Mulesoft Archives - gettectonic.com - Page 2
07Dec

Ushering in the Era of AI-Driven Workforces

Agentforce: Ushering in the Era of AI-Driven Workforces “Agentforce is redefining what’s possible in business and beyond, ushering in a new era of AI abundance and limitless workforces that augment every employee, build deeper customer relationships, and drive unprecedented growth and profitability.”— Marc Benioff, Salesforce CEO Key Features and Takeaways Out-of-the-Box AI Agents Agentforce introduces pre-built, customizable agents that are deployable with low-code or no-code tools, working tirelessly across any channel. Its first generally available solution, the Agentforce Service Agent, surpasses traditional chatbots by handling a diverse range of tasks—from simple inquiries to complex scenarios. Key capabilities include: Seamless Integration with Salesforce Platform Agentforce eliminates the complexity of building AI solutions from scratch. Unlike other platforms that demand intricate data integration and custom automation, Agentforce is fully embedded within the Salesforce ecosystem. With Agentforce, businesses can: Always-On Automation Agentforce operates independently of human intervention. Agents can be triggered by changes in data, predefined business rules, or pre-built automations, ensuring uninterrupted workflows. This blend of autonomous operation and human collaboration creates a symbiotic relationship between people and AI, enhancing productivity and customer satisfaction. A Competitive Edge in the AI Space Salesforce emphasizes that Agentforce goes beyond chatbots and copilots, setting a new benchmark for enterprise AI. In a strategic swipe at competitors, Marc Benioff likened rival offerings—like Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 AI agents—to “Clippy 2.0,” critiquing their inaccuracies and risks of corporate data leaks. By contrast, Agentforce builds on Salesforce’s proven Einstein AI platform, ensuring reliability, scalability, and secure integration. Redefining Customer Success Agentforce isn’t just about automation—it’s about driving outcomes. By enabling businesses to automate complex processes, deepen customer relationships, and scale operations, it paves the way for limitless growth in the age of AI. Ready to transform your workforce? With Agentforce, the future of AI-driven business is already here. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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December 7, 2024in Agentforce Platform, Data, Enterprise, Mulesoft, Salesforce
How to Connect Multiple Data Sources in Power BI Desktop
04Dec

How to Connect Multiple Data Sources in Power BI Desktop

In today’s data-driven world, the ability to analyze diverse data sources can set a business apart. With Power BI Desktop, a Microsoft tool, analysts can seamlessly integrate data from various platforms and transform raw information into actionable insights. For instance, you could combine Excel-based sales figures with financial data from SQL Server and customer information from Salesforce into an interactive report. Mastering these techniques can be easier through structured learning, such as Microsoft Power BI courses, which offer practical insights into leveraging this powerful tool. This guide will help you connect, combine, and visualize multiple data sources in Power BI Desktop to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Why Combine Multiple Data Sources? Organizations often face the challenge of managing data stored across disparate systems. Financial records may reside in SQL Server, sales data in Excel, and customer information in cloud platforms like Salesforce. Insights from these datasets are often hidden unless they are integrated. Using Power BI Desktop, you can load multiple data sources into a unified model, providing a comprehensive view that enables better analysis and decision-making. Getting Started with Power BI Desktop Before integrating datasets, ensure you have Power BI Desktop installed. The tool is available for download from the official Power BI website. Once installed, launch Power BI Desktop to begin connecting your data sources. Step-by-Step Guide 1. Connecting Your First Data Source Follow these steps to connect to your first data source: At this stage, you can use Power Query Editor to clean and transform the data as needed. 2. Adding Additional Data Sources Enhance your report by adding more data sources: For example, you could link an Excel file for sales data, a SQL Server database for product details, and Azure for supplementary information, all within a single report. 3. Combining Data from Multiple Sources To merge data from different sources into a cohesive model: This process creates a unified data model that allows for cross-tabulation and advanced visualizations. 4. Using Power Query Editor for Data Transformation Before combining datasets, you may need to clean and transform the data. Use Power Query Editor to: Access Power Query Editor by selecting Transform Data on the Home tab. 5. Creating Visualizations with Combined Data With your unified data model, you can create compelling visualizations: 6. Refreshing Data Connections Power BI Desktop enables you to refresh data connections effortlessly, ensuring your reports stay updated: Best Practices for Connecting Multiple Data Sources Conclusion Integrating multiple data sources in Power BI Desktop empowers businesses to uncover deep insights and make informed decisions. By following these steps, you can connect, aggregate, and visualize diverse datasets with ease. To further enhance your expertise, explore free resources or consider professional courses to master the versatility of Power BI Desktop—a vital tool for data professionals and business analysts. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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December 4, 2024in Data, Google, Mulesoft, Salesforce

