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guide to RAG

Tectonic Guide to RAG

Guide to RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) has become increasingly popular, and while it’s not yet as common as seeing it on a toaster oven manual, it is expected to grow in use. Despite its rising popularity, comprehensive guides that address all its nuances—such as relevance assessment and hallucination prevention—are still scarce. Drawing from practical experience, this insight offers an in-depth overview of RAG. Why is RAG Important? Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT can be employed for a wide range of tasks, from crafting horoscopes to more business-centric applications. However, there’s a notable challenge: most LLMs, including ChatGPT, do not inherently understand the specific rules, documents, or processes that companies rely on. There are two ways to address this gap: How RAG Works RAG consists of two primary components: While the system is straightforward, the effectiveness of the output heavily depends on the quality of the documents retrieved and how well the Retriever performs. Corporate documents are often unstructured, conflicting, or context-dependent, making the process challenging. Search Optimization in RAG To enhance RAG’s performance, optimization techniques are used across various stages of information retrieval and processing: Python and LangChain Implementation Example Below is a simple implementation of RAG using Python and LangChain: pythonCopy codeimport os import wget from langchain.vectorstores import Qdrant from langchain.embeddings import OpenAIEmbeddings from langchain import OpenAI from langchain_community.document_loaders import BSHTMLLoader from langchain.chains import RetrievalQA # Download ‘War and Peace’ by Tolstoy wget.download(“http://az.lib.ru/t/tolstoj_lew_nikolaewich/text_0073.shtml”) # Load text from html loader = BSHTMLLoader(“text_0073.shtml”, open_encoding=’ISO-8859-1′) war_and_peace = loader.load() # Initialize Vector Database embeddings = OpenAIEmbeddings() doc_store = Qdrant.from_documents( war_and_peace, embeddings, location=”:memory:”, collection_name=”docs”, ) llm = OpenAI() # Ask questions while True: question = input(‘Your question: ‘) qa = RetrievalQA.from_chain_type( llm=llm, chain_type=”stuff”, retriever=doc_store.as_retriever(), return_source_documents=False, ) result = qa(question) print(f”Answer: {result}”) Considerations for Effective RAG Ranking Techniques in RAG Dynamic Learning with RELP An advanced technique within RAG is Retrieval-Augmented Language Model-based Prediction (RELP). In this method, information retrieved from vector storage is used to generate example answers, which the LLM can then use to dynamically learn and respond. This allows for adaptive learning without the need for expensive retraining. Guide to RAG RAG offers a powerful alternative to retraining large language models, allowing businesses to leverage their proprietary knowledge for practical applications. While setting up and optimizing RAG systems involves navigating various complexities, including document structure, query processing, and ranking, the results are highly effective for most business use cases. 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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Need AI Training

Need AI Training

Workers in office jobs are missing out on essential AI training, crucial for adapting to the evolving labor market, according to a report from software giant Salesforce. Released Tuesday, the report is based on a series of anonymous surveys and reveals that approximately 70% of desk workers have not received training in generative AI. Furthermore, only 21% of respondents said their companies have clearly defined policies regarding approved AI tools and their usage. Additionally, 62% believe they lack the necessary skills to use the technology effectively. Despite this lack of formal training and clear policies, many workers are taking the initiative to use AI tools independently. The report highlights that “workers aren’t waiting for permission to use AI,” with 55% of survey respondents using unapproved tools and 40% using AI tools explicitly banned by their employers. The report emphasizes the need for clear protocols and approved tools to address data security and ethical concerns. Clara Shih, CEO of Salesforce AI, stresses the importance of continuous learning in response to the rapid changes in AI technology, stating, “The unprecedented pace of change in AI requires companies to upskill their entire workforce. This is not a ‘one-and-done’ exercise, but rather a continuous cycle of learning as AI evolves.” However, some companies are stepping up to meet this challenge. While less than half of U.S. companies had initiated AI training for their workers by April, according to a LinkedIn study, businesses like JPMorgan Chase, Amazon, PricewaterhouseCoopers, AT&T, Verizon, Moderna, and General Motors are launching AI literacy initiatives for their employees and the broader workforce. For instance, Amazon aims to train 2 million people globally in generative artificial intelligence by 2025. 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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Salesforce to Acquire PredictSpring

