Agile Archives - gettectonic.com - Page 2
Predictive Analytics
09Sep

Predictive Analytics

Industry forecasts predict an annual growth rate of 6% to 7%, fueled by innovations in cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and data engineering. In 2023, the global data analytics market was valued at approximately $41 billion and is expected to surge to $118.5 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.1%. This significant expansion reflects the growing demand for advanced analytics tools that provide actionable insights. AI has notably enhanced the accuracy of predictive models, enabling marketers to anticipate customer behaviors and preferences with impressive precision. “We’re on the verge of a new era in predictive analytics, with tools like Salesforce Einstein Data Analytics revolutionizing how we harness data-driven insights to transform marketing strategies,” says Koushik Kumar Ganeeb, a Principal Member of Technical Staff at Salesforce Data Cloud and a distinguished Data and AI Architect. Ganeeb’s leadership spans initiatives like AI-powered Salesforce Einstein Data Analytics, Marketing Cloud Connector for Data Cloud, and Intelligence Reporting (Datorama). His expertise includes architecting vast data extraction pipelines that process trillions of transactions daily. These pipelines play a crucial role in the growth strategies of Fortune 500 companies, helping them scale their data operations efficiently by leveraging AI. Ganeeb’s visionary work has propelled Salesforce Einstein Data Analytics into the forefront of business intelligence. Under his guidance, the platform’s advanced capabilities—such as predictive modeling, real-time data analysis, and natural language processing—are now pivotal in transforming how businesses forecast trends, personalize marketing efforts, and make data-driven decisions with unprecedented precision. AI and Machine Learning: The Next Frontier Beginning in 2018, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, a leading engagement platform used by top enterprises, faced challenges in extracting actionable insights and enhancing AI capabilities from rapidly growing data across diverse systems. Ganeeb was tasked with overcoming these hurdles, leading to the development of the Salesforce Einstein Provisioning Process. This process involved the creation of extensive data import jobs and the establishment of standardized patterns based on consumer adoption learning. These automated jobs handle trillions of transactions daily, delivering critical engagement and profile data in real-time to meet the scalability needs of large enterprises. The data flows seamlessly into AI models that generate predictions on a massive scale, such as Engagement Scores and insights into messaging and language usage across the platform. “Integrating AI and machine learning into data analytics through Salesforce Einstein is not just a technological enhancement—it’s a revolutionary shift in how we approach data,” explains Ganeeb. “With our advanced predictive models and real-time data processing, we can analyze vast amounts of data instantly, delivering insights that were previously unimaginable.” This innovative approach empowers organizations to make more informed decisions, driving unprecedented growth and operational efficiency. Real-World Success Stories Under Ganeeb’s technical leadership, Salesforce Einstein Data Analytics has delivered remarkable results across industries by leveraging AI and machine learning to provide actionable insights and enhance business performance. In the past year, leading companies like T-Mobile, Fitbit, and Dell Technologies have reported significant improvements after integrating Einstein. Ganeeb’s proficiency in designing and scaling data engineering solutions has been critical in helping these enterprises optimize performance. “Scalability with Salesforce Einstein Data Analytics goes beyond managing data volumes—it ensures that every data point is converted into actionable insights,” says Ganeeb. His work processing petabytes of data daily underscores his commitment to precision and efficiency in data engineering. Navigating Data Ethics and Quality Despite the rapid growth of predictive analytics, Ganeeb emphasizes the importance of data ethics and quality. “The accuracy of predictive models depends on the integrity of the data,” he notes. Salesforce Einstein Data Analytics addresses this by curating datasets to ensure they are representative and free from bias, maintaining trust while delivering reliable insights. By implementing rigorous data quality checks and ethical considerations, Ganeeb ensures that Einstein Analytics not only delivers actionable insights but also fosters transparency and trust. This balanced approach is key to the responsible use of predictive analytics across various industries. Future Trends in Predictive Analytics The future of predictive analytics looks bright, with AI and machine learning poised to further refine the accuracy and utility of predictive models. “Success lies in embracing technological advancements while maintaining a human touch,” Ganeeb notes. “By combining AI-driven insights with human intuition, businesses can navigate market complexities and uncover new opportunities.” Ganeeb’s contributions to Salesforce Einstein Data Analytics exemplify this balanced approach, integrating cutting-edge technology with human insight to empower businesses to make strategic decisions. His work positions organizations to thrive in a data-driven world, helping them stay agile and competitive in an evolving market. Balancing Benefits and Challenges – Predictive Analytics While predictive analytics offers vast potential, Ganeeb recognizes the challenges. Ensuring data quality, addressing ethical concerns, and maintaining transparency are crucial for its responsible use. “Although challenges remain, the future of AI-based predictive analytics is promising,” Ganeeb asserts. His work with Salesforce Einstein Data Analytics continues to push the boundaries of marketing analytics, enabling businesses to harness the power of AI for transformative 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 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