Microsoft Copilot as “Repackaged ChatGPT”

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff Criticizes Microsoft Copilot as “Repackaged ChatGPT” Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff took aim at Microsoft’s Copilot AI offerings during Salesforce’s latest quarterly earnings call, dismissing them as a rebranding of OpenAI’s generative AI technology. “In many ways, it’s just repackaged ChatGPT,” Benioff asserted. He contrasted this with Salesforce’s platform, emphasizing its unique ability to operate an entire business. “You won’t find that capability on Microsoft’s website,” he added. Benioff highlighted Agentforce, Salesforce’s autonomous AI agent product, as a transformative force for both Salesforce and its customers. The tool, available on Salesforce’s support portal, is projected to manage up to half of the company’s annual support case volume. The portal currently handles over 60 million sessions and 2 million support cases annually. Agentforce Adoption and Partner Involvement Salesforce COO Brian Millham outlined the significant role of partners in driving Agentforce adoption. During the quarter, global partners were involved in 75% of Agentforce deals, including nine of Salesforce’s top 10 wins. More than 80,000 system integrators have completed Agentforce training, and numerous independent software vendors (ISVs) and technology partners are developing and selling AI agents. Millham pointed to Accenture as a notable example, leveraging Agentforce to enhance sales operations for its 52,000 global sellers. “Our partners are becoming agent-first enterprises themselves,” Millham said. Since its general availability on October 24, Agentforce has already secured 200 deals, with thousands more in the pipeline. Benioff described the tool as part of a broader shift toward digital labor, claiming, “Salesforce is now the largest supplier of digital labor.” Expanding Use Cases and Market Impact Agentforce, powered by Salesforce’s extensive data repository of 740,000 documents and 200–300 petabytes of information, supports diverse use cases, including resolving customer issues, qualifying leads, closing deals, and optimizing marketing campaigns. Salesforce has committed to hiring 1,000–2,000 additional salespeople to expand Agentforce adoption further. Benioff positioned Salesforce as the leading enterprise AI provider, citing its 2 trillion weekly transactions through its Einstein AI product. He claimed Salesforce’s unified codebase provides a competitive edge, unlike rival systems that run disparate applications, potentially limiting AI effectiveness. “This is a bold leap into the future of work,” Benioff said, “where AI agents collaborate with humans to revolutionize customer interactions.” AI Growth Across Salesforce Products AI-driven growth extended beyond Agentforce to other Salesforce products: Millham noted that AI-related $1 million+ deals more than tripled year over year. Financial Highlights For Q3 FY2024, Salesforce reported: Looking ahead, Salesforce expects Q4 revenue between $9.9 billion and $10.1 billion, representing 7%–9% year-over-year growth. The company raised its full fiscal year revenue guidance to .8– billion, an 8%–9% increase. Industry and Product Insights Salesforce’s growth was driven by its core clouds and subscription services, with health, life sciences, manufacturing, and automotive industries performing particularly well. However, retail and consumer goods saw slower growth. While subscription revenue for MuleSoft and Tableau decelerated, Salesforce’s broader portfolio continued to deliver robust performance. Benioff concluded by emphasizing the transformative potential of Salesforce’s AI ecosystem: “This is the next evolution of Salesforce—an intelligent, scalable technology that’s no longer tied to workforce growth.” 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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December 3, 2024in Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Mulesoft, Salesforce, Technology
Salesforce Experience Cloud
02Dec