Salesforce to Acquire PredictSpring

Salesforce to Acquire PredictSpring, Enhancing Customer 360 Capabilities in Retail Salesforce has announced a definitive agreement to acquire cloud-based point-of-sale (PoS) software vendor PredictSpring, aiming to bolster its Customer 360 capabilities and strengthen its foothold in the retail industry. PredictSpring, headquartered in California, provides PoS systems that enable store associates to engage with shoppers and complete transactions from anywhere in the store using mobile devices. The software also supports store operations, including fulfillment, client profile management, and online ordering for items not immediately available. “The combined talent, resources, and innovation of Salesforce and PredictSpring will empower brands and retailers to drive frictionless and personalized engagement across all touchpoints,” said Jeff Amann, executive vice president of Salesforce Industries. PredictSpring, already a Salesforce ecosystem partner integrated with Commerce Cloud and Service Cloud, has been collaborating with Salesforce since 2019 when new tools were added to Commerce Cloud. Founded in 2013 by Nitin Mangtani, a former product manager at Google, PredictSpring has received investments from Salesforce Ventures, Felicis Ventures, Novel TMT Ventures, and Beanstalk Ventures. The company raised $16 million in a Series B funding round and $11.4 million in a Series A round. While Salesforce did not disclose the transaction value, it will retain the entire PredictSpring team, consisting of approximately 31 employees. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of Salesforce’s fiscal year 2025, which runs from February to January. Earlier this year, Salesforce attempted to acquire enterprise data management software provider Informatica, but the talks fell through. Notable past acquisitions by Salesforce include Slack, MuleSoft, Tableau, and Troops.ai. 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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Snowpark Container Services

Snowpark Container Services

Snowflake announced on Thursday the general availability of Snowpark Container Services, enabling customers to securely deploy and manage models and applications, including generative AI, within Snowflake’s environment. Initially launched in preview in June 2023, Snowpark Container Services is now a fully managed service available in all AWS commercial regions and in public preview in all Azure commercial regions. Containers are a software method used to isolate applications for secure deployment. Snowflake’s new feature allows customers to use containers to manage and deploy any type of model, optimally for generative AI applications, by securely integrating large language models (LLMs) and other generative AI tools with their data, explained Jeff Hollan, Snowflake’s head of applications and developer platform. Mike Leone, an analyst at TechTarget’s Enterprise Strategy Group, noted that Snowpark Container Services’ launch builds on Snowflake’s recent efforts to provide customers with an environment for developing generative AI models and applications. Sridhar Ramaswamy became Snowflake’s CEO in February, succeeding Frank Slootman, who led the company through a record-setting IPO. Under Ramaswamy, Snowflake has aggressively added generative AI capabilities, including launching its own LLM, integrating with Mistral AI, and providing tools for creating AI chatbots. “There has definitely been a concerted effort to enhance Snowflake’s capabilities and presence in the AI and GenAI markets,” Leone said. “Offerings like Snowpark help AI stakeholders like data scientists and developers use the languages they prefer.” As a result, Snowpark Container Services is a significant new feature for Snowflake customers. “It’s a big deal for the Snowflake ecosystem,” Leone said. “By enabling easy deployment and management of containers within the Snowflake platform, it helps customers handle complex workloads and maintain consistency across development and production stages.” Despite the secure environment provided by Snowflake Container Services, it was revealed in May that the login credentials of potentially 160 customers had been stolen and used to access their data. However, Snowflake has stated there is no evidence that the breach resulted from a vulnerability or misconfiguration of the Snowflake platform. Prominent customers affected include AT&T and Ticketmaster, and Snowflake’s investigation is ongoing. New Capabilities Generative AI can transform business by enabling employees to easily work with data to inform decisions and making trained experts more efficient. Generative AI, combined with an enterprise’s proprietary data, allows users to interact with data using natural language, reducing the need for coding and data literacy training. Non-technical workers can query and analyze data, freeing data engineers and scientists from routine tasks. Many data management and analytics vendors are focusing on developing generative AI-powered features. Enterprises are building models and applications trained on their proprietary data to inform business decisions. Among data platform vendors, AWS, Databricks, Google, IBM, Microsoft, and Oracle are providing environments for generative AI tool development. Snowflake, under Slootman, was less aggressive in this area but is now committed to generative AI development, though it still has ground to cover compared to its competitors. “Snowflake has gone as far as creating their own LLM,” Leone said. “But they still have a way to go to catch up to some of their top competitors.” Matt Aslett, an analyst at ISG’s Ventana Research, echoed that Snowflake is catching up to its rivals. The vendor initially focused on traditional data warehouse capabilities but made a significant step forward with the late 2023 launch of Cortex, a platform for developing AI models and applications. Cortex includes access to various LLMs and vector search capabilities, marking substantial progress. The general availability of Snowpark Container Services furthers Snowflake’s effort to foster generative AI development. The feature provides users with on-demand GPUs and CPUs to run any code next to their data. This enables the deployment and management of any type of model or application without moving data out of Snowflake’s platform. “It’s optimized for next-generation data and AI applications by pushing that logic to the data,” Hollan said. “This means customers can now easily and securely deploy everything from source code to homegrown models in Snowflake.” Beyond security, Snowpark Container Services simplifies model management and deployment while reducing associated costs. Snowflake provides a fully integrated managed service, eliminating the need for piecing together various services from different vendors. The service includes a budget control feature to reduce operational costs and provide cost certainty. Snowpark Container Services includes diverse storage options, observability tools like Snowflake Trail, and streamlined DevOps capabilities. It supports deploying LLMs with local volumes, memory, Snowflake stages, and configurable block storage. Integrations with observability specialists like Datadog, Grafana, and Monte Carlo are also included. Aslett noted that the 2020 launch of the Snowpark development environment enabled users to use their preferred coding languages with their data. Snowpark Container Services takes this further by allowing the use of third-party software, including generative AI models and data science libraries. “This potentially reduces complexity and infrastructure resource requirements,” Aslett said. Snowflake spent over a year moving Snowpark Container Services from private preview to general availability, focusing on governance, networking, usability, storage, observability, development operations, scalability, and performance. One customer, Landing AI, used Snowpark Container Services during its preview phases to develop LandingLens, an application for training and deploying computer vision models. “[With Snowflake], we are increasing access to AI for more companies and use cases, especially given the rapid growth of unstructured data in our increasingly digital world,” Landing AI COO Dan Maloney said in a statement Thursday. Future Plans With Snowpark Container Services now available on AWS, Snowflake plans to extend the feature to all cloud platforms. The vendor’s roadmap includes further improvements to Snowpark Container Services with more enterprise-grade tools. “Our team is investing in making it easy for companies ranging from startups to enterprises to build, deliver, distribute, and monetize next-generation AI products across their ecosystems,” Hollan said. Aslett said that making Snowpark Container Services available on Azure and Google Cloud is the logical next step. He noted that the managed service’s release is significant but needs broader availability beyond AWS regions. “The next step will be to bring Snowpark Container Services to general