Read More
September 9, 2024in Salesforce Data Cloud, Salesforce Einstein, Salesforce Marketing Cloud
Citizen Development
06Sep

Citizen Development

As we progress through the era of digital transformation, citizen development has emerged as a key trend in the business landscape. This approach empowers end-users to create their applications, streamlining workflows and reshaping corporate operations. However, like any innovation, citizen development presents both advantages and challenges. In this article, we will explore the benefits, pros and cons of citizen development, and strategies to effectively leverage it within your organization. 1. The Rise of Citizen Development The popularity of citizen development is on the rise, as reflected by Statista, which reports a remarkable 24.6% growth in this sector since 2020. The increasing demand for software solutions in the corporate environment has made the traditional model of IT departments solely managing application development unsustainable. By enabling non-technical personnel to develop their applications, businesses can relieve pressure on IT teams, speed up solution delivery, and cultivate a more agile business model. Furthermore, investing in citizen development platforms fosters an inclusive and innovative workplace, allowing diverse perspectives to generate unique applications that meet specific workflow needs. 2. Benefits of Citizen Development for Companies 2.1 Accelerated Pace and Flexibility Citizen development tools facilitate rapid prototyping and quicker application rollouts. Non-technical personnel can design, modify, and launch applications according to immediate needs, enhancing agility and responsiveness. 2.2 Boosted Creativity Empowering your staff to create applications unlocks a wealth of untapped potential. Citizen development nurtures a culture of innovation, leading to tailored solutions that address specific business challenges. 2.3 Tailored App Design Citizen developers, as end-users, possess an in-depth understanding of their workflow requirements. This perspective enables them to develop applications that align closely with user needs, improving adoption and utility. 2.4 Heightened Productivity By reducing the back-and-forth between IT departments and end-users, citizen development streamlines operations, leading to enhanced efficiency. 2.5 Cost-Effectiveness Citizen development significantly cuts costs associated with traditional application development, such as hiring professional developers or outsourcing tasks. Rapid application rollouts also help seize business opportunities quickly, optimizing ROI. 2.6 Reduced Workload for IT Staff Enabling non-technical personnel to handle minor application development tasks lightens the load on IT teams, allowing them to focus on high-priority projects. 2.7 Enhanced Visibility and Accountability Many citizen development platforms include built-in analytics and reporting features, offering insights into application usage and performance. This transparency helps businesses track initiatives, make data-driven decisions, and continuously improve processes. 3. Implementing Citizen Development with Salesforce Solutions Given its extensive benefits, citizen development is a strategy many businesses are eager to adopt. Salesforce provides a powerful platform to effectively harness citizen development. Salesforce’s platform caters to both professional and citizen developers, offering a comprehensive suite of user-friendly tools for building applications and managing workflows. With built-in safeguards for data security and regulatory compliance, Salesforce for Public Sector and Tribal Governments ensures a smooth and secure citizen development process. Their clear deployment roadmap and thorough training programs equip businesses for success in their citizen development journey. 4. Partnering with Tectonic for Public Sector and Tribal Government Solutions Consider Tectonic as your trusted partner for PSS solutions. Tectonic is a distinguished provider of technology solutions with extensive expertise in Salesforce and process management. With a proven track record of successful projects, Tectonic has earned the trust of clients globally. Tectonic maintains a close partnership with Salesforce, ensuring a deep understanding of its advanced features, including process automation. As a Salesforce partner, Tectonic keeps clients updated on the latest advancements, delivering cutting-edge solutions tailored to their specific needs. By selecting Tectonic as your implementation partner for public sector Salesforce, you benefit from their vast experience and specialized knowledge. Tectonic provides a dedicated public sector team that excels in implementing secure and efficient solutions, working closely with our clients to address their unique challenges. Tectonic offers a comprehensive range of services, from initial implementation to ongoing support and maintenance. Their offerings include process modeling, application design, automation implementation, and roles management. With Tectonic’s expertise, you can ensure seamless integration of automation into your pss projects. To learn more about Tectonic’s public sector services, visit our services page, where you can explore their offerings, including Salesforce Managed Services. Tectonic’s Managed Services provide full support to ensure your public sector environment runs smoothly, covering automation management, data governance, and performance optimization. 5. Final Thoughts While citizen development presents both advantages and challenges, the benefits largely outweigh the potential drawbacks. Although there are concerns about data security and the need for proper governance, the positive impact of citizen development makes it a vital component of the digital transformation narrative. Successful implementation hinges on selecting the right platform and tools that align with your business model and workflow needs. Salesforce Public Sector Solution excels in this regard, offering a user-friendly suite of tools with a clear roadmap for deployment and top-notch support. Brining your public sector tech into the 21st century is an imperative. To fully realize the benefits of citizen development, businesses must strike a balance between empowerment and control. Establishing an environment that fosters innovation and efficiency, while also implementing a governance structure to mitigate risks, is essential. With careful planning, the right tools, and a culture of collaboration, the rewards of citizen development can be substantial. Whether you’re looking to enhance speed and agility, optimize costs, or cultivate a culture of innovation, citizen development offers a promising pathway forward. Embrace citizen development in Salesforce PSS, and set your business on the road to success. If you have any questions about implementing Salesforce Public Sector Solutions and its benefits, feel free to contact us to discuss your project. 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

