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Detecting the Hot Chatbot

Detecting the Hot Chatbot

All the tech giants are eager to prove their chatbot is the hottest in the market. Like wild stallions fighting over the mares, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI are competing to show that their AI models have the most momentum. Companies with built-in AI like Salesforce occupy a broader sector. Detecting the Hot Chatbot is the challenge for the consumer. Why Detecting the Hot Chatbot Matters These companies have poured immense resources—both talent and money—into developing their models and adding new features. Now, they’re keen to showcase that these investments are yielding results. What’s Happening In the past few dayss, several major players have released new usage statistics: The Big Picture Generative AI is still in its early stages, and the entire industry faces the challenge of proving that these products deliver real value—whether by capturing market share from the lucrative search industry or by helping companies save money through increased productivity. How are you Detecting the Hot Chatbot. In the short term, however, everyone is eager to show they’re leading the pack. TV commercials for generative AI are now common, with Meta, Google, and Microsoft all airing spots, although the effectiveness of these ads varies. Some companies even boast that their commercials were created using AI—not necessarily the most convincing selling point. Between the Lines The competition isn’t just about consumer popularity; it’s also spilling over into the battle to secure business customers. On Wednesday’s earnings call, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff made a point of distinguishing Salesforce’s new Agentforce AI sales assistant from Microsoft’s Copilot offerings. “This is not Copilot,” Benioff said. “So many customers are disappointed with what they bought from Microsoft Copilot because they’re not getting the accuracy and response they want. Microsoft has let down many customers with AI.” Microsoft quickly responded in a comment to CNBC. “We are hearing something quite different from our Copilot for Microsoft 365 customers,” said corporate VP Jared Spataro. “When I talk to CIOs directly, and if you look at recent third-party data, organizations are betting on Microsoft for their AI transformation.” The Bottom Line The competition is heating up as tech giants vie to prove they have the upper hand in the AI race and the Hot Chatbot. Customers will ultimately decide. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Slack and AI and Time

Slack and AI and Time

The longer you stay at an organization, the more Slack channels you find yourself entangled in, making it increasingly difficult to cut through the noise. Even at Fortune, the accumulation of channels and the platform’s familiar clicking notifications are ever-present, with writers engaging in conversations ranging from breaking news to local food tips and football discussions. Managing Slack can feel like a job in itself. However, as Slack incorporates AI to streamline tasks and minimize busy work, users now face the challenge of deciding how to use their newly freed-up time. Slack’s AI introduces a new time dilemma. By simplifying the once time-consuming task of sifting through messages for critical information, the platform’s new “recap” function provides workers with a summary of incoming messages and highlights what’s most important. Companies like OpenAI, Spotify, and Uber are also optimizing their workflows by integrating Slack with other tools, such as the work management app Asana. AI is being utilized in various ways across Europe as well. Slack CEO Denise Dresser, seven months into her role at the Salesforce-owned messaging app, noted a Workforce Labs study showing that U.K. users are leveraging Slack’s writing assistant feature, while French users are primarily using it for summarization. In Germany, 36% of desk workers are employing AI to automate their tasks more regularly than their European counterparts. The initial results are promising. Slack reports that its AI tool has saved users an average of 97 minutes per week in administrative time. However, this has led to a new challenge: many workers are unsure how to best use their extra time. “They were still focusing on the work of work, which means we haven’t yet made the operational and mindset shift to start doing new things,” Dresser shared with Fortune, reflecting on the Workforce Labs findings. This situation highlights the next significant discussion about AI’s impact on work—how it will enhance productivity, replace roles, and potentially create new ones. There’s also ongoing debate about whether AI could render the traditional five-day workweek obsolete, offering people the option to enjoy more leisure time or take on more work. Dresser, for her part, plans to use her freed-up time to engage more with clients and is optimistic about AI’s potential to revolutionize workflows. “I personally think AI is going to be one of the most significant enhancers of human productivity we’ve ever seen, and I believe it will truly unlock human potential,” Dresser says. “It will likely create more jobs. We may see entirely new roles emerge, and I think that’s going to be exciting.” Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Salesforce Climbs on Back of AI