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Close Date Predictions

Close Date Predictions

Important Update: Close Date Predictions Feature Retiring in Spring ’25 The Close Date Predictions feature, currently available in Pipeline Inspection, is designed to forecast when an opportunity with a close date in the current month may not close on time. However, Salesforce will be retiring this feature with the Spring ’25 release. What’s Changing? With the retirement of Close Date Predictions, users will no longer receive alerts about opportunities that are unlikely to close within the current month. Previously, these predictions appeared as an icon on the Close Date field or within the Insights tab of the side panel. What Should You Do? To continue receiving valuable predictions about opportunity closures, we recommend transitioning to Einstein Opportunity Scoring. This feature, available with your Sales Cloud license, provides more advanced predictions on an opportunity’s likelihood of closing and highlights the top reasons behind the prediction. Here’s how you can make the switch: For further assistance, you can open a support case via Salesforce Help. To learn more about Salesforce’s approach to product and feature retirements, please review our Product & Feature Retirement Philosophy. Like1 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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Contribute to Net Zero

Contribute to Net Zero

How Everyone Can Contribute to a Net Zero Future The increasing frequency and unpredictability of extreme weather events highlight that climate change spares no part of the world. Addressing this crisis urgently requires smart, innovative solutions. Every organization, government, and individual has a role to play, asserts Linda Saunders, Salesforce’s Director of Solutions Engineering Africa. Contribute to Net Zero. Let’s face it, if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the pollution! The Path to a Net Zero Future For companies, taking tangible climate action is crucial for maintaining their brand, reputation, and financial stability. Plus, who doesn’t want to be known as the eco-friendly company that saves the planet? To avoid the most severe impacts of climate change and meet critical climate goals for a 1.5-degree future, it is not enough to merely reduce emissions. We must also remove significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and oceans. Public and private sectors need to invest in scaling and deploying clean energy technologies, such as renewable energy, and support organizations leading the clean energy transition to ensure economic and environmental prosperity for all communities. Think of it as the ultimate “spring cleaning” for our planet! Land-based methods of carbon reduction include afforestation, reforestation, agricultural practices that sequester carbon in soils (carbon farming), bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), and direct air capture combined with storage. There are also CDR methods that use oceans and other water bodies. Salesforce has made three major climate investments to expedite a just energy transition. The company has joined Frontier, an advanced market commitment (AMC) to collectively purchase more than $1 billion worth of permanent carbon removal by 2030. As part of this initiative, Salesforce has pledged $25 million to accelerate, scale, and commercialize the most promising carbon removal technologies. Because sometimes, you’ve got to put your money where your mouth is—or in this case, where your carbon isn’t. Combining Long-Term Strategy with Short-Term Action The primary goal on the journey to net zero must be reducing emissions. Each organization should set a 1.5-degree target aligned with science-based goals, focusing on significantly reducing its absolute scope one, two, and three emissions. Achieving these targets requires long-term systemic changes, which take time to implement. So while you’re busy planning your eco-friendly future, you might as well start making a difference now. High-quality carbon credits, when properly made and used, can play a critical role in a comprehensive climate strategy. Businesses aiming for long-term emission reductions can supplement their efforts with high-quality carbon credits. Projects may include: Or as we like to call it, the environmental bingo card. Closing the Sustainability Talent Gap To achieve a net-zero future, all roles should integrate sustainability. We need a diverse workforce of qualified individuals, from carbon accountants to scientists to ecopreneurs. Imagine being able to introduce yourself as a “carbon wrangler” at your next party! Despite the pressure to meet ambitious climate goals, businesses face a severe shortage of sustainability talent. Upskilling existing workers who want to transition into sustainability careers can help fill hard-to-find roles and align employees’ work with their passions. Understanding Personal and Corporate Sustainability As sustainability remains a priority for stakeholders, business leaders must combine short-term solutions with long-term operational changes. By re-evaluating how to create, hire, and retain sustainability roles and providing the necessary tools and training, companies can ensure everyone contributes to the movement towards a net zero future. After all, saving the planet isn’t just a job—it’s an adventure! 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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AI Data Cloud and Integration