Read More
September 6, 2024in Data, Salesforce Development Services, Salesforce Public Sector Solutions, Technology
Data Integration with AWS Glue
04Sep

Data Integration with AWS Glue

The rapid rise of Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions has led to data silos across different platforms, making it challenging to consolidate insights. Effective data analytics depends on the ability to seamlessly integrate data from various systems by identifying, gathering, cleansing, and combining it into a unified format. AWS Glue, a serverless data integration service, simplifies this process with scalable, efficient, and cost-effective solutions for unifying data from multiple sources. By using AWS Glue, organizations can streamline data integration, minimize silos, and enhance agility in managing data pipelines, unlocking the full potential of their data for analytics, decision-making, and innovation. This insight explores the new Salesforce connector for AWS Glue and demonstrates how to build a modern Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL) pipeline using AWS Glue ETL scripts. Introducing the Salesforce Connector for AWS Glue To meet diverse data integration needs, AWS Glue now supports SaaS connectivity for Salesforce. This enables users to quickly preview, transfer, and query customer relationship management (CRM) data, while dynamically fetching the schema. With the Salesforce connector, users can ingest and transform CRM data and load it into any AWS Glue-supported destination, such as Amazon S3, in preferred formats like Apache Iceberg, Apache Hudi, and Delta Lake. It also supports reverse ETL use cases, enabling data to be written back to Salesforce. Key Benefits: Solution Overview For this use case, we retrieve the full load of a Salesforce account object into a data lake on Amazon S3 and capture incremental changes. The solution also enables updates to certain fields in the data lake and synchronizes them back to Salesforce. The process involves creating two ETL jobs using AWS Glue with the Salesforce connector. The first job ingests the Salesforce account object into an Apache Iceberg-format data lake on Amazon S3. The second job captures updates and pushes them back to Salesforce. Prerequisites: Creating the ETL Pipeline Step 1: Ingest Salesforce Account Object Using the AWS Glue console, create a new job to transfer the Salesforce account object into an Apache Iceberg-format transactional data lake in Amazon S3. The script checks if the account table exists, performs an upsert if it does, or creates a new table if not. Step 2: Push Changes Back to Salesforce Create a second ETL job to update Salesforce with changes made in the data lake. This job writes the updated account records from Amazon S3 back to Salesforce. Example Query sqlCopy codeSELECT id, name, type, active__c, upsellopportunity__c, lastmodifieddate FROM “glue_etl_salesforce_db”.”account”; Additional Considerations You can schedule the ETL jobs using AWS Glue job triggers or integrate them with other AWS services like AWS Lambda and Amazon EventBridge for advanced workflows. Additionally, AWS Glue supports importing deleted Salesforce records by configuring the IMPORT_DELETED_RECORDS option. Clean Up After completing the process, clean up the resources used in AWS Glue, including jobs, connections, Secrets Manager secrets, IAM roles, and the S3 bucket to avoid incurring unnecessary charges. Conclusion The AWS Glue connector for Salesforce simplifies the analytics pipeline, accelerates insights, and supports data-driven decision-making. Its serverless architecture eliminates the need for infrastructure management, offering a cost-effective and agile approach to data integration, empowering organizations to efficiently meet their analytics needs. 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