Salesforce Climbs on Back of AI

Shares of Salesforce (CRM.N) climbed approximately 4% on Thursday as investors responded positively to the customer relationship management software maker’s strong quarterly performance and its strategic focus on artificial intelligence to fuel growth. Salesforce has been making significant investments to integrate AI technologies into its existing products, including its messaging platform Slack, to enhance functionality and attract more customers. “We continue to see Salesforce as an underappreciated AI winner due to its unique data and early success in developing and deploying GenAI agents,” noted Goldman Sachs analyst Kash Rangan. Despite concerns from Wall Street that reduced cloud spending might impact Salesforce in a challenging economy, the software-as-a-service (SaaS) company exceeded expectations with better-than-anticipated revenue, profit, and margins in the second quarter. Additionally, Salesforce raised its profit forecast for the fiscal year ending January 2025, as margins continue to improve, largely due to restructuring efforts undertaken last year. The stock is currently trading at 24.49 times Wall Street’s profit expectations, compared to 52.11 for SaaS peer ServiceNow and 13.30 for cloud contact center firm Five9 (FIVN.O), according to LSEG data. If the gains hold, Salesforce could add about billion to its market capitalization, bringing its valuation to 8 billion as of Wednesday’s close. However, Barclays analyst Raimo Lenschow cautioned, “We think these results alone are not sufficient to drive a sustainable rally from here. For that, we need additional catalysts, which could come with the new AI solutions,” set to be unveiled at Dreamforce and launched in October. Some analysts suggest that ongoing growth in the coming quarters may be driven by Salesforce’s customer support platform, Agentforce, which has yet to be commercially released. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Slack Operating System

Slack Operating System

Slack Advances Its Work Operating System with Enhanced Automation Capabilities With 3,000 workflows created this year alone, Rivian relies on Slack’s automation features to save time and boost team productivity. Slack Operating System are making a world of difference. Salesforce has announced new innovations in Slack, making it easier for users to build automations regardless of their technical expertise. Key Updates: Why This Matters: With 71% of business leaders under pressure to increase team productivity, and 70% of IT leaders concerned that rising business demands could stifle innovation, automation is crucial. A recent survey reveals that 77% of users believe automating routine tasks would significantly boost productivity. Companies need user-friendly, no-code automation solutions that enhance productivity without overburdening IT departments. A Closer Look: Slack’s Perspective: Rob Seaman, Chief Product Officer at Slack, stated, “At Slack, one of our product principles is ‘don’t make me think.’ We’re applying that principle to the traditionally technical and time-consuming area of automation, making it an intuitive and delightful productivity driver for everyone. These new features make Slack even more powerful, giving both developers and end users the tools they need to automate any business process across their work apps.” Customer Reaction: “Automation is a core capability that increases productivity and saves time for Rivian employees when doing repetitive work. Workflow Builder allows Slack users to easily create no-code automation at any experience level. Our Slack users created approximately 3,000 workflows in 2024, with heavy adoption in Production, Operation, and Service groups,” said Anoop Narang, Head of Digital Workplace & Solutions at Rivian. Availability: The enhancements to Workflow Builder are now generally available to all customers. Other app updates you might have missed. Slack 4.40.120 August 27, 2024 Bug Fixes Slack 4.39.95 July 29, 2024 Bug Fixes Slack 4.39.93 July 18, 2024 Bug Fixes Slack 4.39.90 July 8, 2024 Bug Fixes Slack 4.39.89 June 25, 2024 Bug Fixes Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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When to use Flow

When and Why Should You Use a Flow in Salesforce? Flow is Salesforce’s premier tool for creating configurable automation and guided user experiences. If you need to build a process that doesn’t require the complexity of Apex code, Flow should be your go-to solution. It’s versatile, user-friendly, and equipped to handle a wide range of business automation needs. Legacy tools like Process Builder and Workflow Rules are being phased out, with support ending in December 2025. While you may choose to edit existing automations in these tools temporarily, migrating to Flow should be a top priority for future-proofing your Salesforce org. Capabilities of FlowFlows allow you to: When Should You Avoid Using a Flow?Although Flow is powerful, it’s not the right choice in every scenario. Here are situations where it may not be suitable: Creating a Flow in Salesforce Pro Tips for Flow Building Flow vs. Apex: Which to Choose?Flows are simpler, faster to deploy, and accessible to admins without coding expertise. Apex, on the other hand, is suited for complex use cases requiring advanced logic or integrations. Here’s when Apex should be used instead: Why Flows Are the FutureSalesforce has positioned Flow as the central automation tool by deprecating Workflow Rules and Process Builder. With every release, Flow’s capabilities expand, making it easier to replace tasks traditionally requiring Apex. For instance: Final ThoughtsSalesforce admins should prioritize building and migrating automation to Flow. It’s a scalable and admin-friendly tool that ensures your org stays up-to-date with Salesforce’s evolving ecosystem. Whether you’re automating basic processes or tackling complex workflows, Flow provides the flexibility to meet your 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