Empowering Digital Experiences

Salesforce Experience Cloud: Empowering Digital Experiences Salesforce Experience Cloud is a robust digital experience platform that enables businesses to create beautifully designed, CRM-powered online sites. Previously known as Community Cloud, the rebranding reflects its versatility in supporting a wide range of connected digital experiences. What is an Experience Cloud Site? An Experience Cloud site serves as an online hub to connect with customers, foster collaboration, and streamline business processes. These sites are customizable through Experience Builder, which allows users to design visually compelling and functional spaces based on their unique needs. Experience Builder SitesFormerly called Lightning Communities, Experience Builder sites are template-based and built on one of two frameworks: Introducing Lightning Web Runtime (LWR) LWR is the core framework powering modern Experience Cloud sites. It leverages Lightning Web Components (LWC) for enhanced performance, scalability, and customizability. Key advantages of LWR include: New LWR-Based Experience Cloud Templates The latest Experience Cloud templates are built exclusively on Lightning Web Components, making them faster and more efficient than Aura-based alternatives. The templates are designed for customers using Salesforce CMS and feature: Page Layouts and Slots Experience Cloud enables dynamic page structuring with: Slots play a crucial role in defining placeholders for content or markup. Metadata configuration allows these layouts to be integrated seamlessly into the Experience Cloud. CSS and Styling in Experience Cloud In Experience Cloud, Synthetic Shadow DOM replaces the native Shadow DOM. This allows global CSS to be applied across web components, ensuring design consistency. For example, custom buttons inherit background colors directly from the site theme, regardless of where they’re used. Navigation Options Experience Cloud sites support two types of navigation: For more advanced customization, Salesforce provides access to open-source codebases, such as the LWR Demo Agent site available on GitHub. Future-Ready Digital Experiences By leveraging the latest advancements in Lightning Web Components and the flexibility of LWR, Salesforce Experience Cloud empowers organizations to build connected, fast, and beautifully designed digital experiences tailored to their specific needs. Whether you’re enhancing customer engagement, building AI-enabled workflows, or streamlining collaboration, Experience Cloud serves as a powerful foundation for success. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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December 2, 2024in Data, Mulesoft, Salesforce, Salesforce Experience Cloud
Agentforce to the Team
27Nov

Salesforce has officially launched Agentforce

Agentforce goes beyond traditional chatbots and copilots, leveraging advanced reasoning to perform tasks like resolving customer issues, qualifying leads, and optimizing marketing campaigns—all without human intervention. Triggered by data changes, business rules, automations, or API signals, Agentforce executes actions independently. Companies like OpenTable, Saks, and Wiley are already harnessing Agentforce to enhance employee productivity, expand their workforce, and elevate customer experiences.

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November 27, 2024in Data, Enterprise, Mulesoft, Salesforce
Salesforce Strategies to Improve a Nonprofit
26Nov

Salesforce Strategies to Improve a Nonprofit

Transforming Nonprofit Operations with Salesforce: Lessons from a Real-Life Success Story Actionable insights for nonprofits to streamline operations and amplify impact-Salesforce Strategies to Improve a Nonprofit Running a nonprofit is challenging enough without the added frustration of disjointed systems. Many nonprofits grapple with scattered databases, isolated email tools, and incompatible fundraising platforms, resulting in inefficiencies and operational headaches. When systems operate in silos, teams waste time on manual data entry and backtracking, which hinders program delivery and donor engagement—putting the mission at risk. Enter Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud, a transformative platform designed to centralize operations, improve donor communication, and provide actionable insights. With 93% of Salesforce users reporting positive ROI, the platform empowers nonprofits to focus on what matters most: driving impact. Salesforce can revolutionize nonprofit operations. Case Study: Supporting Families Through Salesforce Client: Children’s Organization for displaced children in Ukraine Mission: To help children separated from their families during the war in Ukraine by providing bilingual, family-narrated audiobooks and beautifully illustrated storybooks. Challenge:While Better Time Stories had a meaningful mission, their operational processes were a roadblock. Their delivery system struggled with: The Approach 1. Goals Set Results With these optimizations, Better Time Stories significantly improved delivery success: Continuous system support ensured seamless operations and enhanced the organization’s ability to meet its mission. Key Strategies for Nonprofits Using Salesforce 1. Automate Donation and Impact Tracking 2. Personalize Donor Journeys 3. Create Custom Workflows 4. Integrate Salesforce with Other Tools 5. Enable Advanced Reporting 6. Build Volunteer and Beneficiary Portals 7. Leverage AI for Strategic Decisions 8. Design Scalable Data Architecture 9. Conduct Regular Health Checks Conclusion Nonprofits need solutions that simplify operations and maximize impact. Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud offers the tools to centralize processes, enhance donor engagement, and drive mission-critical outcomes. By following these strategies and working with an experienced implementation partner, your nonprofit can achieve operational excellence and focus on delivering meaningful results. Ready to transform your nonprofit operations with Salesforce? Let’s make it happen! 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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November 26, 2024in Data, Mulesoft, Salesforce, Salesforce Einstein, Salesforce Experience Cloud, Salesforce Flow, Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud
Redefining Autonomous AI for the Enterprise
18Nov

