past four years, following the pattern of Salesforce’s original disruption of enterprise software. Unlike traditional solutions, Agentforce eliminates the need for customers to build their own AI infrastructure, providing a ready-to-use solution. At the core of Agentforce is the Atlas Reasoning Engine, delivering results that are twice as relevant and 33% more accurate than competing solutions. This engine integrates Salesforce Data Cloud, Flow for automation, and the Einstein Trust Layer for governance. Early Customer Results Early Agentforce deployments highlight how organizations are using autonomous agents to enhance, rather than replace, human workers: George Pokorny, Senior VP of Global Customer Success at OpenTable, shared, “Just saving two minutes on a ten-minute call lets our service reps focus on strengthening customer relationships, thanks to seamless integration with Service Cloud, giving us a unified view of diner preferences and history.” Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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January 3, 2025in Agentforce Platform, Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Salesforce, Salesforce Data Cloud, Technology0 Comments

The Subscription Economy

The Subscription Economy: A $1.5 Trillion Opportunity by 2025The subscription economy has expanded by 435% over the last decade and is projected to reach a staggering $1.5 trillion market size by 2025, cementing its status as a dominant business model. Companies leveraging subscription and servitization strategies are unlocking consistent revenue streams and delivering tailored services that foster customer loyalty and satisfaction. The Challenge of Managing RenewalsWhile the subscription economy thrives, managing renewals effectively remains a critical challenge. Without a robust system, businesses risk: This is where Salesforce CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) becomes essential. It not only automates the renewal process but also empowers businesses to deliver accurate, timely, and personalized renewal experiences. The Role of Salesforce CPQ in Renewal ManagementSalesforce CPQ streamlines the renewal process by automating workflows, ensuring pricing accuracy, and creating personalized customer experiences. Key benefits include: With Salesforce CPQ, renewals become a strategic opportunity to retain customers, drive revenue growth, and deliver exceptional service. The Importance of Renewal Metrics Tracking the right renewal metrics is crucial for understanding performance and identifying areas for improvement. These metrics provide actionable insights that drive better customer retention and revenue growth. 1. Renewal Rate 2. Churn Rate 3. Renewal Revenue 4. Net Revenue Retention (NRR) 5. Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) 6. Time to Renewal (TTR) 7. Renewal Upsell Rate 8. Renewal Discount Utilization Enhancing Renewal Metrics with Salesforce CPQ Salesforce CPQ transforms how you track and manage renewal metrics through automation, analytics, and workflow optimization. Here’s how: 1. Automate Renewal Tracking 2. Enhance Reporting and Analytics 3. Optimize Workflows 4. Analyze and Improve 5. Train and Support Teams Conclusion Salesforce CPQ revolutionizes renewal management by automating processes, reducing errors, and delivering actionable insights through renewal metrics. By implementing these tools and strategies, you can improve customer retention, increase revenue, and build stronger customer relationships. Whether managing hundreds or thousands of renewals, Salesforce CPQ ensures your business stays ahead with precision and care. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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January 2, 2025in Data, Enterprise, Salesforce, Salesforce CPQ0 Comments
Salesforce AI Research Introduces BLIP-3-Video
02Jan

Salesforce AI Research Introduces BLIP-3-Video

Salesforce AI Research Introduces BLIP-3-Video: A Groundbreaking Multimodal Model for Efficient Video Understanding Vision-language models (VLMs) are transforming artificial intelligence by merging visual and textual data, enabling advancements in video analysis, human-computer interaction, and multimedia applications. These tools empower systems to generate captions, answer questions, and support decision-making, driving innovation in industries like entertainment, healthcare, and autonomous systems. However, the exponential growth in video-based tasks has created a demand for more efficient processing solutions that can manage the vast amounts of visual and temporal data inherent in videos. The Challenge of Scaling Video Understanding Existing video-processing models face significant inefficiencies. Many rely on processing each frame individually, creating thousands of visual tokens that demand extensive computational resources. This approach struggles with long or complex videos, where balancing computational efficiency and accurate temporal understanding becomes crucial. Attempts to address this issue, such as pooling techniques used by models like Video-ChatGPT and LLaVA-OneVision, have only partially succeeded, as they still produce thousands of tokens. Introducing BLIP-3-Video: A Breakthrough in Token Efficiency To tackle these challenges, Salesforce AI Research has developed BLIP-3-Video, a cutting-edge vision-language model optimized for video processing. The key innovation lies in its temporal encoder, which reduces visual tokens to just 16–32 tokens per video, significantly lowering computational requirements while maintaining strong performance. The temporal encoder employs a spatio-temporal attentional pooling mechanism, selectively extracting the most informative data from video frames. By consolidating spatial and temporal information into compact video-level tokens, BLIP-3-Video streamlines video processing without sacrificing accuracy. Efficient Architecture for Scalable Video Tasks BLIP-3-Video’s architecture integrates: This design ensures that the model efficiently captures essential temporal information while minimizing redundant data. Performance Highlights BLIP-3-Video demonstrates remarkable efficiency, achieving accuracy comparable to state-of-the-art models like Tarsier-34B while using a fraction of the tokens: For context, Tarsier-34B requires 4608 tokens for eight video frames, whereas BLIP-3-Video achieves similar results with only 32 tokens. On multiple-choice tasks, the model excelled: These results highlight BLIP-3-Video as one of the most token-efficient models in video understanding, offering top-tier performance while dramatically reducing computational costs. Advancing AI for Real-World Video Applications BLIP-3-Video addresses the critical challenge of token inefficiency, proving that complex video data can be processed effectively with far fewer resources. Developed by Salesforce AI Research, the model paves the way for scalable, real-time video processing across industries, including healthcare, autonomous systems, and entertainment. By combining efficiency with high performance, BLIP-3-Video sets a new standard for vision-language models, driving the practical application of AI in video-based systems. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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January 2, 2025in Artificial Intelligence, Data, Salesforce0 Comments
Agentic AI is Here
02Jan