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Salesforce Button Order

Salesforce Button Order

The Importance of Button Order in Salesforce Instances How much thought is given to the order of buttons in a Salesforce instance page layout? Or even for specific user groups? It is common to see varying button orders on pages for different objects, which can be quite frustrating. Salesforce Button Order UX ideas! This insight advocates for careful consideration of the placement of these seemingly simple but crucial buttons. Buttons play a significant role in user interactions, so organizing them effectively can reduce mental effort and clicks for colleagues. For clarity, this discussion refers to “buttons,” but depending on the Salesforce context, these may also be known as “actions” or “quick actions.” Regardless of the terminology, this refers to the elements at the top right of a page or within the Chatter feed and Activity Feed that users click to perform actions. Buttons at the top of the page typically appear as square icons. In Chatter and Activities, they might be displayed as tab-like or button-like elements. The Activity Feed, for example, may show buttons as part of a tabbed view or as individual buttons, sometimes stacked under carats for similar actions. Consistent Button Order The order of buttons should be consistent across objects whenever possible. Although objects with additional or unique buttons may necessitate deviations from this principle, maintaining a standard order for basic buttons like Edit, Printable View, Clone, and Delete is beneficial. Standard Action Buttons: For additional standard buttons like Submit for Approval or Change Owner, use the following principles: Custom Buttons Custom buttons add complexity to design choices. Often, custom buttons include emojis, which can affect visual consistency but add a fun element. While custom buttons may have longer labels than standard ones, their placement generally prioritizes visibility. Custom buttons are often placed before the Edit button to ensure prominence, although Edit may remain first if necessary. Example: Custom buttons, such as a “🧮 Request an Invoice” button, might be placed before standard buttons. Display Number of Buttons Consider the number of buttons visible on a page. Avoid relying solely on Salesforce’s default settings. Display four, five, or even six buttons if they are needed and can fit on the screen. Fewer buttons might be preferable to hide less frequently used options like Delete under a dropdown. Keep in mind that users might overlook dropdown options, so training and reminders are important. Note: In the Highlights Panel component settings, consider hiding the Follow/Unfollow button if it is rarely used. Actions in Feeds The same principles apply to buttons in Chatter and Activity Feeds, though there are usually fewer buttons to manage. Controlling Button Order To manage button placement: Take Charge of Your Design With these tools and guidelines, take control of button and action placement on your Salesforce pages to enhance usability and efficiency. Like1 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Salesforce Holiday Forecast