Redefining Autonomous AI for the Enterprise

Salesforce Agentforce: Redefining Autonomous AI for the Enterprise Salesforce has unveiled Agentforce, a groundbreaking addition to its platform that enables businesses to create and deploy autonomous AI agents capable of performing tasks across any business function. Unlike traditional chatbots or copilots, Agentforce leverages advanced reasoning capabilities to independently resolve customer cases, qualify sales leads, optimize marketing campaigns, and more. By automating actions triggered by data changes, business rules, pre-built automations, or API signals, Agentforce empowers companies like OpenTable, Saks, and Wiley to scale their workforce and enhance customer experiences. “Agentforce is redefining what’s possible in business and beyond,” said Marc Benioff, Chair and CEO of Salesforce. “This technology is ushering in an era of AI abundance and limitless workforces, augmenting employees, building deeper customer relationships, and driving unprecedented growth and profitability.” Built on a Metadata-Driven Architecture Agentforce builds on Salesforce’s metadata-driven platform, ensuring rapid deployment and customization without extensive manual effort. “Agentforce taps into the trusted Salesforce platform, seamlessly integrating enterprise data, workflows, and AI models to deliver actionable intelligence,” said Srini Tallapragada, President and Chief Engineering Officer at Salesforce. Addressing Market Inefficiencies Salesforce research identified significant inefficiencies Agentforce is designed to address: Marc Benioff emphasized, “The agent revolution is as transformative as the cloud, social, and mobile revolutions, setting a new standard for operational efficiency.” Rapid Adoption and Industry Use Cases At Dreamforce 2024, customers created over 10,000 autonomous agents in three days, with adoption accelerating to 20,000 agents globally through Salesforce World Tour events. The platform’s natural language interface enables business users—not just IT teams—to build and customize agents. Industry Applications: Ecosystem and Partner Support The launch is bolstered by partnerships with global systems integrators, including Accenture, Deloitte, IBM, PwC, and Slalom. These collaborations have accelerated emerging technology rollouts by 31%, according to Salesforce. Additionally, the new Agentblazer Community provides a hub for knowledge sharing and integrations via the Salesforce AppExchange. Pricing and Future Development Agentforce is now generally available, with pricing starting at $2 per conversation, including volume discounts. Customers can explore the platform through the Salesforce Foundations trial, offering 1,000 conversation credits for free. Future development plans focus on enabling multi-agent scenarios for complex workflows and expanding autonomous capabilities across business processes. “This is just the first chapter,” said Clara Shih, CEO of Salesforce AI. “The innovation we’ll see from this technology will transform businesses in ways we’ve only begun to imagine.” What This Means for Businesses Agentforce represents Salesforce’s most ambitious platform expansion since Einstein AI’s debut in 2016. Its consumption-based pricing model aligns with Salesforce’s broader shift toward pay-as-you-use services, mirroring strategies with Data Cloud and Einstein GPT. For enterprises, the platform offers a low-risk trial to assess its potential for driving operational improvements. The challenge will be transitioning from pilot projects to large-scale deployments while maintaining the claimed accuracy and efficiency advantages. With over 20,000 agents created and a robust partner ecosystem, Salesforce is well-positioned to lead the autonomous AI revolution. However, the ultimate success of Agentforce will depend on its ability to consistently deliver measurable business value beyond the initial wave of adoption. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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November 18, 2024in Agentforce Platform, Data, Enterprise, Mulesoft, Salesforce Foundations, Technology
Salesforce Agentforce Integration
14Nov

Agentforce at Work

Agentforce Salesforce Agentforce in Action: A Practical Example of Using Agents in Salesforce Autonomous Agents on the Agentforce Platform Agentforce represents a transformative shift in Salesforce’s strategy, poised to redefine how users engage with their CRM. By introducing both assistive AI—enhanced by generative AI for capabilities like summaries and sales emails—and autonomous AI, which empowers agents to automate actions without human oversight, Agentforce helps users operate more efficiently in Salesforce. Despite the excitement around Agentforce, most blogs and marketing materials focus on AI hype rather than practical applications. This insight focuses on illustrating how these tools work and the tangible value they can provide for your organization’s custom processes. Curious about setting up Agentforce agents using both out-of-the-box actions and custom actions? Let’s dive in. What is Agentforce? Agentforce is Salesforce’s conversational AI tool for CRM. In simple terms, it lets users “talk” to Salesforce. Powered by generative AI and the Atlas Reasoning Engine, Agentforce processes user input to perform tasks like summarizing data from objects, updating fields, and generating content such as emails or knowledge articles. This innovative tool is only at the beginning of its journey, likely setting the stage for a future where CRM interactions may evolve beyond traditional form-based interfaces to more intuitive chatbot-style engagement. Scenario: Managing Sales Pipeline Consider a salesperson with the daily objectives of tracking deals, managing pipeline opportunities, and identifying potential risks. Traditionally, this would require manually navigating numerous Salesforce objects, risking data inconsistencies and user errors. Agentforce’s assistive actions can streamline much of this, automating processes to identify key deals, summarize progress, and track deal risks across the pipeline. Let’s take a closer look at configuring a custom action for a pipeline summary. All powered by Salesforce Agentforce. Step-by-Step Guide to Configuring a Pipeline Summary Action Agentforce Use Cases: Getting Started Agentforce offers powerful tools for implementing AI-based functions within Salesforce, but to realize productivity gains, consider the following: Agentforce’s standard actions are a great starting point, providing immediate productivity impacts that can be enhanced as you customize actions to meet specific needs. For tailored guidance on integrating Agentforce, explore Tectonic’s Salesforce Agentforce Consulting Services. Tectonic’s expertise can support your organization in optimizing user experience, boosting productivity, and training users to responsibly leverage Agentforce’s capabilities across industries and channels. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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November 14, 2024in Agentforce Platform, Data, Generative AI, Mulesoft, Salesforce
Mulesoft
04Nov