Read More
September 4, 2024in Salesforce
Mission Control Salesforce
30Aug

Mission Control Salesforce

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

Read More
August 30, 2024in Salesforce
Key Insights on Navigating AI Compliance
29Aug

Key Insights on Navigating AI Compliance

Grammarly’s AI Regulatory Master Class: Key Insights on Navigating AI Compliance On August 27, 2024, Grammarly hosted an AI Regulatory Master Class webinar, featuring Scout Moran, Senior Product Counsel, and Alan Luk, Head of Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC). The event provided a comprehensive overview of the current and upcoming AI regulations affecting organizations’ AI strategies, along with guidance on evaluating AI solution providers, including those offering generative AI. While the webinar avoided deep legal analysis and did not serve as legal advice, Moran and Luk spotlighted key regulations emerging from both the U.S. and European Union (EU), highlighting the rapid response of regulatory bodies to AI’s growth. Overview of AI Regulations The AI regulatory landscape is changing quickly. A May 2024 report from law firm Davis & Gilbert noted that nearly 200 AI-related laws have been proposed across various U.S. states. Grammarly’s presentation emphasized the need for organizations to stay updated, as both U.S. and EU regulations are shaping the future of AI governance. The EU AI Act: A New Regulatory Framework The EU AI Act, which took effect on August 2, 2024, applies to AI system providers, importers, distributors, and others connected to the EU market, regardless of where they are based. As Moran pointed out, the Act is designed to ensure AI systems are deployed safely. Unsafe systems may be removed from the market, establishing a regulatory baseline that individual EU countries can strengthen with more stringent measures. However, the Act does not fully define “safety.” Legal experts Hadrien Pouget and Ranj Zuhdi noted that while safety requirements are crucial to the Act, they are currently broad, allowing room for further development of standards. The Act prohibits certain AI practices, such as manipulative systems, those exploiting personal vulnerabilities, and AI used to assess or predict criminal risk. AI systems are categorized into four risk levels: unacceptable, high-risk, limited risk, and minimal risk. High-risk systems—such as those in critical infrastructure or public services—face stricter regulation, while minimal-risk systems like spam filters have fewer requirements. Full enforcement of the Act will begin in 2025. U.S. AI Regulations Unlike the EU, the U.S. focuses more on national security than consumer safety in its AI regulation. The U.S. Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy AI addresses these concerns. At the state level, Moran highlighted trends such as requiring clear disclosure when interacting with AI and giving individuals the right to opt out of having their data used for AI model training. States like California and Utah are leading the way with specific laws (SB-1047 and SB-149, respectively) addressing accountability and disclosure in AI use. Key Considerations When Selecting AI Vendors Moran stressed the importance of thoroughly vetting AI vendors. Organizations should ensure vendors meet cybersecurity standards, such as SOC 2, and clearly define how their data will be used, particularly in training large language models (LLMs). “Eyes off” agreements, which prevent vendor employees from accessing customer data, should also be considered. Martha Buyer, a frequent contributor to No Jitter, emphasized verifying the originality of AI-generated content from providers like Grammarly or Microsoft Copilot. She urged caution in ensuring the ownership and authenticity of AI-assisted outputs. The Importance of Strong Third-Party Agreements Luk highlighted Grammarly’s commitment to data privacy, noting that the company neither sells customer data nor uses it to train models. Additionally, Grammarly enforces agreements preventing its third-party LLM providers from doing so. These contractual protections are crucial for safeguarding customer data. Organizations should also ensure third-party vendors adhere to strict guidelines, including securing customer data, encrypting it, and preventing unauthorized access. Vendors should maintain updated security certifications and manage risks like bias, which, while not entirely avoidable, must be actively addressed. Staying Ahead in a Changing Regulatory Environment Both Moran and Luk stressed the importance of ongoing monitoring. Organizations need to regularly reassess whether their vendors comply with their data-sharing policies and meet evolving regulatory standards. As AI technology and regulations continue to evolve, staying informed and agile will be critical for compliance and risk mitigation. In conclusion, organizations adopting AI-powered solutions must navigate a dynamic regulatory environment. As AI advances and regulations become more comprehensive, remaining vigilant and asking the right questions will be key to ensuring compliance and reducing risks. 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 Top Ten Reasons Why Tectonic Loves the Cloud The Cloud is Good for Everyone – Why Tectonic loves the cloud You don’t need to worry about tracking licenses. Read more

Read More
August 29, 2024in Generative AI
New Service Cloud Tools
30Jul

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

Read More
July 30, 2024in Salesforce Service Cloud
Salesforce Sandboxes Explained
08Jul