Salesforce Holiday Forecast

Value-conscious consumers are increasingly opting for lower-cost options, waiting strategically for discounts, and turning to budget-friendly Chinese shopping apps, leading to a projected 2% year-over-year (YoY) growth in holiday sales both in the U.S. and globally, according to the Salesforce Shopping Index. This index analyzes data from over 1.5 billion global consumers on retail sites. The Salesforce Holiday Forecast isn’t necessarily bleak, but it will leave some merchants feeling glum. In 2023, holiday sales grew by 3% YoY, reaching .17 trillion. However, Salesforce forecasts that global sales for November through December 2024 will only reach .19 trillion, with the U.S. contributing $277 billion. This modest projection aligns with Salesforce consumer surveys, which indicate that while 47% of shoppers plan to spend the same amount as in 2023, 40% intend to spend less this year. “The global economy remains fraught with risks, despite inflation stabilizing,” said Rob Garf, VP and General Manager of Consumer Goods at Salesforce, during a recent briefing. “Interest rates are still high, global conflicts are disrupting supply chains, and we see consumers transferring inflationary costs to debt.” Indeed, a Salesforce survey conducted earlier this month revealed that 37% of consumers are using credit cards more frequently than last year, 32% are turning to buy now, pay later (BNPL) services, and 43% are carrying more monthly debt. Rising Popularity of Chinese Shopping Apps Consumers seeking value are gravitating towards deep-discount Chinese shopping apps like Temu, Shein, and increasingly, TikTok. According to Salesforce’s August 2024 survey, 63% of consumers have made a purchase through these apps in the past six months, and 50% plan to use them during the holiday season. These figures are even higher among Gen Z and millennial consumers, with 80% having purchased from these apps in the past six months and nearly 70% planning to do so during the holidays. Overall, Salesforce predicts that Chinese shopping apps will account for just over 21% of holiday purchases! “Temu and Shein lead the pack, but TikTok is gaining traction, up 24% since April, making it the third most popular app,” said Caila Schwartz, Director of Consumer Insights and Strategy at Salesforce. Consumers cite value as the primary reason for using these apps (58%), far ahead of fast shipping (28%). Consumers Plan to Wait for Cyber Week Deals Many shoppers intend to stretch their budgets by holding off on purchases until Cyber Week, the period around Thanksgiving that includes Black Friday and Cyber Monday. “In 2023, price-conscious consumers waited for Cyber Week to make purchases, and we expect this trend to be even stronger this year,” Schwartz noted. Salesforce data shows that 67% of shoppers are delaying “splurge” purchases until Cyber Week. Salesforce forecasts that global discount rates will briefly rise in October, likely coinciding with the fall edition of Amazon Prime Day, when many retailers run promotions to capture the holiday season’s momentum. Discount rates are expected to peak at an average of 28% globally during Cyber Week, with U.S. discounts forecasted to reach 30%. Shorter Season Highlights BOPIS Importance With only 27 days between Thanksgiving (Nov. 28) and Christmas this year, retailers with strong buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) offerings will have a significant advantage. Salesforce predicts that BOPIS will account for one-third (33%) of global online orders during the week before Christmas and Boxing Week. The compressed season will increase the pressure on retailers to execute BOPIS effectively, as failing to meet customer expectations could have serious reputational costs. “Retailers can extend the digital shopping season with BOPIS, but the real winners will be those who can deliver on it,” Garf emphasized. “Store associates are already feeling the strain, especially during the holidays, and some retailers have scaled back their BOPIS offerings, citing increased anxiety among both staff and customers.” Holiday Strategy: Prioritize Customer Acquisition To capture a share of what may be a smaller holiday “pie,” retailers should focus on customer acquisition—and the sooner, the better. With the 2024 elections in the U.S. and many other countries, advertising costs and space availability will be at a premium, making it harder for brands to reach consumers. “Online traffic is cheaper now than it will be in a few months, when political ad spending ramps up,” said David Oksman, VP of Marketing and DTC at Samsonite, who joined Garf and Schwartz at the briefing. “Acquisition costs will rise even more than we’ve seen before.” One additional challenge of holiday sales in an election year. Oksman recommends tried-and-true tactics for driving acquisition and gathering customer data: “Fall is a great time for sweepstakes and giveaways. The old playbooks still work, and customer acquisition is gold.” A sweepstakes prize like a shopping spree or offering exclusive early access to products or deals can incentivize consumers to share their email addresses with a brand. “Loyalty programs are another strong value proposition in the consumer’s mind,” Schwartz added. “Even if you’re not offering points, benefits like free returns or shipping can encourage shoppers to sign up.” Right now is the best time to engage in reactivation campaigns to old customers and prospects. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Uplimit AI-Powered ELP