MuleSoft Empowering AI Agents

Empowering AI Agents with Real-Time Data: MuleSoft’s Full Lifecycle AsyncAPI Support MuleSoft has officially launched full lifecycle AsyncAPI support, providing organizations with the tools to connect real-time data to AI agents via event-driven architectures (EDAs). This integration empowers businesses to deploy AI agents that can autonomously act on dynamic, real-time events across various operations. MuleSoft Empowering AI Agents. AI Agents in Action with AsyncAPI The integration of Agentforce, Salesforce’s AI agent suite, with AsyncAPI takes automation to a new level. By utilizing real-time data streams, businesses can create AI agents capable of immediate, autonomous decision-making. Why AsyncAPI Matters Event-driven architectures are critical for real-time data processing, yet 43% of IT leaders struggle to integrate existing systems with their EDAs. AsyncAPI provides a scalable, standardized way to connect applications and AI agents, overcoming these challenges. Key Features of MuleSoft’s AsyncAPI Support Why It’s a Game-Changer for AI Agents AsyncAPI integration enables AI agents to function asynchronously within EDAs, meaning they can process tasks without waiting for updates. For example: Driving Innovation Across Industries Organizations in sectors like retail, IT, and financial services can leverage these capabilities: Expert Insights Andrew Comstock, VP of Product, Integration at Salesforce:“AI is reshaping how we think about modern architectures, but connectivity remains foundational. By supporting AsyncAPI, we’re empowering businesses to build event-driven, autonomous systems on a flexible and robust platform.” Maksim Kogan, Solution Architect, OBI Group Holding:“Integrating AsyncAPI into Anypoint Platform simplifies the developer experience and increases resilience, enabling real-time services that directly enhance customer satisfaction.” Availability MuleSoft’s full lifecycle AsyncAPI support is now available via the Anypoint Platform, with compatibility for Kafka, Solace, Anypoint MQ, and Salesforce Platform Events. Tools like Anypoint Code Builder and Anypoint Exchange further streamline the development process. MuleSoft Empowering AI Agents With full AsyncAPI support, MuleSoft unlocks the potential for AI agents to operate seamlessly within real-time event-driven systems. From improving customer experiences to enhancing operational efficiency, this innovation positions businesses to thrive in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. Learn more about empowering your AI agents with MuleSoft’s AsyncAPI capabilities today. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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November 4, 2024in Data, Mulesoft, Salesforce
AI Agents and Consumer Trust
03Nov