AI Data Cloud and Integration

The enterprise has transitioned from merely speculating about artificial intelligence to actively implementing it. In doing so, companies must determine the optimal combination of ancillary technologies that, when strategically paired with AI, can drive relevant use cases and business outcomes. With AI Data Cloud and Integration, your data-driven decisions happen in real-time. Salesforce Inc. is leveraging a powerful trio — its Data Cloud, automation, and AI — to deliver what it considers transformative outcomes for organizations. “AI has such wonderful capability today from predictive to generative, [but] it’s not new to Salesforce,” said Param Kahlon, executive vice president and general manager at Salesforce. “Salesforce has been doing predictive AI for almost 10 years now. But what is great is that generative AI now gives the ability to process these large language models on large amounts of unstructured, semi-structured content to generate great content that can be used by salespeople to send relevant emails and marketing people to create personalized landing pages.” Kahlon spoke with theCUBE Research Senior Analyst George Gilbert during a recent “The Road to Intelligent Data Apps” podcast series. They discussed how Salesforce is revolutionizing business operations in the digital age by harnessing AI-driven insights, contextualizing data with the company’s Data Cloud, and enabling real-time actions. Gen AI and Data Cloud for Contextualization In today’s business environment, intelligence is the cornerstone of success. Salesforce’s AI platform empowers companies with predictive and generative AI capabilities, enabling them to make insightful decisions and craft personalized experiences for their customers. Businesses can now process vast amounts of unstructured data and generate compelling content. “For this AI to be meaningful and for companies to harness the full value of AI, you want to make sure that you’re grounding the data that’s being used to generate those predictions with some things that are relevant to the current business process, to the current transaction, to the current context of interaction you’re happening with the customer,” Kahlon said. Salesforce’s Data Cloud acts as the AI foundation, enriching existing data models with relevant contextual data tailored to the specific needs of each business and their interactions with customers. “When we talk to our large Salesforce customers, they all tell us that AI is really important for them,” Kahlon said. “That is something that they want to drive, but they’re also saying that the data for them is spread out across the enterprise. Some of them tell us that they have more than 900 different business systems in which data is stored, and they want the ability to bring that data together in a seamless way so it can be processed by AI through Data Cloud.” Automation and Integration for Real-Time Action The combination of AI and Data Cloud generates actionable insights, but these insights alone aren’t enough. Businesses need to act swiftly on these predictions, driving real-time actions to capitalize on opportunities. This is where integration and automation come into play, according to Kahlon. “[Customers are] essentially telling us that data is spread across the enterprise and they want the data in real time to be available to customers,” he said. “With MuleSoft and Salesforce integration capabilities, we’ve focused on the real-time nature of making sure that you can take real-time business transactions in the context of the process that is happening, and that’s what’s differentiated in our approach to making sure that we can collect the data in real time and make actions happen in real time.” Integration is the glue that brings together data from various sources, allowing AI to derive meaningful insights. Salesforce’s integration capabilities, powered by MuleSoft, focus on real-time data processing, ensuring that businesses can act on insights as they occur. This low-latency approach enables not only Salesforce applications but also other third-party applications to contribute to the data ecosystem, Kahlon explained. “We’ve got a very large North American airline that has built their entire customer experience, from booking an airline ticket to checking into your flight and ordering special meals for your flight, all of that on an API-based platform — and we’re able to process that scale of transactions,” he said. “As you get into AI, all of that becomes extremely relevant to drive that real-time throughput, and that’s where our customers are finding value in our technology.” When the customer experience is the driver, the experience is always stellar. 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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Box and Slack AI Integration