Salesforce Sandboxes Explained

What is a Salesforce Sandbox? A Salesforce Sandbox is a duplicate of your live production environment, offering a safe and isolated space for developers and administrators to test new features, configurations, and code changes. This environment ensures that you can experiment without affecting your live data, allowing for thorough validation before changes are deployed to production. By mimicking the production setup, a sandbox helps identify and fix issues early, leading to more stable applications and a more reliable development process. Salesforce Sandboxes play a crucial role in ensuring the quality and functionality of applications. They provide a secure environment to conduct rigorous testing, allowing teams to catch errors and make improvements before affecting end users. This controlled environment fosters innovation while minimizing the risk of disruptions. Types of Salesforce Sandboxes Salesforce offers different sandbox types, each designed to meet various development and testing needs. Choosing the right sandbox depends on the scope and complexity of the project. 1. Developer Sandbox A Developer Sandbox is ideal for individual developers working on isolated tasks. It includes a copy of the production environment’s metadata but no actual data. This sandbox allows developers to build and test new features or configurations without impacting each other’s work. With daily refreshes, it provides an agile development environment for quick iterations. 2. Developer Pro Sandbox Similar to the Developer Sandbox, the Developer Pro Sandbox has more storage capacity and includes some data. This makes it suitable for larger development projects, where more comprehensive testing is required. It’s perfect for data-intensive tasks and collaborative development, allowing multiple developers to work on shared projects. 3. Partial Copy Sandbox A Partial Copy Sandbox includes all metadata and a sample of production data, making it useful for functional testing and user acceptance testing (UAT). It allows teams to validate application performance with real data, helping uncover data-specific issues. It can be refreshed every five days, providing an accurate testing environment without needing a full data set. 4. Full Copy Sandbox The most comprehensive option, a Full Copy Sandbox replicates the entire production environment, including all data and metadata. This sandbox is ideal for final testing, load testing, and staging before deployment. By mirroring production, it ensures that any changes or updates function seamlessly when deployed to live systems. How to Create a Sandbox in Salesforce How to Refresh a Sandbox in Salesforce Refreshing a sandbox updates it with the latest data and configurations from the production environment. Here’s how to do it: Salesforce Sandbox Templates Sandbox Templates allow you to define specific data and metadata to include in your sandbox. These templates ensure a more tailored environment for testing and development activities. 1. Developer Sandbox Template This template includes metadata from the production environment and is perfect for developers who don’t need production data, allowing them to focus on configurations and code. 2. Developer Pro Sandbox Template Similar to the Developer Sandbox Template but with more storage and data, this is suited for more complex projects requiring integration and quality assurance testing. 3. Partial Copy Sandbox Template Ideal for testing with actual data, this template allows you to include a subset of production data for validation and scenario-based testing. 4. Full Copy Sandbox Template A complete replica of your production environment, this template supports full-scale performance testing and final staging before deployment. Frequently Asked Questions By utilizing Salesforce Sandboxes, your team can ensure thorough development, testing, and training processes, leading to better performance and greater confidence in your Salesforce projects. 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

Read More
July 8, 2024in Salesforce
Lakeflow for Data Engineering
23Jun

Lakeflow for Data Engineering

Databricks unveiled Databricks LakeFlow last week, a new tool designed to unify all aspects of data engineering, from data ingestion and transformation to orchestration. What is Databricks LakeFlow? According to Databricks, LakeFlow simplifies the creation and operation of production-grade data pipelines, making it easier for data teams to handle complex data engineering tasks. This solution aims to meet the growing demands for reliable data and AI by providing an efficient and streamlined approach. The Current State of Data Engineering Data engineering is crucial for democratizing data and AI within businesses, yet it remains a challenging field. Data teams must often deal with: How LakeFlow Addresses These Challenges LakeFlow offers a unified experience for all aspects of data engineering, simplifying the entire process: Key Features of LakeFlow LakeFlow comprises three main components: LakeFlow Connect, LakeFlow Pipelines, and LakeFlow Jobs. Availability LakeFlow is entering preview soon, starting with LakeFlow Connect. Customers can register to join the waitlist today. 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