Uplimit AI-Powered ELP

Uplimit Secures $11M in Series A Funding to Enhance AI-Powered Enterprise Learning SAN FRANCISCO, July 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Uplimit, a leading provider of AI-powered enterprise learning solutions, has announced the successful completion of an $11M Series A funding round. This funding, led by Salesforce Ventures with participation from existing investors GSV Ventures, Greylock Partners, and Cowboy Ventures, as well as new investors Translink Capital, Workday Ventures, and Conviction, underscores the growing importance of effective employee upskilling in response to the rapid advancements in Generative AI technology. Uplimit AI-Powered ELP. “Helping employees stay ahead of technological advancements is now a critical priority for the organizations we serve,” said Claudine Emeott, Partner at Salesforce Ventures and Head of the Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund. “AI has the potential to equip both companies and individuals with the necessary skills to thrive, and Uplimit is at the forefront of integrating AI into education and training. We are excited to support their continued growth and look forward to seeing the significant impact they will have in the coming years.” “AI has the potential to equip both companies and individuals with the necessary skills to thrive, and Uplimit is at the forefront of integrating AI into education and training. We are excited to support their continued growth and look forward to seeing the significant impact they will have in the coming years.” Claudine Emeott, Partner at Salesforce Ventures and Head of the Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund Uplimit AI-Powered ELP With this new funding, Uplimit plans to expand its enterprise platform offerings, aiming to provide comprehensive upskilling solutions to more organizations and employees. Traditional education systems often require extensive resources for content creation, personalized feedback, and support, which can hinder scalability. While some scalable solutions exist, they often compromise on quality and outcomes. Uplimit is addressing this challenge with an innovative approach that combines scale and effectiveness. Their AI-driven platform enhances cohort management, learner support, and course authoring, enabling companies to deliver personalized learning experiences at scale. Uplimit’s recent introduction of AI-enabled role-play scenarios provides learners with immediate feedback, revolutionizing training and development for roles such as managers, support teams, and sales professionals. “Quality education has historically been a scarce resource, but AI is changing that,” said Julia Stiglitz, CEO and Co-founder of Uplimit. “AI allows us to create and update educational content rapidly, ensuring that learners receive personalized experiences even in large-scale courses. This is crucial as the demand for new skills, driven by the rapid evolution of AI technologies, continues to grow. Uplimit provides the tools needed for employees to quickly grasp new skills, tailored to their current knowledge and needs.” Uplimit has collaborated with a diverse range of companies, from Fortune 500 giants like GE Healthcare and Kraft Heinz to innovative startups such as Procore. Databricks, a leader in AI-powered data intelligence, was an early adopter of Uplimit’s platform for customer education. “We needed a learning platform that could scale to hundreds of thousands of learners while maintaining high levels of engagement and completion,” said Rochana Golani, VP of Learning and Enablement at Databricks. “Uplimit’s platform offers the perfect blend of real-time human instruction and personalized AI support, along with valuable peer interaction. This approach is set to be transformative for many of our customers.” The new funding will enable Uplimit to further enhance its enterprise and customer education offerings, expanding its AI capabilities to include advanced cohort management tools, rapid course feedback integration, interactive practice and assessment modules, and AI-powered course authoring. Join us on August 14th for our launch event, where we will explore how this funding will accelerate our mission and demonstrate the impact our platform is having on enterprise learning. About Uplimit Uplimit is a comprehensive AI-driven learning platform designed to equip companies with the tools needed to train employees and customers in emerging skills. The platform leverages AI to scale learning programs effectively, offering features such as AI-powered learner support, generative AI for content creation, and live cohort management tools. This approach ensures high engagement and completion rates, significantly surpassing traditional online courses. Uplimit also offers a marketplace of advanced courses in AI, technology, and leadership, taught by industry experts. Founded by Julia Stiglitz, Sourabh Bajaj, and Jake Samuelson, Uplimit is backed by Salesforce Ventures, Greylock Partners, Cowboy Ventures, GSV Ventures, Conviction, Workday Ventures, and Translink Capital, with contributions from the co-founders of OpenAI and DeepMind. Notable customers include GE Healthcare, Kraft Heinz, and Databricks. Uplimit has been featured in leading industry publications such as ATD, Josh Bersin, and Fast Company. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Healthcare Cybersecurity Act

Healthcare Cybersecurity Act

Lawmakers have introduced the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act in the House of Representatives, aiming to enhance protections for healthcare data amid a surge of cyberattacks targeting the industry. The bipartisan bill is spearheaded by Representatives Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and Andy Kim (D-N.J.). A Senate companion bill was introduced in July 2024 by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Angus King (I-Me.). The legislation mandates a collaboration between the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to strengthen cybersecurity within the healthcare sector. It also seeks to make cyber defense resources available to nonfederal healthcare entities. Lawmakers cited a 2022 HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) report showing a 107% rise in data breaches involving unsecured protected health information since 2018. “Hospitals and health centers are critical parts of our nation’s infrastructure,” said Fitzpatrick. “With the alarming increase in cyberattacks, we must act swiftly to prevent data breaches, rising healthcare costs, and compromised patient care.” The bill calls for more coordination between CISA and HHS to manage cybersecurity risks. It proposes the appointment of a special liaison within CISA to act as a point of contact with HHS, ensuring better communication and threat sharing during cybersecurity incidents. If passed, the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act would also require HHS and CISA to submit a report detailing their efforts to improve cybersecurity coordination. Past collaborations between HHS and CISA include the October 2023 release of a healthcare cybersecurity toolkit, which provides industry-specific resources for managing and mitigating cyber threats. The toolkit combines materials like CISA’s cyber hygiene services and HHS’s Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices. “The bipartisan Healthcare Cybersecurity Act will play a vital role in protecting patient data, healthcare provider capabilities, and our broader cybersecurity infrastructure,” said King, stressing the need for decisive action in this area. 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