Box and Slack AI Integration

Box and Slack Enhance Collaboration with New AI Integration Box, Inc. (NYSE: BOX), the leader in Intelligent Content Cloud solutions, and Slack, a Salesforce company (NYSE: CRM), have announced an expanded partnership that integrates Box AI into Slack, aiming to transform how organizations collaborate. Starting today, customers can leverage unlimited Box AI queries directly within Slack, enabling them to extract critical insights and streamline workflows seamlessly within their existing work environment. Key Features of the Enhanced Integration: Pricing and Availability Unlimited end-user queries in the Box AI for Slack integration are available now for all Slack customers with Box Enterprise Plus plans. The additional integration features are also available immediately for all Box and Slack customers. Customers can add the Box for Slack integration from the Slack App Directory. Quotes from Leadership: Aaron Levie, Co-Founder and CEO of Box, stated, “Enterprises recognize AI’s potential to unlock valuable insights from their content. With thousands of customers already using Box and Slack together, this expanded partnership brings a new level of AI-driven efficiency. Whether working on presentations, contracts, or spreadsheets, you can now leverage Box AI to gain insights directly within Slack.” Denise Dresser, CEO of Slack, added, “Slack’s integration with Box allows companies to intelligently surface insights from critical business content right where their work happens. This partnership exemplifies how Slack can serve as an AI-powered work operating system for the future of work.” Real-World Applications of Box AI in Slack: About Box Box (NYSE: BOX) is the Intelligent Content Cloud, providing a single platform that fuels collaboration, manages the entire content lifecycle, secures critical content, and transforms business workflows with enterprise AI. Founded in 2005, Box simplifies work for leading global organizations, including AstraZeneca, JLL, Morgan Stanley, and Nationwide. Headquartered in Redwood City, CA, Box has offices across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Visit box.com to learn more. For information on how Box supports nonprofits, visit box.org. About Slack Slack is where work happens for millions every day, helping organizations in all industries move faster and achieve their missions. As an AI-powered work operating system, Slack centralizes conversations and collaboration, automates business processes, and delivers trusted generative AI that enhances productivity and drives real outcomes. As a Salesforce company, Slack integrates deeply with Salesforce solutions, bringing rich data and insights directly into the workflow, boosting sales, service, and marketing productivity. 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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Salesforce Campaign Flows

Salesforce Campaign Flows: A New Era of Automation

Salesforce’s Flow has long been a powerful automation tool, democratizing access to sophisticated automation for non-coders. It also drives the automation behind Marketing Cloud Growth Edition, including email dispatch. Salesforce Campaign Flows mark a significant step toward making automation more accessible for marketers. For the first time, Salesforce introduces what are termed “non-admin flows,” which offer a streamlined interface for managing Flow automation without dealing with complex nodes and elements. This marks a significant development, as no other Salesforce products currently feature this simplified approach. Marketers now have direct access to Flow’s capabilities. Introduction to Salesforce Campaign Flows Campaign Flows in Salesforce provide a user-friendly interface for setting up email content, applying actions to records triggered by events, and more. This functionality closely parallels tools like Engagement Studio in Account Engagement and Journey Builder in Marketing Cloud. However, the timeline for incorporating features such as Journey Builder’s goals and exit criteria into Campaign Flows remains undisclosed. Flow now supports shorter wait periods, a sought-after feature for orchestrating marketing journeys more effectively. Branching logic with Decision elements allows users to create “yes/no” paths based on lead or contact criteria, adding flexibility to the marketing automation process. Types of Campaign Flows Currently, there are two types of Campaign Flows: Segment-triggered Flows and Form-triggered Flows. The key differences between these Campaign Flows and traditional Salesforce Flows include: Available Elements Campaign Flows are a simplified version of Salesforce Flows, with some elements unavailable in this reduced interface. Key elements such as Wait and Decision elements are included, which are essential for marketing use cases. The following table compares available elements: Element Name Salesforce Flow Segment-triggered Flows Form-triggered Flows Action ✅ ❌ ❌ Add Prompt Instructions ✅ ❌ ❌ Apex Action ✅ ❌ ❌ Assignment ✅ ✅ ✅ Collection Filter ✅ ✅ ✅ Collection Sort ✅ ✅ ✅ Create Records ✅ ✅ ✅ Custom Error ✅ ❌ ❌ Decision ✅ ✅ ✅ Delete Records ✅ ✅ ✅ Email Alert ✅ ❌ ❌ Get Records ✅ ✅ ✅ Loop ✅ ✅ ✅ Recommendation Assignment ✅ ❌ ❌ Screen ✅ ❌ ❌ Send Email Message * ✅ ❌ Send SMS Message * ✅ ❌ Start ✅ ✅ ✅ Subflow ✅ ❌ ❌ Transform ✅ ❌ ❌ Update Records ✅ ✅ ❌ Wait ✅ ✅ ✅ Wait Until Event * ✅ ✅ *Only with Marketing Cloud Growth Wait vs. Wait Until Event Elements The “Wait” element allows for fixed pauses, such as waiting for three days. The “Wait Until Event” element, available in Marketing Cloud Growth, holds Leads/Contacts until a specified event makes them eligible to proceed. This mirrors functionality found in Engagement Studio. User Access and Capabilities In Marketing Cloud Growth, Campaign Flow sharing is set to private by default, with visibility influenced by associated records, sharing rules, and manual sharing settings. This means Campaign Flows are generally private unless additional sharing rules are established. Creating and Editing Campaign Flows Campaign Flows in Marketing Cloud Growth have a simplified user interface compared to Salesforce’s traditional flows. Summary The introduction of non-admin flows in Salesforce marks a significant step toward making automation more accessible for marketers. These simplified interfaces enable the creation of effective marketing campaigns while maintaining the option to integrate with more complex flows in Marketing Cloud Growth Edition. Future developments will likely expand the use cases and capabilities of these streamlined flows. 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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Winter 25