AI Agents and Consumer Trust

Salesforce Research Highlights Rising Stakes for Trust in the AI Era Salesforce’s latest State of the AI Connected Customer research reveals a trust crisis among consumers and highlights how AI is reshaping customer expectations. With 60% of consumers believing advances in AI make trust even more essential, businesses face mounting pressure to deliver trustworthy AI experiences. The stakes are especially high as AI agents gain traction, presenting an opportunity for brands to rebuild trust and drive engagement this holiday season—particularly among Gen Z, with nearly a third open to having AI shop on their behalf. Why It Matters As the holiday shopping season approaches, brands face the dual challenge of declining consumer trust and evolving expectations. With AI projected to influence more than 0 billion in global online sales this season, getting AI right is critical. AI agents—intelligent software capable of handling customer inquiries autonomously—can boost margins and enhance customer service by addressing issues like clunky purchasing and return processes. However, trust in these agents hinges on transparency and robust data practices. Key Insights from the Research Trust Is at an All-Time Low High Expectations for Seamless Experiences Customer service remains a critical loyalty driver: Younger Consumers Are Most Open to AI Agents Generations Z and millennials lead the charge in embracing AI agents for improved shopping experiences: However, transparency remains vital: Building Confidence in AI Agents The research underscores a mixed consumer sentiment toward AI, marked by curiosity (41%) and suspicion (44%). This presents an opportunity for brands to demystify AI’s benefits: Expert Perspectives Salesforce View:“Retailers face fierce competition this season as they aim to drive higher margins and meet rising customer expectations. AI agents enable consistent, personalized experiences across channels, fostering loyalty and boosting sales.”— Michael Affronti, SVP & GM, Commerce Cloud, Salesforce Customer Experience at Saks:“Agentforce has unlocked new potential for enhancing luxury shopping. By automating routine tasks like order tracking, our teams can focus on high-touch, personalized interactions. We’re excited to see how AI continues to elevate our service.”— Mike Hite, CTO, Saks Global 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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November 3, 2024in Data, Mulesoft, Salesforce
Battle of Copilots
14Oct

Battle of Copilots

Salesforce is directly challenging Microsoft in the growing battle of AI copilots, which are designed to enhance customer experience (CX) across key business functions like sales and support. In this competitive landscape, Salesforce is taking on not only Microsoft but also major AI rivals such as Google Gemini, OpenAI GPT, and IBM watsonx. At the heart of this strategy is Salesforce Agentforce, a platform that leverages autonomous decision-making to meet enterprise demands for data and AI abstraction. Salesforce Dreamforce Highlights One of the most significant takeaways from last month’s Dreamforce conference in San Francisco was the unveiling of autonomous agents, bringing advanced GenAI capabilities to the app development process. CEO Marc Benioff and other Salesforce executives made it clear that Salesforce is positioning itself to compete with Microsoft’s Copilot, rebranding and advancing its own AI assistant, previously known as Einstein AI. Microsoft’s stronghold, however, lies in Copilot’s seamless integration with widely used products like Teams, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word. Furthermore, Microsoft has established itself as a developer’s favorite, especially with GitHub Copilot and the Azure portfolio, which are integral to app modernization in many enterprises. “Salesforce faces an uphill battle in capturing market share from these established players,” says Charlotte Dunlap, Research Director at GlobalData. “Salesforce’s best chance lies in highlighting the autonomous capabilities of Agentforce—enabling businesses to automate more processes, moving beyond basic chatbot functions, and delivering a personalized customer experience.” This emphasis on autonomy is vital, given that many enterprises are still grappling with the complexities of emerging GenAI technologies. Dunlap points out that DevOps teams are struggling to find third-party expertise that understands how GenAI fits within existing IT systems, particularly around security and governance concerns. Salesforce’s focus on automation, combined with the integration prowess of MuleSoft, positions it as a key player in making GenAI tools more accessible and intuitive for businesses. Elevating AI Abstraction and Automation Salesforce has increasingly focused on the idea of abstracting data and AI, exemplified by its Data Cloud and low-level UI capabilities. Now, with models like the Atlas Reasoning Engine, Salesforce is looking to push beyond traditional AI assistants. These tools are designed to automate complex, previously human-dependent tasks, spanning functions like sales, service, and marketing. Simplifying the Developer Experience The true measure of Salesforce’s success in its GenAI strategy will emerge in the coming months. The company is well aware that its ability to simplify the developer experience is critical. Enterprises are looking for more than just AI innovation—they want thought leadership that can help secure budget and executive support for AI initiatives. Many companies report ongoing struggles in gaining that internal buy-in, further underscoring the importance of strong, strategic partnerships with technology providers like Salesforce. In its pursuit to rival Microsoft Copilot, Salesforce’s future hinges on how effectively it can build on its track record of simplifying the developer experience while promoting the unique autonomous qualities of Agentforce. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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October 14, 2024in AI Tools, Data, Enterprise, Google, Mulesoft, Salesforce, Salesforce Copilots, Salesforce Optimization, Technology
AI All Grown Up
07Oct