Agentic AI Revolution

The Agentic AI Revolution: Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way The era of agentic AI is here, and the message is clear—if you’re not leading the charge, you’re falling behind. Companies like Wiley and OpenTable are reshaping their industries with autonomous AI agents that don’t just assist but also analyze, strategize, and execute tasks with unparalleled efficiency. As these organizations demonstrate, the key to AI success lies in rewriting the rules of your industry rather than playing catch-up. Rewriting Industry Standards with Agentic AI Wiley: The education giant leveraged Agentforce, a digital labor platform for deploying autonomous AI agents, to transform its customer service operations. By onboarding representatives 50% faster and improving case resolution by 40%, Wiley streamlined its processes in just a few weeks. AI agents now handle registration and payment inquiries, directing students to resources and reducing the workload on human representatives. OpenTable: As the go-to reservation platform for 1.7 billion diners annually, OpenTable deploys AI agents to manage reservation changes and loyalty points. This allows employees to focus on customer relationships. Even a two-minute efficiency gain per interaction translates to massive operational savings. Salesforce Help Site: With over 60 million annual visits, the Salesforce Help site integrated Agentforce to resolve 83% of queries without human involvement. In just weeks, Agentforce doubled its capacity, handling over 32,000 automated conversations. These examples showcase a new era of digital labor where AI agents orchestrate high-value, multistep tasks, working tirelessly to deliver results. Far from replacing humans, they supercharge productivity and innovation, enabling companies to do more than ever before. How to Empower Your Workforce with AI Empowering your workforce for the next wave of AI doesn’t require months of preparation or millions of dollars. You don’t need to build or train your own large language model (LLM). Instead, integrating AI with existing data, automation, and workflows is the key to success, as demonstrated by leaders like Wiley and OpenTable. Here’s how to get started: 1. Real-Time Data Access AI thrives on real-time, high-quality data. Platforms like Salesforce Data Cloud unify structured and unstructured data, connecting it seamlessly to the LLM. Techniques such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and semantic search ensure AI agents can access the most relevant data for any task. 2. Advanced Reasoning AI agents aren’t just about answering queries—they execute complex, multistep tasks. For example, they can process returns, reorder items, and even flag anomalies. Powered by reasoning engines, these agents draw data from systems like CRM, refine plans, and adapt dynamically until the task is completed correctly. 3. Built-In Security AI agents must operate within clear guardrails, knowing their limits and handing tasks off to humans when necessary. Strong permissions and security protocols are essential to ensure data protection and prevent unauthorized actions. 4. Action-Oriented Workflows Generative AI’s real value lies in action. By integrating tools like Salesforce Flow for task automation and MuleSoft APIs for system connectivity, AI agents can execute business workflows such as fraud detection, customer outreach, and case management. 5. Human-AI Collaboration The future of work isn’t AI replacing humans—it’s AI and humans working together. While agents handle data-intensive and repetitive tasks, humans bring strategic thinking, empathy, and creativity. This synergy leads to smarter decisions and redefines workflows across industries. Why Training Your Own LLM May Not Be the Answer Many companies assume training a proprietary LLM will give them a competitive edge. In reality, this process is costly, time-intensive, and requires constant updates to remain accurate. An LLM trained on static data quickly becomes outdated, much like a GPS that fails after the first detour. Instead, companies are turning to out-of-the-box AI solutions that integrate seamlessly with their existing systems. These tools offer the flexibility to scale quickly and adapt in real time, enabling businesses to stay competitive without the heavy lift of building from scratch. Scaling AI for the Future Many organizations remain stuck in pilot phases with AI due to data quality issues and a limited understanding of use cases. Companies like Wiley and OpenTable, however, have cracked the code: integrating prebuilt AI systems with robust data flows, automation, and workflows. By embracing agentic AI, forward-thinking organizations are creating digital labor forces that unlock new efficiencies, enhance customer experiences, and position themselves for long-term success. The trillion-dollar AI opportunity awaits—will you lead or trail behind? Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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January 2, 2025in Agentforce Platform, Agentic AI, Data, Generative AI, Mulesoft, Salesforce, Salesforce Data Cloud, Salesforce Flow0 Comments
AI Captivates the World
01Jan