The Salesforce Winter ’25 release is coming soon. Use your sandbox to get early access to new features and test your configurations before the production upgrade. Here’s how: If you still have questions about your sandbox options for Winter ’25, open a support case via Salesforce Help. The sandbox preview window for Winter ’25 begins August 30, 2024. You must have an active sandbox on a preview instance by August 29, 2024 (the day before sandbox preview) to take advantage of the preview. Here’s how… First, decide whether you want to: After you decide: Usually, no action is required because your sandbox is already on a preview instance. How Does The Sandbox Preview Work? The sandbox preview is a 6-week window ahead of a major Salesforce release when all preview sandboxes are upgraded to the next major Salesforce release. It’s your first chance to test your configurations on the new release. Sandboxes are updated in groups based on the instance where they’re located. All sandboxes on a preview instance get upgraded together, and all sandboxes on non-preview instances remain on the current release. The only way to change the upgrade status of a sandbox is to move it to another instance by refreshing it. If you want to move it to a preview instance, you must do so before the cutoff date. Between now and August 29, 2024, we route all sandbox requests to preview instances. If your sandbox request is complete in time, we upgrade it to Winter ’25. On August 30, 2024, we reset all incomplete sandbox requests to a non-preview instance. All pending and new sandbox requests are routed to non-preview instances until your production instance is upgraded to Winter ’25. We can create sandboxes only on the same major release version of Salesforce as production. For the Winter ’25 Release, we upgrade the preview instances to Winter ’25 on August 30 and August 31, 2024, and non-preview instances to Winter ’25 on October 11 and October 12, 2024. Follow the basic process below if you want your sandbox to participate in the Winter ’25 preview. 1. Find your sandbox details.In production, from Setup, in the Quick Find box, enter Sandbox, and then select Sandbox. Use the Release Type column to determine if your sandbox is on a preview or non-preview instance. You can also use the Sandbox Preview Guide to determine if each of your sandboxes is on a preview or non-preview instance. Enter your sandbox instance name(s). The guide tells you if it’s preview or non-preview and what to do to either move to the next release (Winter ’25) or stay on the current release (Summer ’24). You can also check multiple sandboxes and view the full list of preview and non-preview instances. 2. Understand the cutoff date. Every release, we give you a cutoff date for sandbox refresh completions, and usually, it’s the day before the preview starts. For Winter ’25, the cutoff date is August 29, 2024. Any sandbox created after the cutoff isn’t a preview sandbox. If you have a sandbox on a preview instance and refresh it after the cutoff, your sandbox is routed to a non-preview instance and reverts to Summer ’24. Resolution Should I Refresh my Sandbox? Here are the most common scenarios: It’s important to plan ahead. The popularity of the sandbox preview program often means backlogs in sandbox create and refresh requests, especially closer to the cutoff date. Remember, if it’s a full sandbox it can take some time to copy. All incomplete sandboxes are reset to a non-preview instance before the sandbox preview starts on August 30, 2024, so we recommend that you request your sandbox at least a week before the deadline to improve your chances of getting a completed sandbox on a preview instance. We aim to process each request on time, but we can’t guarantee the completion of your sandbox before the deadline. I Want to Create a New Sandbox — What Are My Options? Create a new sandbox that goes to a preview instance and gets the Winter ’25 preview Create a new sandbox that goes to a non-preview instance and stays on Summer ’24 Submit your sandbox request well ahead of the 6:00 PM PT cutoff on August 29, 2024 (01:00 UTC on August 30, 2024) so that the sandbox copy is completed before the sandbox release. Plan ahead. If you submit your request too close to the deadline and the copy isn’t completed, or if your request is after the deadline, your Sandbox is built on a non-preview instance. Wait to submit your request to create a sandbox until after 6:00 PM PT on August 29, 2024 (01:00 UTC on August 30, 2024). If you submit your request before then, your Sandbox can be built on a Preview Instance. I Have a Sandbox — What Are My Options? If the Release Type of your sandbox is: You want to try Winer ’25 in your sandbox You want the sandbox on Summer ’24 Preview No action needed. Your sandbox is already on a preview instance and gets upgraded to Winter ’25 on August 30, 2024. If you must refresh your sandbox for other reasons, do so well in advance of 6:00 PM PT on August 29, 2024 (01:00 UTC on August 30, 2024) to make sure that your sandbox is completed before the cutoff date.If you refresh your sandbox after the deadline or your sandbox isn’t completed in time, it is built on a non-preview instance. Refresh to a non-preview instance after the cutoff date to keep your sandbox on Summer ’24.To do so, wait to refresh after 6:00 PM PT on August 29, 2024 (01:00 UTC on August 30, 2024). If you refresh your sandbox sooner, it can be built on a Preview Instance.Refreshing a sandbox deletes it and recreates it as a new copy of production. Be sure to save any configurations or data unique to the sandbox elsewhere before refreshing it. Non-Preview Your sandbox is on a non-preview