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Not Ready For All That AI

Not Ready For All That AI

The Hesitation Towards Digital Workers It appears that people are not ready for “digital workers” just yet. This is the lesson Sarah Franklin, CEO of Lattice, a human resources and performance management platform, has learned. Lattice offers tools such as performance coaching, talent reviews, onboarding automation, and compensation management to over 5,000 organizations worldwide. Discovering the entire workplace is Not Ready For All That AI shouldn’t be so surprising. What is a Digital Employee? According to Franklin, digital employees are avatars like Devin the engineer, Harvey the lawyer, Einstein the service agent, and Piper the sales agent, who have “entered the workforce and become our colleagues.” These are not real workers; they are AI-powered bots introduced by companies like Salesforce and startups like Cognition.ai and Qualified to perform tasks in lieu of humans. For instance, Salesforce’s Einstein helps sales and marketing professionals predict revenues, complete tasks, and liaise with prospects. Cognition’s software engineer Devin plans and executes complex engineering tasks, learning and correcting mistakes over time. Qualified’s sales rep Piper converts inbound website traffic into pipeline, working tirelessly without the need for health insurance, paid time off, or retirement plans. Lattice’s Bold Move Seeing an opportunity, Franklin announced on July 9 that Lattice would begin supporting digital employees as part of its platform, treating them like any other employee. She proclaimed, “Today Lattice is making AI history. We will be the first to give digital workers official employee records in Lattice. Digital workers will be securely onboarded, trained, and assigned goals, performance metrics, appropriate systems access, and even a manager, just as any person would be.” The Backlash The pushback was immediate and intense, particularly on LinkedIn. Sawyer Middeleer, an executive at a firm using AI for sales research, criticized the move, saying, “Treating AI agents as employees disrespects the humanity of your real employees. Worse, it implies that you view humans simply as ‘resources’ to be optimized and measured against machines.” Scott Burgess, a self-employed marketing executive, was even more direct, calling the move “terrifying” and expressing concerns about the impact on human workers. The backlash was strong enough to force Franklin to suspend the plans just three days after the announcement. The Reality of AI While these concerns are legitimate, the question remains: aren’t “digital employees” inevitable? AI is currently overhyped. Embarrassing AI failures from Google, the underwhelming performance of Microsoft’s Copilot AI, and the rudimentary capabilities of current digital assistants demonstrate that AI is still in its infancy. Most executives view AI at this stage as untrustworthy. Timing is Everything Franklin made the same mistake that Microsoft, Google, and other big tech platforms have made: overhyping something not yet ready for prime time to gain a marketing edge. Her vision was not flawed, but the execution was premature. AI is still early in its development, and society is still grappling with its implications. Digital employees will undoubtedly work alongside human employees in the future, but clearly, that future is not 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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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AI Services and Models Security Shortcomings

AI Services and Models Security Shortcomings

Orca Report: AI Services and Models Show Security Shortcomings Recent research by Orca Security reveals significant security vulnerabilities in AI services and models deployed in the cloud. The “2024 State of AI Security Report,” released in 2024, underscores the urgent need for improved security practices as AI technologies advance rapidly. AI Services and Models Security Shortcomings. AI usage is exploding. Gartner predicts that the AI software market will grow19.1% annually, reaching 8 billion by 2027. In many ways, AI is now inthe stage reminiscent of where cloud computing was over a decade ago. Orca’s analysis of cloud assets across major platforms—AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, and Alibaba Cloud—has highlighted troubling risks associated with AI tools and models. Despite the surge in AI adoption, many organizations are neglecting fundamental security measures, potentially exposing themselves to significant threats. The report indicates that while 56% of organizations use their own AI models for various purposes, a substantial portion of these deployments contain at least one known vulnerability. Orca’s findings suggest that although most vulnerabilities are currently classified as low to medium risk, they still pose a serious threat. Notably, 62% of organizations have implemented AI packages with vulnerabilities, which have an average CVSS score of 6.9. Only 0.2% of these vulnerabilities have known public exploits, compared to the industry average of 2.5%. Insecure Configurations and Controls Orca’s research reveals concerning security practices among widely used AI services. For instance, Azure OpenAI, a popular choice for building custom applications, was found to be improperly configured in 27% of cases. This lapse could allow attackers to access or manipulate data transmitted between cloud resources and AI services. The report also criticizes default settings in Amazon SageMaker, a prominent machine learning service. It highlights that 45% of SageMaker buckets use non-randomized default names, and 98% of organizations have not disabled default root access for SageMaker notebook instances. These defaults create vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit to gain unauthorized access and perform actions on the assets. Additionally, the report points out a lack of self-managed encryption keys and encryption protection. For instance, 98% of organizations using Google Vertex have not enabled encryption at rest for their self-managed keys, potentially exposing sensitive data to unauthorized access or alteration. Exposed Access Keys and Platform Risks Security issues extend to popular AI platforms like OpenAI and Hugging Face. Orca’s report found that 20% of organizations using OpenAI and 35% using Hugging Face have exposed access keys, heightening the risk of unauthorized access. This follows recent research by Wiz, which demonstrated vulnerabilities in Hugging Face during Black Hat USA 2024, where sensitive data was compromised. Addressing the Security Challenge Orca co-founder and CEO Gil Geron emphasizes the need for clear roles and responsibilities in managing AI security. He stresses that security practitioners must recognize and address these risks by setting policies and boundaries. According to Geron, while the challenges are not new, the rapid development of AI tools makes it crucial to address security from both engineering and practitioner perspectives. Geron also highlights the importance of reviewing and adjusting default settings to enhance security, advocating for rigorous permission management and network hygiene. As AI technology continues to evolve, organizations must remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their systems and data. In conclusion, the Orca report serves as a critical reminder of the security risks associated with AI services and models. Organizations must take concerted action to secure their AI deployments and protect against potential vulnerabilities. Balance Innovation and Security in AI Tectonic notes Salesforce was not included in the sampling. Content updated September 2024. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Loan Boarding and Approval