AI Captivates the World

In the late 1990s, a transformative moment unfolded that expanded the world to enquiring minds—the screeching of a dial-up modem, followed by a pixelated “Welcome” screen that connected users to a vast, invisible network spanning the globe. The internet revolution redefined how people interacted with information and one another, permanently reshaping digital communication. Fast forward to 2024, and a similar wave of innovation is underway. Artificial intelligence is captivating the world with its ability to understand, create, and process information. Massive datasets can now be uploaded to AI tools, which instantly distill complex insights—tasks that once took teams of analysts weeks to complete are now executed in seconds. Just as the internet linked people and information, AI is deepening connectivity across all aspects of life, from healthcare and finance to workplaces and homes. In this evolving digital divide, designers hold a critical role—not only in making AI usable but in ensuring it remains understandable, trustworthy, and human-centered. As Fei-Fei Li, Co-Director of Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute, states, “If we want machines to think, we need to teach them to see.” The traditional linear process of problem ideation, design, prototyping, and delivery is no longer sufficient for AI design. Instead, designers find themselves on an “AI design rollercoaster”—a dynamic cycle of constant iteration. One day, a seemingly impossible feature is prototyped, and the next, the entire approach pivots due to breakthroughs in large language model (LLM) capabilities. Many teams develop working prototypes before even defining their target audience. It is akin to painting a landscape from a moving train—compelling, challenging, and occasionally bewildering. However, this state of flux is where innovation thrives. Strategies for Designers: Understanding AI’s Capabilities and Limitations Designing for AI requires an understanding of its strengths and weaknesses. While designers do not need to become machine learning engineers, they must grasp AI fundamentals to communicate effectively with technical teams. For example, neural networks excel at recognizing patterns in unstructured data but often struggle with logical reasoning. Recognizing these limitations prevents the development of features that sound promising in theory but fail in practice. Strategies for Designers: Designing for Data Scalability Data is the lifeblood of AI systems, yet its quality and availability fluctuate over time. Designers must create interfaces that can adapt to changing data landscapes. For instance, an AI-powered personal finance app may initially rely on basic transaction data but later incorporate richer datasets for advanced investment recommendations. Interfaces should be modular and scalable, capable of accommodating evolving AI functionalities. Strategies for Designers: The Role of Prototyping in AI Design Static wireframes and basic mockups are insufficient for AI-driven products. AI prototypes must capture the responsive, dynamic nature of intelligent systems. Interactive prototypes offer stakeholders a tangible preview of AI’s potential, highlighting both opportunities and challenges early in the design process. Strategies for Designers: Developing AI Design Intuition To navigate AI design effectively, professionals must cultivate an “AI design sixth sense”—an intuitive understanding of what works well in AI-driven interactions. Immersing in AI experiences, exploring different tools, and analyzing emerging design patterns help build this expertise. Strategies for Designers: Pushing Boundaries in AI Design There are no established rulebooks for AI design—only a vast frontier waiting to be explored. The absence of rigid norms offers designers the freedom to experiment and push boundaries. Some of the most groundbreaking innovations stem from unconventional ideas once deemed impractical. Strategies for Designers: Strengthening Collaboration Between Design and Engineering In AI product design, the traditional “design then handoff” model is giving way to a more integrated approach. Designers and engineers increasingly work in tandem, refining AI experiences through continuous iteration. Some of the most effective design solutions emerge from close collaboration with technical teams. Strategies for Designers: The Next Frontier of Design As AI design continues to evolve, the parallels to the early days of the internet are striking. The excitement, potential, and magnitude of change are reminiscent of Web 1.0, yet amplified in scope. Looking ahead, the field must address profound questions: Will AI become indistinguishable from human intelligence? Will designers craft interfaces for AI-human hybrids yet to be imagined? Designers play an essential role in shaping this future—not as passive observers, but as architects of the next digital revolution. The experiences they create will define humanity’s interactions with artificial intelligence. This responsibility should inspire innovation, challenge conventions, and push the boundaries of what is possible. Call to Action Begin the AI design journey today. Choose an AI tool, explore its interface, and analyze its capabilities. Identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. Share insights with fellow designers and contribute to the evolving conversation on AI design. The next breakthrough may arise from a single moment of curiosity. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more Alphabet Soup of Cloud Terminology As with any technology, the cloud brings its own alphabet soup of terms. This insight will hopefully help you navigate Read more

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January 1, 2025in AI Tools, Artificial Intelligence, Data0 Comments

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