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New Service Cloud Tools

New Service Cloud Tools

Salesforce has unveiled new out-of-the-box service components, an automation tool, and a new app for Service Cloud customers, designed to help agents resolve customer cases faster and enable companies to scale their support operations efficiently. New Service Cloud Tools are here. Why It Matters: With 69% of agents reporting that balancing speed and quality is a challenge, and as the volume and complexity of cases increase, there is a growing need for tools that enhance efficiency without compromising service quality. Salesforce Service Cloud: Deliver Value Across Every Customer Touchpoint with Service Cloud Built on the Einstein 1 Platform. New Tools and Features: Service Cloud customers now have access to a suite of efficiency tools aimed at automating processes and identifying the best product capabilities to enhance service delivery. These new features allow customers to maximize their Service Cloud investment and improve their return on investment. Salesforce Perspective: Kishan Chetan, EVP & GM of Service Cloud, emphasized that the new efficiency tools help companies of all sizes increase service team productivity and better serve their customers. Industry Reaction: Rebecca Wettemann, CEO & Principal Analyst at Valoir, noted that these innovations offer service teams quick wins, enhancing operational efficiency and maximizing technology investments. Fast Facts: 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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360 SMS Salesforce Chatbot

360 SMS Salesforce Chatbot

360 SMS Salesforce Chatbot vs. Traditional Customer Support: An Analysis In the evolving tech space of customer service, businesses continue to seek ways to enhance customer satisfaction while optimizing costs. One notable resource in recent years is the increasing reliance on chatbots, with the 360 SMS chatbot emerging as a powerful SMS tool for efficient customer support. But how does it measure up against traditional customer support methods? This comparative analysis explores the effectiveness and efficiency of the 360 SMS SFDC Chatbot in contrast to conventional approaches. Understanding Traditional Customer Support Traditional customer support involves human interaction where agents handle inquiries via phone calls, emails, or in-person interactions. These methods are valued for their personalized service and ability to handle complex queries effectively. However, they come with some challenges: Introducing the 360 SMS SFDC Chatbot The 360 SMS SFDC chatbot automates business conversations independently within Salesforce environments without extensive coding. This no-code solution integrates seamlessly with Salesforce, accessing customer data to provide personalized interactions and streamline customer support processes. Key Advantages of the 360 SMS Salesforce Chatbot: Traditional Customer Support: 360 SMS SFDC Chatbot: Traditional Customer Support: 360 SMS Chatbot: Traditional Customer Support: 360 SMS Salesforce Chatbot: Traditional Customer Support: 360 SMS Salesforce Chatbot: Traditional Customer Support: 360 SMS Salesforce Chatbot: Traditional Customer Support: 360 SMS Salesforce Chatbot: Traditional Customer Support: 360 SMS Salesforce Chatbot: While traditional customer support offers personalized service and handles complex queries effectively, the 360 SMS SFDC chatbot provides 24/7 availability, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. By combining both approaches, businesses can enhance customer experiences, optimize operational costs, and meet evolving market demands effectively. Embracing innovative solutions like the 360 SMS Salesforce chatbot is crucial for staying competitive, meeting customer expectations, and transforming organizational efficiency in today’s dynamic business environment. 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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Enhance Payer Patient Education

Enhance Payer Patient Education

Data and Technology Strategies Enhance Payer Patient Education Analytics platforms, omnichannel engagement tools, telehealth, and other technological advancements have become essential in driving successful, enhanced payer patient education. Cathy Moffitt, MD, a pediatrician with 15 years of experience in the pediatric emergency department and now the senior vice president and Aetna chief medical officer at CVS Health, understands the critical role of patient education. “Education is empowerment. It is engagement. It is very critical to making patients more equipped to handle their healthcare journey,” Moffitt said in an episode of Healthcare Strategies. “Even overseeing a large payer like Aetna, I still believe tremendously in health education.” Enhance Payer Patient Education For large payers, effective patient education begins with data analytics and a deep understanding of their member population. Through data, payers can identify key insights, including when members are most receptive to educational materials. “People are more open to hear you and to be educated and empowered when they need help right then,” Moffitt explained. Timing is crucial—offering educational resources when they’re most relevant to a member’s immediate needs increases the likelihood that the information will be absorbed and acted upon. Aetna’s Next Best Action initiative, launched in 2018, exemplifies this approach. Through this program, Aetna employees reach out to members with specific conditions, offering guidance on the next best steps for managing their health. By providing education at a time when members are most open to it, the initiative ensures that patient education is both timely and impactful. In addition to timing, payer data can shape patient education by providing insights into a member’s demographics, including race, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, and location. Tailoring educational efforts to these factors ensures that communication is accessible and resonates with members. To better connect with a diverse member base, Aetna has integrated translator services into its customer support and trained representatives on sensitivity to sexual orientation and gender identity. Additionally, updating the provider directory to reflect demographic data is crucial. When members see providers who share their language, culture, and experiences, they are more likely to engage with and retain the educational materials provided. “Understanding, in a multicultural and multifactorial way, who our members are and trying to help understand what they need…as well as understanding both acute and chronic illness from an actionability standpoint, where we can best engage to good effect as we reach out to people—that’s the cornerstone of our intent and our philosophy around how we scrub data,” Moffitt shared. With over 20 years in the healthcare industry, both as a provider and now in a payer role, Moffitt has observed key trends and identified strengths and weaknesses in patient education efforts. She noted that the most successful patient education initiatives have been in mental health and preventive care, with technology playing a crucial role in both areas. Patient education has significantly reduced the stigma around mental healthcare and highlighted the importance of mental wellness. Telemedicine has vastly improved access to care, particularly in mental health, Moffitt noted. In preventive care, more people are now aware of the benefits of cancer screenings, vaccines, wellness visits, and other preventive measures. Moffitt suggested that the increased use of home health visits and retail clinics has contributed to these improvements, particularly among Aetna’s members. Looking ahead, Moffitt predicted that customized engagement is the next frontier for patient education. Members increasingly want educational materials delivered in a personalized and streamlined manner that suits their preferences. Omnichannel engagement solutions will be vital in meeting this demand. While significant progress has been made in enabling members to receive educational materials through various channels such as email, text, and phone calls, Moffitt anticipates even more advancements in the future. “I can’t tell you exactly where we’re going to be in 10 years because I wouldn’t have been able to tell you 10 years ago where we are now, but we will continue to respond and meet the demands with the technological commitments that we’re making,” Moffitt said. Like1 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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Salesforce in Ecommerce