AI All Grown Up

If you thought Salesforce had fully embraced AI, think again. The company has much more in store. AI All Grown Up and Salesforce is the educator! Alongside the announcement of the new Agentforce platform, Salesforce has teased plans to offer free premium instructor-led courses and AI certifications throughout 2025, reflecting a bold commitment to fostering AI skills and expertise. We’ve talked quite a bit over the last year about the need for AI education, and lo and behold here comes Salesforce to the rescue! AI All Grown Up Ah, they grow up so fast. Once just a baby cradeled in our arms with endless possibilities and potential. It was just like a year or so ago we heard of ChatGPT. Prior to that most people’s main exposure to artificial intelligence was their smart phones, which today we realize weren’t reall that smart. Generative, predictive and agentic AI have barreled down the pipeline increasing our vocabulary, and understanding, of what artificial intelligence can do. From generative content to sounds and images, AI continued to amaze us. Then predictive AI did our calculations faster than we could have imagined. Then agentic AI did nearly everything imaginable. AI All Grown Up. Like a very proud mentor of the process, I want to talk about Salesforce’s major contribution. Addressing the AI Skills Gap: Salesforce’s $50 Million Investment As the veritable plethora of AI tools rapidly expands, Salesforce is taking proactive steps to address the growing AI skills gap by investing $50 million into workforce upskilling initiatives. The company aims to ensure that businesses and individuals are prepared to utilize their new wave of AI tools effectively. While the full details have yet to be released, Salesforce has revealed that its premium AI courses and certifications will be made available for free via Trailhead by the end of 2025. This could mean certifications such as AI Associate and AI Specialist, which currently cost $75 and $200 respectively, may soon be offered at no cost. Gratis. Free, Salesforce has also mentioned “premium instructor-led training,” sparking speculation that AI-focused, instructor-led Trailhead Academy courses could become accessible to everyone in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expanding AI Education with Global AI Centers Salesforce’s AI upskilling push is part of a broader initiative to establish “AI Centers” across the globe. Following the opening of its first center in London in June, Salesforce is planning to launch additional AI hubs in cities like Chicago, Tokyo, Sydney, and even a pop-up center in San Francisco. These centers will host in-person premium courses and serve as gathering spaces for industry experts, partners, and customers. This initiative benefits not only the Salesforce ecosystem by increasing AI knowledge where expertise is scarce, but also aligns with Salesforce’s strategy of bringing AI-driven solutions to market through new products like Copilot Studio, Data Cloud, and the newly launched Agentforce platform. Agentforce: Salesforce’s Third Wave of AI On August 28, 2024, Salesforce introduced Agentforce, a suite of autonomous AI agents that marks a significant leap in how businesses engage with customers. Described as the “Third Wave of AI,” Agentforce goes beyond traditional chatbots, providing intelligent agents capable of driving customer success with minimal human intervention. What is Agentforce? Agentforce is a comprehensive platform designed for organizations to build, customize, and deploy autonomous AI agents across various business functions, such as customer service, sales, marketing, and commerce. These agents operate independently, accessing data, crafting action plans, and executing tasks without needing constant human oversight. It is like Artificial Intelligence just graduated highschool and is off to a world of new adventures and growth opportunities at college or university! Key Features of Agentforce: The Technology Behind Agentforce At the core of Agentforce is the Atlas Reasoning Engine, a system designed to mimic human reasoning. Here’s how it works: Customization Tools: Agent Builder Agentforce provides tools like Agent Builder, a low-code platform for customizing out-of-the-box agents or creating new ones for specific business needs. With this tool, users can: The Agentforce Partner Network Salesforce’s partner ecosystem plays a key role in Agentforce’s versatility, with contributions from companies like AWS, Google, IBM, and Workday. Together, they’ve developed over 20 agent actions available through the Salesforce AppExchange. As proud parents we watch our Artificial Intelligence child venture into the world making friends along the way. Learning social skills. Benefits and Impact of Agentforce Early Adopters and Success Stories Several companies are already benefiting from Agentforce: Availability and Pricing of Salesforce’s AI All Grown Up Agentforce for Service and Sales will be generally available on October 25, 2024, with some components of the Atlas Reasoning Engine launching in February 2025. Pricing starts at $2 per conversation, with volume discounts available. The Future of AI and Work Salesforce’s ambitious vision is to empower one billion AI agents with Agentforce by the end of 2025. This reflects their belief that the future of work will involve a hybrid workforce, where humans and AI agents collaborate to drive customer success. AI All Grown Up and We Couldn’t Be Prouder Our amazing AI child has graduated college and ventured out into the workforce. Agentforce vs. Einstein Bots: What’s the Difference? Conclusion Agentforce represents a major leap forward in AI-powered customer engagement. By providing autonomous, intelligent agents capable of managing complex tasks, Salesforce is positioning itself at the forefront of AI innovation. As businesses continue to explore ways to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction, Agentforce could redefine how organizations interact with customers and streamline their operations. If this is the Third Wave of AI, what will the fourth wave bring? Written by Tectonic’s Solutions Architect, Shannan Hearne 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