Loan Boarding and Approval

Streamlining Loan Boarding and Approval Processes with Salesforce Technology The financial services industry is undergoing a rapid transformation, driven by the need for greater efficiency and improved customer experiences. One area where this shift is particularly evident is in the loan boarding and approval processes. Leveraging Salesforce technology, financial institutions can streamline these essential workflows, enhancing both speed and accuracy while delivering a superior borrower experience. Understanding Loan Boarding Loan boarding is the process of transitioning a loan from its origination phase into servicing. This involves several key steps, including data entry, document management, and compliance checks. Traditionally, this process has been manual, cumbersome, and prone to errors. However, Salesforce offers robust capabilities that allow organizations to automate and optimize these tasks, significantly reducing inefficiencies. Automating Data Entry Salesforce facilitates automated data entry through its customizable forms and integration capabilities. Tools like Salesforce Flow and Apex enable businesses to create workflows that automatically populate fields based on predefined criteria or data extracted from documents using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. This automation reduces manual errors and accelerates the loan boarding process. Efficient Document Management Effective document management is crucial in loan boarding. Salesforce provides a centralized platform for secure storage and easy access to all necessary documents. Features like Salesforce Files enable organizations to manage documentation efficiently, allowing for easy retrieval, sharing, and version control. This streamlined document management ensures that all relevant information is readily available throughout the loan lifecycle. Streamlining Handoff and Approval Processes After a loan is boarded, it must go through a series of approvals before disbursement. The handoff between departments such as underwriting and risk assessment can cause delays if not properly managed. Salesforce’s collaborative tools facilitate seamless communication among stakeholders, ensuring a smooth transition through the approval process. Customizable Approval Workflows Salesforce allows for the creation of customizable approval workflows, enabling organizations to define specific criteria for each stage of loan approval. This flexibility ensures that loans are reviewed by the appropriate personnel based on their complexity or risk profile. Automated alerts notify relevant team members when their input is needed, minimizing bottlenecks and keeping the process moving efficiently. Enhanced Visibility with Real-Time Dashboards One of Salesforce’s standout features is its ability to generate real-time dashboards that provide insights into various stages of the loan process. Stakeholders can monitor key metrics, such as the average time for approvals or the number of loans pending at each stage, through intuitive visualizations. This transparency promotes quicker decision-making and fosters accountability within the team. Seamless Disbursement Process Once loans are approved, the disbursement phase is the next critical step. Salesforce’s integration capabilities with payment processing systems, such as NACHA/ACH solutions, allow organizations to automate fund transfers directly within the platform, streamlining the disbursement process. Automating Payment Processing Automated triggers for payments can be set up within Salesforce, reducing the need for manual intervention. This automation speeds up the disbursement process and minimizes the risk of errors associated with manual data entry during fund transfers, ensuring a smooth and reliable process. Comprehensive Portfolio Management Managing a large loan portfolio requires meticulous tracking of various elements, including amortization schedules, repayments, interest accruals, and fees. Salesforce excels in these areas, offering tools to manage all aspects of a loan portfolio effectively. Dynamic Amortization and Repayment Schedules Salesforce enables the creation of dynamic amortization schedules tailored to individual borrower agreements, easily accessible via custom borrower portals. These portals enhance borrower engagement by providing real-time information about repayment obligations and remaining balances, improving transparency and customer satisfaction. Fee Automation Automating fee calculations within Salesforce reduces administrative burdens and ensures accurate billing according to agreed-upon terms. This feature helps avoid discrepancies and delays, providing a seamless experience for both the lender and the borrower. Risk Management and Collections In today’s volatile economic environment, effective risk management is essential for financial institutions. Salesforce’s advanced analytics and performance rating tools allow organizations to proactively identify potential risks before they escalate, enabling more informed lending decisions. Performance and Risk Ratings By analyzing historical data, Salesforce enables lenders to assign risk ratings based on borrowers’ past behaviors and external market conditions. This data-driven approach supports more accurate and strategic lending decisions, helping to mitigate risk. Effective Collections Strategies For overdue accounts, Salesforce’s task management features automate reminders and follow-ups, ensuring timely communication and effective debt recovery. Maintaining open communication channels with borrowers during the collections process is crucial for preserving relationships and achieving successful outcomes. Conclusion: Embracing Digital Transformation By embracing digital transformation through Salesforce technology, financial institutions can significantly streamline their loan boarding and approval processes. This not only enhances operational efficiency but also positions them competitively in a tech-driven marketplace, delivering the high-quality service that today’s consumers demand. Salesforce’s powerful tools enable institutions to meet the unique needs of their borrowers effectively, ensuring both efficiency and excellence in service delivery. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Pulse for Salesforce