Read More
June 23, 2024in Salesforce
Requirements Engineering
21Jun

Requirements Engineering

Every project needs clear requirements. No exceptions. Without them, a project turns into a group of people standing around, unsure of what to do, essentially making things up as they go. This scenario may sound familiar to anyone who has been involved in disorganized projects. What are requirements? According to the Association for Project Management (APM), “Requirements are the wants and needs of stakeholders clearly defined with acceptance criteria.” Requirements engineering is the process for managing the entire lifecycle of these needs and involves five key stages: Let’s dive deeper into these stages: 1. Requirements Elicitation Sometimes, the term “requirements capture” is used, as if stakeholders’ needs are floating around, waiting to be caught. However, requirements are not passively waiting; they must be actively elicited. Elicitation Methods: Eliciting requirements involves interpreting genuine needs, not just compiling a wish list of requested features. 2. Requirements Analysis Once you’ve gathered a set of requirements, it’s time for analysis to ensure they are comprehensive, feasible, and aligned with the project’s objectives. This phase is crucial because 80% of project errors occur during the requirements phase, yet it often receives less than 20% of a project’s time. Key steps include: 3. Requirements Documentation After analyzing requirements, document them clearly to communicate with stakeholders and developers. A good requirements document typically includes: One popular method for documenting requirements is through user stories, which frame requirements from the user’s perspective: User stories focus on meeting user needs rather than prescribing technical specifications. 4. Requirements Validation The next step is validating your documented requirements. This ensures they accurately represent what users and stakeholders need. Validation methods include: Validation is essential to ensure requirements are complete, realistic, and verifiable. 5. Requirements Management The final phase involves tracking and managing changes to requirements throughout the project. Key Concepts: Agile frameworks often rely on iterative approaches, where product owners manage changes during sprint reviews and retrospectives. Summary Requirements engineering consists of five interdependent stages: elicitation, analysis, documentation, validation, and management. While these concepts may seem detailed, they offer a structured framework that’s essential for delivering high-quality solutions. By following this approach, even smaller, lower-risk digital projects can benefit from clear and actionable requirements. 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

Read More
June 21, 2024in Salesforce
Zero ETL
13Jun

Zero ETL

What is Zero-ETL? Zero-ETL represents a transformative approach to data integration and analytics by bypassing the traditional ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) pipeline. Unlike conventional ETL processes, which involve extracting data from various sources, transforming it to fit specific formats, and then loading it into a data repository, Zero-ETL eliminates these steps. Instead, it enables direct querying and analysis of data from its original source, facilitating real-time insights without the need for intermediate data storage or extensive preprocessing. This innovative method simplifies data management, reducing latency and operational costs while enhancing the efficiency of data pipelines. As the demand for real-time analytics and the volume of data continue to grow, ZETL offers a more agile and effective solution for modern data needs. Challenges Addressed by Zero-ETL Benefits of ZETL Use Cases for ZETL In Summary ZETL transforms data management by directly querying and leveraging data in its original format, addressing many limitations of traditional ETL processes. It enhances data quality, streamlines analytics, and boosts productivity, making it a compelling choice for modern organizations facing increasing data complexity and volume. Embracing Zero-ETL can lead to more efficient data processes and faster, more actionable insights, positioning businesses for success in a data-driven world. Components of Zero-ETL ZETL involves various components and services tailored to specific analytics needs and resources: Advantages and Disadvantages of ZETL Comparison: Z-ETL vs. Traditional ETL Feature Zero-ETL Traditional ETL Data Virtualization Seamless data duplication through virtualization May face challenges with data virtualization due to discrete stages Data Quality Monitoring Automated approach may lead to quality issues Better monitoring due to discrete ETL stages Data Type Diversity Supports diverse data types with cloud-based data lakes Requires additional engineering for diverse data types Real-Time Deployment Near real-time analysis with minimal latency Batch processing limits real-time capabilities Cost and Maintenance More cost-effective with fewer components More expensive due to higher computational and engineering needs Scale Scales faster and more economically Scaling can be slow and costly Data Movement Minimal or no data movement required Requires data movement to the loading stage Comparison: Zero-ETL vs. Other Data Integration Techniques Top Zero-ETL Tools Conclusion Transitioning to Zero-ETL represents a significant advancement in data engineering. While it offers increased speed, enhanced security, and scalability, it also introduces new challenges, such as the need for updated skills and cloud dependency. Zero-ETL addresses the limitations of traditional ETL and provides a more agile, cost-effective, and efficient solution for modern data needs, reshaping the landscape of data management and analytics. 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

Read More
June 13, 2024in Snowflake
Data Cloud Vector Database and Hyperforce
07Jun