Salesforce in Ecommerce

In Q2 2024, Salesforce Inc. filed 12 patents in the e-commerce sector, focusing on various innovative technologies. filed a patent for methods, systems, and computer program products that retrieve connection and membership information-these patents include methods for generating engagement recommendations for users in group-based communication platforms, techniques for generating user profile data based on user interactions, systems for recommending next actions based on behavior patterns, a recommendation service to boost historical electronic activity of products, and database systems that automatically generate records in a configurable and customizable manner. GlobalData’s comprehensive report on Salesforce provides an in-depth analysis of the company’s patenting strategy. You can purchase the report here. Despite these filings, Salesforce had no granted patents in e-commerce during Q2 2024. Recent Patent Salesforce in Ecommerce Application: Organizational Collaboration Connection Recommendations (Patent ID: US20240212005A1) Salesforce Inc. has filed a patent for methods, systems, and computer program products that retrieve connection and membership information of users in a group-based communication platform. This information is used to generate a graphical data structure comprising user nodes, communication channel nodes, group nodes, and edges representing the connections and memberships. Based on this data, the system creates engagement recommendations for users in one group to interact with users in another group. The method also includes generating communication connection strength values and group connection strength values to enhance the engagement recommendation process. The patent outlines a method for data processing that involves: The apparatus for data processing includes a processor, memory, and instructions to execute the method steps. Additionally, a non-transitory computer-readable medium is described, storing code for data processing with instructions for retrieving information, generating a graphical data structure, and providing engagement recommendations. The code also includes instructions for calculating communication and group connection strength values to improve engagement recommendations. 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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Cloud PBX

Cloud PBX

The Clock is Ticking on the Big UK Traditional Telephony Switch-Off As the UK approaches the traditional telephony switch-off, millions of small businesses are prioritizing the digitization of their voice communications. The move to cloud-powered replacements – Cloud PBX – is not just about meeting the January 2027 deadline; it’s an opportunity to modernize and leverage the benefits of cloud-based communications. The switch-off represents a chance for businesses to embrace a mobile-first, omnichannel approach to communication, unifying voice, video, emails, messaging, webchat, and more. This integration empowers employees to work smarter and enhances the customer experience. For small businesses and their IT service provider partners, modernization depends on deploying feature-rich, affordable technology that simplifies complexity and delivers tangible efficiency gains. Choosing the right product and vendor is crucial. “Cloud-powered, unified communication is no longer just for larger enterprises; small businesses must also embrace transformational change to keep pace with modern work trends. What may seem like a major undertaking can be easier than they think,” says Arya Zhou, Head of Global Sales at Yeastar. Yeastar’s recently launched P520 IPPBX digitizes voice calling and seamlessly integrates it with video, messaging, and customer experience into one platform. Discover the Yeastar P520 The Yeastar P520, part of the P-Series Appliance Edition, supports up to 20 users and 10 concurrent calls. It combines a compact, lightweight hardware body with powerful software capabilities. It supports Yeastar’s Linkus UC Client for various platforms, integrates with Microsoft Teams, and provides comprehensive call analytics and graphical call reports to improve communication efficiency and productivity. The P520 offers advanced call center features, including: Additionally, it includes team chat with presence and file sharing, integrated lightweight video conferencing, PBX-native external contacts management, extension groups, and ready-made integrations with popular CRMs and helpdesks. All these features come with single-point configuration and enterprise-grade security. “The Yeastar P520 is ideal for smaller teams looking to enhance their communication infrastructure,” says Zhou. “It delivers advanced communication capabilities and improved productivity tailored for SMBs and startups, without high costs.” 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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