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October 7, 2024in Agentforce Platform, AI Tools, Data, Google, Mulesoft, Salesforce, Technology
05Oct

Agentforce Autonomous Agents

Agentforce: Transforming Business Operations with Autonomous Agents Agentforce empowers organizations to create and manage autonomous agents that streamline tasks across various business departments. These include Sales Agents, Service Agents, Marketing Agents, Commerce Agents, and Platform Agents—truly delivering on the vision of “an Agentforce in every app.” But how does Agentforce work, and what are the building blocks for configuring these agents? Salesforce emphasizes that Agentforce is built with clicks, not code, making it highly accessible to users. This claim was validated by many attendees at the ‘Agentforce Launchpad’ during Dreamforce, who noted that the tool is as declarative and user-friendly as Salesforce promised. The Building Blocks of Agentforce 1. Agent Builder The journey begins with the Agent Builder within Agentforce Studio. This configuration tool allows users to define their agent’s attributes, such as the avatar, name, and description, using natural language inputs—essentially describing the agent in conversational terms. Salesforce describes it as: “If you can dream it, Agentforce can do it.” The Agent Builder interface comprises: Salesforce also provides out-of-the-box agents, such as Sales Agents, which can be enabled via guided setup. 2. Agent Topics Topics are the foundational building blocks that determine an agent’s scope of work. For example, a topic like “Order Management” grants the agent access to data such as order histories and product specifications. In the Dreamforce keynote, Saks’ service agent demonstrated the importance of topics by resolving customer queries tied to its assigned topics. However, queries outside the defined topics were flagged as “guardrails,” ensuring the agent stayed within its designated scope. 3. Topic Actions Actions, tied to topics, define what an agent can do. These actions are often flows, such as querying a CRM database or triggering automated processes. Users can assign existing actions or create new ones by referencing Apex, Flow, prompts, or MuleSoft APIs. For example, integrating external data sources requires defining a new Agentforce action tied to a MuleSoft API. This allows the agent to query data just as human users would. Testing Agents with the Atlas Reasoning Engine Agentforce’s Atlas Reasoning Engine powers agents with advanced capabilities. Users can test agents within the Agent Builder interface, following the reasoning process step-by-step: Once configured, agents are ready to operate across their assigned communication channels (e.g., email, WhatsApp, voice). Omni Supervisor: Real-Time Agent Monitoring Omni Supervisor, originally a Service Cloud feature, now extends to monitoring agents. It provides insights into overall trends, allows real-time oversight of interactions, and even enables listening to recent conversations. The Role of Data Cloud in Agentforce Data powers Agentforce, enabling agents to provide highly contextual responses. The Data Cloud processes both structured data (e.g., Salesforce records) and unstructured data (e.g., emails, voice memos) using its Vector Database for advanced processing. 1. Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) Salesforce employs RAG to enhance the accuracy of agent responses. RAG integrates the Atlas Reasoning Engine with Data Cloud, creating a feedback loop. Data Cloud enriches user prompts by retrieving relevant data, making agent responses more contextual and informed. 2. New Data Streams To enhance Agentforce capabilities, data can be ingested into the platform in three ways: For instance, connecting an order management system like Snowflake is streamlined via Salesforce’s prebuilt connectors. 3. Data Graphs Data Graphs visualize relationships between Data Model Objects (DMOs), enabling users to ensure all necessary data is available for optimal agent performance. Real-time Data Graphs enhance identity resolution, segmentation, and action execution for seamless data flow. Inside Prompt Builder Prompt Builder allows users to create or refine prompts that power Agentforce actions. Low-code tools guide users through the process, offering features such as previewing results and assessing feedback toxicity ratings. Search Index in RAG The Search Index is a critical component of RAG. It retrieves relevant data from Data Cloud to enhance agent reasoning. Search parameters can be configured in three ways: Tectonic’s Thoughts Agentforce, powered by Data Cloud and advanced AI tools like the Atlas Reasoning Engine, represents a new era of automation and efficiency for businesses. Whether through Sales, Service, or Marketing Agents, organizations can leverage this technology to streamline operations, personalize customer experiences, and achieve better outcomes. With over 5,200 customers implementing Agentforce in their sandboxes within the first two days of Dreamforce, the platform is already proving its transformative potential. By 2025 over a billion agents had been created! Agentforce isn’t just about improving efficiency; it’s about redefining what’s possible for business operations. Content updated January 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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October 5, 2024in AI Tools, Data, Mulesoft, Salesforce, Snowflake, Technology

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