Data Cloud Vector Database and Hyperforce

Salesforce World Tour Highlights: Data Cloud Vector Database and Hyperforce At the Salesforce World Tour on June 6, 2024, at the Excel Centre in east London, the focus was on advancements in the Data Cloud and Slack platforms. The event, sponsored by AWS, Cognizant, Deloitte, and PWC, showcased significant innovations, particularly for GenAI enthusiasts. Data Cloud Vector Database and Hyperforce. Vector Database in Data Cloud A key highlight was the announcement of the general availability of a Vector Database capability within the Data Cloud, integrated into the Einstein 1 Platform. This capability enhances Salesforce’s CRM platform, Customer 360, by combining structured and unstructured data about end-users. The Vector Database collects, ingests, and unifies data, allowing enterprises to deploy GenAI across all applications without needing to fine-tune an off-the-shelf large language model (LLM). Addressing Data Fragmentation Salesforce reports that approximately 80% of customer data is dispersed across various corporate departments in an unstructured format, trapped in PDFs, emails, chat conversations, and transcripts. The Vector Database unifies this fragmented data, creating a comprehensive profile of the customer journey. This unified approach not only improves customer engagement but also enhances organizational agility. By consolidating data from all corporate silos, companies can quickly and efficiently address issues such as product recalls and returns. Hyperforce: Enhancing Data Residency and Compliance During the keynote, Salesforce emphasized the importance of personalization in customer engagement and the benefits of deploying GenAI in customer-facing sectors. The event highlighted the need to overcome the fear and mistrust of GenAI and showcased how enterprises can enhance employee productivity through upskilling in GenAI technologies. One notable announcement was the general availability of Hyperforce, a solution designed to address data residency issues by integrating all Salesforce applications under the same compliance, security, privacy, and scalability standards. Built for the public cloud and composed of code rather than hardware, Hyperforce ensures safe delivery of applications worldwide, offering a common layer for deploying all application stacks and handling data compliance in a fragmented technology landscape. Salesforce AI Center The Salesforce AI Center was also introduced at the event. The first of its kind, located in the Blue Fin Building near Blackfriars, London, this center will support AI experts, Salesforce partners, and customers, facilitating training and upskilling programs. Set to open on June 18, 2024, the center aims to upskill 100,000 developers worldwide and is part of Salesforce’s $4 billion investment in the UK and Ireland. Industry Reactions and Future Prospects GlobalData senior analyst Beatriz Valle commented on Salesforce’s continued integration of GenAI across its portfolio, including platforms like Tableau, Einstein for analytics, and Slack for collaboration. According to Salesforce, the Data Cloud tool leverages all metadata in the Einstein 1 Platform, connecting unstructured and structured data, reducing the need for fine-tuning LLMs, and enhancing the accuracy of results delivered by Einstein Copilot, Salesforce’s conversational AI assistant. Vector databases, while not new, have gained prominence due to the GenAI revolution. They power the retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) technique, linking proprietary data with large language models like OpenAI’s GPT-4, enabling enterprises to generate more accurate results. Competitors such as Oracle, Amazon, Microsoft, and Google also offer vector databases, but Salesforce’s early investments in GenAI are proving fruitful with the launch of the Data Cloud Vector Database. Data Cloud Vector Database and Hyperforce Salesforce’s AI-powered integration solutions, highlighted during the World Tour, underscore the company’s commitment to advancing digital transformation. By leveraging GenAI and innovative tools like the Vector Database and Hyperforce, Salesforce is enabling enterprises to overcome the challenges of data fragmentation and compliance, paving the way for a more agile and competitive digital future. 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

Read More
June 7, 2024in Einstein 1 Platform, Hyperforce, Salesforce, Salesforce Data Cloud
Cost of Free Analytics
20May