Pulse for Salesforce

Salesforce Unveils Pulse for Salesforce: Integrating Tableau Analytics with CRM to Revolutionize Data-Driven Decision-Making In today’s data heavy business world, where data-driven decision-making is essential for success, the fusion of advanced analytics with customer relationship management (CRM) systems is more crucial than ever. Addressing this need, Salesforce has introduced Pulse for Salesforce, a groundbreaking tool that integrates Tableau’s powerful analytics directly into the Salesforce CRM environment. Meeting the Demand for Actionable Insights This launch aligns with a broader trend in the business intelligence (BI) market, where companies strive to make data analytics more accessible and actionable for non-technical users. Recent studies indicate that while 80% of business leaders view data as critical to decision-making, nearly one-third feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information available. Moreover, 91% of these leaders believe their organizations would significantly benefit from generative AI (Gen AI) technologies. Pulse for Salesforce marks a significant milestone in Salesforce’s ongoing strategy following its $15.7 billion acquisition of Tableau in 2019. Tableau, a leader in data visualization and BI since its founding in 2003, has been central to Salesforce’s mission of enhancing customer data management and analysis. The integration of Tableau’s capabilities within Salesforce’s CRM platform represents a major step forward in providing a comprehensive, data-driven solution. Ryan Aytay, President and CEO of Tableau, on the New Integration “Historically, sales leaders and teams have lacked personalized, accessible data insights in their daily flow of work, and analysts often spend considerable time on ad hoc requests and repetitive queries, slowing down decision-making and business growth,” says Ryan Aytay, CEO of Tableau. “By integrating Tableau Pulse’s AI-driven insights into Salesforce, we’re addressing these needs and enhancing data-driven decision-making to help businesses accelerate growth.” Boosting CRM Productivity with Salesforce’s AI Platform Pulse for Salesforce is built on Salesforce’s Einstein 1 AI Platform and leverages Gen AI to provide contextual metrics and insights directly within the Salesforce interface. This seamless integration streamlines decision-making for sales teams by reducing the need for manual data searches or reliance on analysts for ad-hoc queries. Key Features of Pulse for Salesforce Practical Applications and Data Security A practical application of Pulse for Salesforce is performance monitoring. Sales leaders can track team win rate trends directly from their homepage, quickly identifying areas or individuals needing additional support. Similarly, individual sales representatives can monitor their conversion rates and use natural language queries to analyze data by industry, potentially leading to more targeted sales efforts. The integration also addresses data security concerns, a critical issue in the age of AI-powered analytics. Pulse for Salesforce employs the Einstein Trust Layer, a secure AI architecture built into the Einstein 1 Platform, ensuring that customer data remains protected while benefiting from the advanced capabilities of generative AI. Collaboration Salesforce partnered with key industry players and partners to bring this innovative solution to market. With Pulse for Salesforce, organizations can now fully harness the power of integrated analytics and CRM to drive informed decision-making, enhance productivity, and ultimately accelerate business 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

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