Cost of Free Analytics

Is It Time to Upgrade Your Web Analytics? For years, you might have relied on free web analytics tools, thinking they do the job or resigning yourself to an “it is what it is” mindset. But what if there’s a better way to truly understand your customers and supercharge your marketing efforts? Upgrading to a premium analytics solution could be a game changer for your brand and your peace of mind. What is the Cost of Free Analytics? It’s time to move beyond those so-called free tools (which aren’t really free when you factor in hidden costs) and invest in a robust analytics solution. The right tool can transform your approach—imagine saying goodbye to the hassle of patching together data or juggling disparate reports. With clear, comprehensive insights into customer interactions, you’ll make smarter, data-driven decisions across your business. The Pitfalls of Free Analytics Tools While free analytics tools might seem like a cost-effective choice, they come with significant drawbacks. They often offer limited functionality, delayed or incomplete data, siloed reporting, and compliance risks. Relying on these tools can lead to guesswork and errors, resulting in costly mistakes. Limited Functionality Free analytics tools barely skim the surface of what’s possible with data collection and reporting. They depend on third-party cookies and route your data through their servers, providing you with only partial insights. Essential features like persistent digital identity tracking, profile building, journey mapping, predictive analytics, and machine learning capabilities are typically missing. In contrast, premium tools leverage advanced algorithms and machine learning to unearth valuable data patterns and insights. For instance, a premium tool might reveal that users who view a product page after watching a related video are significantly more likely to make a purchase—information that could greatly influence your marketing strategy. Subpar Data Quality Free tools often lag in delivering real-time data, giving you an outdated snapshot of customer interactions. Timely data is crucial for agile marketing—without it, you risk missing out on opportunities and wasting ad spend. Stale data leads to missed chances and inefficiencies. Reporting Silos and Inaccuracies Free analytics solutions typically don’t integrate data across your organization, resulting in fragmented and siloed information. Different teams may have access to unaligned reports, often requiring multiple tools to piece together insights. This lack of a unified source of truth makes it impossible to get a comprehensive view of customer interactions across various touchpoints. Organizational Inefficiencies Managing free tools can be resource-intensive. They often require extensive tagging and manual upkeep, leading to increased costs and the risk of inaccurate data due to broken or altered tags. This inefficiency can impact long-term business decisions and strategic planning. Compliance Risks Free tools often involve sending your data to external servers, raising concerns about data loss, latency, and compliance with privacy regulations. These tools process your digital engagement and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) on their servers, complicating the task of maintaining regulatory standards and ensuring data security. The True Cost of Free Tools The reality is, “free” isn’t really free. The hidden costs and risks associated with free analytics tools can outweigh their benefits. While premium analytics solutions may seem expensive at first glance, they offer superior insights and performance improvements that provide a competitive edge. With accurate, real-time data and advanced features, investing in a premium tool is a decision that pays off. Remember, the old adage “nothing’s free” rings true—don’t jeopardize your brand’s success with subpar tools that end up costing more in the long run! 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

Read More
May 20, 2024in Salesforce
Salesforce GovSlack
19Apr

Salesforce GovSlack

Salesforce GovSlack seamlessly integrates your team members, tools, and partners into a unified platform that adheres to critical government regulations for handling sensitive data. By breaking down communication barriers within and outside organizations, GovSlack empowers individuals to excel in their work. Salesforce GovSlack “Government agencies and their partners, colleagues, and contractors can now collaborate more swiftly and flexibly within a secure digital HQ. With all tools, workflows, and integrations centralized in Slack, institutions empower their personnel and elevate collaboration while upholding compliance standards.” Rob SeamanSVP Product, Enterprise, Slack For example, the Army Software Factory (Army SWF) adopts agile startup methods to enhance soldiers’ software development skills, deploying digital solutions to solve Army challenges. To achieve agile, effective collaboration, the Army SWF sought GovSlack, a flexible solution that promotes productivity and camaraderie while meeting stringent Department of Defense policies. “Similarly, Lockheed Martin, a global aerospace and security company, utilizes Slack to connect its extensive workforce across 400 facilities and 50 countries. With GovSlack, Lockheed Martin anticipates expanding its Slack usage for defense projects.” Tim LewisDirector of Digital Workplace Services, Lockheed Martin GovSlack will also feature a directory of certified applications, including security and compliance apps, categorized by certification level. This setup allows GovSlack users to seamlessly integrate applications aligned with their security needs, such as Okta and Box. “Slack and Box together enable secure communication and collaboration, simplifying internal information flow and enhancing citizen engagement.” Murtaza MasoodManaging Director, State and Local Government, Box GovSlack ensures secure collaboration tailored for government operations, promoting flexibility and productivity while adhering to key government regulations for data processing and storage. By centralizing tools and teams in a secure, compliant platform, GovSlack empowers public sector organizations to meet evolving challenges and deliver exceptional services to the constituents they serve. It’s not that email is broken—it’s limited Even though landlines still work, we prefer to do everything on our smart devices. It’s not surprising. Better technology allows us to move faster, accomplish more and connect more easily. That’s exactly what Slack provides, while the inbox remains stuck in a cycle of refresh and reply. 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

Read More
April 19, 2024in Salesforce, Salesforce Public Sector Solutions, Salesforce Slack

Subscribe to our mailing list. Join our mail list to receive our newsletter

We'll keep you up to date with our latest news, insights, free resources, and much more.
Don't worry, we won't spam you.
gettectonic.com